ABAT ABAT Reinforcement Systems and Token Economies 4

Question 1

A student earns tokens for completing math problems but stops responding when tokens are no longer exchangeable for backup reinforcers. This illustrates that tokens function as:

Accepted Answer

Conditioned reinforcers

Answer

Tokens are conditioned (secondary) reinforcers that acquire value through pairing with backup reinforcers (primary or other conditioned reinforcers).

Question 2

In a token economy, a child consistently hoards tokens rather than exchanging them. The BEST initial intervention is to:

Accepted Answer

Shorten the exchange interval so tokens are cashed in more frequently

Answer

Shortening the exchange interval reduces the delay to reinforcement, making the backup reinforcers more motivating and preventing hoarding.

Question 3

Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest overall rate of responding but makes the behavior most vulnerable to extinction?

Accepted Answer

Fixed ratio

Answer

Fixed ratio schedules produce high rates of responding but also a post-reinforcement pause and faster extinction compared to variable schedules.

Question 4

A teacher wants to use differential reinforcement to increase a student's on-task behavior. Which procedure delivers reinforcement only when the student is on-task at the moment of observation?

Accepted Answer

DRO

Answer

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) delivers reinforcement when the target behavior has not occurred during a set interval, which at the moment of delivery means the student is engaging in other (often on-task) behavior.

Question 5

During token economy implementation, a practitioner notices that some backup reinforcers have lost their reinforcing value for a learner. This is MOST likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Satiation

Answer

Satiation occurs when a learner has had excessive access to a reinforcer, reducing its effectiveness as a motivating operation.

(ABAT) Applied Behavior Analysis Test Practice Test

(ABAT) Applied Behavior Analysis Test Practice Test

ABAT ABAT Reinforcement Systems and Token Economies 4