RBT Competency/Exam Prep (Butterfly Effects)

Behavior

An OBSERVABLE and MEASURABLE movement of an organism than causes a change in the environment.

How many dimensions of ABA are there?

7

What are the dimensions of ABA?

BAT CAGE

Behavioral

Applied

Technological

Conceptually Systematic

Analytic

Generality

Effective

Effective (dimension of ABA)

Behavior analyst attempts to produce large enough effects that have an impact on the client's life.

Ex: Working on functional goals like self-help skills

Technological (dimension of ABA)

Gives written details of procedures to allow replication of techniques in other settings.

Ex: Creating operational definitions for target behaviors and program implementation instructions.

Conceptually Systematic (dimension of ABA)

Procedures are tied to the basic principles of behavior

Generality (dimension of ABA)

Attempts to identify techniques that can be successful with other individuals, with other behaviors, in other situations.

Analytic (dimension of ABA)

Scientifically based experimental designs are used to asses the effectiveness of interventions under study.

Ex: Using experimental designer to prove treatment is effecting like withdrawing and introducing treatment, when ethical.

Applied (dimension of ABA)

Focuses on behavior with social significance.

Ex: Implementing mand training with a nonverbal 3 yr. old client vs. academic skills like multiplication tables.

Behavioral (dimension of ABA)

Behavior is the focus, not some hypothetical entity.

Ex: Targeting measurable & observable behaviors like following instructions vs. laziness.

Verbal Behavior

Teaches different functions of language. Often begins with teaching kids to express wants & needs.

Discrete Trial Teaching

Breaks tasks into smaller units, each with its own clear beginning, middle, and end. Each consists of a direction (Sd), followed by the target behavior, & immediately followed with reinforcement.

Pivotal Response Training

Uses naturally occurring teaching principles & naturally occurring consequences.

Based on 4 pivotal behaviors:

1. Responsivity to multiple cues

2. Motivation

3. Self-management

4. Self-initiation

Social Skills Training

Teaches appropriate social reactions and interpersonal skills. Often taught in a familiar 1 on 1 environment then put into practice with social groups and everyday activities.

Response

A specific instance of behavior.

Stimulus

An energy change that affects an organism through its receptor cells.

Neutral Stimulus

a stimulus that does NOT normally elicit a response.

Ex: the strong cologne of a professor who makes you feel nervous, which you encounter on a regular basis.

SD

Discriminative Stimulus

SD

A type of stimulus that lets client know that reinforcement is available.

Ex: a phone ringing will make us answer because of the reinforcement of getting to talk to the person on the other end.

S-Delta

a stimulus which signifies that reinforcement (that may occur under other conditions) is NOT going to occur.

Ex: the open sign at a restaurant being off

SDp

a stimulus that lets us know there is a punishment available for the target response.

Ex: A warning sign on an electric fence or a light on a stove indicating a hot surface.

Reinforcer

Any activity, verbal statement, or item that when given immediately after a target behavior, increases the probability of that behavior in the future.

Conditioned Reinforcer

These function as a reinforcer because of their association/pairing with another reinforcer.

Ex: A token used in a child's token economy which can be exchanged for items or activities at a later time.

Unconditioned Reinforcer

Naturally occurring reinforcers that don't need to be paired or associated with others because of their importance for survival.

Ex: Food, water, rest.

Stimulus Fading

Highlighting a physical dimension of a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a correct response. The exaggerated dimension is then slowly faded in or out.

Positive Reinforcement

Used to increase the probability that a specific behavior will occur in the future through the delivery of a stimulus immediately after a specific behavior or response is emitted.

Punisher

Anything meant to decrease the probability of repeating a behavior in the future.

Positive Punishment

The delivery of a stimulus

Ex: getting yelled at.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a stimulus

Ex: getting grounded, getting phone taken away

Negative Reinforcement

Used to decrease the probability of a specific behavior by removing an undesired or aversive stimulus immediately after a specific behavior or response.

Ex: taking aspirin to reduce a headache

Mands

Requesting/asking for something with or without the stimulus present.

*The foundation of all other operant behavior.

A child's motivation is wanting a cookie. Child says 'cookie' and receives a cookie.

This is an example of what verbal behavior?

Manding

Teacher says 'Do this' & claps hands. Then child claps.

This is an example of what verbal behavior?

Motor imitation

Teacher says 'ball.' & says 'Say ball.' to child in hopes of evoking the verbal response of 'ball' from the child.

This is an example of what verbal behavior?

Echoic

Tact

A verbal operant, said to 'make contact with the world'. This is a label for an item, location,