ABAT Core ABA Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals to an organism that:
- Punishment is available for the upcoming behavior
- Extinction is in effect for the current response
- Reinforcement is available for a particular behavior (Correct answer)
- A motivating operation has been eliminated
Correct answer: Reinforcement is available for a particular behavior
The SD is a stimulus in the presence of which a particular behavior has been reinforced in the past, making the behavior more likely to occur.
Question 2: Stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination differ in that:
- Generalization is reinforced while discrimination is punished
- Discrimination requires multiple SDs while generalization does not
- Generalization involves responding to stimuli similar to the SD; discrimination involves responding only in the presence of the SD (Correct answer)
- Generalization requires prompts while discrimination is always unprompted
Correct answer: Generalization involves responding to stimuli similar to the SD; discrimination involves responding only in the presence of the SD
Generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the trained SD, whereas discrimination is confining responding specifically to the SD.
Question 3: A therapist demonstrates washing hands step-by-step and the learner then performs the same sequence. The therapist used which type of prompt?
- Physical prompt
- Gestural prompt
- Model prompt (Correct answer)
- Textual prompt
Correct answer: Model prompt
A model prompt involves demonstrating the target behavior for the learner to imitate.
Question 4: In least-to-most (LTM) prompting, the practitioner:
- Starts with the most intrusive prompt and reduces intrusiveness over trials
- Starts with the least intrusive prompt and increases intrusiveness only if the learner does not respond correctly (Correct answer)
- Fades prompts based on the latency of the learner's response
- Provides a full physical prompt for every trial regardless of performance
Correct answer: Starts with the least intrusive prompt and increases intrusiveness only if the learner does not respond correctly
LTM prompting begins with the least supportive prompt and escalates only when necessary, allowing opportunities for independent responding.
Question 5: Shaping is defined as:
- Chaining behaviors together in a specific sequence
- Using physical guidance to move the learner through a behavior
- Differentially reinforcing successive approximations toward a terminal behavior (Correct answer)
- Presenting a discriminative stimulus before each discrete trial
Correct answer: Differentially reinforcing successive approximations toward a terminal behavior
Shaping uses differential reinforcement to gradually shift responding toward a target behavior by reinforcing closer and closer approximations.
Question 6: In forward chaining, the practitioner:
- Teaches the last step of the chain first
- Teaches all steps simultaneously from the beginning
- Teaches the first step first and adds subsequent steps sequentially (Correct answer)
- Randomizes step order across teaching trials
Correct answer: Teaches the first step first and adds subsequent steps sequentially
Forward chaining begins instruction with the first step in the task analysis and adds steps in order as each is mastered.
Question 7: Stimulus fading involves:
- Gradually eliminating reinforcement after a behavior is learned
- Gradually changing a stimulus dimension to transfer stimulus control while maintaining correct responding (Correct answer)
- Rapidly shifting from a prompted to an unprompted condition
- Presenting stimuli in random order to build generalization
Correct answer: Gradually changing a stimulus dimension to transfer stimulus control while maintaining correct responding
Stimulus fading systematically alters a property of the stimulus (e.g., color, size, intensity) across trials to achieve stimulus control without errors.
ABAT Core ABA Principles 3
A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals to an organism that: