Positive Reinforcement handouts.txt

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Heidi Cooley-Cook 

. 

 Basics of Positive Reinforcement 


During this webinar you will learn: 

�The basics of reinforcement 
�How to incorporate reinforcement 
throughout the day 
�How to tell if what you are doing is working 
�Learn that sometimes Time Out is actually a 
form of reinforcement and what to do if 
this is the case! 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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What is Reinforcement? 

 

A stimulus change immediately follows a response 
and increases the future frequency of that type of 
behavior in similar conditions. 

Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Most important and widely applied principle of 
behavior analysis. 

Fundamental building block for the selection of 
operant behavior. 

 

*Reinforcement theory states that reinforced 
behavior will be repeated and behavior that is 
not reinforced is less likely to be repeated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Reinforcement 


Positive reinforcement � when a response is 
followed immediately by the presentation of a 
stimulus, and as a result similar responses occur 
more frequently. 

 

 

 

 (Cooper and Heron, 2007) 

Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Positive Reinforcement 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Positive Reinforcement 

Negative Reinforcement 

Stimulus change = 

adding something 
(reinforcer) 

Stimulus change = 

taking something away 
(aversive) 




Positive Reinforcement 

�1 of 24 evidence based practices identified 
by National Professional Development 
Center (NPDC) on ASD 
�Research supports use in all children and 
youth with ASD 
�Regardless of cognitive level 
�Expressive communication abilities 




Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Positive Reinforcement 

�Effective intervention for individuals ages 3 � 22 years 
�Can be used in a variety of settings 
�Classroom 
�Home 
�Community 
�Clinic-based settings 
�One-to-one teaching 




Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Stimulus 

Response 

Positive 
Reinforcement 

Effect 

Example 1 

A baby is hungry 

Baby cries 

Mom gives baby 
a bottle 

Increased likelihood 
that the baby will 
cry next time he is 
hungry 

Example 2 

Bella is told she 
can get a candy 
for getting into 
car seat 

Bella gets into car 
seat 

Dad gives Bella a 
candy and says 
�Now that we are 
buckled in we 
are ready to go� 

Increased likelihood 
that Bella will get 
into car seat 

Example 3 

--- 

Sean completes his 
homework 

He is allowed to 
play outside until 
dinner 

Increased 
probability that 
Sean will complete 
his homework 



Examples of Positive Reinforcement



Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Types of Reinforcers 

Alberto. P.A. & Troutman, A.C. (2006) 

Class Category Examples 

Primary Reinforcers 1.Edible Reinforcers Foods, liquids, such as pieces of 
cracker, sips of juice, pudding 

 

 2.Sensory Reinforcers Exposure to controlled visual, 
auditory, tactile, olfactory, or 
kinesthetic experience: face stroked 
with furry puppet, listening to music 
through headphones 


Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Types of Reinforcers 

Alberto. P.A. & Troutman, A.C. (2006) 

Class Category Examples 

Secondary Reinforcers 3.Tangible (material) Certificates, badges, stickers, rock star 
Reinforcers posters, balloons 

 

 4. (a)Privilege Reinforcers Hall monitor, team captain, line leader 

 

 (b)Activity Reinforcers Play activities, special projects, access 
to media 

 

 5.Generalized Reinforcers Tokens, points, credits 

 

 6.Social Reinforcers Expressions, proximity, contact, words 
and phrases, feedback, seating 
arrangements 


Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Pairing Primary and Secondary Reinforcers 

Initially, secondary reinforcers may not have any value 
� this may need to be learned 
�Pair primary with secondary reinforcers then fade 
use of primary reinforcers 
�While sitting quietly on the floor during circle time, Seth 
is given tiny pieces of cracker and provided with a pat on 
the back, sticker, high five, smile from teacher, or a 
thumbs up ---- eventually, Seth will only get secondary 
reinforcers for sitting during circle time 





How to choose reinforcers 

�Ask the child 
�Observe child 
�Provide choice 
�Present a menu 
�Ask the parent 
�Asks others who interact with child 
�Peers 
�Adults 




Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Now that you know some potential reinforcers, 

what else do you need to know? 

 

�Deprivation � a condition in which the student has not 
had access to a potential reinforcer 
�Satiation � a condition that occurs when there no 
longer is a state of deprivation 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Alberto. P.A. & Troutman, A.C. (2006) 
How to avoid satiation� 

1.Allow student to choose reinforcers and provide choices 
during instruction instead of before it (Graff & Libby, 1999) 
2.For food or liquids provide a very small amount 
3.Increase the number of demands/responses needed to 
access reinforcers 
4.At the first sign of satiation � change it up!!!! 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Token Economy 

Malott, R. W. (2008) 
A system of generalized learned reinforcers in 
which an individual receives those generalized 
reinforcers and can save them to exchange later 
for a variety of backup reinforcers 


Negative reinforcement � the occurrence of a 
response produces the removal, termination, 
reduction, or postponement of a stimulus, 
which leads to an increase in the future 
occurrence of that response. 

