Applied Behavior Analysis Exam Tips

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Questions and Answers

What are the key components to consider when setting up an environment for success in a behavioural intervention program?

History/ecological assessment, treatment team, intervention selection (considering social validity, behavioral objectives, treatment integrity, risks, constraints, logistics), and communication.

Explain the role of 'differential reinforcement of successive approximations' in the process of shaping a new behavior.

This involves reinforcing behaviors that come closer and closer to the desired target behavior while extinguishing previous approximations. It's a step-by-step process.

Describe what a task analysis is and why it’s important in chaining.

Task analysis is breaking down a complex task into smaller, teachable steps. It's important in chaining because it allows each step to be taught individually, leading to the completion of the entire task.

What factors influence the effectiveness of modelling as a teaching procedure?

Imitator skills of the learner, complexity of the skill being modelled, and whether the modelling is live or via video. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between rule-governed behavior and contingency-shaped behavior, and give an example of each.

Rule-governed behavior is controlled by instructions or rules, like following a recipe. Contingency-shaped behavior is learned through direct experience with consequences, like learning to avoid a hot stove after being burned. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how discrimination training and generalization training are related but serve different purposes.

Discrimination training teaches an individual to respond differently to different stimuli, while generalization training teaches them to respond similarly to different stimuli. They establish boundaries and broader applications of learned behaviors, respectively. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the importance of programming for generalization when teaching new skills and provide an example.

Programming for generalization ensures that a learned skill is exhibited across different settings, people, and materials. For example, teaching a child to greet people in the classroom, at home, and in the community. Signup and view all the answers

Name and describe three strategies a person could use for self-management.

Self-monitoring (tracking one's own behavior), self-evaluation (comparing one's behavior to a standard), and self-reinforcement (providing oneself with rewards after meeting a goal). Signup and view all the answers

Describe the key difference between an independent, interdependent, and dependent group contingency.

In an independent group contingency, each individual's performance determines their own access to reinforcement. In an interdependent group contingency, the group's performance as a whole determines access to reinforcement for all members. In a dependent group contingency, the performance of one or a few individuals determines reinforcement for the entire group. Signup and view all the answers

List the key components that should exist within a well-written behavioral contract.

Target behavior (criteria), how the behavior will be measured, when the behavior will occur, consequences, who will implement, and signatures. Signup and view all the answers

Outline the steps for setting up a token economy system.

Identify target behaviors, select tokens, identify backup reinforcers, decide on a schedule of reinforcement, set token exchange rate, determine time and place for exchange, decide on response cost, train staff, monitor/evaluate. Signup and view all the answers

How are functional assessments used in function-based interventions, and why are they important?

Functional assessments identify the purpose or function of a behavior, enabling interventions to address the underlying cause, making them more effective and reducing reliance on punishment. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the components of an intervention package.

Teaching a replacement behaviour, manipulating the antecedent to avoid the behaviour, and planning the consequence to how you will respond to the behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how antecedent control procedures can be used to decrease undesired behaviors.

By removing SDs (discriminative stimuli) for undesired behaviors, increasing response effort for undesired behaviors, and arranging AOs (abolishing operations) for undesired behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly explain the three components of behaviour reduction.

The three components are punishment, extinction and differential reinforcement. Punishment reduces unwanted behaviour, extinction holds back on reinforcement, and differential reinforcement involves reinforcing other wanted behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

Outline the steps typically involved in anxiety reduction techniques, such as systematic desensitization.

Teach relaxation, develop a hierarchy of fears, subjective units of distress scale (SUDS), In-vivo systematic desensitization, and progress through hierarchy. Signup and view all the answers

List the steps involved in Habit Reversal Training.

Awareness training, competing response training, building motivation, and generalization. Signup and view all the answers

Describe two strategies for increasing desired behaviour.

Token economy which exchanges points for good behaviour, or behavioral contracts which specify conditions for the target behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by preference assessment and why is it an important first step?

Preference assessment is determining what an individual likes and finds motivating. Knowing this will allow for effective teaching using effective reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

Describe four strategies for generalization and maintenance of learned skills and give examples.

Teach a response to a variety of stimuli (teach 'red' using different red objects), teach in various settings (teach street crossing at multiple intersections), use intermittent reinforcement (reduce predictability of rewards), and involve common stimuli (use materials that are also in the natural environment). Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between extinction and punishment procedures in applied behaviour analysis.

Extinction involves withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, leading it to decrease over time. Punishment involves introducing a consequence (either adding something or taking something away) that decreases the future likelihood of the behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the concept of 'stimulus control' and provide an example of how it is established.

Stimulus control occurs when a behavior is emitted more often in the presence of a specific discriminative stimulus (SD) than in its absence. It is established through differential reinforcement, where the behavior is reinforced only when the SD is present. For example, a child saying 'red' only when shown a red card. Signup and view all the answers

What is prompting, and how does the process of fading relate to it?

Prompting involves providing assistance to help an individual perform a desired behavior. Fading is the gradual removal of that assistance as the individual gains competence, aiming for independent performance. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider social validity when selecting interventions for a client?

Social validity ensures that the goals, procedures, and outcomes of an intervention are acceptable and relevant to the individual, their family, and the community. Interventions that lack social validity may be resisted and are less likely to be maintained. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference between positive and negative reinforcement. Provide an example of each.

Positive reinforcement involves adding something desirable following a behavior to increase that behavior (e.g., giving a child a sticker for completing homework). Negative reinforcement involves removing something aversive following a behavior to increase that behavior (e.g., turning off an alarm clock by pressing the snooze button). Signup and view all the answers

Explain the purpose of using a DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior) procedure.

The purpose of DRO is to reduce the occurrence of an unwanted behavior by delivering reinforcement whenever the behavior does not occur during a specific time interval. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss how you would evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention.

Evaluate the intervention using systematic data collection of the target behaviour, analyzing trends and changes using graphs, assessments, and comparing the client’s performance to baseline data. Ensure social validity by gathering feedback. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of extinction bursts in behaviour reduction and how one should respond to them.

Extinction bursts increase behaviour after it is initially being ignored, making the bursts temporary. One should respond to them by remaining consistent by ignoring the unwanted behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

When would it be helpful to use video modelling as opposed to in-person modelling?

It would be useful for behaviours that cannot be consistently accessed in-person, when generalization is important, and when in-person contact is limited. Signup and view all the answers

For Anxiety Reduction, what is SUDS, and how is it beneficial?

SUDS is Subjective Units of Distress Scale. It is beneficial as it allows for an objective analysis of the client's anxiety levels. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Setting up the environment

Modifying the environment to maximize success.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior.