Beyond the Behavior Plan: Reinforcement Schedules
Reinforcement schedules can be broken down into 2 larger categories; fixed and variable. These categories tells us in even greater detail how often the learner is receiving reinforcement while working on those replacement behaviors and skills.
Beyond the Behavior Plan: Reinforcement & Rewards
The word reinforcers and rewards are often used interchangeably. Are they really the same? When using reinforcement, it’s important to know what your learner likes the most and the least to help with building replacement behaviors and skills they are needed. Preference assessments are a great way to find the item your learner likes the most and the least.
Beyond the Behavior Plan: Reinforcement Systems
Reinforcement systems are specific supports put in place that provide the learner with feedback that increases their likelihood and “buy in” for engaging with a specific contingency. This could be an activity, a location, an item or a person.
Systems let us know there is a specific strategy to the frequency (how often) and duration (how long) that the reinforcement is available or provided. The system also lets us know there is a specific reinforcer made available (this can be tangible (item), physical (hug/high five), verbal (praise), etc.)
Tangible Behavior
Tangible maintained behaviors occur when a learner wants to gain access to something physical (an item or activity) of interest within their environment.
Attention Behavior
How can we functionally support our learners with attention behaviors? Attention maintained behaviors occur when a learner is seeking a specific response, interaction, feedback, etc. for the purpose of social acknowledgement.