Operant discrimination training to establish praise as a reinforcer

Four preschoolers with autism got a short lesson. The goal was to turn "good job" into something they would work for.

Each child sat at a table. If they picked the card that came with praise, they got a cheer. Picking the silent card gave nothing.

After many quick trials, the kids learned to choose the praise card. Researchers then checked if praise alone would keep them working.

Right after training, every child worked for praise. The new reinforcer looked strong.

Days later, the power faded. Without backup, praise stopped pulling its weight.

The team showed you can condition praise fast, but you must plan to keep it alive.

Clay et al. (2020) widens the lens. They asked which language to use. Most bilingual kids did not care if praise came in English or Spanish. Together, the papers say: first make praise a reinforcer, then pick any language the child understands.

Davis et al. (2021) seems to clash. In their study, praise failed and only a music video kept a child working. The gap is real: Lugo conditioned praise in a quiet teaching setup, while Davis tested it inside a tough high-probability sequence. Praise can be built, but it may still lose to stronger items in demanding tasks.

Wanchisen et al. (1989) set the stage. They taught us to check reinforcers often. Lugo adds the next step: if nothing works, you can create a new one through quick discrimination drills.

You now have a fast way to turn praise into currency. Run the card game for ten minutes, then watch if work rates rise. When the novelty fades, pair praise with tiny edibles or bubbles, then thin the backup. Keep testing weekly so you know when to boost again.