Reduction of undesired classroom behavior by systematically reinforcing the absence of such behavior

The undesired classroom behavior of three moderately-retarded children was reduced through the use of differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior reinforcement schedules in which the delivery of a reinforcer (a bit of food or a token) was contingent on the nonoccurrence of the undesired behavior during a specified time interval. Leaving an assigned seat without permission, throwing objects, and hitting others was reduced in one participant, drooling (excessive salivation) was reduced in a second participant, and placing the hand(s) near the mouth was reduced in a third participant. These results are discussed in terms of the feasibility of using differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior reinforcement schedules to control undesired behavior within the classroom. Language: en