RBT - Registered Behavior Technician Discrete Trial Teaching Methods 1

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of the inter-trial interval (ITI) in discrete trial teaching?

Accepted Answer

To provide a brief pause between trials so the client can reset attention before the next SD

Answer

The ITI is a short pause between the consequence of one trial and the presentation of the next SD. It helps prevent confusion between trials and allows the client's attention to reset before the new learning opportunity begins.

Question 2

An RBT begins teaching a child to name pictures by fully completing the response for the child, then later using a gesture toward the correct answer, and eventually giving no assistance at all. This progression describes which teaching procedure?

Accepted Answer

Prompt fading

Answer

Prompt fading is the systematic reduction of prompts over time so that stimulus control transfers from the prompt to the natural SD, building the client's independent responding.

Question 3

During a discrete trial, a client responds incorrectly. The RBT calmly says 'No,' pauses briefly, then re-presents the same SD paired with a physical prompt to ensure the client practices the correct response. What procedure is this?

Accepted Answer

Error correction

Answer

Error correction is used after an incorrect response in DTT. The RBT provides a corrective consequence, resets the trial, and re-presents the SD with a prompt so the client practices the correct response and does not rehearse the error.

Question 4

Which of the following BEST describes 'massed trials' in discrete trial teaching?

Accepted Answer

Presenting the same SD repeatedly in succession before moving to another target

Answer

Massed trials concentrate repeated presentations of the same SD consecutively, which is useful during initial acquisition to give the client intensive practice with one specific skill before rotating targets.

Question 5

An RBT marks a '+' for each correct unprompted response and a '−' for each incorrect or prompted response on a trial-by-trial data sheet. What is the PRIMARY reason for collecting this data?

Accepted Answer

To track the client's progress toward mastery criteria and inform programming decisions

Answer

Trial-by-trial data collection in DTT allows the treatment team to objectively monitor whether the client is progressing, determine when mastery criteria are met, and make data-based decisions about modifying or advancing targets.

RBT Practice Test

RBT Practice Test

RBT - Registered Behavior Technician Discrete Trial Teaching Methods 1