Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

631
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
631
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

929
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
929
Primary and Secondary Reinforcers01:23

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

1.5K
In psychology, reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments involving rats in what is known as a Skinner box. The rats learned to press a lever to receive food, a primary reinforcer that fulfilled their innate need for nourishment.
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...
1.5K
Reinforcement01:23

Reinforcement

1.1K
Positive and negative reinforcement are key concepts in operant conditioning, a learning process where the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus, increasing the frequency of that behavior. For example:
1.1K
Reinforcement Schedules01:24

Reinforcement Schedules

688
Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for teaching new behaviors to both animals and humans. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments using rats in a Skinner box. When a rat pressed a lever, it received a food pellet. This immediate reward encouraged the rat to repeat the behavior. This method, where a reward follows every instance of the behavior, is known as continuous reinforcement. It is highly effective for establishing new behaviors quickly.
Once a behavior is learned,...
688
Operant Conditioning01:21

Operant Conditioning

3.3K
Operant conditioning, a key concept in behavioral psychology, involves using reinforcement and punishment to alter the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. B.F. introduced this type of conditioning. Skinner focused on voluntary behaviors and the consequences that follow them, influencing whether these behaviors will be strengthened or diminished.
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...
3.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Road to Licensure of Behavior Analysts in Texas: History and Lessons Learned.

Behavior analysis in practice·2025
Same author

A method for conducting culturally responsive functional analyses with bilingual children and evaluating language effects.

Journal of applied behavior analysis·2025
Same author

Brian A. Iwata, PhD: A Life Well Lived.

Journal of applied behavior analysis·2023
Same author

Functional analysis and treatment of aggression exhibited by cats toward humans during petting.

Journal of applied behavior analysis·2021
Same author

Teaching caregivers to respond safely during agitated states before aggression using simulation training.

Journal of applied behavior analysis·2020
Same author

Validity of the multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment for edible items.

Journal of applied behavior analysis·2020

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE
06:57

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

11.0K

Caregiver preference for reinforcement-based interventions for problem behavior maintained by positive reinforcement.

Anne M Gabor1, Jennifer N Fritz1, Christopher T Roath1

  • 1University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|January 22, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Caregiver preferences for behavioral interventions were assessed using a concurrent-chains procedure. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) was the most preferred intervention among caregivers for children with developmental disabilities.

Keywords:
behavioral skills trainingconcurrent chainsdevelopmental disabilitiespreferencesocial validitytreatment integrity

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Training of Laboratory Animals for Gentle and Stress-Free Handling
05:21

Author Spotlight: Training of Laboratory Animals for Gentle and Stress-Free Handling

Published on: February 16, 2024

4.1K
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
04:23

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Published on: August 21, 2015

12.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE
06:57

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

11.0K
Author Spotlight: Training of Laboratory Animals for Gentle and Stress-Free Handling
05:21

Author Spotlight: Training of Laboratory Animals for Gentle and Stress-Free Handling

Published on: February 16, 2024

4.1K
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
04:23

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Published on: August 21, 2015

12.2K

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Developmental psychology
  • Applied behavior analysis

Background:

  • Social validity of behavioral interventions is crucial for effective implementation.
  • Current methods often rely on indirect assessments or client preferences, neglecting caregiver perspectives.
  • Direct observation of caregiver preferences is underrepresented in research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly assess caregiver preferences for different behavioral interventions.
  • To investigate the utility of the concurrent-chains procedure for evaluating caregiver choice.
  • To identify which behavioral interventions are most preferred by caregivers for children with developmental disabilities.

Main Methods:

  • A concurrent-chains procedure was used to determine preferences of 5 neurotypical caregivers.
  • Caregivers were taught three behavioral interventions: noncontingent reinforcement (NCR), differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA), and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO).
  • Caregivers selected interventions after demonstrating proficiency in implementation.

Main Results:

  • Three out of five caregivers preferred DRA.
  • One caregiver preferred other differential reinforcement procedures.
  • One caregiver did not show a clear preference.

Conclusions:

  • Direct observation via concurrent-chains procedures can identify caregiver-preferred interventions.
  • Understanding caregiver preferences is vital for ensuring intervention integrity and adherence.
  • This method may enhance the social validity of behavioral interventions for children with developmental disabilities.