RBT Behavior Reduction Test #1 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which extinction procedure is used when a behavior is maintained by attention?

Withholding the tangible item contingent on the behavior
Providing escape from demands contingent on the behavior
Removing all social attention following the behavior (Correct answer)
Blocking the sensory consequence of the behavior

Correct answer: Removing all social attention following the behavior

When a behavior is maintained by attention (social positive reinforcement), extinction involves withholding all attention (including reprimands, eye contact, and verbal responses) following the behavior.

Extinction is defined as the discontinuation of the reinforcing consequence that has been maintaining a behavior. The specific extinction procedure therefore depends on the function of the behavior identified through the functional behavior assessment. For attention-maintained behavior, extinction means withholding all forms of social attention contingent on the behavior. This includes obvious attention (looking, talking, comforting) and subtle attention (sighs, glances, brief verbal corrections). Even negative attention can maintain behavior if attention is the reinforcer. Extinction is most effective when it is implemented consistently across all people and settings in the learner's environment. If even occasional attention is provided following the behavior, the behavior can be maintained on an intermittent schedule, which is highly resistant to extinction. RBTs should understand that extinction alone is rarely the recommended strategy. It is almost always combined with differential reinforcement of alternative or incompatible behaviors so that the learner has an appropriate way to access the same reinforcer.

Question 2: An RBT provides the highest-quality reinforcement for the absence of problem behavior and withholds reinforcement when the problem behavior occurs. Which procedure is this?

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA)
Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) (Correct answer)
Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI)
Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL)

Correct answer: Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)

DRO provides reinforcement for the absence of the target problem behavior during a specified interval. Reinforcement is given when the behavior has NOT occurred, not for a specific alternative response.

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) involves providing reinforcement at the end of a preset interval if the target problem behavior did NOT occur during that interval. It reinforces the omission of the behavior rather than any particular replacement behavior. For example, if the interval is 5 minutes and the client engages in self-injury at the 3-minute mark, the timer is reset and no reinforcement is given at the 5-minute mark. If the client goes the full 5 minutes without self-injury, reinforcement is delivered and the next interval begins. DRO is classified as a differential reinforcement procedure because reinforcement is delivered differentially — contingent on the absence of the problem behavior. A common variation is resetting the interval following each instance of the behavior, maintaining the requirement for a full interval of no problem behavior. DRO does not specify what the client should do during the interval — any behavior other than the problem behavior results in reinforcement. This is a distinction from DRA (which reinforces a specific alternative behavior) and DRI (which reinforces a specific behavior physically incompatible with the problem behavior).

Question 3: During which phase of a behavioral crisis does the client typically reach peak arousal?

Trigger phase
Escalation phase
Peak phase (Correct answer)
Recovery phase

Correct answer: Peak phase

The peak phase (sometimes called the 'acting-out' or 'crisis' phase) represents the point of maximum behavioral intensity during a crisis cycle, when the client is at the highest level of agitation or aggression.

The Escalation Cycle (also called the Acting-Out Cycle, originally described by Geoff Colvin) consists of phases: calm, trigger, agitation/escalation, peak, de-escalation/recovery, and calm again. The peak phase is when the behavior reaches its maximum intensity and can be most dangerous. During the peak phase, crisis intervention techniques such as physical management (if trained and approved) may be needed to ensure safety. The goal during peak is primarily to keep everyone safe, not to attempt teaching or extensive verbal instruction. Understanding the phases of a crisis cycle allows RBTs to recognize early warning signs (agitation phase) and intervene proactively before the client reaches the peak. Early intervention is safer and more effective than attempting to intervene during peak behavior. RBTs should be trained in their organization's approved crisis protocols and should document crisis incidents accurately and promptly. They should only use approved procedures and never exceed their scope of practice during crisis situations.

Question 4: Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) as a behavior reduction strategy works primarily by:

Punishing the problem behavior immediately after it occurs
Delivering the maintaining reinforcer on a fixed schedule regardless of behavior, thereby reducing motivation to engage in the problem behavior (Correct answer)
Blocking access to the maintaining reinforcer entirely
Training an incompatible replacement behavior

Correct answer: Delivering the maintaining reinforcer on a fixed schedule regardless of behavior, thereby reducing motivation to engage in the problem behavior

NCR delivers the reinforcer that maintains the problem behavior on a time-based schedule, independent of behavior. This reduces the motivating operation for the problem behavior by providing the reinforcer freely.

