Positive Reinforcement

In Applied Behavior Analysis, there are two types of reinforcement and punishment: positive and negative. It can be difficult to distinguish between these.

For the purpose of this newsletter I am going to explain what positive reinforcement is, how it can be paired with a reinforcer (i.e. food) and what a reinforcement scheduled is.

Positive reinforcement is using praise or rewards to shape a child's behavior . It focuses on the 'good' things the child is doing or certain desirable behaviors.

A reinforcer is a stimulus (such as a reward) that increases the probability of a desired response in operant conditioning by being applied or effected following the desired response.

A schedule of reinforcement is basically a rule stating which instances of a behavior will be reinforced. In some cases, a behavior might be reinforced every time it occurs.

Sometimes, a behavior might not be reinforced at all.

Either positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement might be used, depending on the situation. In both cases, the goal of reinforcement is always to strengthen the behavior and increase the likelihood that it will occur again in the future.

In real-world settings, behaviors are probably not going to be reinforced each and every time they occur. For situations where you are purposely trying to train and reinforce an action, such as in the classroom, in sports, or in animal training, you might opt to follow a specific reinforcement schedule.

As you'll see below, some schedules are best suited to certain types of training situations. In some cases, training might call for starting out with one schedule and switching to another once the desired behavior has been taught.

Certain schedules of reinforcement may be more effective in specific situations.

There are two types of reinforcement schedules:

In continuous reinforcement, the desired behavior is reinforced every single time it occurs. This schedule is best used during the initial stages of learning in order to create a strong association between the behavior and the response.

Once the response if firmly attached, reinforcement is usually switched to a partial reinforcement schedule.

In partial or intermittent reinforcement, the response is reinforced only part of the time. Learned behaviors are acquired more slowly with partial reinforcement, but the response is more resistant to extinction.

There are four schedules of partial reinforcement:

1. Fixed ratio schedule

2. Variable ratio schedule

3. Fixed interval schedule

4. Variable interval schedule

Pros -

1) Results in an increase in desirable behavior when the positive reinforcement is paired with an incentive or reinforcer on an appropriate reinforcement schedule.

2) Motivating

3) Increases the likelihood the desirable behavior (i.e. completing a page of math problems) will increase and the undesirable behavior (i.e. refusing to complete any math problems) will decrease.

4) Helps the child feel good about their choices

5) Both long term and short term benefits that prove beneficial throughout life

Cons -

1) You have all heard the saying, "will work for food." Unfortunately when positive reinforcement is paired with food on an immediate reinforcement schedule the child begins to expect, if not demand food, for every problem solved, every word read, every action taken. When the reinforcer is not provided on an immediate schedule this results in the child's undesirable behaviors escalating. In other words, you've just created a new problem.

2) Can be perceived as bribery

3) Over satiation of the reinforcer resulting in the reiforcer no longer resulting in desirable behaviors.

District Process Coordinator / Behavior Intervention Specialist

Email: jbower@fulton58.org
Website: fulton58.org
Phone: 573-590-8117