ABA Behavioral Principles and Concepts 2

Question 1

Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest and most consistent rate of responding?

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Discriminative stimulus (SD)

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement via postponement of an aversive event

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Stimulus discrimination

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Are more resistant to change and disruption

Answer

Behavioral momentum describes how behaviors with a high reinforcement history are more resistant to change, analogous to physical momentum.

ABA - Applied Behavior Analysis Practice Test