ABA Reinforcement Schedules & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A behavior analyst is using a high-probability (high-p) request sequence before a low-p request. The purpose of this procedure is to:
- Punish noncompliance with low-p requests
- Build behavioral momentum to increase compliance with the low-p request (Correct answer)
- Establish a new reinforcer for the target behavior
- Reduce the reinforcement value of the high-p tasks
Correct answer: Build behavioral momentum to increase compliance with the low-p request
High-p sequences build behavioral momentum by reinforcing a series of easy, high-compliance requests immediately before delivering a more difficult request.
Question 2: In a multiple schedule, the same organism is exposed to two or more different simple schedules in alternation, each correlated with a different:
- Response topography
- Discriminative stimulus (Correct answer)
- Motivating operation
- Reinforcer magnitude
Correct answer: Discriminative stimulus
In a multiple schedule, each component schedule is signaled by a distinct discriminative stimulus (SD), allowing the organism to discriminate which schedule is in effect.
Question 3: When a behavior maintained on a variable interval schedule is placed on extinction, what pattern of responding is typically observed?
- Immediate and abrupt cessation of responding
- Rapid burst followed by quick drop to zero
- Slow, gradual decline with high resistance to extinction (Correct answer)
- An immediate increase in rate followed by complete stopping
Correct answer: Slow, gradual decline with high resistance to extinction
Variable interval schedules produce gradual extinction curves because the organism has experienced unpredictable delays in reinforcement and thus persists longer without it.
Question 4: A BCBA uses a procedure where reinforcement is only available during certain time periods, signaled by the presence of a specific stimulus. Between those periods, no reinforcement is available. This is a(n):
- Mixed schedule
- Multiple schedule (Correct answer)
- Conjunctive schedule
- Tandem schedule
Correct answer: Multiple schedule
A multiple schedule presents two or more component schedules in alternation, each correlated with a distinct discriminative stimulus that signals which component is active.
Question 5: Intermittent reinforcement during initial skill acquisition may hinder learning because:
- It delivers too many reinforcers, causing satiation
- The learner cannot clearly discriminate which responses produce reinforcement (Correct answer)
- It requires too much effort from the practitioner
- Intermittent schedules are only appropriate for behavior reduction
Correct answer: The learner cannot clearly discriminate which responses produce reinforcement
During initial acquisition, continuous reinforcement (CRF) is preferred because each correct response is reinforced, making the contingency clear and accelerating learning.
Question 6: A token economy in which a student loses tokens for misbehavior is using which contingency?
- Negative reinforcement
- Response cost (Correct answer)
- Extinction
- Noncontingent reinforcement
Correct answer: Response cost
Response cost is a form of negative punishment in which a specified amount of a conditioned reinforcer (e.g., tokens) is removed contingent on a target behavior.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'concurrent schedule of reinforcement'?
- Two schedules delivered sequentially, one at a time
- Two or more independent schedules available simultaneously for two or more behaviors (Correct answer)
- A schedule that alternates between reinforcement and extinction
- A single schedule applied across multiple settings
Correct answer: Two or more independent schedules available simultaneously for two or more behaviors
Concurrent schedules make two or more independent reinforcement schedules available at the same time, each associated with a different response option.
ABA Reinforcement Schedules & Procedures 3
A behavior analyst is using a high-probability (high-p) request sequence before a low-p request.
The purpose of this procedure is to: