Behavioral Methodologies
What is pairing and how can we pair?
Pairing is another name for 'stimulus-stimulus pairing' and is how we can effectively pair (or associate) ourselves as a reinforcer to our clients. We do this by engaging with our clients and engaging in different activities they like to play with, so they begin to view us as exciting and fun as well. We can accomplish this by being expressive and silly, playing alongside them in the same toys and activities they are engaging with, not placing demands (or asking questions) during this time, being energetic and having inflection in your voice, narrating play, etc.
What are dual-relationships and how do we avoid them?
Also called Multiple Relationships. This is when you act as an RBT while also engaging in some other type of relationship (such as babysitter, friend, etc.). This should be avoided at all times. We can avoid them by refraining from personal conversations (keeping conversations related to the client), not accepting invites to outside activities (i.e. birthday parties), etc.
What are the four main functions of behavior? Provide an example of each.
E: Escape (e.g., when asked to find the color red, the client attempts to elope from the room)
A: Attention (e.g., the client cries and lifts their arms up, rather than asking to be picked "up").
T: Tangibles (e.g., client pushes a peer because they have a toy they want, rather than asking for a turn).
Define and contrast reinforcement and punishment
reinforcement increases the future likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases the future likelihood of the behavior being acted upon.
List at least three things you should do before session starts.
1. Gather client materials (stimuli, materials for programming, etc.)
2. Review client programs and BIP
3. Ask questions, if applicable, on any programs you do not know how to run
4. Gather reinforcements for your client to engage with
What is NET and how is it implemented? Provide an example of NET.
NET stands for Naturalistic Environment Training/Teaching. NET is a teaching procedure (not a type of environment or location) where the learner holds the motivation, and the RBT finds programs that fit with the current activity/interest of the learner. These trials are often captured (rather than contrived).
What is HIPPA?
HIPPA is a regulation that maintains the privacy of our clients. This means we should not be sharing any personal information with individuals outside the client's immediate circle (i.e., caregivers, BCBA on the case, RBT on the case). Personal information includes, but is not limited to, client's name, client's goals and programs, client progress, etc.
What should you reference to better understand the maladaptive behaviors your client engages in and how to best navigate those behaviors?
The Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), located on CentralReach.
What are the different Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement? Explain each.
Fixed Ratio (FR) - where you reinforce after every x amount of correct responses
Fixed Interval (FI) - where you reinforce after every x amount of time/minutes/seconds
Variable Ratio (VR) - where you reinforce after an average amount of responses
Variable Interval (VI) - where you reinforce after an average number of time
The client is currently working on a backward chaining procedure. The client's RBT, Sally, notices the client knows how to complete steps 1 and 2 as well, so she decides it would be most beneficial to change the backwards chain to total task chaining. What is this example in violation of? Why?
Maintaining one's scope of practice. This is a violation of this, as the BCBA is responsible for program changes and interventions used. An RBT should never change programming and should follow teaching instructions as written.
What are prompts and when are they used? Explain the correct prompting hierarchy (LTM).
Prompting is a way to cue the learner to a specific, and correct response. Prompts are used when the learner responds to an Sd incorrectly or does not respond within a predetermined latency. The LTM prompting hierarchy is as follows:
Name at least three ways in which we can show professionalism
Provide at least three examples of common triggers
Sidney has been getting into trouble at school. Sidney's mom has previously attempted to ameliorate these negative behaviors by creating a token economy where she can earn marbles for good days at school and cash them in for bigger prizes at the end of the week. However, this has not been working for Sidney's mother, and Sidney is continuing to get in trouble at school. Sidney's mom now decides she will take away a marble every time Sidney has a 'bad' day at school. This works, and Sidney's bad behavior at school decreases. What is this an example of?
Negative punishment
List at least 5 different things to keep in mind when completing your session note.
1. this should not be started more than 15 minutes before the end of session
2. you must change your start/end time, if not starting/ending at that time
3. you can not submit a timesheet until the time the session is projected to end (otherwise you will have to adjust the time).
4. you must ALWAYS pull data into your session note
5. you must write objectively
6. you must use proper grammar and syntax
7. you must write in third person
8. you must provide information on what occurred during your session and how that was achieved (e.g., through differential reinforcement and using NET teaching procedures).
What is the difference between chaining and shaping? Provide an example of each.
Shaping is when you reinforce successive approximations of a terminal goal (same topography), while Chaining is breaking a larger task into smaller, completable steps and working your way through each step until all are mastered. Some examples of shaping are vocal mands (i.e., cookie, dinosaur), learning how to walk/run, and how to write the letter 'A'. Some examples of Chaining are learning how to brush your teeth, make a recipe, tie your shoes, and ride a bike.
Name at least three ways in which we can appropriately respond to feedback
Name 5 different examples of things you should do or keep in mind when dealing with problem behaviors
What is non-contingent reinforcement (NCR), and how is it different from differential reinforcement?
NCR is when you reinfroce a client based on intervals of time, and is not contingent on any specific behavior occurring or not occurring. Differential reinforcement is when you reinforce an individual, contingent on a specific behavior occurring or not occurring. This may or may not include a time contingency as well (think fo VI and FI schedules; these are contingent on both behavior and time).
Teresa is able to accurately mand for a break with her ABA therapist. When Teresa is at home however, she often cries and will not appropriately ask for a break. Teresa's BCBA's decides she and the RBT will conduct a session with Teresa at home, with her Mom. The BCBA helps coach Mom on how to appropriately prompt Teresa to mand for a break when appropriate. Now, Teresa will appropriately mand for a break both at her home and at ABA. What behavioral methodology is being explained here?
Stimulus control transfer
Describe the Error Correction Procedure and when to use it.
After a client errors or does not respond
1) present original SD; client errors or does not respond
2) repeat SD with prompt
3) Transfer trial (Sd and fade prompt)
4) Expanded trials (1-3 high-probability tasks)
5) Sd without prompt
6) Reinforce or repeat if errored again
Name at least three examples of topics that should be redirected or brought to your BCBA's attention
Client, Axel is engaging in headbanging because a peer is talking to his favorite staff member. Axel's therapist (and favorite staff member) runs over to block Axel's head banging, while telling him it will be okay. Once calm for at least five seconds, Axel's therapist asks him, "What do you want?". Axel says he wants to play chase with the RBT, and he and the RBT begin to play chase together. What did the RBT do wrong in this scenario?
What is an Extinction Burst, and how can we ameliorate it?
An Extinction Burst is when a behavior has not been reinforced for some time and has experienced zero levels of responding before ultimately showing a random increase/spike in responses that have been withheld from reinforcement. In order to ameliorate an Extinction Burst, one must continue withholding reinforcement from that behavior (aka stick to the plan!)
Learner Jimmy is working on receptive identification of different community helpers. This program has been difficult for Jimmy so his BCBA decides they are going to put the target picture closer to Jimmy, compared to the other community helpers in the array. What is this an example of?
Stimulus prompting (more specifically this is a positional prompt).