Terms
What does "SD" stand for in ABA?
Discriminative Stimulus
What is a mand?
A request for something the speaker wants (e.g., saying “cookie” to get a cookie).
What is the difference between continuous and intermittent reinforcement?
Continuous = every time; Intermittent = sometimes
A child presses a button repeatedly because it makes a fun noise. Function?
Automatic
What does ABA stand for?
Applied Behavior Analysis
What is the process of pairing a neutral stimulus with a reinforcer to make it reinforcing?
Conditioning
A child sees a toy and says “car,” but the therapist does not give the toy, only praises them. Which verbal operant is this, and why?
Tact – Controlled by a nonverbal stimulus; reinforcement is social (praise), not the item.
When a behavior decreases because something is added after it occurs, what is this called?
Positive Punishment
When a child screams and mom gives them the iPad, what function maintained the behavior?
Tangible
What does BCBA stand for?
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
What is the process of gradually changing behavior by reinforcing closer approximations?
Shaping
A child answers “green” when asked “What color is the grass?” but doesn’t label grass spontaneously. Which verbal operant is this?
Intraverbal – Controlled by verbal stimulus
What is the difference between “partial interval” and “whole interval” recording?
Partial = behavior occurs at any time in interval; Whole = behavior must occur entire interval
If a child hits to avoid doing work, what is the function?
Escape
What does “generalization” mean in ABA?
When a learned behavior occurs in new settings, people, or stimuli
What is the technical term for removing reinforcement to decrease a behavior that was previously reinforced?
Extinction
A child says “jump” after the therapist says “jump,” and later spontaneously says “jump” when seeing someone hop. Identify the verbal operants in each scenario.
Echoic – controlled by verbal SD; Tact – controlled by nonverbal stimulus (observing the hop), reinforced socially.
What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement? Provide an example of each.
Positive Reinforcement: Adding a stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., giving candy for completing work).
Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., turning off loud noise when seatbelt is buckled).
What function is likely if a child screams when mom leaves the room?
Attention
Who is considered the founder of behavior analysis?
B.F. Skinner
What is it called when behavior occurs more often in the presence of one stimulus and not others?
Stimulus Control
Name all 6 verbal operants.
Mand, Tact, Echoic, Motor Imitation, Listener Responding, Intraverbal
What is the Premack Principle?
Using a high-probability behavior to reinforce a low-probability behavior (“First work, then play”)
Name the functions of behavior
Tangible, Escape, Attention, Automatic
What’s the difference between “topography” and “function” of behavior?
Topography = what behavior looks like; Function = why it occurs