ABA ABA Principles & Terminology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which term describes the functional relationship between a behavior and the events that precede and follow it?
- Three-term contingency (Correct answer)
- Behavior chain
- Discrimination training
- Stimulus generalization
Correct answer: Three-term contingency
The three-term contingency (A-B-C) describes the antecedent, behavior, and consequence relationship central to ABA.
Question 2: A child learns to request items using a picture card. This form of mand training primarily targets which verbal operant?
- Tact
- Intraverbal
- Mand (Correct answer)
- Echoic
Correct answer: Mand
A mand is a verbal operant controlled by motivating operations and results in specific reinforcement related to the request.
Question 3: What does 'extinction burst' refer to in behavior analysis?
- A sudden permanent decrease in behavior
- A temporary increase in behavior when reinforcement is withheld (Correct answer)
- The spread of extinction across settings
- A rapid reinforcement schedule
Correct answer: A temporary increase in behavior when reinforcement is withheld
An extinction burst is the temporary increase in frequency, duration, or intensity of a behavior when reinforcement is first removed.
Question 4: Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest and most consistent rate of responding?
- Fixed ratio
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
- Fixed interval
- Variable interval
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce the highest, most consistent response rates because reinforcement is unpredictable but tied to number of responses.
Question 5: In ABA, 'shaping' is best defined as:
- Chaining behaviors in sequence
- Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior (Correct answer)
- Providing a physical prompt to guide a behavior
- Reducing problem behavior through extinction
Correct answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior
Shaping reinforces successive approximations, gradually guiding behavior toward a final target form.
Question 6: A stimulus that gains reinforcing properties through repeated pairing with an established reinforcer is called a:
- Primary reinforcer
- Generalized conditioned reinforcer
- Conditioned reinforcer (Correct answer)
- Natural reinforcer
Correct answer: Conditioned reinforcer
A conditioned (secondary) reinforcer acquires its value through association with an unconditioned or another conditioned reinforcer.
Question 7: Which concept explains why a previously reinforced behavior may spontaneously reappear after extinction?
- Stimulus recovery
- Spontaneous recovery (Correct answer)
- Behavioral contrast
- Resurgence
Correct answer: Spontaneous recovery
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished behavior after a rest period without reintroducing reinforcement.
ABA ABA Principles & Terminology 2
Which term describes the functional relationship between a behavior and the events that precede and follow it?