ABA Therapy New Hire Practice Exam

Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) is best described by the idea of reducing the frequency of a behavior without completely eliminating it. This approach is used when a certain behavior occurs too frequently but is not necessarily harmful or undesired in its entirety; instead, the goal is to encourage less frequent instances of that behavior. By reinforcing only those occurrences that fall within a specified low rate, individuals are motivated to decrease their overall frequency while still being able to engage in the behavior at acceptable levels.

For example, if a child frequently shouts out in class, a DRL strategy would involve reinforcing the child when they shout out only a few times during a lesson rather than eliminating shouting out entirely. This allows the child to express themselves but also teaches them to be mindful about the frequency of their behavior.