Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) 40 Hour Training Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the core concepts, diagnostic criteria, behavioral principles, and professional standards for Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) training based on the provided lecture notes.

Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT)

An entry-level interventionist who serves as a direct one-to-one instructor under the supervision of a QASP-S, QBA, or other master’s level licensed professional.

Qualified Behaviour Analyst (QBA)

A mastery-level interventionist who provide ABA program oversight, supervision, assessment, analysis of data, and goal development.

Qualified Autism Services Practitioner – Supervisor (QASP-S)

A mid-tier interventionist who serves as an experienced instructor, monitors progress of goals, and provides supervision to entry-level staff.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors according to the DSM-5.

Social Communication Disorder (SCD)

A diagnosis for children with social-communication impairments who do not exhibit two or more types of repetitive/restricted behavior.

Deficits in Social-Emotional Reciprocity (A1)

A DSM-5 diagnostic criterion reflecting problems with social initiation and response, such as abnormal social approach or failure of back-and-forth conversation.

Deficits in Nonverbal Communicative Behaviors (A2)

A DSM-5 diagnostic criterion including problems with eye contact, understanding gestures, or lack of facial expressions used for social interaction.

Deficits in Developing and Maintaining Relationships (A3)

A DSM-5 diagnostic criterion reflecting problems with social awareness, insight, and difficulties in sharing imaginative play or making friends.

Stereotyped or Repetitive Patterns (B1)

A restricted/repetitive behavior criterion including atypical speech (echolalia), motor movements (hand flapping), or nonfunctional use of objects.

Excessive Adherence to Routines (B2)

A diagnostic symptom involving ritualized patterns of behavior, motoric rituals, or extreme distress at small changes.

Highly Restricted, Fixated Interests (B3)

Interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus, such as preoccupation with unusual objects or specific topics like time tables.

Hyper- or Hypo-reactivity to Sensory Input (B4)

Atypical sensory behaviors including indifference to pain, aversion to specific textures, or fascination with lights/spinning objects.

ASD Prevalence Statistics

About 1 in 31 children is identified with ASD; it is nearly 4 times more common among boys than among girls according to the CDC’s ADDM Network.

Developmental Monitoring

An active, ongoing process of watching a child grow and meeting typical developmental milestones in playing, learning, and speaking.

Developmental Screening

A formal process using research-based questionnaires at specific ages ($9$, $18$, $24$, and $30$ months) to look closely at a child's development.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

The science of systematically applying interventions based on behavior principles to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree.

Function of Behavior

The ‘WHY’ a behavior occurs; identifies the underlying cause or reinforcement maintaining a behavior.

EATS / SEAT

Mnemonics for the four functions of behavior: Escape, Attention, Tangible, and Sensory.

Tangible Function

Behavior maintained by access to items in the immediate environment, such as an iPad or toys.

Sensory Function

Behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement, often described as ‘it just feels good’ (e.g., stimming).

Social Significance

Behavioral goals that are important to the individual and will maximize their ability to function in their current environment.

Stimulus Control

The principle that behaviors are reinforced in the presence of certain stimuli, such as a mother signaling the availability of money.

Discriminative Stimulus ($S^{D}$)

A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement.

S Delta ($S^{\Delta}$)

A stimulus that signals the non-availability of reinforcement.

Discriminative Stimulus Punishment ($S^{D}\text{P}$)

A stimulus that signals the availability of punishment.

Motivating Operation (MO)

A temporary environmental condition that alters the value of a reinforcer and the frequency of behavior that has produced that reinforcer.

Establishing Operation (EO)

An MO that increases the reinforcing effectiveness of a consequence, such as food deprivation.

Abolishing Operation (AO)

An MO that decreases the reinforcing effectiveness of a consequence, such as food consumption (satiation).

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a new stimulus to the environment after a behavior to increase the future frequency of that behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Withdrawing an already present stimulus from the environment after a behavior to increase the future frequency of that behavior.

Punishment

Something added or taken away after a behavior occurs that results in a decrease in the future frequency of that behavior.

Extinction

A procedure where a previously reinforced behavior no longer receives reinforcement, eventually decreasing the behavior frequency.

Extinction Burst

An immediate, temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a response after the removal of reinforcement.

Spontaneous Recovery

The short-lived recurrence of a behavior that was previously diminished during the extinction process.

Continuous Measurement

A data collection method where all instances of behavior are detected during the observation period (e.g., Frequency, Rate, Duration).

Rate

A continuous measurement calculated as count divided by time (Count/Time).

Discontinuous Measurement

A measurement where some instances of behavior may not be detected, typically using interval recording or time sampling.

Partial Interval Recording

A discontinuous method that records a behavior as occurring if it happens at any point during an interval; it tends to overestimate behavior.

Whole Interval Recording

A discontinuous method where behavior is only recorded if it occurs throughout the entire interval; it tends to underestimate behavior.

Momentary Time Sampling

A discontinuous method where the observer checks for behavior only at the very end of a specific interval.

Permanent Product Recording

Measuring behavior based on the tangible results or items left in the environment (e.g., test scores, completed math problems).

Accuracy

Measuring whether the recorded value of a behavior represents the true value of that behavior.

Reliability

The extent to which a measurement procedure produces the same result consistently over time.

Validity

The extent to which a system measures what it was intended to measure.

Interobserver Agreement (IOA)

The degree to which two or more independent observers report the same observed values after measuring the same events.

Dead Persons Test

A rule stating that if a dead person can do it, it is not behavior; if a dead person cannot do it, it is behavior.

Operational Definition

A clear, objective, and measurable description of behavior that allows all observers to agree on its occurrence.

Multiple Stimulus without Replacement (MSWO)

A preference assessment where items chosen by the learner are not returned to the array for subsequent trials.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

A precise, sequenced instructional method featuring teacher-presented prompts, learner responses, and immediate consequences.

High-Probability (High-P) Request Sequence

Building behavioral momentum by presenting a series of easy, high-compliance requests before presenting a low-probability request.

Incidental Teaching

A naturalistic teaching procedure where opportunities are captured or contrived in natural environments to teach specific skills.

Task Analysis

The process of breaking a complex skill or sequential behavior into smaller, manageable steps.

Forward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain starting with the first step and proceeding in chronological order.

Backward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain starting from the last step, allowing the learner to complete the chain and receive reinforcement immediately.

Differential Reinforcement

The implementation of reinforcing only appropriate responses while applying extinction to all other responses.

DRA (Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior)

Reinforcing a specific appropriate behavior that serves as an alternative to a problem behavior (e.g., asking for a cookie instead of hitting).

DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior)

Providing reinforcement if the target behavior does not occur during a specified time interval.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which sets standards for protecting sensitive patient data (PHI).

IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ensuring children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

The IDEA principle that children with disabilities should be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

Dual Relationship

Maintaining both a personal and professional relationship with a client, which is a violation of professional ethical boundaries.