Final answer:
Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) is a behavior modification technique that rewards reduced frequency of a response to lower the rate of an undesired behavior, contrasting with variable ratio schedules that reward after unpredictable numbers of responses, encouraging high rates of responding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) is a behavioral strategy used in operant conditioning. It involves only providing reinforcement if a specified amount of time has passed between responses. This technique is designed to encourage a subject to slow down or reduce the frequency of a particular behavior. Essentially, it rewards less frequent responses in hopes of decreasing the behavior's occurrence without completely extinguishing it.
For example, if a teacher wants to reduce the number of times a student shouts out answers in class, they might implement a DRL schedule. The student would only receive praise (reinforcement) when they resist shouting out an answer and wait for a certain period of time before responding.
In contrast, a variable ratio reinforcement schedule is different. Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses, making it a powerful mechanism to encourage high rates of responding because the subject is motivated by the uncertainty of when the next reward will come. This can be exemplified by gambling, where a player does not know after how many lever pulls they will win a prize.