COMP ABA

What are the three main things to know about token systems?

The schedule of reinforcement, the behavior earning each token, and what the person is motivated by/reinforced by.

What is the schedule of reinforcement in a token system?

It describes when and how tokens are delivered for the desired behavior.

What behavior typically earns a token in a token system?

Correctly responding to questions or demonstrating the desired behavior.

Why is it important to know what a person is motivated by in a token system?

Because the tokens must be exchanged for something that serves as a reinforcer for that person.

What are you giving each token for?

A specific desired behavior, such as correctly responding to an answer.

What makes a token effective as a reinforcer?

The token can be exchanged for something the person finds motivating or reinforcing.

What is differential reinforcement?

Reinforcing some behaviors while withholding reinforcement for other behaviors.

What does DRA stand for?

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative behavior.

What is DRA?

Reinforcing an alternative behavior that serves as a replacement for the problem behavior.

What does DRI stand for?

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behavior.

What is DRI?

Reinforcing a behavior that is incompatible with the problem behavior, meaning the two behaviors cannot occur at the same time.

What does DRO stand for?

Differential Reinforcement of Other behavior.

What is DRO?

Reinforcing when the target/problem behavior does not occur for a specified period of time.

What does DRH stand for?

Differential Reinforcement of Higher rates of behavior.

What is DRH?

Reinforcing the behavior when it occurs at a higher rate than before.

What does DRL stand for?

Differential Reinforcement of Lower rates of behavior.

What is DRL?

Reinforcing the behavior when it occurs at a lower rate, without necessarily eliminating it.

What is extinction?

The discontinuing of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior.

What happens to a behavior during extinction?

The reinforcement that previously maintained the behavior is no longer provided.

What is the key idea to remember about extinction?

Previously reinforced behavior → reinforcement stops.

What percentage of your behavior-analytic tasks must be supervised?

5% of your behavior-analytic tasks.

How much supervision is required if you work 40 hours per week?

About 2 hours per week (5% of 40 hours).

What are the two types of supervision activities to remember?

Face-to-face supervision with a client and supervision with a BCBA.

What does the 5% supervision requirement apply to?

Your behavior-analytic tasks, not necessarily all hours worked.

What are antecedent interventions?

Interventions that modify the environment or events before a behavior occurs to prevent problem behavior or increase desired behavior.

When do antecedent interventions occur?

Before the behavior occurs.

What is the goal of antecedent interventions?

To prevent problem behavior or increase the likelihood of a desired behavior.

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How are antecedent interventions different from consequence-based interventions?

Antecedent interventions happen before the behavior and target triggers or setting conditions, while consequence-based interventions occur after the behavior.

What are examples of antecedent interventions?

First-then boards, token boards, choices, and timers.

What do antecedent interventions target?

The triggers or setting conditions that occur before a behavior.

When should you seek clinical direction?

When there is a significant change or uncertainty that could affect treatment or behavior.

Should you seek clinical direction if a parent reports a new medication?

Yes. A new medication should be reported and clinical direction sought.

Should you seek clinical direction after an environmental change at home?

Yes. Changes in the home environment may affect behavior or treatment.

Should you seek clinical direction if there is a new diet?

Yes. Report the change and seek clinical direction.

Should you seek clinical direction if a new behavior occurs?

Yes. New or unexpected behaviors should be brought to the supervisor/clinical team.

When should you seek help with a behavior program?

When you need help implementing a program or don't know how to do it correctly.

What are some situations that require clinical direction?

New medication, environmental changes, new diet, new behavior, needing help with a program, or being unsure how to implement a program.

What is Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)?

A teaching method where skills are broken down into small, distinct steps and taught through repeated, clearly defined trials.

What does each DTT trial have?

A clear beginning, middle, and end.

What is consistent about DTT trials?

Each trial uses the same basic sequence each time.

Why are skills broken into small steps in DTT?

To make the skill clearer and easier to teach and learn.

What is discontinuous measurement?

A measurement method where behavior is sampled during certain intervals instead of recording every occurrence.

Does discontinuous measurement capture 100% of behavior occurrences?

No. Because behavior is only sampled, it provides an estimate rather than an exact count.

How is discontinuous measurement different from continuous measurement?

Continuous measurement records every occurrence, while discontinuous measurement checks behavior during specific intervals or points in time.

What is Partial Interval Recording?

Recording whether the behavior occurred at ANY time during the interval.

What is Whole Interval Recording?

Recording whether the behavior occurred for the ENTIRE interval.

What is Momentary Time Sampling (MTS)?

Recording whether the behavior is occurring at the END of the interval.

What is continuous measurement?

Capturing every single instance of a behavior as it occurs, rather than sampling portions of the observation period.

What is count?

A tally of the total number of times a behavior occurs during an observation period.

What is Duration?

The total amount of time a behavior occurs.

What is Inter-response Time (IRT)?

The amount of time between the end of one response and the beginning of the next response.

What is an example of IRT?

The time between a client pulling your hair the first time and pulling it the second time.

What is Latency?

The elapsed time between the onset of a demand/cue (stimulus) and the beginning of the response.

What is an example of Latency?

The time it takes a client to respond after an SD is presented.

What is Frequency?

The number of times a behavior occurs. It tells you how often the behavior happens.

What is Rate?

How often a behavior occurs over a specific amount of time.

How can frequency be used to determine rate?

Rate = frequency ÷ time.

What is Naturalistic Teaching?

An ABA approach where teaching occurs in the person's natural, everyday environment and routines rather than in a structured tabletop setting.

What does Naturalistic Teaching use to teach skills?

The learner's own motivation and naturally occurring opportunities.

How does learning look during Naturalistic Teaching?

It feels more like play or everyday interaction rather than a formal lesson.

How might colors and shapes be taught naturally?

While doing everyday activities, such as sorting laundry or snack items: "Give me the red cup."

How can counting be taught using Naturalistic Teaching?

By counting crackers, toy cars, or steps during a naturally occurring activity.

How could a grocery store be used for Naturalistic Teaching?

The child can practice requesting items, identifying foods, or greeting the cashier during the shopping trip.

How can a nature walk be used for Naturalistic Teaching?

Labeling skills can be taught by identifying bugs, leaves, colors, or other items encountered naturally.

What is the common thread in Naturalistic Teaching?

The teaching opportunity is built around something the learner is already interested in or already doing.

What makes reinforcement naturalistic?

The reinforcement is directly connected to the learner's interest or activity, rather than being an arbitrary reward.

What is chaining?

A teaching procedure used to teach complex, multi-step behaviors by breaking them into smaller individual steps through a task analysis and teaching them in sequence.

What is a task analysis?

Breaking a complex skill into smaller, individual steps.

In chaining, what happens to each step?

Each step is linked together so that it serves as a cue for the next step and a consequence of the previous step.

What is Forward Chaining?

Teaching the steps in order, starting with the first step.

How does Forward Chaining work?

The learner performs step 1 independently, while the teacher assists with the remaining steps. Once mastered, step 2 is added, and so on.

What is an example of Forward Chaining?

Handwashing: first teach turn on water, then add get soap, then lather hands, and continue until the entire sequence is independent.

What is Backward Chaining?

Teaching the steps in reverse order, starting with the last step.

How does Backward Chaining work?

The teacher completes all steps except the last step, which the learner performs and is reinforced for. Then the second-to-last step is added, and so on.

What is an example of Backward Chaining?

Putting on a jacket: the teacher does everything except zipping it, and the learner learns to zip it first. Then additional steps are added backward.

What is Total Task Chaining?

The learner attempts ALL steps of the sequence during every teaching session, with prompts or assistance provided as needed.

How are prompts handled in Total Task Chaining?

The teacher provides assistance wherever needed and gradually fades prompts across all steps as the learner becomes more independent.

What is an example of Total Task Chaining?

Making a sandwich: the learner attempts every step from start to finish during each trial, with support gradually faded.

What is Discrimination Training?

A teaching procedure that teaches a learner to respond differently to different stimuli.

What is the main goal of Discrimination Training?

To teach the learner to tell the difference between stimuli and respond correctly to the relevant stimulus.

What does S+ mean?

S+ is the stimulus in the presence of which a specific response is reinforced.

What does S-Delta (SΔ) mean?

S-Delta is a stimulus in the presence of which the specific response is not reinforced.

What should a learner do in the presence of the S+?

Emit the specific desired response.

What should a learner do in the presence of the S-Delta?

Withhold the response or emit a different response.

Why is Discrimination Training important?

It teaches the learner when to respond and when not to respond, rather than responding the same way to everything.

What is Shaping?

A teaching procedure used to teach a new behavior by reinforcing successive approximations toward the final target behavior.

What are successive approximations?

Small steps or behaviors that progressively get closer to the target behavior.

Why is Shaping used?

When the learner does not currently perform the target behavior and needs to learn it gradually.

What happens during Shaping?

You reinforce a behavior that resembles the target, then gradually require closer approximations before providing reinforcement.

What is the first step in Shaping?

Identify the target behavior—the final behavior you want the learner to perform.

What is the second step in Shaping?

Identify the learner's current behavior or starting point.

What happens after the learner consistently performs an approximation?

Stop reinforcing that approximation and reinforce a slightly closer approximation to the target.

When does Shaping end?

When the learner reliably performs the actual target behavior and receives reinforcement for it.

What is a preference assessment?

A systematic procedure used to identify items, activities, or stimuli a person prefers so they can potentially be used as reinforcers.

Why are preference assessments important?

Reinforcement only works if the item or activity is motivating to that specific person.

Why should preference assessments be conducted regularly?

Preferences can change from day to day, so an item that was preferred previously may not be preferred now.

What is a Single-Stimulus Preference Assessment?

One item is presented at a time, and the learner's approach or engagement with the item is recorded.

What is a limitation of Single-Stimulus Assessment?

It does not directly compare items against each other.

What is a Paired-Choice (Forced-Choice) Preference Assessment?

Two items are presented at a time, and the learner chooses one.

How are preferences ranked in a Paired-Choice Assessment?

Each item is paired with every other item, and the learner's choices are tallied to rank preferences.