What kind of contingency is this for managing Jimmy's self-stimulation and normal play behavior? (Koegel et al.)
A) differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (note DRA involves the same reinforcing outcome)
B) appropriate natural contingency
C) performance-management contingency
D) contrived contingency

Question

What kind of contingency is this for managing Jimmy's self-stimulation and normal play behavior? (Koegel et al.)
A) differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (note DRA involves the same reinforcing outcome) 
B) appropriate natural contingency 
C) performance-management contingency 
D) contrived contingency

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An appropriate natural contingency involves providing opportunities for the individual to engage in naturally-occurring reinforcing activities as an alternative to the target behavior, rather than creating a contrived contingency. Koegel et al. describe how they managed Jimmy's self-stimulatory and play behavior by providing access to preferred toys and activities and shaping appropriate play with peers, which is an example of an appropriate natural contingency. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) is not the correct answer, as it involves reinforcement for a behavior that serves the same function as the target behavior, which was not described in the article. Performance-management and contrived contingencies are not the best choices, as they do not accurately describe the intervention used in this study.

What Kind of Contingency Is This for Managing Jimmy's Self-Stimulation