Reduction Procedures

A number of procedures can be used to reduce childrens behavior. Ive listed them here in order
of least to most intrusive for the child. Remember, we have an obligation to start with the
least intrusive yet most effective procedure. Consider the example of non-compliance using
the various procedures below:
Antecedent - Teacher makes a request of child
Unwanted behavior - Noncompliance
Definition - Child says "no" or argues in response to a request by the teacher
Effective reinforcers for child include attention, subtle forms or approval (smiling,
nodding), classroom privileges (being the class "leader" for the day, lining up first,
etc.)
Assumptions - prevention & environmental change efforts, as well as positive programming
have been unsuccessful

Procedure

Operation

Example

Extinction

Withhold reinforcer
following response

Whenever child refuses, teacher

withholds reinforcer (e.g., attention)

Reinforcement of
Alternate Behavior
(ALT-R)

Present reinforcer following

any behavior except refusing

Teacher reinforces whenever child gets

to work, reads a comic book, etc.

Differential
Present reinforcer following
reinforcement of
response incompatible with
incompatible behavior refusing
(DRI)

Teacher reinforces whenever child

agrees to or actually complies with the
request

Differential
Present reinforcer following
reinforcement of
time period in which no
omission of behavior refusals occur
(DRO)

Every hour teacher stops by child's desk

and delivers reinforcer provided child
has not refused during past hour

Response cost

Following unwanted behavior, Child has privileges contingent on

reinforcers are subtracted
cooperating, when child refuses
privileges are removed

Timeout

Following unwanted behavior, Child is placed in an isolated spot in the

all manageable sources of
classroom, teacher and peers ignore
reinforcement are withdrawn child for 10 minutes after each refusal
for a specified time

Cont.

Overcorrection

Following unwanted behavior,

person required to practice the
positive behavior and provide
restitution

Childs refusal to clean up results in

another child tripping and dropping
materials. Target child is required to
help the other student and clean up not
only his mess but all mess on the floor
of the class.

Contingent exertion

Same as above except

Child is required to clean up his
consequence requires effort not classroom and stay in from recess to do
necessarily related to unwanted extra schoolwork
behavior

Punishment

An aversive stimulus follows

the unwanted behavior

Teacher yells at student in front of class

adapted from Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer (1991)