response cost
A punishment procedure involving the removal of a specified amount of reinforcement contingent upon the occurrence of inappropriate behavior.
Full Definition
Response cost is a form of negative punishment where access to previously earned reinforcers (such as tokens, points, privileges, or time) is removed following undesired behavior. This procedure requires a pre-existing reinforcement system from which items can be subtracted. Effective response cost procedures specify exactly what will be removed, under what conditions, and how much will be lost. The procedure should be implemented consistently and fairly, with clear understanding by the individual about the contingency. Response cost is often combined with positive reinforcement systems to maintain motivation and engagement.
Usage
Usage note: Requires an existing reinforcement system; cannot be implemented in isolation.
In Context
- "The response cost procedure involved losing five minutes of recreational time for each interruption." — Classroom behavior plan
- "Response cost was ineffective because the student had insufficient tokens to lose." — Intervention evaluation