ABA Exam CoachLessons · B. Concepts and Principles
B.23 · The matching law and response allocation
Why does a kid keep calling out even though the teacher only responds some of the time? The matching law gives you a surprisingly precise answer, and once it clicks, you'll see it in every classroom and clinic.
Key takeaway
When two or more options are available at the same time, the proportion of responding to each option tends to match the proportion of reinforcement it produces. This is clearest on concurrent VI VI schedules. Concurrent ratio schedules usually produce near-exclusive preference for the richer option. Magnitude, quality, delay, and effort also shift allocation, so a problem behavior can lose ground when the alternative behavior is made relatively richer, even without full extinction.
When two or more options are available at the same time, the proportion of responding to each option tends to match the proportion of reinforcement it produces. This is clearest on concurrent VI VI schedules. Concurrent ratio schedules usually produce near-exclusive preference for the richer option. Magnitude, quality, delay, and effort also shift allocation, so a problem behavior can lose ground when the alternative behavior is made relatively richer, even without full extinction.
Members get the full lesson video, notes and a 5-question test
The video walks through the idea, worked examples, the trap people fall into and an exam-style question. The notes and the checkpoint come with it, and your results feed your Where to focus plan.