SPCE 638 (2026)

Setting

The environment in which something occurs

Empathy

Ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Sequential Modification

Teach behavior to occur in all settings

Introduce natural maintaining contingency

Teach behaviors to occur with consequences which are likely to happen in the natural environment

Train sufficient exemplars

Teach behaviors across multiple stimulus conditionsM

Mediate generalize

Use self-instruction, self-recording, set up cues

Train “to generalize”

Reinforce generalization when it happens

Planned models

Designed to evoke a specific imitative response and may include teaching a child to say a word, to brush his teeth, or paint a picture

Unplanned models

Might include a child learning curse words from peers or how to sing a song on the radio

Indirect preference assessments

An assessment method that includes gathering information from familiar parties (caregivers, teachers, the individual) through surveys or interviews to determine what an individual might like

Direct preference assessments

An assessment method that includes gathering information via direct observations and manipulation of stimuli, including: single stimulus (successive choice), paired stimulus, multiple stimulus without replacement, multiple stimulus with replacement, and free operant preference assessment

Positive outcomes associated with evidence based supervision

(1) develop, improve, and maintain the behavior analytic and ethical repertoire
(2) utilize behavioral case conceptualization, problem solving, and support seeking by the supervisee
(3) Enable high quality service delivery

(4) Improvements in client outcomes

Negative outcomes associated with failure to provide evidence based supervision

(1) Inadequate professional repertoire
(2) Difficulty problem solving and data based decision making

(3) Inadequate supervisory repertoire

(4) Unethical behavior

Supervisee goals setting

Skills are identified and sequenced, definitions for these skill should be developed and mastery criterion identified

Supervisee expectations

(1) Adhere to documentation expectations
(2) Participate in observations or rehearsals
(3) Respond professionally to feedback
(4) Meet performance expectations
(5) Seek Clarification
(6) Provide supervisor with performance feedback

Supervisor

A qualified BCBA who provides direct oversight, guidance, and training to a supervisee

Alternative behaviors

Allows client to access to the reinforcer(s) that have previously maintained the problem behavior

Potential reinforcers

Prior to preference assessment, potential tangibles that could act to increase future occurrences of behavior

Restricted activities

Direct delivery of behavior-analytic services, such as conducting DTT or implementing a BIP

Thin reinforcement

Terminal goals should reflect the reinforcement that matches the natural environment. Maximize contingencies within the natural environment as well as making consequences indiscriminable

Supervisee initial assessment

Initial assessment of supervisee skills is critical for establishing clear goals for supervision. Interview and direct observation serve as options for this initial assessment. These methods allow for an assessment of the supervisee’s knowledge and ability to perform the procedures he or she will be responsible for in his/her job role

Upward evaluations

Performance feedback to supervisors by their supervisees related to supervision procedures

Self-evaluation

A procedure in which a person compares her performance of a target behavior with a predetermined goals or standard; often a component of self-management

Compliance code

Consolidates, updates, and replaces the former BACB’s professional disciplinary and ethical standards and guidelines for responsible conduct for behavior analysts

Disciplinary standards

Statements describing corrective, disciplinary and revocation actions, depending on the circumstances for violations of a professional

Ethical codes of behavior

Provide clear guidelines for their members to follow when deciding a course of proper action in conducting their professional duties

Naive observer

An observer who is unaware of the study’s purpose and/or experimental condition in effect during given phase or observation period

Obvershadowing

Occurs when the most salient component of a compound stimulus arrangement controls responding and interferes with the acquisition of stimulus control by the more relevant stimulus

Schedule thinning

changing a contingency of reinforcement by gradually increasing the response ratio or the extent of the time interval

Cost-benefit ratio

The difference between the cost of a treatment or intervention and the projected benefits

Horizontal Axis

Straight horizontal line that represents passage of time, AKA abscissa/x-axis

Vertical axis

Vertical line drawn upward from the left-hand of horizontal axis, AKA ordinate/y-axis

Axis labels

Brief descriptions of the dimension represented by and scaled along each axis

Condition change line

veritcale lines drawn upward from the horizontal axis to show points in time at which changes in independent variables occurred

Condition label

Single words or brief descriptive phrases printed along the top of the graph and parallel to the horizontal axis

Countercontrol

An emotional reaction of anger or frustration including operant behavior which injures or otherwise aversive to the controller

Professional standards

Written guidelines that provide direction for conducting the practices associated with an organized profession

Professional certification

Voluntary credential issued by a private organization that is authorized by members of the profession, not the government

License

State, provincial or national government document that is established by law and specifies the privileges and limits of professional practice

Unrestricted activities

Tasks that aren’t part of direct implementation, but on a higher level of professional responsibility

Ratio strain

Behavioral effect associated with abrupt increases in ratio requirements when moving from denser to thinner reinforcement schedules

Matching law

Allocation of responses to choices available on concurrent schedules of reinforcement; rates of responding across choices are distributed in proportions that match the rates of reinforcement received for each choice alternative

Scatterplot

2D graph that shows relative distribution of individual measures in a data set, data points are not connected

Habit reversal

Multiple-component treatment package for reducing unwanted habits; treatment typically includes self-awareness training involving response detection and procedures for identifying events that precede and trigger the response

Lag reinforcement

Schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement is contingent on a response behind different in some specified way from previous response or a specified number of responses

Concurrent schedule

Schedule of reinforcement in which 2+ contingents of reinforcement operate independently and simultaneously for 2+ behaviors

Use of Intellectual property

Behavior analysts are required to respect intellectual property laws by obtaining permission to use copyrighted or trademarked materials and providing proper citations, attributions, or symbols and refrain from unlawfully obtaining or disclosing proprietary information

Vocal nonverbal

Describes the BEHAVIOR of making noises or sounds without social mediation

Vocal verbal

describes communication through speech

Professional development

The ongoing process of enhancing skills, knowledge, and competency through supervision, training, and continuing education

Group supervision

Interactive meetings for a small group of supervisees (2-10) who share similar experiences

Individual supervision

1:1 meetings between a supervisor and supervisee to provide feedback, guidance, and mentorship

Graduated guidance

Provides physical assistance as needed by having the instructor remain close to the learner and provide more restrictive prompting only when the learner is not responding correctly

In-situ assessment

When skills trained through behavior skills training are tested in the natural environment to allow learners to contact contingencies described in training

Primary unconditioned punishers

A stimulus change thatt functions as a punisher and decreases the frequency of behavior that it precedes as a result of evolutionary development. It doesn’t rely on previous learning history

Primary unconditioned reinforcers

A stimulus change that functions as a reinforcer and increases the frequency of behavior that it precedes as a result of evolutionary development. It does not rely on previous learning history.

Sociall mediated punishment

Punishment that requires the involvement of others

Socially mediated reinforcement

Reinforcement that requires the involvement of others