ABA I Midterm

TRUE OR FALSE The immediacy of reinforcement is critical.

TRUE

A school psychologist is interested in what percent of the time a student is on-task. She decides to use time sampling as follows: She first defines 'on-task' behavior, then she divides the observational time into 10 second intervals. During her observation if the student is on-task exactly at the end of a 10 second interval she scores that interval as 'present'. Her overall measure is the percent of intervals scored present (inferring percent of time student is on-task). What type of time sampling is this?

momentary time sampling

operant conditioning

operant conditioning refers to the three-term contingency that uses stimulus control, in particular an antecedent contingency called the discriminative stimulus (SD) that influences the strengthening or weakening of behavior through such consequences as reinforcement or punishment.

schedule with slow to moderate rates of responding, constant and stable with few, if any, post reinforcement pauses

variable interval schedule

schedule with consistent steady rates of response with little hesitation between responses; post reinforcement pauses are not a characteristic

variable ratio schedule

automatic reinforcer

when a person's behavior produces stimuli, often internal, that act as reinforcers in the absence of social mediation (others presenting reinforcers)

Extinction burst

A brief increase in the frequency in responding when extinction is initially implemented.

behavior contrast

A change in the rate of reinforcement on one component of a multiple schedule produces an opposite change in the rate of response on another component.

Time out

A form of negative punishment involving the loss of access to positive reinforcers for a brief period of time following the occurrence of a problem behavior.

TRUE OR FALSE 1.) The effect of functional consequences (those involved in reinforcement and punishment) are only on future behaviors. 2.) Both evolution and operant learning involve changes that relate to favorable outcomes for an organism.

Both are true

OPERANT OR RESPONDENT 1.) When behavior results in certain types of environmental changes, and it is more or less likely to occur in the future 2.)Involves selection of behavior by its consequences

both are operant

schedule thinning

progressively increasing the ratio of responses to reinforcers, or the length of the interval between reinforcement

fixed ratio schedule

a schedule of reinforcement requiring a fixed number of responses to be emitted for reinforcement.

behavioral cusp

A behavior with consequences far beyond any change itself, exposing the individual to new environments, new communities; an example would be crawling, or reading, or generalized imitation

ratio strain

A disruption in responding due to an overly demanding response requirement. A behavioral effect associated with abrupt increases in ratio requirements when moving from denser to thinner reinforcement schedules; common effects include avoidance, aggression, and unpredictable pauses or cessation in responding. Ratio Strain can also occur when ratios becomes too large or when response requirements exceed the participant's physiological capabilities.

positive reinforcement

A functional relationship where, contingent on a behavior, a stimulus occurs and the future probability of the behavior is increased

Time sampling

A process of measuring behavior where behavior is sampled at specific times, or during specific intervals across some period in time. In other words, behavior is not measured continuously, but is 'sampled' across time. This process produces some specific measure, depending on the time.

positive punishment

A reduction in future response rates by using contingent presentation of a stimulus.

variable interval schedule

A schedule of reinforcement that provides reinforcement for the first correct response following the elapse of variable durations of time occurring in a random or unpredictable order. The mean duration of the intervals is used to describe the schedule.

generalized conditioned reinforcer

A stimulus paired with many conditioned or unconditioned reinforcers

unconditioned punisher

A stimulus that can decrease the future frequency of any behavior that precedes it without prior pairing with other punishers.

generalized condition punisher

A stimulus that has been repeatedly repaired with a wide range of unconditioned and conditioned punishers.

positive reinforcer

A stimulus that when added increases the frequency of a response it follows

negative reinforcer

A stimulus that when removed increases the frequency of a response it follows

variable-ratio schedule

A variable-ratio schedule is a schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses.

One of the seven characteristics of applied behavior analysis is 'applied'. This could arguably be considered an ethical principle for those in the helping professions because...

ABA deals with behaviors whose change would enhance and meaningfully improve people's lives

TRUE OR FALSE Both escape and avoidance involve an aversive stimulus. Escape and avoidance have the same future effect on behavior as positive reinforcement. Just like escape and avoidance, some types of punishment involve an aversive stimulus.

ALL ARE TRUE

what does concurrent schedules of reinforcement mean

At least two different schedules of reinforcement operating independently and at the same time for two or more behaviors

TRUE OR FALSE Abrupt increases in ratio requirements when thinning reinforcement seldom cause problems. If two responses in the same setting produce similar rates of reinforcement, other variables such as latency of reinforcement should not make much difference on rate of behavior.

BOTH ARE FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE Negative reinforcement and positive punishment are similar in that they both involve decreases in behavior. negative punishment and extinction are the same in that they both involve contingent removal of a stimulus and future reductions in behavior.

BOTH ARE FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE Intermittent reinforcement is more common than continuous reinforcement for social behaviors in natural settings. Continuous reinforcement might be the choice when initially developing behaviors.

BOTH ARE TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Positive punishment and negative reinforcement are similar in that both involve aversive stimuli. Positive reinforcement and positive punishment are similar in that they both involve contingent addition of a stimulus.

BOTH ARE TRUE

seven defining characteristics of applied behavior science

Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) recommended the following seven defining dimensions of applied behavior analysis for research or behavior change programs: -Applied -Behavioral -Analytic -Technological -Conceptual -Effective -Generality

TRUE OR FALSE 1.) In order to modify a person's behavior, that person needs to be aware of the consequences of their behavior. 2.) It does not matter much, in terms of consequences on future behavior, whether or not a consequence occurs immediately after a behavior or is delayed.

