- Applied Behavior Analysis Autism Core Knowledge Questions and Answers Flashcards

A child with autism repeatedly lines up toys in a specific order and becomes distressed when this routine is disrupted. In ABA terms, this behavior is best described as:

Answer: Restricted and repetitive behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement

Repetitive, ritualistic behaviors in autism are typically maintained by automatic (sensory) reinforcement, meaning they are self-reinforcing regardless of social consequences.

During naturalistic teaching with a child with autism, an instructor uses the child's interest in trains to teach color labeling. This strategy is an example of:

Answer: Incidental teaching

Incidental teaching embeds skill instruction within naturally occurring, child-led activities or interests in the natural environment.

A behavior analyst is working to reduce a child's self-injurious behavior (SIB). Before implementing any intervention, the FIRST step should be:

Answer: Conduct a functional behavior assessment (FBA)

A functional behavior assessment must be conducted first to identify the variables maintaining SIB before designing a function-based intervention.

Which reinforcement schedule produces the HIGHEST and most consistent rate of responding and is most resistant to extinction?

Answer: Variable ratio (VR)

Variable ratio schedules produce the highest, most steady response rates and the greatest resistance to extinction because reinforcement is unpredictable.

An ABA therapist uses a prompt hierarchy moving from most-to-least intrusive prompts. Which sequence correctly represents this hierarchy?

Answer: Physical → model → verbal → gesture

Most-to-least prompt hierarchy starts with the most intrusive (physical) and systematically fades to less intrusive prompts (model, verbal, gesture) as the learner gains independence.

A student with autism has mastered a skill in the therapy room but does not perform it at school or home. This is a failure of:

Answer: Generalization

Generalization is the occurrence of learned behavior across untrained settings, people, and stimuli; failure to perform in new environments indicates a generalization deficit.

In ABA, 'shaping' refers to:

Answer: Differentially reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior

Shaping involves reinforcing behaviors that progressively resemble the final target behavior, gradually raising the criterion for reinforcement.