ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Behavior Reduction Interventions Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of time-out involves removing the individual from the reinforcing environment to a less reinforcing setting for a brief period?
- Nonexclusionary time-out
- Exclusionary time-out (Correct answer)
- Contingent observation
- Seclusion time-out
Correct answer: Exclusionary time-out
Exclusionary time-out removes the individual from the reinforcing setting to a different, less reinforcing location.
Question 2: A behavior analyst is considering using overcorrection to reduce a child's habit of throwing objects. Which component of overcorrection requires the client to restore the environment to a better-than-original state?
- Positive practice overcorrection
- Restitutional overcorrection (Correct answer)
- Negative practice
- Response blocking
Correct answer: Restitutional overcorrection
Restitutional overcorrection requires the individual to restore the disrupted environment to a condition better than it was before the behavior.
Question 3: Under what condition is the use of punishment procedures MOST ethically justified in ABA practice?
- When the behavior analyst finds reinforcement procedures too time-consuming
- When less restrictive interventions have been tried and failed to adequately reduce dangerous behavior (Correct answer)
- When a parent or caregiver requests punishment as the first intervention
- When data collection is not feasible for the behavior
Correct answer: When less restrictive interventions have been tried and failed to adequately reduce dangerous behavior
Punishment is ethically justified only after less restrictive interventions have been attempted and found insufficient, particularly when the behavior poses significant risk.
Question 4: A behavior that was previously extinguished reappears after a period of no exposure to the extinction contingency. This is called:
- Resurgence
- Spontaneous recovery (Correct answer)
- Stimulus generalization
- Behavioral momentum
Correct answer: Spontaneous recovery
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior after a rest period without any additional reinforcement.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes the difference between a DRO and a DRI schedule?
- DRO reinforces any behavior other than the target behavior; DRI reinforces a specific behavior incompatible with the target behavior (Correct answer)
- DRO is used for self-injury; DRI is used for aggression
- DRO requires continuous recording; DRI requires interval recording
- DRO reinforces low rates; DRI reinforces the absence of behavior
Correct answer: DRO reinforces any behavior other than the target behavior; DRI reinforces a specific behavior incompatible with the target behavior
DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior) reinforces the absence of the target behavior, while DRI reinforces a response that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior.
Question 6: A practitioner removes a preferred activity contingent on a problem behavior to reduce its future occurrence. This is an example of:
- Negative punishment (response cost) (Correct answer)
- Positive punishment
- Negative reinforcement
- Extinction
Correct answer: Negative punishment (response cost)
Response cost is a form of negative punishment in which a specified amount of a reinforcer is removed contingent on a problem behavior.
Question 7: When implementing a behavior reduction plan, which factor is MOST critical to consider before selecting a punishment procedure?
- The age of the behavior analyst implementing the plan
- The function of the behavior as identified through functional assessment (Correct answer)
- The number of staff available to implement the procedure
- The time of day when the behavior most often occurs
Correct answer: The function of the behavior as identified through functional assessment
Knowing the function of the behavior allows the clinician to select interventions that address the maintaining variables and pair punishment with function-based reinforcement.
ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Behavior Reduction Interventions Questions and Answers 4
Which type of time-out involves removing the individual from the reinforcing environment to a less reinforcing setting for a brief period?