Basic Concepts
What is behavior?
Anything a person does that can be observed and measured.
What does frequency mean in data collection?
How many times a behavior occurs.
What is prompting?
Helping a learner perform a skill (like modeling or hand-over-hand).
What does function of behavior mean?
The reason the behavior happens (like escape, attention, access, sensory).
As an RBT, who do you take direction from?
Your supervising BCBA or BCaBA.
What is an antecedent?
What happens right before a behavior.
Duration measures…?
How long a behavior lasts.
What is a reinforcer?
Something that increases the likelihood of a behavior happening again.
What is differential reinforcement?
Reinforcing one behavior while not reinforcing another.
True or False: It’s okay to use personal social media to share client info if names are removed.
False. Always protect confidentiality.
Give an example of a consequence that increases behavior
Reinforcement (e.g., praise after sharing)
What is whole interval recording?
Recording if the behavior happened during the entire interval.
What is a task analysis?
Breaking a complex skill into smaller, teachable steps.
Replacement behavior means…?
A new behavior taught to serve the same function as the challenging one.
Why is professional boundaries important?
To maintain effective, ethical client relationships (e.g., no dual roles).
What does it mean when a behavior is socially significant?
It makes a meaningful difference in a person’s life (e.g., learning to cook a simple meal, not just stacking blocks).
What is an operational definition of behavior?
A clear, observable, and measurable description so any staff would know what counts (e.g., “yelling is defined as raising voice above conversational level for more than 3 seconds”).
What is natural environment teaching (NET)?
Teaching skills during everyday routines and activities (e.g., practicing laundry folding during actual laundry time).
What is antecedent intervention?
A strategy that changes what happens before a behavior to prevent it.
True or False: It’s okay to talk about a client’s behavior casually with other staff in the staff room.
False. Conversations should stay professional, respectful, and focused on supporting the client.
What is an SD (discriminative stimulus)?
A signal that reinforcement is available if a behavior occurs (e.g., staff saying “Dinner’s ready” signals lining up will lead to food).
What do the letters A-B-C stand for, and why do we use them?
A = Antecedent (what happened right before), B = Behavior (what the person did), C = Consequence (what happened right after). We use it to find patterns and understand why behavior happens.
What is a token economy and how does it help?
A system where tokens (like house points) are earned for positive behaviors and later exchanged for bigger rewards. It helps bridge the gap between behavior and reinforcement.
What is noncontingent reinforcement (NCR)?
Providing access to reinforcement (like attention, breaks, or music) on a schedule, not dependent on behavior, to reduce problem behavior.
Why should RBTs avoid using labels like “non-compliant” when talking about clients?
Because it blames the person instead of describing behavior objectively, and can harm dignity and respect.