 

 (Cooper and Heron, 2007) 

Kentucky Autism Training Center 

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Negative Reinforcement 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Positive Reinforcement 

Negative Reinforcement 

Stimulus change = 

adding something 
(reinforcer) 

Stimulus change = 

taking something away 
(aversive) 




 Stimulus 

Response 

Negative 
Reinforcement 

Effect 

Example 1 

A baby cries 

Mom gives 
baby a bottle 

Baby stops 
crying 

Increased probability that 
Mom will give baby a 
bottle when he cries 

Example 2 

Wet hands 

Rub hands on 
towel 

Hands are dry 

Increased probability that 
when your hands are wet 
that you will dry them with 
a towel 

Example 3 

Alarm buzzing 

Get up & turn 
off alarm 

Buzzing stops 

Increased likelihood that 
next time the alarm goes 
off you will get up and turn 
it off 

Example 4 

Beeping noise 
when you don�t 
have on seatbelt 

Buckle seatbelt 

Beeping noise 
stops 

Increased likelihood that 
you will quickly buckle 
your seatbelt 



Examples 
of Negative Reinforcement



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How to incorporate reinforcement 
throughout the day� 

�Set up activity schedules 
�Provide prompts as needed to ensure steps 
are completed 
�Provide behavior specific praise throughout 
the day 
�Provide access to secondary reinforcers for 
completion of difficult and/or complex tasks 



How to incorporate reinforcement 

throughout the day 

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Activity Schedule 

�Set up activity schedules 
�Picture 
�Text 
�Object 
�Video 
�Audio 





How to incorporate reinforcement 

throughout the day 

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Prompt 

�Provide prompts as needed to ensure steps 
are completed 


�Physical 
�Modeling 
�Gestures 
�Visual 
�Verbal 




**** Have a plan for fading prompts **** 


How to incorporate reinforcement 

throughout the day 

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Behavior Specific Praise 

�Provide behavior specific praise throughout 
the morning 
�I like the way you brushed your teeth vs. 
Good Job 
�You did a great job picking out your 
clothes today vs. Thank You 




TRY to use Behavior Specific Praise following each request that you make � if 
you ask your child to wash his hands � follow that up with �Awesome, clean 
hands will keep you healthy� 


How to incorporate reinforcement 

throughout the day 

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Reinforcers 

�Provide access to secondary reinforcers for 
completion of difficult and/or complex tasks 
�Pair tangibles with verbal praise 
�As rate of other types of reinforcement is 
faded, verbal can remain and then fade as 
socially appropriate 






Contingently reinforce � �If ___ Then ____� 

Differentially reinforce � 1 lego block for taking off jacket 
and hanging it up 3 lego blocks for walking down hallway 
to lunchroom appriopriatly 


Time Out 

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Learn that sometimes Time Out is 
actually a form of reinforcement and 
what to do if this is the case! 


Time Out 

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Reinforcement or Punishment 

Reinforcement Punishment 

Increases likelihood of behavior 
occurring again 

Decreases likelihood of 
behavior occurring again 



Was the video and example of 
reinforcement or punishment??? 


Time Out 

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Now what? 

Time Out should be time out from 
reinforcing activities. 
�If chasing is reinforcing � when in time out, 
NO chasing occurs 
�If attention is reinforcing � when in time out, 
NO attention is given � verbal or otherwise 
�If being alone is reinforcing � when in time out, 
should not include isolation 



Review 

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Reinforcement 
Yes or No 

When Bobby completes his math worksheet he is able to play on 
computer for 5 minutes. The next time he has a math worksheet he 
completes it without prompting. 

 

When Lizzy brings her mom a diaper for the baby, her mom says 
�Thank you Lizzy and Brian says thank you too!� and gives her a kiss. 
The next time Lizzy is asked to get a diaper, she does so quickly. 

 

When Brian greets his grandma, she gives him a kiss � leaving lipstick 
on his cheek and gives him a tight hug. The next time Brian enters the 
room he avoids his grandma and doesn�t say Hi. 


During this webinar you have learned: 

�The basics of reinforcement 
�How to incorporate reinforcement 
throughout the day 
�How to tell if what you are doing is working 
�Learn that sometimes Time Out is actually a 
form of reinforcement and what to do if 
this is the case! 


Basics of Positive Reinforcement 

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Questions??? 

 

Heidi Cooley-Cook 

hacool01@louisville.edu 

502-852-6401 

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