Behavioral Psychology: Prompts and Discrimination

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of prompts in behavior training?

To ensure behavior occurs at an inaccurate time.

To provide feedback after a behavior is performed.

To entirely replace reinforcement.

To increase the likelihood of engaging in the correct behavior at the correct time. (correct)

Which type of prompt involves vocal instructions or hints to promote correct behavior?

Gestural prompt

Modeling prompt

Visual prompt

Verbal prompt (correct)

What does fading refer to in the context of prompts?

Gradually removing prompts as behavior becomes consistent. (correct)

Intensifying the use of prompts to reinforce behavior.

Introducing new types of prompts during training.

Completely abandoning prompts once training begins.

What does a discriminative stimulus (SD) indicate?

The availability of a reward for a specific behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a modeling prompt?

An action demonstrated by someone to encourage imitation. Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would a gestural prompt be appropriate?

When using physical movement or gestures to indicate a behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the effectiveness of verbal prompts?

Individuals have a history of reinforcement for following verbal instructions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome when behavior is successfully prompted and maintained by an SD?

The behavior falls under the stimulus control of the SD. Signup and view all the answers

What allows gestural prompts to control behavior?

Historical reinforcement for responding correctly to gestures. Signup and view all the answers

How do individuals develop a generalized instruction-following repertoire?

Through repeated reinforcement of following verbal instructions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of modeling prompts?

To exert control over another person's behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which type of prompt involves hand-over-hand guidance?

Physical prompt Signup and view all the answers

What is a least intrusive prompting strategy?

Using verbal instructions first Signup and view all the answers

How does an extrastimulus prompt work?

It adds another cue to the initial stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What results from changing the salience of an SD?

The likelihood of a correct response increases Signup and view all the answers

What is true about response prompts in teaching situations?

They are necessary and acceptable for guiding behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a within-stimulus prompt?

Changing the size or color of the stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method to change the salience of an SD?

Removing the SD completely Signup and view all the answers

In the context of flash cards, what role does the answer on the opposite side play?

It acts as a stimulus prompt Signup and view all the answers

What should be the first response prompt used when teaching a new skill?

A verbal instruction Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prompts in Behavior Training

Prompts enhance the likelihood of engaging in correct behaviors at the appropriate times during discrimination training.
They assist individuals in performing desired behaviors when a discriminative stimulus (SD) is present to receive reinforcement.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

An SD signals the availability of a reward for a specific behavior, indicating that a desired outcome follows a certain action.
Reinforcement occurs when the correct behavior is performed in response to the SD.

Types of Prompts

Verbal Prompts:
- Involve any spoken stimuli (instructions, reminders, hints) that lead to correct behavior.
- Effective due to individuals' history of reinforcement for following verbal instructions.
Gestural Prompts:
- Consist of physical movements or gestures that signal the correct behavior to perform.
- Reinforced history with gestures makes them effective in guiding behavior.
Modeling Prompts:
- Involve demonstrating the entire behavior to make it more likely for others to imitate in the presence of the SD.
- Observational learning reinforces the imitation of modeled behaviors.
Physical Prompts:
- Involve direct physical assistance (e.g., hand-over-hand guidance) to encourage correct behavior.
- Utilized in teaching situations but should be the least intrusive method possible.

Intrusiveness of Response Prompts

All response prompts involve some degree of control exerted by one person over another, making them intrusive.
It's essential to use the least intrusive prompt necessary for successful teaching.

Stimulus Prompts

Involve modifying a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a correct response.
Within-Stimulus Prompts: Change the original SD to enhance its effectiveness (e.g., altering size, color).
Extrastimulus Prompts: Additional cues added to the environment that assist in discrimination of the SD.

Practical Example

When using flash cards for learning multiplication, the problem presented (e.g., "8 x 2") acts as the SD, while the answer on the reverse side serves as the extrastimulus prompt, aiding correct recognition and response.

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Description

Explore the role of prompts in operant conditioning and discrimination training through this quiz. Understand how prompts facilitate correct behavior in the presence of discriminative stimuli. This will enhance your knowledge of behavioral techniques and reinforcement methods.