RBT 3rd Edition Flashcards Vocabulary Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the RBT 3rd Edition training materials including ethics, chaining, assessment, and professional conduct.

Function of Behavior

The reason a behavior occurs such as to get something, escape something, gain attention, or for sensory input.

FERPA

Law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Informed Consent

Written permission from a client or guardian before services or data sharing begins.

Violation

Any action that goes against the Ethics Code and may lead to disciplinary action from the BACB.

Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts

Set of professional rules created by the BACB that guides behavior analysts in making ethical decisions and providing high-quality care.

Self-Reflection

Process of examining one's own thoughts, behaviors, and biases to improve personal and professional practices.

Power Dynamics

Differences in authority or influence within relationships that can affect how decisions are made or how people feel heard.

Implicit Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that influence behavior and decision making, without conscious awareness.

Response Variation

When the client tries different behaviors in place of the original one to access the same reinforcement.

Planned Ignoring

Specific extinction procedure for attention-maintained behavior where the RBT intentionally withholds attention following the behavior.

Treatment Plan Updates

Revisions made to the ABA plan based on new information, feedback, or observations.

Reporting Procedures

Steps followed to document and communicate concerns or suggestions to the supervising BCBA.

Caregiver Input

Feedback or suggestions from a client's family that may influence treatment decisions.

Urgent vs Routine Feedback

Differentiating between issues that require immediate attention and those that can wait for scheduled discussions.

Intervention Team

Group of individuals supporting the client, including the RBT, BCBA, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals.

Data Irregularities

Inaccurate, inconsistent, or missing data that should be reported to a supervisor.

Training Needs

Skills or procedures an RBT feels uncertain about and may need further instruction on.

BACB Compliance

Following all the guidelines and rules set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, including accurate reporting, documentation, and behavior.

Total Task Chaining

A method where the client attempts all steps of a task in each session, with support given as needed throughout the task.

Backward Chaining

A procedure where the last step of a task is taught first, with earlier steps gradually added.

Forward Chaining

Chaining procedure that teaches the first step first, then progresses forward step-by-step as the client masters each one.

Chaining

Process used to teach multi-step tasks by linking together smaller steps in a specific order.

Task Analysis

Teaching method where a complex task is broken into smaller, manageable steps to teach clients step-by-step.

X-Axis

Horizontal line on a graph, usually showing time or different categories.

Extinction

Procedure in which a previously reinforced behavior is no longer followed by reinforcement, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time.

Ethical Considerations

Professional guidelines that ensure extinction is used safely with dignity and only when appropriate, following informed consent and under BCBA supervision.

Bias

Tending to favor or disfavor certain individuals or groups based on personal beliefs, assumptions, or stereotypes.

Inclusive Communication

Using language and methods of interaction that are respectful and accessible to individuals of all cultural backgrounds.

Professional Boundaries

Limits that help define appropriate roles and behaviors between RBT and clients to ensure ethical care.

Conflict of Interest

A situation where personal interest may interfere with professional judgement or actions.

Dual Relationship

Another term for multiple relationships, where personal and professional roles overlap.

Mitigation Strategies

Steps taken to reduce or manage risks when a multiple relationship cannot be avoided.

Professionalism

Acting with respect, responsibility, and integrity in all interactions. This includes clear communication, ethical behavior, cultural sensitivity, maintaining proper boundaries with clients, peers, and supervisors.

Interpersonal Skills

Abilities that help you interact effectively with others, such as listening, communicating clearly, showing empathy, and working well in teams.

Boundaries

Limits that separate personal and professional roles. RBTs must maintain these to avoid dual relationships and protect the objectivity of their services.

Multiple Relationship

When an RBT has more than one role with a client or their family, such as being both a therapist and a family friend.

Intermittent Reinforcement

Reinforcement that is delivered inconsistently, which can strengthen the persistence of unwanted behaviors if used during extinction.

Professional Communication

Clear, respectful, and factual interactions used when discussing client concerns or seeking help.

Supervision

Ongoing support and oversight provided by a BCBA to ensure ethical and effective services.

Chain of Command

Structured order in which to communicate concerns within an organization.

Clinical Direction

Guidance from a supervisor, usually a BCBA, to ensure correct procedures are followed in sessions.

Ethical Guidelines

Standards set by the BACB that define responsible conduct for behavior technicians.

Secure Messaging System

Protected digital platform for confidential communication within an ABA team.

Timely Communication

Promptly sharing relevant changes to support intervention effectiveness and client safety.

Reporting

Verbally or digitally sharing important observations with the BCBA or team.

Client Variables

Changes in a client's condition or environment that may impact learning or behavior.

Data Integrity

Making sure the written summary accurately matches the collected sessions data.

Timely Documentation

Writing session notes immediately after the session to maintain accuracy.

Objective Language

Describing what you see and hear without adding personal opinions or interpretations.

