BCABA Verbal Behavior and Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Functional communication training (FCT) teaches clients to:
- Use an appropriate communicative response that accesses the same reinforcer as the problem behavior (Correct answer)
- Eliminate all problem behavior through punishment
- Learn complex language grammar rules
- Respond to social stories about appropriate behavior
Correct answer: Use an appropriate communicative response that accesses the same reinforcer as the problem behavior
FCT replaces problem behavior by teaching a communicative response (e.g., sign, PECS, speech) that earns the same maintaining reinforcer.
Question 2: A child has mastered tacting objects but struggles to answer 'what do you do with a spoon?' This deficit is in which verbal operant?
- Intraverbal (Correct answer)
- Tact
- Mand
- Echoic
Correct answer: Intraverbal
Answering questions about object functions requires intraverbal behavior — a verbal response to a verbal stimulus without point-to-point correspondence.
Question 3: Stimulus generalization in verbal behavior occurs when:
- A learned verbal response occurs to novel but similar stimuli (Correct answer)
- The client responds differently to all new stimuli
- Only the trained stimulus controls the verbal response
- A verbal response is reinforced in one setting only
Correct answer: A learned verbal response occurs to novel but similar stimuli
Stimulus generalization means the verbal behavior trained with one stimulus extends to untrained stimuli that share similar properties.
Question 4: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is PRIMARILY designed to teach which verbal operant first?
- Manding (Correct answer)
- Tacting
- Intraverbal responding
- Echoic behavior
Correct answer: Manding
PECS Phase I–III focuses on initiating requests (mands) by exchanging pictures to obtain desired items, leveraging motivating operations.
Question 5: Which augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system uses a grid display of symbols the client touches to generate speech output?
- Speech-generating device (SGD) (Correct answer)
- PECS
- Sign language
- Social story
Correct answer: Speech-generating device (SGD)
Speech-generating devices (SGDs) produce synthesized or recorded speech when the user activates symbols on a display, supporting expressive communication.
Question 6: Verbal behavior intervention in ABA differs from traditional language therapy primarily because it:
- Focuses on the function of language (operant class) rather than topography alone (Correct answer)
- Uses only sign language to develop communication
- Relies exclusively on spontaneous language in natural settings
- Avoids using reinforcement to teach language skills
Correct answer: Focuses on the function of language (operant class) rather than topography alone
ABA-based verbal behavior intervention analyzes and targets the functional verbal operants (mand, tact, intraverbal) rather than only the form of language.
BCABA Verbal Behavior and Communication 2
Functional communication training (FCT) teaches clients to: