Effects of Divergent Reinforcement Histories upon Differential Reinforcement Effectiveness

Abstract

The effectiveness of differential reinforcement techniques in reducing lever-pressing was studied as a function of natural reinforcement history and prescribed schedule. Based upon a prebaseline, 30 children with natural high rates of responding and 30 children with natural low rates of responding were reinforced for tapping an assigned key for 15 min. on either a differential reinforcement of low rate (drl 5“) or a differential reinforcement of high rate (Conjunctive VR 10-drh 5”) schedule of reinforcement. Responding on the other key was then reinforced for 15 min. on a variable ratio (VR 35) schedule utilizing one of three differential reinforcement techniques to eliminate the previously taught response. Findings indicated that a child's natural history significantly influences subsequent rates of responding. Prescribed divergent schedules effected changes in responding only while the child was being reinforced on that schedule. The differential reinforcement techniques did not produce significant differences between subjects' performance on the new key but did affect responding on the previously reinforced key.