Three boys with autism, ages 7""10 years old, served as participants in a study. During baseline, staff used response bl

[answerhappygod]

Three boys with autism, ages 7""10 years old, served as participants in a study. During baseline, staff used response blocking when five instances of aggression or head-banging occurred within 10 seconds, until attempts ceased for 1 minute. During baseline and treatment, each occurrence of aggression and head-banging was recorded daily and converted to the number of responses per hour. Treatment comprised a differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI) schedule coupled with response blocking after every head-banging or aggression. The staff initially applied the treatment to head-banging, while continuing to take a baseline on aggression. After noting treatment effects on head-banging, the staff then applied the treatment to aggression.
What is the independent variable?

A. DRI schedule with instruction on the incompatible behavior
B. DRI schedule and response blocking
C. rate of the incompatible behavior
D. number of head-bangs and aggressions per hour