Behavior and functions
Every time a learner throws materials, the RBT removes the difficult task. The learner continues throwing materials whenever difficult tasks are presented. What is the most likely function of the behavior?
What is escape?
What is pairing and rapport building?
An RBT does this by associating themselves with fun activities and preferred items to become a source of reinforcement.
This teaching method involves breaking a skill into small steps and teaching each step systematically, often with repeated practice.
DTT
What is Aba?
This is the science of understanding and changing behavior using principles of learning
A learner begins crying when presented with a difficult task, and the task is removed. If the crying is maintained by escaping the task, this is the likely function of the behavior.
Escape
During a session, a learner is asked to complete a difficult math worksheet. The learner immediately begins screaming and pushing the worksheet away. The RBT removes the worksheet and tells the learner they can take a break. When the worksheet is presented again 10 minutes later, the learner engages in the same behavior, and the RBT again removes the worksheet. Based on the pattern, what is the most likely function of the behavior, and what consequence may be strengthening it?
The likely function is escape from a demand or difficult task. Removing the worksheet and providing a break may be reinforcing the behavior through negative reinforcement, because the learner's behavior results in the difficult task being removed.
A learner frequently engages in challenging behavior when asked to complete difficult tasks. Before presenting the task, the RBT offers the learner a choice between completing the task at the table or on the floor. The learner chooses the floor and completes the task without challenging behavior. What type of antecedent intervention is being used?
Offering choices
A learner is learning to wash their hands. The RBT breaks the skill into individual steps, such as turning on the water, getting soap, and rinsing their hands. What teaching procedure is being used?
What is a task analysis?
What is Reinforcement?
This occurs when a consequence increases the future likelihood of a behavior.
An RBT is teaching a learner to answer the question, "What is your name?" The RBT immediately says the learner's name after every SD, and the learner repeats it correctly. The RBT records each trial as independent because the learner said the correct answer. After several sessions, the RBT stops providing the verbal prompt, and the learner no longer responds. What was the RBT's mistake, and what concept does this scenario demonstrate?
The RBT incorrectly recorded prompted responses as independent responses. The learner had not demonstrated true independent mastery. This scenario demonstrates prompt dependency and highlights the importance of accurately recording prompt levels and systematically fading prompts to transfer stimulus control to the SD.
The four common functions of behavior are attention, escape, access to tangibles, and this.
Automatic Reinforcement
During a session, an RBT notices that a learner's challenging behavior has increased significantly. The RBT's friend, who is not part of the learner's treatment team, asks what is happening and wants to know details about the learner's diagnosis and behavior. The RBT wants to explain the situation but knows the friend does not have permission to access the learner's information. What ethical responsibility should guide the RBT's response?
The RBT should protect the learner's confidentiality and privacy and not share identifying or confidential information with someone who is not authorized to receive it. The RBT should only disclose information to individuals who have a legitimate need to know and follow applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
An RBT is teaching a learner to independently brush their teeth. The skill is broken into a sequence of smaller steps. The RBT teaches the learner to complete the first step independently while completing the remaining steps for them. Once the first step is mastered, the learner is taught to complete the first two steps independently, and so on. What chaining procedure is being used?
Forward Chaining
A learner completes a task, and the RBT gives them access to their favorite toy. The learner is more likely to complete the task in the future. This is an example of what type of reinforcement?
Positive Reinforcement
A learner is taught to appropriately request a break by saying, "Can I have a break?" After training, the learner begins appropriately requesting breaks by saying "I need a break," "Break please," and "Can I stop for a minute?" even though the RBT only directly taught one of these responses. What type of generalization is demonstrated?
Response generalization
learner frequently calls out during group instruction. When the learner calls out, the teacher immediately responds and talks to them. The behavior increases over time. Based on this pattern, what is the likely function of the behavior, and what consequence may be maintaining it?
What is attention?
A learner earns one token for every appropriate response during a session. The learner must earn 5 tokens before exchanging them for 5 minutes of access to a preferred video game. The RBT notices the learner is motivated to earn tokens and begins completing tasks more consistently. What are the tokens called, and what is the video game called in this token economy system?
The tokens are conditioned reinforcers, and the video game is the backup reinforcer.
An RBT is teaching a learner to identify the letter "A." Initially, the RBT points directly to the correct letter every time the SD is presented. Over time, the RBT gradually reduces the intensity of the pointing prompt until the learner responds correctly without assistance. What procedure is being used, and what is the RBT attempting to establish?
Prompt fading
An RBT records how often a learner engages in hand-flapping during a session. The RBT is collecting data on this measurable aspect of behavior. What is it called?
Frequency
During session, a learner reaches for a preferred toy. The RBT says, "First clean up, then you can have the toy." The learner cleans up and immediately receives the toy. What ABA concept is demonstrated in this scenario?
Pre-Mack Principle / First, then contingency
During a group activity, a learner frequently makes inappropriate comments. When the RBT ignores the comments, the learner begins making the comments louder and then knocks materials off the table. The RBT responds by talking to the learner and helping them clean up. The behavior continues to occur during group activities. Based on this pattern, what is the most likely function of the behavior, and what additional information would be important to collect before making a definitive conclusion?
The behavior may be maintained by attention, because the learner receives interaction from the RBT following the behavior. However, the RBT should collect ABC data and other relevant data to identify patterns and avoid assuming the function based on observation alone. The behavior could also have multiple functions, so additional assessment may be necessary.
During a home session, an RBT's client begins engaging in severe problem behavior. The client's parent becomes frustrated and tells the RBT, "Just hold them down so they stop. I don't care what the behavior plan says." The RBT knows that physical restraint is not part of the learner's behavior plan and that they have not been trained or authorized to use it. What should the RBT do?
The RBT should not use an unapproved or unauthorized procedure. They should follow the learner's current behavior plan, use the interventions they are trained and authorized to implement, prioritize safety, and contact their supervisor/BCBA for guidance. The RBT should also document and report the incident according to organizational procedures.
An RBT is teaching a learner to identify pictures of animals. Before presenting the SD, the RBT immediately provides a prompt that ensures the learner selects the correct picture. Across trials, the RBT systematically reduces the level of prompting as the learner demonstrates success. What teaching procedure is being used
Errorless teaching
An RBT observes that a learner engages in aggression most often when asked to transition away from a preferred activity. The RBT begins collecting data on what happens immediately before and after the aggression. What type of assessment or data collection is the RBT using to identify patterns in the behavior?
What is a functional behavior assessment?
During a session, a learner refuses to complete a task. The RBT says, "If you stop crying, I'll give you your iPad." The learner immediately stops crying and receives the iPad. Later, the learner begins crying again whenever a difficult task is presented. Was the RBT's response effective reinforcement, bribery, or something else? Explain what may have happened to the learner's behavior.
The consequence may have reinforced the crying/refusal behavior because the learner received access to the iPad after engaging in the behavior. The key issue is the timing and contingency: the iPad may have strengthened the problem behavior rather than reinforcing an appropriate alternative response. The RBT should follow the behavior plan and reinforce appropriate replacement behaviors.