ABAT FREE Foundational Knowledge Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a behavior is reinforced only when it occurs in the presence of a specific stimulus, that stimulus becomes a:
- Motivating operation
- Discriminative stimulus (SD) (Correct answer)
- Conditioned punisher
- Abolishing operation
Correct answer: Discriminative stimulus (SD)
A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals that reinforcement is available, increasing the probability of the behavior in its presence.
Question 2: Which function of behavior involves engaging in a behavior to gain access to a preferred item or activity from another person?
- Automatic reinforcement
- Escape/avoidance
- Attention
- Tangible/access (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Tangible/access
Tangible or access-maintained behavior is reinforced by obtaining a preferred item, activity, or sensory experience mediated by others.
Question 3: Stimulus generalization occurs when:
- A behavior is reinforced across multiple settings
- A response occurs to stimuli similar to the original training stimulus (Correct answer)
- Multiple topographies of a behavior are reinforced
- A previously punished behavior returns after a rest period
Correct answer: A response occurs to stimuli similar to the original training stimulus
Stimulus generalization is the tendency for a conditioned response to occur in the presence of stimuli resembling the original discriminative stimulus.
Question 4: A BCBA adds a response cost component to a token economy, meaning:
- Tokens are given at a fixed ratio
- Tokens are removed contingent on target behavior (Correct answer)
- Tokens are exchanged for backup reinforcers
- Tokens are delivered on a variable schedule
Correct answer: Tokens are removed contingent on target behavior
Response cost involves removing a specified number of tokens contingent on an inappropriate behavior, functioning as negative punishment.
Question 5: Which concept explains why a behavior that has been reinforced many times is more resistant to extinction than one reinforced only a few times?
- Behavioral momentum (Correct answer)
- Behavioral contrast
- Overjustification effect
- Latent inhibition
Correct answer: Behavioral momentum
Behavioral momentum refers to the persistence of behavior in the face of disruption, which is greater when a behavior has a high history of reinforcement.
Question 6: In ABA, the term 'topography' refers to:
- The rate at which a behavior occurs
- The physical form or shape of a behavior (Correct answer)
- The environmental context of behavior
- The function served by a behavior
Correct answer: The physical form or shape of a behavior
Topography describes the physical characteristics or form of a behavior — what it actually looks like when performed.
Question 7: Which intervention strategy involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior?
- Chaining
- Shaping (Correct answer)
- Prompting
- Fading
Correct answer: Shaping
Shaping uses differential reinforcement of successive approximations to gradually guide behavior toward a terminal target.
ABAT FREE Foundational Knowledge Questions and Answers 4
When a behavior is reinforced only when it occurs in the presence of a specific stimulus, that stimulus becomes a: