Final answer:
Austin and Bevan (2011) used differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) in their study.
Explanation:
Differential reinforcement is a type of operant conditioning technique that involves reinforcing a desired behavior while withholding reinforcement for undesired behaviors. In DRO, the focus is on reinforcing a specific behavior while preventing or reducing the occurrence of other behaviors.
In Austin and Bevan's (2011) study, DRO was used to decrease self-injurious behavior (SIB) in individuals with intellectual disabilities. The participants were taught to engage in alternative behaviors, such as playing with toys or engaging in social interactions, instead of exhibiting SIB. Reinforcement was provided for these alternative behaviors, while SIB was ignored or followed by a mild punishment, such as a brief time-out.
By reinforcing alternative behaviors and withholding reinforcement for SIB, the participants learned to replace SIB with more adaptive behaviors, resulting in a significant reduction in SIB over time. DRO has been shown to be an effective intervention for reducing SIB and improving adaptive behaviors in individuals with intellectual disabilities (Austin & Bevan, 2011).