Differential reinforcement of independent over prompted responding based on reinforcer quality can reduce prompt dependency, but an efficient reinforcer assessment is a must

摘要

Design: An adapled alternating Irealments design (Sindelar, Rosenberg, & Wilson, 1985), combined with a multiple baseline design across behaviors, was utilized. In this design, experimental control is demonstrated when different levels of responding are predictably and reliably produced across the different conditions using equivalent and func-lionally independen! tasks (Cooper, Heron, & Howard, 2007). In the cur-renl study, three sets of Portuguese words were randomly assigned lo three differenlial reinforcement conditions, two of which favored independent responding (i.e., DR High/Mod, DR High/Ext, No DR). Participants were then exposed to the reinforcement conditions in a rapidly alternat-ing fashion. Through visual inspection of the data, the relative effectiveness of each condition was determined.Allocation: Each set of words was randomly assigned to one of the three reinforcement conditions, and each of the four participants was exposed to all conditions in a rapidly alternating fashion.