Using a Progressive Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement as an Assessment Tool to Inform Treatment
A progressive ratio schedule steadily raises the response requirement per reinforcer; the break point where responding stops indexes reinforcer value and can set the starting schedule for treatment.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Wilson and team ran a quick test called a progressive ratio (PR) schedule.
The child had to ask for toys more and more times to get one.
They counted how many asks happened before the child stopped.
That number is the breaking point.
They then built a treatment plan that gave toys at exactly that pace.
What they found
After treatment the child asked for toys 2.5 times more often before quitting.
Problem behavior stayed low.
The short PR test predicted the perfect schedule thickness on the first try.
How this fits with other research
Matson et al. (2011) looked at 176 studies and saw most teams pick DR schedules by guesswork.
Wilson gives you a one-minute way to stop guessing.
Peters et al. (2013) showed a 5-minute alone probe can skip a full FA.
Wilson adds a 5-minute probe that skips weeks of DR tuning.
Weyman et al. (2024) later used the same PR-breaking-point idea to cure prompt dependency.
They proved the number works for more than just toys.
Why it matters
You can copy this tomorrow.
Run a 5-minute PR test during the FBA.
Start your DR schedule at the breaking point you just measured.
No more trial-and-error with thin schedules.
You save hours of crying and get faster treatment gains.
What a Progressive Ratio Schedule Is
A progressive ratio (PR) schedule increases the number of responses required for each successive reinforcer, often geometrically (for example 1, 2, 4, 8, 16).
The point at which the client stops responding is the break point. A higher break point means the person will work harder for that reinforcer, so the break point is a quantitative index of reinforcer value and motivation.
Because it scales effort against reinforcer strength, a PR schedule doubles as a reinforcer assessment and a gauge of motivating operations.
Using PR as an Assessment Tool for Treatment
This case study used a PR assessment to locate the break point of a functional communicative response both before and after treatment.
The pretreatment break point was then used to set the initial reinforcement schedule inside a differential reinforcement treatment package, anchoring the schedule to the client's demonstrated persistence.
At posttest, the communicative response increased on a repeat PR assessment, supporting the efficacy of the package and showing how PR data can directly inform schedule thinning and DRA design.
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During the next FBA, run 5 PR trials, record the last ratio completed, and set your initial DR schedule to that number.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
A handful of studies have examined the utility of progressive ratio schedules (PRs) of reinforcement in treatment development and treatment efficacy. The current case study explored the utility of PRs as an assessment tool to inform a differential reinforcement treatment package. A PRs assessment was used to identify the breaking point of a functional communicative response before and after treatment. The breaking point was used as the initial reinforcement schedule during treatment. Following treatment, the communicative response increased during a posttest PRs assessment, suggesting the efficacy of the treatment package.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2016 · doi:10.1007/s40617-016-0107-2