Operant ABA renewal during dense and lean schedules of differential reinforcement

Abstract

Renewal is a type of relapse that occurs due to a change in context. Previous research has demonstrated that renewal of target responding may occur despite the availability of differential reinforcement for an alternative response (DRA). Nevertheless, the current literature on renewal presents mixed findings regarding the effects of dense and lean schedules of DRA on the magnitude of renewal. We used a translational approach with undergraduate college students and a task on a touchscreen tablet device to study the effects of dense and lean schedules of DRA during repeated renewal tests. All participants experienced two, three-phase ABA renewal arrangements. In the dense and lean renewal arrangements, we differentially reinforced alternative behavior in Context B and the renewal test in Context A on a VI 3-s or a VI 12-s schedule, respectively. Overall, we observed renewal in 31/36 (86%) renewal tests regardless of the density of reinforcement for the alternative response. Furthermore, the results showed that although renewal occurred in both arrangements, we found slightly higher magnitudes of renewal during DRA with lean schedules of reinforcement relative to dense schedules. We discuss the implications of these findings as they relate to the treatment of problem behavior.

A retrospective analysis of the relation between resurgence and renewal of behavior targeted for reduction

“…Instead, comparing the environmental/contextual changes with degradations in alternative reinforcement might not be an appropriate comparison. It could be that evaluating the relation between reinstatement (i.e., return of a target response following response-independent delivery of the reinforcer; Kimball, Salvetti, et al, 2023) and resurgence is a better comparison, as both are forms of relapse induced by contingency changes, whereas renewal is not.…”

“…Similarly, our findings might be the result of the sequence effects in which prior exposure to schedule thinning (i.e., leaner schedules of reinforcement) for the alternative response mitigated renewal, as predicted by behavioral momentum (see Nevin et al, 2017). Recent research suggests that leaner (vs. denser) schedules of reinforcement for the alternative response are associated with greater renewal (Kimball, Salvetti, et al, 2023) and does not necessarily support this interpretation. However, the reduced renewal in Kimball, Salvetti, et al (2023) with higher than lower alternative reinforcer rates likely was due to the richer availability of alternative reinforcers simply maintaining alternative responding.…”

“…Recent research suggests that leaner (vs. denser) schedules of reinforcement for the alternative response are associated with greater renewal (Kimball, Salvetti, et al, 2023) and does not necessarily support this interpretation. However, the reduced renewal in Kimball, Salvetti, et al (2023) with higher than lower alternative reinforcer rates likely was due to the richer availability of alternative reinforcers simply maintaining alternative responding. Nevertheless, future research should investigate the extent to which the sequence of resurgence and renewal tests affects the relation between renewal and resurgence.…”