ABA Reinforcement Schedules & Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A child receives a token every 5 minutes if they are on-task, regardless of how many correct responses they've made. Which schedule is in use?
- Fixed ratio
- Variable interval
- Fixed interval (Correct answer)
- Variable ratio
Correct answer: Fixed interval
Fixed interval schedules deliver reinforcement after a set amount of time has elapsed since the last reinforcement, independent of response count.
Question 2: Which reinforcement schedule is most associated with a 'post-reinforcement pause' followed by a high, steady rate of responding?
- Variable ratio
- Fixed ratio (Correct answer)
- Variable interval
- Fixed interval
Correct answer: Fixed ratio
Fixed ratio schedules produce a characteristic post-reinforcement pause because the organism 'knows' reinforcement just occurred and responding temporarily drops.
Question 3: In a VR-10 schedule, which of the following best describes when reinforcement is delivered?
- After every 10th response
- After an average of 10 responses, unpredictably (Correct answer)
- After 10 minutes on average
- After the first response following 10 minutes
Correct answer: After an average of 10 responses, unpredictably
A variable ratio 10 schedule delivers reinforcement after an average of 10 responses, but the exact number varies unpredictably around that average.
Question 4: A practitioner wants to reduce a behavior as slowly as possible during extinction by choosing the most extinction-resistant schedule. Which should they have been using?
- Fixed interval
- Fixed ratio
- Continuous reinforcement
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce the greatest resistance to extinction because the unpredictability of reinforcement maintains high, persistent responding.
Question 5: During a DRL procedure, a learner must refrain from the target behavior for at least 30 seconds before that behavior is reinforced. What does DRL stand for?
- Differential reinforcement of low rates (Correct answer)
- Differential reinforcement of lacking responses
- Differential reinforcement of latency
- Delayed reinforcement of low behavior
Correct answer: Differential reinforcement of low rates
DRL (differential reinforcement of low rates) reinforces a behavior only when it occurs at or below a specified low rate or after a minimum inter-response time.
Question 6: A teacher gives a student praise after completing each math problem. Over time, the teacher begins requiring 2 problems, then 3, then 5 before praise is given. This gradual increase is called:
- Schedule thinning (Correct answer)
- Shaping
- Chaining
- Fading
Correct answer: Schedule thinning
Schedule thinning refers to systematically increasing the response requirement or time between reinforcers to move toward more naturalistic, lean schedules.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) schedule?
- Praising a student only when they raise their hand
- Delivering preferred items every 3 minutes regardless of behavior (Correct answer)
- Providing reinforcement after every 5 correct responses
- Giving tokens only during quiet, on-task periods
Correct answer: Delivering preferred items every 3 minutes regardless of behavior
NCR delivers reinforcers on a time-based schedule independent of the learner's behavior, which can reduce problem behavior by abolishing its motivating operation.
ABA Reinforcement Schedules & Procedures 2
A child receives a token every 5 minutes if they are on-task, regardless of how many correct responses they've made.
Which schedule is in use?