Reducing excessive questions in adults at adult‐day training centers using differential‐reinforcement‐of‐low rates

Staff at two adult day programs worried about clients who asked questions all day long.

The team used full-session DRL. If each man asked fewer than six questions during the whole day, he got snacks and praise right before going home.

Baseline lasted several days, then the DRL phase began. Staff counted every question and tracked how often each man stayed on his work tasks.

Both men quickly dropped their daily questions. One man also started working more minutes at a time.

The low rate held for weeks. Staff only needed a timer and a tally sheet to run the plan.

The idea is old. FARMEMOORHEARSKELLEHER et al. (1964) first showed that DRL schedules create smooth, downward curves in lever pressing. MOLLIVER (1963) proved the same point with spoken words.

Otalvaro et al. (2020) now stretches that lab finding to adults with ID in a noisy day center.

Cullinan et al. (2001) used DRL on a preschool playground to cut risky sliding. Same logic, younger crowd.

Dudley et al. (2019) paired differential reinforcement with a functional analysis to stop food stealing. Their extra step reminds us that knowing the “why” can speed things up, but the pure DRL in Otalvaro still worked without that front-end assessment.

You can trim chatter that stalls training without punishing anyone. Pick a fair daily limit, track questions on a sticky note, and deliver the reinforcer at dismissal. Try it with any repetitive verbal behavior that fills time but adds no value.