- Applied Behavior Analysis Behavior Reduction Interventions Questions and Answers Flashcards

A teacher wants to reduce a student's out-of-seat behavior using a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement for in-seat behavior. What is the primary advantage of this approach over punishment-based interventions?

Answer: It teaches and reinforces a desired replacement behavior

Reinforcement-based interventions teach replacement behaviors, making them more effective and ethical than relying solely on punishment.

Which procedure involves presenting a mild, brief aversive stimulus contingent on a problem behavior to reduce its future occurrence?

Answer: Positive punishment

Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior recurring.

A client engages in self-injurious behavior (SIB) maintained by automatic reinforcement. Which intervention would be MOST appropriate as a first-line behavior reduction strategy?

Answer: Noncontingent delivery of sensory stimuli

When SIB is automatically reinforced, noncontingent delivery of competing sensory stimulation can reduce the reinforcing value of the SIB.

What distinguishes 'planned ignoring' from the extinction procedure?

Answer: Planned ignoring withholds social attention specifically, while extinction withholds the identified reinforcer

Planned ignoring specifically withholds social attention, whereas true extinction withholds whatever functional reinforcer maintains the behavior.

A behavior analyst implements a DRL (Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates) schedule. Which behavior pattern would result in reinforcement under a Full Session DRL?

Answer: The behavior occurs no more than 3 times in a 30-minute session

Full Session DRL delivers reinforcement at the end of a session if the total behavior count does not exceed a predetermined criterion.

When using response interruption and redirection (RIRD), what is the primary mechanism for reducing stereotypic behavior?

Answer: Interrupting the behavior and redirecting to an alternative response that competes with the stereotypy

RIRD works by interrupting stereotypic behavior and immediately prompting alternative vocal or motor responses that compete with the stereotypy.

A client's tantrum behavior has been placed on extinction. The behavior analyst observes that tantrums increase in frequency and intensity over the first week. This phenomenon is best described as:

Answer: An extinction burst

An extinction burst is a temporary increase in the rate, duration, or intensity of a behavior when reinforcement is first withheld.