Verbal Operants
This verbal operant is controlled by motivation (an MO) and gets the speaker what they want.
Mand
Before beginning services, a BCBA must obtain this from caregivers.
Informed Consent
Adding something that increases a behavior (like giving a high five).
Positive Reinforcement
A structured teaching method with quick trials and clear SDs.
DTT
Physically guiding the learner to complete the response.
Physical Prompt
Naming or labeling something you see is this verbal operant.
Tact
Accepting gifts from clients violates this ethical requirement.
Maintaining professional boundaries
Taking something away to increase a behavior (like removing demands).
Negative Reinforcement
Teaching skills during everyday activities like play.
NET
Telling the learner part or all of what to say or do.
Verbal Prompt
When a learner repeats what someone else says, they are engaging in this.
Echoic
Therapists must keep all client names, information, and data private.
Confidentiality
Providing a consequence that reduces a behavior, like removing a preferred item.
Punishment
Reinforcing closer and closer versions of a behavior.
Shaping
Starting with full assistance, then fading help.
Most-Least prompting
Answering questions or filling in blanks without the item present involves this verbal operant.
Intraverbal
If an RBT suspects that a client is being physically or emotionally harmed at home or in therapy, the RBT is legally and ethically required to do this immediately.
Report suspected abuse/neglect to supervisor or appropriate authorities
When reinforcement is no longer given, and a behavior stops over time.
Extinction
A skill broken down into small steps the learner completes in order.
Task Analysis
Starting with minimal help and adding more only if needed.
Least-Most Prompting
In this skill, the learner copies a modeled action without verbal instructions, and success depends on matching the topography of the movement—such as clapping hands or tapping the table exactly as demonstrated.
Motor Imitation
Prioritize client safety, dignity, and welfare in every interaction.
Act in the best interest of the client
When a learned behavior happens in new places, with new people, or with new items.
Generalization
In this teaching method, the aba therapist prompts all steps of a task except the last one, allowing the learner to independently finish the final step before gradually taking over earlier steps.
Backwards Chaining
Placing the correct item closer to the learner to make it more likely they choose it is this type of prompt.
Positional Prompt