Confidentiality

Ethical and legal duty to protect private client information.

HIPAA

Federal law that safeguards health-related personal data.

Sanctions

Penalties issued by the BACB for ethical violations, such as extra training, supervision, suspension or revocation of certification.

Prompt Dependence

When a client relies on prompts and struggles to respond without them. Often due to insufficient fading.

Match-To-Sample

Type of task where the client matches an example (like picture or word) to the correct option from a group.

Conditional Discrimination

When a response depends on an extra piece of information or the situation (context matters).

Successive Discrimination

When only one stimulus is shown at a time, and the client must decide what to do based on that single cue.

Simultaneous Discrimination

When two or more choices are shown at the same time and the client must pick the correct one.

Stimulus Delta

Cue that signals reinforcement is not available for a particular response.

Stimulus Prompt

A change in the environment (color/size/position) that makes the correct response more likely.

Stimulus Fading

Gradually changing the features of a stimulus (like fading color or size) to encourage independent responding.

Variability

How much data points go up and down instead of following a steady pattern. If too high, can mean inconsistent behavior.

Replacement Behavior

Positive behavior taught to take the place of an unwanted behavior that serves the same purpose of function.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

Signal or cue that tells the client reinforcement is available for a specific behavior.

Discrimination Training

Teaching strategy used in ABA to help clients respond correctly to one specific stimulus while not responding to others.

Differential Reinforcement

Providing stronger or more preferred reinforcement for independent responses compared to prompted ones.

Feedback

Information given by a supervisor to help the RBT improve performance. If effective, should be timely, specific, constructive and used to support skill development.

Procedural Fidelity

The accurate and consistent implementation of behavior-analytic procedures exactly as outlined in the intervention plan.

Behavioral Skills Training (BST)

An evidence-based training model that includes four components: instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback.

BACB Supervision Requirements

Official rules and standards from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board that outlines how supervision must be conducted- including frequency, observation, qualifications, and documentation.

RBT Requirements Coordinator

Designated professional responsible for ensuring the quality, compliance, and documentation of an RBTs supervision.

Compassion, Dignity, and Respect

Treating clients with kindness, empathy, and understanding, regardless of their background or behavior.

Integrity

Being honest, trustworthy, and accountable in all professional actions.

Competence

Ability to perform job duties correctly based on proper training and practice.

Scope of Competence

Tasks and skills an RBT is qualified to perform.

Supervisor Responsibility

Requirement for RBTs to work under the ongoing supervision of a certified professional such as a BCBA.

Gift Limit

Rule stating that RBTs cannot give or receive gifts worth more than $\$10$ from clients, stakeholders, or supervisors.

Observation

Supervisors must observe RBTs providing direct services at least once directly per month, conducted in real time, in person or on video chat.

Partial-Interval Recording

A discontinuous method where behavior is marked as occurring if it happens at any time during the interval.

Duration

The total amount of time a behavior occurs, from start to finish.

Interresponse Time (IRT)

The time between the end of one behavior and the start of the next.

Latency

The amount of time between a given instruction and the start of the behavior.

ABC Data

Data collected on the Antecedent (what happens before), Behavior, and Consequence (what happens after) of a behavior.

Functional Assessment

Approach to identifying the cause (function) of problem behavior by analyzing what happens before and after the behavior.

Free Operant Assessment

Preference assessment where the client can freely choose from available items in an unstructured environment.

Multiple Stimulus Assessment

Preference assessment where multiple items are presented at once and the client's selections are recorded.

Paired Stimulus Assessment

Preference assessment where two items are presented at a time to determine which one the client prefers.

Accuracy Check

Process of reviewing entered data and graphed information to confirm that it matches session records.

Functional Analysis

Structured assessment where variables are manipulated to determine the specific function of behavior.

Baseline Data

Information collected before intervention begins, used as a comparison point to measure progress.

Assessment

Process used to gather information about a client's skills, preferences, or behaviors to guide intervention planning.

Downward Trend

A pattern showing a decrease in the behavior over time.

Ethical Reporting

The responsibility of the RBT to report data honestly and accurately, as required by the BACB Ethics Code.

Environment

Full setting in which behavior occurs, including physical surroundings, people present, and time-related factors.

Data Sheet

Structured form used to record observations during a session, serving as a source for data that will later be graphed.

Measurable Terms

Descriptions that can be counted or timed, such as frequency, duration, or intensity.

Observable Terms

Language that focuses on visible or audible actions, avoiding assumptions or emotional labels.

Measurement Systems

Tools and methods used to collect data, such as continuous recording, interval recording, or apps and data sheets.

Reliable Data

Information that is accurate, consistent, and collected using the correct procedures.

Observer Drift

When an RBT gradually and unintentionally changes the way they record or interpret behavior over time.

Clarity

Using precise and specific language that is easy to understand and leaves no room for confusion.