ABA Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Stimulus control exists when a behavior occurs more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus than in its absence. Which term describes a stimulus that has been associated with reinforcement and therefore increases the probability of a response?
- Motivating operation
- Discriminative stimulus (SD) (Correct answer)
- S-delta (SΔ)
- Unconditioned stimulus
Correct answer: Discriminative stimulus (SD)
An SD (discriminative stimulus) signals that reinforcement is available, increasing the probability that the behavior will occur in its presence.
Question 2: During discrimination training, a behavior is reinforced in the presence of SD and extinguished in the presence of SΔ. What is the role of the SΔ?
- It signals that punishment is imminent
- It signals that reinforcement is not available (Correct answer)
- It functions as an unconditioned punisher
- It blocks stimulus generalization
Correct answer: It signals that reinforcement is not available
The SΔ (S-delta) signals that reinforcement is NOT available, so responses in its presence undergo extinction.
Question 3: A child learns to request 'juice' only when juice is visible and not when other drinks are present. This outcome best demonstrates which behavioral process?
- Stimulus generalization
- Stimulus discrimination (Correct answer)
- Response generalization
- Behavioral contrast
Correct answer: Stimulus discrimination
Stimulus discrimination occurs when a response is differentially emitted in the presence of one stimulus but not others.
Question 4: A practitioner uses a multiple schedule to assess stimulus control. What is a defining feature of a multiple schedule?
- Two or more schedules alternate with no signal between them
- Two or more schedules alternate with a distinct exteroceptive stimulus signaling each component (Correct answer)
- Responses on one component affect reinforcement in another
- Subjects must complete fixed requirements before changing components
Correct answer: Two or more schedules alternate with a distinct exteroceptive stimulus signaling each component
In a multiple schedule, two or more independent schedules alternate, each correlated with a distinct exteroceptive stimulus (like a light or tone).
Question 5: Which procedure involves presenting the target SD followed immediately by a prompt, then gradually removing the prompt over successive trials?
- Simultaneous prompting
- Delayed prompting
- Most-to-least prompting
- Stimulus fading (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Stimulus fading
Stimulus fading involves gradually removing or changing an added stimulus feature (prompt) across trials so the SD gains control of the response.
Question 6: Errorless learning differs from trial-and-error learning primarily because it:
- Relies on negative reinforcement to build stimulus control
- Arranges antecedent conditions to prevent errors during acquisition (Correct answer)
- Uses extinction to eliminate incorrect responses only
- Provides reinforcement following every response regardless of accuracy
Correct answer: Arranges antecedent conditions to prevent errors during acquisition
Errorless learning arranges antecedent conditions (e.g., immediate prompts) so correct responses occur from the start, minimizing or eliminating errors.
Question 7: When stimulus control is said to be 'narrow,' which of the following best describes the behavioral pattern?
- The behavior occurs across many stimuli that share the relevant feature
- The behavior occurs only in the presence of a very specific set of stimulus conditions (Correct answer)
- Generalization has fully occurred across all relevant contexts
- The response class has expanded to include multiple topographies
Correct answer: The behavior occurs only in the presence of a very specific set of stimulus conditions
Narrow stimulus control means the behavior occurs only under very limited stimulus conditions, which may indicate overly restricted generalization.
ABA Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training 1
Stimulus control exists when a behavior occurs more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus than in its absence.
Which term describes a stimulus that has been associated with reinforcement and therefore increases the probability of a response?