RBT RBT Reinforcement Strategies 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a preference assessment, the RBT presents two items and notes which item the client reaches for first. This procedure is called a:
- Single stimulus assessment
- Paired stimulus (forced choice) assessment (Correct answer)
- Multiple stimulus without replacement
- Free operant observation
Correct answer: Paired stimulus (forced choice) assessment
A paired stimulus or forced-choice preference assessment presents two items simultaneously and records which is chosen more often.
Question 2: A child only receives access to their tablet after completing homework. Over time, homework completion increases. The tablet is serving as a:
- Primary reinforcer
- Secondary reinforcer (Correct answer)
- Conditioned punisher
- Neutral stimulus
Correct answer: Secondary reinforcer
A tablet is a secondary (conditioned) reinforcer because its value is learned through association with other reinforcers, not biologically inherent.
Question 3: An RBT is working on a new skill and provides reinforcement after every correct response to build the behavior quickly. This schedule is called:
- Variable ratio
- Fixed interval
- Continuous reinforcement (CRF) (Correct answer)
- Variable interval
Correct answer: Continuous reinforcement (CRF)
Continuous reinforcement (CRF) delivers a reinforcer after every instance of the target behavior and is ideal for acquiring new skills.
Question 4: A reinforcer that is effective because of its biological importance — such as food, water, or warmth — is called a:
- Secondary reinforcer
- Conditioned reinforcer
- Primary reinforcer (Correct answer)
- Generalized reinforcer
Correct answer: Primary reinforcer
Primary reinforcers are unconditioned and do not require prior learning to function as reinforcers because they satisfy biological needs.
Question 5: When an RBT only reinforces responses that are more accurate or closer to the target behavior than previous ones, this is called:
- Chaining
- Shaping (Correct answer)
- Prompting
- Fading
Correct answer: Shaping
Shaping uses differential reinforcement of successive approximations to build a target behavior that the client cannot yet perform.
Question 6: After several sessions of pairing a specific phrase ('Great job!') with edible reinforcers, the phrase alone begins to increase behavior. The phrase has become a:
- Unconditioned reinforcer
- Conditioned reinforcer (Correct answer)
- Discriminative stimulus
- Abolishing operation
Correct answer: Conditioned reinforcer
Through repeated pairing with a primary reinforcer, the phrase acquired reinforcing properties and is now a conditioned (secondary) reinforcer.
Question 7: A client's tantrum behavior has been maintained by attention. The BCBA instructs the RBT to provide attention every 2 minutes regardless of tantrums. Over time, tantrums decrease. This outcome is best explained by:
- Extinction of the tantrum behavior
- Noncontingent reinforcement abolishing the motivating operation for attention (Correct answer)
- Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior
- Response cost reducing tantrums
Correct answer: Noncontingent reinforcement abolishing the motivating operation for attention
NCR reduces the establishing operation for the maintaining reinforcer (attention), making tantrums unnecessary to obtain it.
RBT RBT Reinforcement Strategies 5
During a preference assessment, the RBT presents two items and notes which item the client reaches for first.
This procedure is called a: