RBT competency

How should an RBT prepare for data collection?

identifying what forms of data will be collected within their session and acquiring the necessary materials. Some examples of this could include timers, paper/pencil, digital data collection (iPads). 

Continuous Measurement

Frequency, Rate, Duration, Latency, and Interresponse Time

Frequency

tracks every occurrence of the specific behavior being recorded.

Rate

attaches a time component to frequency. For example, X occurred 5 times per hour. 

Duration

collects data on the total time elapsed from the start of a behavior to the end of the behavior

Latency

measures the time elapsed from the presentation of a stimulus to the start of the subsequent behavior (response) 

Interresponse time

measures the time elapsed between two consecutive instances of a behavior. 

Discontinuous measurement

Partial Interval Recording, Whole Interval Recording, and Momentary Time Sampling

Partial interval recording

will record if a behavior occurred or not during a specific interval of time, at ANY point in the interval. 

Whole interval recording

will be used when recording whether or not a behavior occurred during the FULL duration of a specific interval of time.

Momentary time sampling

will record whether or not a behavior is occurring at a SPECIFIC POINT in the time interval.

What is a Permanent Product Recording?

A permanent product recording is used to provide insight on a behavior based off of the outcomes it left behind.

Permanent product example

You could give a worksheet to a client for five minutes and assess their engagement based off of the final product, instead of recording the behaviors. At the end of five minutes, was the worksheet complete, blank, or partially complete?

Components of a graph

Key elements of a graph in ABA include the X axis, the Y axis, the data points, and phase lines.

X axis

Represent date/time

Y axis

hold data points for a behavior. 

Topography

description of a behavior based on what was observed and measured. In other words, what did the behavior look like? For example, I would not say “client was upset” because emotions are not observable and measurable.

What is ABC data?

Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence. Collecting ABC data is crucial to identifying the functions of a behavior.

Antecedent

what occurred just before the behavior began. Common antecedents are demands being placed, access being denied, or attention being removed

Consequence

what occurs immediately after the behavior. Was attention gained? Was access given to the client? Was a demand held?

What are the 4 functions of behavior?

Attention, access to tangibles, escape, automatic

Attention

A behavior occurs in order to gain attention

Access to tangibles

A behavior occurs in order to gain access to tangibles

Escape

A behavior occurs to access escape from unwanted situations

Automatic

A behavior is motivated by sensory stimulation

Types of preference assessments

Multiple stimulus with replacement, multiple stimulus without replacement, paired choice, free operant, single stimulus

Multiple stimulus with replacement

Potential reinforcers will be placed in an array. The first option the client chooses will be noted, and items can be added back into the array and shuffled. This can help to develop a hierarchy of which items in the array are most preferred, and rule out Side Bias. 

Multiple stimulus without replacement

Items are placed in an array. After an item is chosen by the client, the response is noted and removed from the array. The client should then choose another item from the remaining items. 

Paired choice

a client is presented only two items, and should choose between the two. 

Free operant

a client will be given free access to items in an environment in no particular array or order. Items the client chooses to engage with are then noted by the assessor.

Single stimulus

a single item is placed in front of the client to engage with, once the client is done with that item the assessor replaces it with another item. How long and if the client engaged with the item is noted by the assessor. 

What is DTT?

Discrete trial teaching (DTT) is a method of teaching in ABA that requires a structured, detail oriented approach. DTT follows the typical structure of Instruction→Prompt→Response→Consequence. 

Why is DTT effective?

broad skillsets can be broken down into smaller, teachable steps with clear instructions. Trials and Consequences are delivered in quick succession, and targets are mastered before moving on to more complex ones. 

What is NET?

Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is another method of teaching in ABA that relies on the natural environment to present teaching opportunities. Targets are implemented into the clients environment/schedule and provide a real-world approach to learning.

What is a conditioned reinforcer?

(or SECONDARY reinforcer) is a reinforcer that has gained its value through learning and experience.

What is an unconditioned reinforcer?

(or PRIMARY reinforcer)  is inherently valuable and requires no learning to be reinforcing. Some examples of this are food/water, comfortable temperatures

Chaining procedures

are used to break skills down into smaller, teachable steps. Forward, backward, total task

Forward chaining

the first step of the task will be completed independently by the learner, while the remaining steps are prompted.

Backward chaining

the learner will be prompted through all of the steps until the last one, which will be completed independently by the learner.

Total task

a learner will be assisted in the total task, from the first step to the last step, prompting as necessary.

Discrimination training

teaches a learner how to discriminate between different types of stimuli

Stimulus control transfer

is the process of changing the stimulus that triggers a specific behavioral response. When teaching behaviors, a common goal is to transfer the power of one stimulus to one natural stimulus.

Prompt fading

reducing the level of assistance required to perform a behavior. You may go from providing full assistance, to partial assistance, to independence. Fading prompts is important to reduce the risk of prompt dependency and increasing independence.

Generalization

is when a learner is able to apply a skill to different settings, people, and contexts

Maintenance

is the continued performance of a behavior or skill after the intervention has been removed. If you teach a client to ask for help, and they continue to do so after instruction has ended, this skill has been maintained.

Shaping

Shaping is when a behavior is reinforced in smaller steps as the desired behavior is approached in smaller approximations.

Token economy

client will earn tokens for engaging in desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for backup reinforcers

Punishment

punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring

Positive reinforcement

a pleasant stimulus is added when a behavior occurs

Negative reinforcement

an aversive stimulus is removed after the occurrence of a behavior. 

Positive punishment

An aversive stimulus is added after a behavior occurs. 

Reinforcement

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring

Negative punishment

A pleasant stimulus is removed after a behavior occurs. 

Differential reinforcement procedures

DRO, DRA, DRI, DRL, DRH

DRO

Differential Reinforcement of OTHER behaviors - reinforcement occurs when other behaviors are exhibited in place of the target behavior for reduction. 

DRA

Differential Reinforcement of ALTERNATIVE behaviors- reinforcement occurs when an alternative behavior is exhibited in place of the target behavior

DRI

Differential Reinforcement of INCOMPATIBLE behaviors- behavior that is incompatible with the target behavior is reinforced

DRH

Differential Reinforcement of HIGH rates of behavior- reinforcement is applied when high rates of a certain behavior occur in place of a target behavior

DRL

Differential Reinforcement of LOW rates of behavior- reinforcement occurs when a target behavior is exhibited at a low rate

Extinction

Extinction is when reinforcement is not earned for a behavior that has been reinforced in the past.