ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Skill Acquisition Programming Questions and Answers 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mastery criterion of '80% correct across 3 consecutive sessions with 2 different therapists' addresses which two dimensions of skill acquisition?
- Accuracy and fluency
- Accuracy and generalization across trainers (Correct answer)
- Fluency and maintenance
- Generalization across settings and stimulus control
Correct answer: Accuracy and generalization across trainers
The 80% criterion ensures accuracy, while the requirement for 2 different therapists confirms that the skill generalizes beyond a single instructor.
Question 2: Errorless learning differs from trial-and-error learning primarily because errorless learning:
- Uses a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule to reduce mistakes
- Provides prompts that prevent incorrect responses from occurring (Correct answer)
- Requires the learner to self-correct before receiving reinforcement
- Withholds reinforcement until an independent correct response is emitted
Correct answer: Provides prompts that prevent incorrect responses from occurring
Errorless learning uses immediate, controlling prompts to ensure the learner responds correctly, preventing error patterns from being practiced or reinforced.
Question 3: Which schedule of reinforcement should be used during the initial acquisition phase of a new skill to maximize learning rate?
- Fixed ratio 5 (FR5)
- Variable ratio 3 (VR3)
- Continuous reinforcement (CRF) (Correct answer)
- Fixed interval 30 seconds (FI30)
Correct answer: Continuous reinforcement (CRF)
Continuous reinforcement (CRF), where every correct response is reinforced, produces the fastest acquisition of new behaviors.
Question 4: A task analysis for tooth brushing lists 15 steps. Data show the learner independently completes steps 1–6 and 12–15 but consistently needs prompts on steps 7–11. The therapist should focus intervention on:
- All 15 steps using total task chaining to prevent skill gaps
- Steps 7–11 only, since those are the steps not yet mastered (Correct answer)
- Steps 1–6 to build momentum before approaching harder steps
- Eliminating steps 7–11 from the task analysis to simplify the chain
Correct answer: Steps 7–11 only, since those are the steps not yet mastered
Intervention should target only the steps that have not reached mastery (steps 7–11), rather than re-teaching already mastered steps and wasting instructional time.
Question 5: Response generalization is demonstrated when a learner:
- Performs the same behavior in a new setting
- Produces a different but functionally equivalent response to the same stimulus (Correct answer)
- Maintains a trained skill over time without ongoing reinforcement
- Discriminates the trained SD from similar but non-trained stimuli
Correct answer: Produces a different but functionally equivalent response to the same stimulus
Response generalization occurs when a different topography of behavior (not the trained response) is emitted in the presence of the training stimulus.
Question 6: During skill acquisition programming, 'probe trials' are typically used to:
- Provide additional reinforced practice of the target skill
- Assess whether the learner can perform the skill without prompts before instruction (Correct answer)
- Identify the most effective prompting hierarchy for a given learner
- Determine baseline rates of problem behavior during instruction
Correct answer: Assess whether the learner can perform the skill without prompts before instruction
Probe trials are unprompted test trials inserted into sessions to assess independent performance without providing reinforcement or feedback that would influence responding.
Question 7: A BCBA chooses to use a multiple exemplar training approach in a skill acquisition program. The PRIMARY goal of this approach is to:
- Reduce the total number of training trials needed to reach mastery
- Promote generalization of the skill across untrained stimuli and responses (Correct answer)
- Ensure that the discriminative stimulus remains consistent across all training sessions
- Increase response speed by varying the order of exemplars within each session
Correct answer: Promote generalization of the skill across untrained stimuli and responses
Multiple exemplar training exposes the learner to varied instances of the stimulus class and response class, which promotes both stimulus and response generalization.
ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Skill Acquisition Programming Questions and Answers 5
A mastery criterion of '80% correct across 3 consecutive sessions with 2 different therapists' addresses which two dimensions of skill acquisition?