CG C: Skill Acquisition

Skill Acquisition Plan

a plan created by a behavior analyst to collect data on targeted skills or behaviors for development or reduction.

Primary Reinforcer

any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch

ex: food & water

Secondary Reinforcer

stimuli that acquire their reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers- reinforcers that have been learned over time

ex: Money, toys, verbal praise

Continuous Reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs- best when teaching a new skill!

Intermittent Reinforcement

The desired behavior is reinforced on an average or random amount of responses

Ex: gambling, claw machines, Pokémon cards

Fixed Ratio

reinforcement is delivered after a fixed number of responses are emitted by the individual

Ex: FR 3

Reinforcement is provided after 3 correct responses have been emitted by the individual

Fixed Interval

Reinforcement is provided after the desired behavior has occurred and a set period of time has passed

ex: FI 30 minutes

reinforcement is provided if the desired behavior has occurred and 30 minutes have passed

Variable Ratio

reinforcement is delivered after an average number of responses, but the exact number varies unpredictably.

Ex: VR 5

Reinforcement is provided around every 5 correct responses. It can be delivered after 4, 6, then 5 correct responses but never consistently every 5

Variable Interval

Reinforcement is provided after an average or random amount of time has passed if the desired behavior has occurred.

Ex: VI 30 minutes

Deliver reinforcement around 25 32, and 30 minutes if the behavior has occurred!

Positive Reinforcement

Positive- Adding stimuli

Reinforcement- Increasing behavior

When presented following a behavior increases the future likelihood of this behavior occurring.

Positive Punishment

Positive- Adding stimuli

Punishment- Decreasing behavior

A stimulus when presented following the behavior decreases the future likelihood of that behavior occurring

Negative Reinforcement

Negative-Removing stimuli

Reinforcement- Increasing behavior

A stimulus when removed immediately following a behavior increases the future likelihood of that behavior occurring

Negative Punishment

Negative- Removing stimuli

Punishment- Decreasing behavior

A stimulus when removed immediately following a behavior decreases the future likelihood of that behavior

Discrete Trial Teaching

TA structured teaching method used in ABA that breaks down complex skills into small, manageable steps with high levels of repetition. Each "trial" consists of a clear instruction (antecedent), the learner's response (behavior), and a consequence (reinforcement or correction).

tip: You Direct the client, the client Tries to respond, then you Teach by prompting or reinforcing!

Naturalistic Teaching

A teaching approach in ABA that focuses on learning within natural environments and everyday activities. It uses the learner's interests to motivate them and incorporates real-life situations for practicing skills

Total Task Chaining

Allowing the client independence on the entire chain, while prompting as needed

tip: the word total signals to us that the entire chain is expected to be independent

Backward Chaining

Beginning with the first steps of the chain helped or prompted while allowing the client to have independence on the last steps of the chain

tip: the word backward signals to us that the back part of the chain is expected to be independent

Forward Chaining

Beginning with the first step taught to be independent and prompting the rest of the chain

tip: the word forward signals to us that the forward part of the chain is expected to be completed independently

Discrimination Training

Reinforce a response in the presence of a stimulus, but not in the absence of that stimulus

Ex: SD: "touch blue" when presented with blue, green and yellow

Client: touches blue

BS: AMAZING JOB TOUCHING BLUE

Stimulus Control Transfer

Modifying the antecedents so that the same response occurs in the presence of a new/different instruction.

Ex: modifying the environment so the behavior happens in the presence of a new stimulus.

Prompting

A technique used in ABA to assist a learner in performing a desired behavior by providing additional cues or assistance. Prompts can be verbal, physical, or visual and are used to guide the learner toward the correct response.

tip: Vast Medows Grow Peacefully

Verbal-Model- Gesture- Physica

Prompt Fading

Prompt fading is the gradual reduction of assistance or cues provided during a task to help the learner become more independent. The goal is to lessen the level of prompt (verbal, physical, or visual) over time until the learner can perform the task without any assistance.

Generalization

The ability to respond across various people, places, settings and stimuli​

Maintenance

Maintaining the responses over a period of time (days, weeks, months and so on)​

Shaping

Process of differentially reinforcing successive approximations to a target behavior. ​

Ex. teaching juice - juh, joo, juice

Token Economy

Mediated Systems of reinforcement "Tokens" are given to a client for a specific set of behaviors. ​

After a specific number are acquired, they can be "cashed in".​ The items/activities they can be cashed in for are known as back up reinforcers.