Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Online Tutorial
	Module 5: Teaching New Skills and Behaviors Reinforcement vs. Punishment Behavior analysts generally prefer reinforcement of appropriate behaviors instead of punishment of “problem” behaviors. This is particularly helpful for students with autism. They may be genuinely unaware that some of their behavior is inappropriate and why it is inappropriate. Reinforcing an appropriate behavior (and explaining exactly what you are reinforcing) gives the student a clear picture of your behavioral expectations. Potential Examples of Reinforcement A student who enjoys putting beads on a string is given a bead each time she says, “bead.” A student using a math computer game is shown a short, fun video after each correct answer. A student is given a point on a point chart for each five minutes of working on homework. When the chart is filled, he gets a larger reward, such as 10 minutes of computer time. A student is given verbal praise for paying attention to the teacher during a science demonstration. Why are these only POTENTIAL examples of reinforcement? We don’t know if these rewards are actually reinforcers until we see if they ______________ the future rate of the behavior. Next --> Shaping