FREE Foundational Knowledge Questions and Answers Flashcards

Which term describes a stimulus that acquires reinforcing properties by being paired with an already established reinforcer?

Answer: Conditioned reinforcer

A conditioned (secondary) reinforcer gains its reinforcing value through pairing with an unconditioned or other established reinforcer.

A teacher stops nagging a student once the student begins working. The increase in on-task behavior is an example of:

Answer: Negative reinforcement

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus (nagging) contingent on a behavior, increasing that behavior.

In a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement, the pause observed after each reinforcer delivery is called:

Answer: Post-reinforcement pause

A post-reinforcement pause is the temporary cessation of responding immediately after reinforcement on fixed schedules.

Which measurement strategy captures the number of times a behavior occurs within a specific time period?

Answer: Frequency (event) recording

Frequency or event recording tallies each discrete occurrence of a behavior, yielding a count per observation period.

An ABA practitioner withholds reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior. The initial temporary increase in the behavior before it decreases is called:

Answer: Extinction burst

An extinction burst is the temporary increase in frequency, intensity, or variability of behavior when reinforcement is first discontinued.

Which type of prompt involves a practitioner physically guiding a learner through a target response?

Answer: Physical prompt

A physical prompt involves hand-over-hand or other physical contact to guide the learner's body through the desired movement.

The three-term contingency in ABA is often depicted as which sequence?

Answer: Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence

The three-term contingency (ABC) describes Antecedent conditions that precede a Behavior, followed by a Consequence.