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) involves delivering the maintaining reinforcer on a fixed-time (FT) or variable-time (VT) schedule, completely independent of the learner's behavior. Because the reinforcer is delivered freely, the motivating operation (the deprivation state that makes the reinforcer effective) is reduced. For example, if a client engages in aggression to get attention, and attention is delivered every 5 minutes regardless of behavior, the client is less deprived of attention and therefore less motivated to engage in aggression to get it. Research consistently shows NCR reduces problem behavior, particularly for attention- and tangible-maintained behavior. NCR is often implemented as an antecedent intervention because it reduces the establishing operation before the problem behavior occurs. Over time, the NCR schedule can be thinned (stretched) as the problem behavior decreases, eventually approaching naturally occurring rates of reinforcement delivery. NCR is considered an evidence-based practice by BACB and is listed as a function-based antecedent intervention. RBTs should implement NCR exactly as prescribed, maintaining the schedule carefully rather than allowing it to drift toward contingent delivery.

Question 5: Which of the following is an example of response blocking as a behavior reduction strategy?

Withholding a preferred item when challenging behavior occurs
Physically preventing a client from completing a self-injurious behavior without providing any other consequence (Correct answer)
Removing the client from the environment when problem behavior occurs
Ignoring the behavior and attending to a peer who is behaving appropriately

Correct answer: Physically preventing a client from completing a self-injurious behavior without providing any other consequence

Response blocking physically prevents the completion of a behavior (e.g., intercepting a hand before it reaches the head) without providing any additional planned consequence. It is used to prevent harm while minimizing inadvertent reinforcement.

Response blocking is a procedure in which the therapist physically intervenes to prevent a behavior from being completed. The most common application is blocking self-injurious behavior (SIB) — for example, intercepting a client's arm before their hand makes contact with their head during head-hitting. Response blocking is typically used when the behavior poses a safety risk and when it is not possible to simply wait for extinction to work. The key feature is that blocking prevents the behavior but does not intentionally add a punishing or reinforcing consequence. Care must be taken in implementation because the physical contact involved in blocking may itself be reinforcing (if the client's behavior is attention-maintained) or aversive (potentially creating a dangerous situation). The BCBA must carefully analyze the function and design the blocking procedure accordingly. RBTs should only use response blocking procedures they have been specifically trained on and that are included in the approved behavior intervention plan. Unauthorized use of physical intervention procedures can cause harm and has ethical and legal implications.

Question 6: What is the MOST important consideration before implementing any punishment procedure with a client?

Making sure the procedure is easy for the RBT to implement
Ensuring that less restrictive interventions have been tried first and that informed consent has been obtained (Correct answer)
Confirming that the behavior is severe enough to require immediate action
Checking that other staff are present to observe

Correct answer: Ensuring that less restrictive interventions have been tried first and that informed consent has been obtained

Ethical guidelines require that the least restrictive effective procedures be tried first, and informed consent must always be obtained before using punishment procedures. RBTs never implement punishment without BCBA oversight and consent.

The ethical framework of ABA, as outlined in the BACB Ethics Code, requires that behavior analysts (and those working under their supervision) prioritize client wellbeing and use the least restrictive effective interventions. Punishment procedures are never the first choice. Before a punishment procedure is implemented, the BCBA must: (1) conduct a functional behavior assessment, (2) attempt reinforcement-based interventions first, (3) demonstrate that less restrictive procedures have been tried and are insufficient, (4) obtain informed consent from the client (if able) and/or caregivers/guardians, and (5) have organizational review and approval in many settings. RBTs should never implement punishment procedures on their own initiative. All punishment procedures must be written into an approved behavior intervention plan (BIP) by the supervising BCBA and RBTs must receive specific training on each procedure before implementing it. The requirement for informed consent is non-negotiable. Clients and caregivers have the right to understand any procedures being used, their potential side effects, and their alternatives. Proceeding without consent is an ethical violation.

RBT Behavior Reduction Test #1 2

Which extinction procedure is used when a behavior is maintained by attention?