DRO contingencies: An analysis of variable-momentary schedules

We conducted several comparative analyses to determine the relative effecti veness of variable-momentary differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior ( VM DRO) schedules. Three individuals who had been diagnosed with mental ret ardation participated. Results of functional analyses indicated that their self-injurious behavior (SIB) was maintained by social-positive reinforceme nt. Two individuals participated in a two-stage comparative analysis within multielement and multiple baseline designs. Fixed-interval (FI) and variab le-interval (VI) DRO were compared in the first stage; VI DRO and VM DRO we re compared in the second. AU three schedules effectively reduced the parti cipants' SIE. Treatment for the 3rd individual was conducted in a reversal design to examine the effects of VM DRO when it was implemented in isolatio n, and results indicated that the procedure was effective in reducing SIE. These findings suggest that VM DRO schedules may represent attractive alter natives to traditional FI schedules because momentary schedules do nor requ ire continuous monitoring and may result in higher rates of reinforcement.