RBT Skill Acquisition Programs 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a 'pivotal skill' targeted in Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)?
- Naming colors on flashcards
- Motivation to initiate and respond to multiple cues (Correct answer)
- Memorizing a fixed sequence of steps
- Sitting quietly for 10 minutes
Correct answer: Motivation to initiate and respond to multiple cues
PRT targets pivotal areas such as motivation, responsivity to multiple cues, self-management, and social initiations because gains in these areas produce widespread collateral improvements.
Question 2: When a skill acquisition program specifies 'two consecutive sessions at 80% or above,' this criterion represents the:
- Baseline data requirement
- Mastery criterion for moving to a new target (Correct answer)
- Minimum prompt level allowed
- Maintenance schedule
Correct answer: Mastery criterion for moving to a new target
A mastery criterion defines the level of performance (accuracy and/or consistency) the learner must reach before a target is considered learned and a new target is introduced.
Question 3: A learner has mastered requesting 'cookie' in training but never uses this skill during snack time at school. The BEST next step is to:
- Remove the skill from the program because it is mastered
- Program for generalization by practicing the request during natural snack routines (Correct answer)
- Add more massed trials of requesting cookie in the therapy room
- Provide extinction during snack time to eliminate competing behaviors
Correct answer: Program for generalization by practicing the request during natural snack routines
Generalization programming ensures learned skills occur in natural environments, so training in the context where the skill is needed is essential.
Question 4: Which verbal operant involves a speaker naming a stimulus in the environment without being explicitly asked?
- Mand
- Echoic
- Tact (Correct answer)
- Intraverbal
Correct answer: Tact
A tact is a verbal operant evoked by a non-verbal stimulus (object, event, or property) and maintained by generalized conditioned reinforcement.
Question 5: During a skill acquisition session an error occurs. The RBT immediately uses a 4-step error correction procedure: interrupt, prompt, transfer, and reinforce. What is the purpose of the 'transfer trial'?
- To deliver punishment for the error
- To confirm the learner can emit the correct response with a prompt before attempting it independently again (Correct answer)
- To restart the entire task analysis
- To record the error on the data sheet
Correct answer: To confirm the learner can emit the correct response with a prompt before attempting it independently again
The transfer trial (often a simple 'known' SD) verifies the learner is attending and responding correctly with the prompt before receiving another independent opportunity.
Question 6: An RBT is teaching receptive identification of animals. The learner consistently selects 'dog' correctly when it is the only picture on the table. To build a true discrimination, the RBT should:
- Increase reinforcement size for correct responses
- Add distractor stimuli so the learner must choose among multiple options (Correct answer)
- Remove the picture and use verbal-only instructions
- Lengthen the inter-trial interval
Correct answer: Add distractor stimuli so the learner must choose among multiple options
A true receptive discrimination requires the learner to select the target from among distractor stimuli, demonstrating they are responding to the specific stimulus rather than guessing.
Question 7: Which of the following describes the role of the RBT when a skill acquisition program is not producing expected progress?
- Independently modify the program to a procedure they believe will work better
- Continue implementing the current program exactly and report the lack of progress to the supervising BCBA (Correct answer)
- Discontinue the program until the next scheduled supervision meeting
- Ask the caregiver to choose a new intervention approach
Correct answer: Continue implementing the current program exactly and report the lack of progress to the supervising BCBA
RBTs implement programs as designed and report concerns about effectiveness to their supervising BCBA, who is responsible for program modification decisions.
RBT Skill Acquisition Programs 5
Which of the following is an example of a 'pivotal skill' targeted in Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)?