Applied Behavior Analysis: Stimulus Control, Prompting, Shaping, and Chaining

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering stimulus control, discrimination training, prompting and stimulus fading, shaping procedures, and behavioral chaining methodologies based on ABA lecture materials.

Stimulus Control

The outcome of stimulus discrimination training in which a particular behavior is more likely to occur in the presence of a specific discriminative stimulus ($S^D$) and less likely in its absence or in the presence of an $S^\Delta$.

Discriminative Stimulus ($S^D$)

An antecedent stimulus present when a behavior is reinforced, signalling the availability of reinforcement for emitting that response.

S-Delta ($S^\Delta$)

An antecedent stimulus present when a behavior is not reinforced (subject to extinction or non-reinforcement).

Three-Term Contingency

The basic operant unit of analysis consisting of an antecedent stimulus ($S^D$ or $S^\Delta$), a behavior (operant response), and a consequence ($S^{R+}$, $S^{R-}$, $S^{P+}$, $S^{P-}$, or extinction).

Establishing Operation ($EO$)

An environmental event or biological condition that momentarily establishes or enhances the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer and evokes behaviors that have produced that reinforcer in the past.

Behavior-Altering Effect

The momentary increase or decrease in the current frequency or probability of a behavior evoked immediately by antecedent stimuli (such as $S^D$s and $EO$s).

Repertoire-Altering Effect

The permanent change in an individual's future probability or frequency of behavior produced by consequences (reinforcers and punishers).

Stimulus Discrimination Training

A procedure in which a behavior is reinforced in the presence of a specific discriminative stimulus ($S^D$) and placed on extinction in the presence of other stimuli ($S^\Delta$), causing the behavior to occur primarily in the presence of the $S^D$.

Generalization

The process in which a behavior occurs in the presence of antecedent stimuli that share similar physical or functional features with the $S^D$ present during reinforcement.

Generalization Gradient

A graphic depiction showing response frequency across variations of a stimulus dimension; responding is highest at the trained $S^D$ (e.g., $700\,\text{nm}$) and decreases systematically as stimuli deviate from the $S^D$.

Stimulus Class

A group of stimuli that all share common physical characteristics or evoke the same functional operant response (e.g., various breeds of dogs all evoking the vocal response 'dog').

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

An instructional method employing mass trial learning, distractor trials, and random rotation to provide repeated opportunities for a learner to emit discriminated operants that are strengthened through reinforcement.

Indicator Response (Hero Rats)

A target response emitted by giant African pouched rats consisting of pausing for $5\,\text{s}$ with their nose at a hole containing TNT solution to detect landmines.

Prompt

An antecedent stimulus presented before or during the occurrence of a behavior in the presence of an $S^D$ to increase the likelihood that the correct response will occur and contact reinforcement.

Response Prompt

A prompt involving the behavior of another person that evokes the desired response in the presence of the $S^D$ (e.g., verbal, gestural, modeling, or physical guidance).

Verbal Prompt

A response prompt in which the vocal or written verbal behavior of another person (instructions, hints, rules, or questions) assists the learner in emitting the correct response.

Gestural Prompt

A response prompt consisting of any physical movement or gesture by another person (such as pointing or motioning) that directs the learner toward the correct response without demonstrating the entire behavior.

Modeling Prompt

A response prompt where another person fully demonstrates the correct behavior, occasioning imitation by a learner who possesses a generalized imitative repertoire.

Physical Prompt

A response prompt involving hands-on physical guidance of the learner through the correct movements of the target behavior.

Stimulus Prompt

A prompt involving a change in an antecedent stimulus, or the addition/removal of a stimulus, to make the correct discrimination more likely in the presence of the $S^D$.

Within-Stimulus Prompt

A stimulus prompt that alters the physical salience of the discriminative stimulus (such as changing its position, size, shape, color, or intensity) to increase the likelihood of a correct response.

Extra-Stimulus Prompt

A stimulus prompt in which an additional stimulus or cue is added to the discriminative stimulus (such as a line drawing, placemat outline, or written label) to assist in correct responding.

Transfer of Stimulus Control

The process of systematically eliminating prompts so that the target behavior occurs reliably in the presence of the natural $S^D$ without any supplementary assistance.

Prompt Fading

The gradual removal of a response prompt across learning trials (such as transitioning from full physical to gestural, or from most-to-least assistance) while the behavior continues to occur in the presence of the $S^D$.

Prompt Delay

A transfer of stimulus control procedure in which the trainer presents the $S^D$, waits a predefined latency (delay interval), and delivers the prompt only if the learner has not emitted the correct response.

Constant Time Delay

A prompt delay variation where the latency between the presentation of the $S^D$ and the delivery of the prompt increases by a fixed, constant interval on successive trials (e.g., $2\,\text{s}$, $4\,\text{s}$, $6\,\text{s}$, $8\,\text{s}$).

Progressive Time Delay

A prompt delay variation where the latency between the presentation of the $S^D$ and the prompt increases systematically using an expanding formula (e.g., $2\,\text{s}$, $4\,\text{s}$, $8\,\text{s}$, $16\,\text{s}$).

Stimulus Fading

The gradual removal of an added stimulus prompt or the gradual reduction of an altered dimension back to its natural form while the learner continues to make the correct response.

Shaping

The differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a target behavior until the learner exhibits the terminal target behavior.

Successive Approximations

Behavioral steps or intermediate topographies that progressively resemble the terminal target behavior more closely than previous iterations.

Differential Reinforcement (in Shaping)

The practice of delivering reinforcement contingent on the current, closer approximation while withholding reinforcement (placing on extinction) all previous approximations.

Starting Behavior

The existing baseline behavior already in the person's repertoire chosen as the foundation upon which to build successive approximations toward the target behavior.

Free Shaping

A shaping variation where specific successive approximations are not predefined prior to training, allowing the trainer to dynamically reinforce closer topographies as they emerge.

Auto Shaping

A behavioral conditioning procedure in which reinforcement is presented regularly without being explicitly contingent upon the emission of an operant response.

Incidental Shaping

The unintentional development of superstitious or idiosyncratic behaviors through non-contingent or adventitious delivery of reinforcement.

Behavior Chain

A complex behavior consisting of multiple distinct component responses occurring in a specific sequence, where each response produces an environmental change that acts as an $S^D$ for the next response and a conditioned reinforcer for the preceding response.

Task Analysis (TA)

The process of breaking down a complex behavioral chain into its individual, sequential stimulus-response components to facilitate teaching and clinical data collection.

Forward Chaining

A chaining method in which the learner is prompted and reinforced to master the first stimulus-response component in the chain before successive components are taught in natural chronological order.

Backward Chaining

A chaining procedure in which all initial steps are completed by the trainer or pre-set, and training focuses on prompting and reinforcing the final step in the sequence first so the learner accesses the terminal reinforcer on every learning trial.

Total Task Presentation

A chaining strategy where the entire behavioral chain is taught as a single integrated unit on every trial, with assistance provided across any steps as needed.

Graduated Guidance

A physical prompting variation typically used in total task presentation where the trainer provides hand-over-hand assistance as needed and immediately shadows or reduces contact when the learner initiates correct movement.