Shore, B. A., Iwata, B. A., DeLeon, I. G., Kahng, S., & Smith, R. G. (1997).
An analysis of reinforcer substitutability using object manipulation and self-injury as competing responses.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
30, 21-40.
The concept of reinforcer substitutability proposes a continuum
of interactions among reinforcers in a given situation. At one
end of this continuum, reinforcers are substitutable, with one
reinforcer being readily traded for another. We conducted an
analysis of reinforcers that were substitutable with those
produced by self-injurious behavior (SIB). Three individuals with
profound developmental disabilities, whose SIB appeared to be
maintained by automatic reinforcement, participated. Results of
three experiments showed that (a) object manipulation and SIB
were inversely related when leisure materials and SIB were
concurrently available, with participants showing almost complete
preference for object manipulation; (b) attempts to reduce SIB
using the preferred objects as reinforcers in differential
reinforcement contingencies were unsuccessful for all 3
participants; and (c) participants' preferences for SIB or object
manipulation systematically changed when reinforcer cost (the
amount of effort required to obtain the object) was varied.
Results of the three experiments illustrate the importance of
examining interactions among concurrently available reinforcers
when conducting reinforcer assessments.
DESCRIPTORS: stereotypy, self-injurious behavior, reinforcer
substitutability, differential reinforcement of other behavior