Applied Behavior Analysis Foundations & Principles Flashcards

A 'motivating operation' (MO) in ABA is defined as an environmental variable that:

Answer: Alters the reinforcing or punishing effectiveness of a stimulus and the frequency of behaviors related to that stimulus

Motivating operations have two effects: they alter the value of a stimulus as a reinforcer or punisher (value-altering effect) and they alter the frequency of behaviors that have produced that stimulus (behavior-altering effect).

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'shaping' in ABA?

Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior until the full behavior is achieved

Shaping involves the differential reinforcement of successive approximations toward a terminal behavior, gradually requiring closer and closer responses to the final target.

The concept of 'chaining' is used to teach behaviors that consist of:

Answer: A sequence of individual stimulus-response components linked together

Chaining is used to teach behaviors that involve a sequence of discrete responses, where each response serves as the discriminative stimulus for the next response in the chain.

In behavior analysis, 'stimulus control' is said to exist when:

Answer: The probability of a behavior is higher in the presence of a specific stimulus than in its absence

Stimulus control is demonstrated when a specific discriminative stimulus reliably increases the probability of a behavior occurring relative to other stimulus conditions.

Which of the following best defines 'response generalization'?

Answer: Performing different but functionally similar responses to achieve the same outcome

Response generalization occurs when a variety of responses, different from but topographically similar to the trained response, produce the same reinforcer or outcome.

The principle of 'parsimony' in behavior analysis suggests that a behavior analyst should:

Answer: Favor the simplest, most straightforward explanation or intervention before considering more complex ones

Parsimony requires that behavior analysts rule out simpler explanations and use less intrusive interventions before implementing more complex or restrictive ones.

Which of the following best illustrates 'behavioral momentum'?

Answer: Presenting easy, high-probability requests before a difficult, low-probability request to increase compliance

Behavioral momentum involves presenting a series of high-probability (easy) requests to build a pattern of compliance before introducing a low-probability (difficult) request, increasing the likelihood of compliance.