Non-Contingent Reinforcement (NCR)
Delivering a maintaining reinforcer on a schedule independent of the learner's behaviour.
Non-Contingent Reinforcement (NCR) involves giving a learner free access to the reinforcement that usually maintains their challenging behaviour, delivered on a time-based schedule. If a student acts out for attention, NCR provides them with dense, scheduled attention regardless of what they are doing. However, to avoid adventitious (accidental) reinforcement, practitioners typically apply a brief delay (e.g., 5 to 10 seconds) if the challenging behaviour is actively occurring when the delivery timer rings.
This acts as an Abolishing Operation (AO). Because the learner already has plenty of the reinforcer, they lose the motivation to use problem behaviour to get it.