Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training Flashcards

A stimulus class is defined as a group of stimuli that:

Answer: All produce the same reinforced response or participate in the same derived relations

A stimulus class is a group of stimuli that are functionally equivalent — they evoke the same response or are related through common derived relations such as equivalence.

Stimulus equivalence involves three behavioral tests: reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity. Which of the following correctly describes symmetry?

Answer: If A is trained to relate to B, then B will also relate to A without direct training

Symmetry means that if a directional relation A→B is trained, the reverse relation B→A emerges without additional training.

Multiple exemplar training (MET) is used in ABA primarily to:

Answer: Promote generalization by training across varied examples of the stimulus class

MET exposes learners to many varied examples of a concept, helping generalization occur to untrained stimuli that share the relevant features.

A behavior analyst uses a time-delay procedure to promote transfer of stimulus control. What distinguishes a progressive time delay from a constant time delay?

Answer: Progressive time delay starts at zero seconds and the delay increases gradually; constant time delay uses one fixed delay interval throughout

In progressive time delay, the interval between SD and prompt is systematically increased over sessions; in constant time delay, one fixed delay interval is used from the start after an initial zero-delay phase.

Behavioral contrast occurs in a multiple schedule when reinforcement in one component is reduced or eliminated, resulting in:

Answer: Increased responding in the unchanged component

Behavioral contrast is an increase in response rate in one component of a multiple schedule when the reinforcement rate in the other component is decreased.

When designing programs to establish stimulus control, practitioners should ensure that the SD is salient and that irrelevant stimulus features are minimized. This principle is most directly aligned with which concept?

Answer: Saliency and attention to relevant dimensions

Ensuring the SD is salient and that irrelevant features are minimized prevents overselective control and directs attention to the relevant stimulus dimension.

A practitioner establishes a visual schedule for a client using picture symbols. Over time, the practitioner fades the pictures to text-only cards so that the written words guide behavior. This is an example of:

Answer: Stimulus shaping (stimulus fading)

Stimulus shaping (stimulus fading) involves gradually changing the physical characteristics of the controlling stimulus so that a new stimulus (text) gains control while maintaining correct responding.