Both are false

OPERANT OR RESPONDENT 1) Does not require a learning history 2) Learning involving a reflex

Both are respondent

Briefly discuss similarities (1 point) and differences (1 point) between positive and negative reinforcement.

Both positive and negative reinforcement aim to increase the frequency of behavior. The way they achieve this increased frequency is different. Positive reinforcement increases the frequency of behavior by adding a stimulus. Negative reinforcement increases the frequency of behavior by removing an aversive stimulus.

schedule thinning

Changing a contingency of reinforcement by gradually increasing the response ratio or the extent of the time interval; it results in a lower rate of reinforcement per responses, time, or both

TURE OR FALSE The actual sensory outcomes of behaviors cannot act as reinforcers

FALSE

what does function mean when discussing/defining behaviors

Function is the most useful way to define a class of stimuli. It refers to defining behaviors in terms of their effects on the environment

fixed interval schedule

a schedule where reinforcement occurs for the first response after a set time

whole interval time sampling

In whole-interval time sampling, the target behavior has to occur over the entire interval to be counted. Measures continuous behavior (sleeping, etc). Use the whole interval recording method when you are interested in measuring ongoing behaviors that you know will continue across intervals. This method tends to underestimate behavior.

Pivotal behavior

Not dissimilar to a behavioral cusp, referring to a behavior that once learned has immediate utility across a wide variety of settings, or within many instructional situations; for example approaching others to initiate interactions (self initiation).

defining features of radical behaviorism

Radical behaviorism was conceptualized by B.F. Skinner, the most influential individual in the study of the science of behavior Differs from methodological behaviorism in that private events are considered behaviors and included in behavior analysis The relationship between behavior. and the environment is reciprocal—behavior affects the environment and the environment affects behavior

momentary time sampling

Record behavior occurrence at end of interval, doesn't require continuous attention, miss much behavior. Momentary time sampling helps reduce the possibility that behavior is overestimated or underestimated.

partial interval time sampling

Records behavior occurrence any time within interval You can look to see whether or not the behavior occurs at some point in each time interval (the behavior does not need to occur throughout the entire interval). This process may overestimate the percentage of the observational period that the behavior actually occurred.

Extinction

Reduction of response rate by removal of reinforcement contingencies

four factors/variables that impact relative rates of two behaviors under concurrent schedules of reinforcement (Matching Law)

Reinforcement rate, response effort, reinforcer quality, and latency (delay)

negative punishment

Removal of a stimulus contingent on a response that decreases future behavior.

conditioned punisher

Stimuli or events that function as punishers only after being paired with unconditioned punishers

unconditioned reinforcer

Stimuli, such as food and water that are inherently reinforcing for individuals

TRUE OR FALSE Any behavior followed by a reinforcing stimulus will be reinforced, the intent of a person providing reinforcers is irrelevant

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Negative reinforcement is different from positive reinforcement because it involves a different type of stimulus change.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE One difference between a simple conditioned reinforcer and a generalized conditioned reinforcer is the number of different reinforcers that were paired with the originally neutral stimulus.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE reinforcement depends on motivation (presence of motivating operation)

TRUE

The Premack Principle

The Premack Principle, most easily conceptualized as "Grandma's rule", says that if two behaviors normally occur at different rates in baseline conditions, the one that occurs more likely can reinforce the one that occurs less likely. When one behavior is made contingent upon another, the more probable behavior will serve to reinforce the less probable behavior, and not vice versa. In other words, We can use a behavior we love to reinforce a behavior we don't like to do very much

spontaneous recovery

The brief reappearance of a response that has been diminshed or stopped through extinction.

Habilitation

The concept referring to the degree to which a person's repertoire maximizes short and long term reinforcement for themselves and others, an minimizes short and long term punishers. Behavioral adjustment can be considered within this concept along a continuum.

response deprivation hypothesis

The notion that a behavior can serve as a reinforcer when (1) access to the behavior is restricted and (2) its frequency thereby falls below its preferred level of occurrence. They argued that the opportunity to engage in a response will become reinforcing if the organism is currently deprived of making that response.

definition of radical behaviorism

The philosophy of behavior that is concerned with explaining all psychological events, either publicly observable or private and internal

negative reinforcement

The removal of a stimulus following a response, which increases the future frequency of that response

classical conditioning

The use of a neutral stimulus, originally paired with one that invokes a response, to generate a conditioned response. (involves conditioned stimulus, unconditioned stimulus, etc.)t

what does topography mean when discussing/defining behaviors

There are several ways to define or categorize behavior. One way refers to the physical form or shape of a behavior—the way it looks when it happens.

conditioned reinforcer

a neutral stimulus that becomes a positive reinforcer by being paired with an unconditioned reinforcer

unconditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that innately (genetically) reinforces behavior

schedule with slow to moderate rates of responding, acceleration towards end of the interval, with a post reinforcement pause (scallop effect)

fixed interval schedule

schedule with high rates of response with a small post reinforcement pause

fixed ratio schedule

matching law

the relative rates of two behaviors possible at the same time is primarily dependent on the relative rates of reinforcement

A school psychologist is interested in what percent of the time a student is on-task. She decides to use time sampling as follows: She first defines 'on-task' behavior, then she divides the observational time into 10 second intervals. During her observation if the student is on-task for an entire 10 second interval she scores that interval as 'present'. Her overall measure is the percent of intervals scored present (inferring percent of time student is on-task). What type of time sampling is this?

whole interval time sampling