ABA Behavioral Principles and Concepts 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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 and most consistent rates of responding because reinforcement is unpredictable, making extinction slow.
Question 2: When a behavior is reinforced only in the presence of a specific stimulus and not in its absence, that stimulus becomes a:
- Conditioned punisher
- Discriminative stimulus (SD) (Correct answer)
- Motivating operation
- Unconditioned reinforcer
Correct answer: Discriminative stimulus (SD)
A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals that reinforcement is available for a particular behavior, making it more likely to occur.
Question 3: Avoidance behavior is maintained by:
- Positive reinforcement via presentation of a preferred item
- Negative reinforcement via postponement of an aversive event (Correct answer)
- Positive punishment via application of a stimulus
- Extinction via removal of all consequences
Correct answer: Negative reinforcement via postponement of an aversive event
Avoidance behavior is negatively reinforced because performing the behavior prevents or postpones an aversive stimulus.
Question 4: A child throws a tantrum in Store A (where parents have given in) but not in Store B (where they never give in). This demonstrates:
- Stimulus generalization
- Stimulus discrimination (Correct answer)
- Response generalization
- Behavioral contrast
Correct answer: Stimulus discrimination
Stimulus discrimination occurs when a behavior differs across settings based on the reinforcement history associated with each setting.
Question 5: The concept of 'behavioral momentum' suggests that behaviors with a strong history of reinforcement:
- Extinguish faster when reinforcement is removed
- Are more resistant to change and disruption (Correct answer)
- Require higher rates of punishment to suppress
- Generalize poorly to new environments
Correct answer: Are more resistant to change and disruption
Behavioral momentum describes how behaviors with a high reinforcement history are more resistant to change, analogous to physical momentum.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a conditioned punisher?
- Electric shock that reduces behavior
- A warning sign that precedes a speeding ticket (Correct answer)
- A loud noise that is naturally aversive
- Food deprivation used as a motivating operation
Correct answer: A warning sign that precedes a speeding ticket
A conditioned punisher acquires its punishing function through pairing with other punishers, such as a warning sign paired with subsequent fines.
Question 7: When a therapist delivers reinforcement following any instance of a target behavior regardless of time elapsed, this is called:
- Intermittent reinforcement
- Continuous reinforcement (CRF) (Correct answer)
- Differential reinforcement
- Delayed reinforcement
Correct answer: Continuous reinforcement (CRF)
Continuous reinforcement (CRF) means every occurrence of the target behavior is reinforced, which is ideal for initial skill acquisition.
ABA Behavioral Principles and Concepts 2
Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest and most consistent rate of responding?