Chapter 10 Positive Behavioral Supports Reinforcement Strategies Behavior

Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) n Refer to the use of positive reinforcement strategies as the principal method of changing behavior Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -2 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reinforcement Definition n any stimulus that maintains or increases the behavior exhibited immediately prior to the presentation of the stimulus. Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -3 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Types of Reinforcement n n n Positive reinforcement Negative reinforcement Primary reinforcers Secondary reinforcers Socially valid reinforcers Extrinsic versus intrinsic reinforcement Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -4 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Positive Behavior Terms n n n Positive Reinforcement – provision of a consequence (reward) which follows a target behavior and results in an increase or maintenance of the target behavior Negative Reinforcement – removal of a negative consequence following a target behavior and results in an increase or maintenance of the target behavior Punishment – a consequence, usually negative, that decreases the behavior that it follows Response Cost – systematic removal of reinforcers as a consequence of inappropriate behavior such that it decreases the behavior that it follows Extinction – (ignoring) – decreases inappropriate behaviors by neither reinforcing nor punishing Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -5 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Examples n n + reinforcement – you praise or reward a child after they complete their work - reinforcement – because a child completes their work they don’t have to stay in at recess Punishment – because a student doesn’t complete their work they have to stay in at recess Response cost – after giving tokens for completing work – you take tokens away for incomplete work later in the day Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -6 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Types of Reinforcers n n Primary (tangible) – meet biological need (food) – something real Secondary – intangible or represents n n n Social (praise, smiles) Tokens – can be traded for something Activity (computer time, games, etc. ) Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -7 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Other Terms for Reinforcers n n Socially valid – acceptable within the student’s social setting Extrinsic – observable – e. g. a cookie Intrinsic – internally motivating – e. g. child likes to do a “good” job Premack Principle – pair low preference activity w/high preference one n “Eat your peas and you get dessert” Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -8 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Establishing an Effective Reinforcement Program n n Establish clear and consistent expectations Teachers must set the example Determine delivery of reinforcers Avoid reinforcement satiation Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -9 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Schedules of Reinforcement n Ratio reinforcement schedules n n n Fixed ratio schedules Variable ratio schedules Interval reinforcement schedules n n Fixed interval schedules Variable interval schedules Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -10 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reinforcement Schedules More serious behavior or more quickly you want behavior to change – more immediate reinforcement has to be. Main Types: n Interval – at predetermined intervals of time – gradually extend time n Intermittent – no predetermined time interval Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -11 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Shaping & Chaining Behaviors n n Shaping behaviors refers to the reinforcement of successive approximations of a terminal behavior Chaining behaviors refers to the performance of a series or sequence of behaviors n n Forward chaining Backward chaining Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -12 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Token Economy n is a symbolic reinforcement system n n Based on a monetary system Characteristics of tokens n n Should be something that the students can see, touch, and count Exchangeable for a high preference activity or reinforcer Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -13 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Token Economies Usually a whole group behavior mgt. system (can be a level system) Steps: 1. Define behaviors (+) that will be focus 2. Determine tokens to be used 3. Determine how you will track 4. Decide on reinforcers & response cost 5. Implement and plan for evaluation Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -14 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Contingency Contracting n Involves the establishment of a written contract between a student and teacher regarding… n n n the performance of specific target behaviors in exchange for specific consequences Advantages of Contracts Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -15 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Contingency Contracts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Gather observational data on behavior Discuss with student (Parent? ) Get admission of problem & buy in to do it Jointly develop contract & sign it (keep a copy) Make reinforcers & consequences reasonable Include timetable/plan for monitoring & evaluating Follow it!!! Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -16 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Generalization n n the degree to which a behavior change transfers to other settings Stimulus generalization n n Degree behavior changes across settings Response generalization n Degree behavior changes influences other behaviors – now that I’ve stopped talking I get more work done Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -17 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Promoting Generalization of Behavior Changes n n Teach in natural settings Select natural antecedents for stimulus control Select natural consequences as reinforcers Reinforce generalization Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -18 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Maintenance n n the degree to which a behavior change is maintained over time When training is conducted within natural settings, using natural antecedents and consequences… n behavior changes are more likely to be maintained. Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -19 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Summary n n n Reinforcers can take many different forms and be administered in different ways Choice and schedule of reinforcers are important in changing behaviors Getting behavior changes to generalize & be maintained across settings is final goal of positive behavioral techniques Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers, 6 e – Zirpoli ISBN: 0137065221 10 -20 © 2012, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.