Key Terminology in Behavior Analysis

These flashcards cover essential terminology related to behavior analysis, including definitions and key concepts.

Antecedent

Stimulus that precedes a response.

Antecedent stimulus

An observable stimulus that is present before the behavior occurs.

Asymptote

Stable maximum level of responding.

Automatic reinforcer

A consequence that is directly produced by the response that increases the behavior above a no-reinforcer baseline.

Avoidance behavior

Negatively reinforced operant behavior that prevents an aversive stimulus from happening.

Behavior

Anything an integrated organism does.

Behavior analysis

A natural science that seeks to accurately predict behavior and identify functional variables to positively influence behavior.

Classical conditioning

Neutral stimulus elicits a Conditioned Response (CR) after pairing with an Unconditioned Stimulus (US).

Compound stimulus

Stimulus composed of several distinguishable elements.

Conditioned response (CR)

Learned response elicited by the conditioned stimulus (CS).

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Stimulus that elicits a conditioned response (CR).

Confound

Variables influencing behavior within an experiment that are not controlled by the researcher.

Consequence

Contingent stimulus following a response; An observable stimulus change that happens after behavior occurs.

Contingency

Cause and effect relationship.

Correlation

A positive correlation exists when two variables have a tendency to occur together.

Cumulative record

A graphical display of responding as it unfolds over time.

Dependent variable (DV)

The objectively measured target behavior.

Discrimination

Responding differently to similar stimuli.

Discrimination training

A procedure where an operant response is reinforced in the presence of an SD and extinguished in the presence of an SΔ.

Discriminative stimulus (SD)

Antecedent stimulus that signals availability of reinforcement.

Duration

The interval of time between the start and end of behavior.

Elicits

When a specific stimulus occasions a specific reflex response.

Environmental events

All experiences through your senses (tastes, smells, sights, sounds, tactile sensations).

Escape behavior

Negatively reinforced operant behavior that terminates an aversive stimulus.

Evokes

When a specific stimulus increases the probability of a specific ontogenetic response.

Experiment

Manipulating an independent variable to see if it systematically changes behavior.

Extinction burst

Temporary increase in rate, magnitude, or duration of a previously reinforced response.

Fixed-interval (FI) schedule

Time interval that must elapse for a single response to produce the reinforcer.

Fixed-ratio (FR) schedule

The number of responses required per reinforcer is constant.

Frequency

Number of behaviors per unit of time.

Generalization

Responding similarly to different stimuli.

Generalization (operant)

When a novel stimulus resembling the SD evokes the response, despite no past reinforcement.

Generalization (Pavlovian)

Conditioned responding to a novel stimulus resembling the CS.

Generalization gradient

A graph showing increases in responding as the novel antecedent resembles the SD or CS.

Group experimental designs

Evaluate if the treatment group's behavior is significantly different from control.

Habituation

Decrease in responding with repeated stimulus presentations; Gradual reduction in responding following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus.

Independent variable

Observable change controlled by the experimenter, expected to influence behavior.

Instrumental behavior

A synonym for operant behavior.

Intermittent reinforcement

Response is sometimes but not always reinforced.

Internal validity

Clear evidence that a functional relation exists between the independent variable and behavior change.

Interobserver agreement (IOA)

Extent to which two independent observers' data are the same after directly observing the same behavior.

Interresponse time (IRT)

Interval between consecutive responses.

Intertrial interval (ITI)

Time between two consecutive trials.

Interval schedule

Reinforcement occurs as a result of time passing with one response; Specifies the amount of time that must elapse before a single response will produce the reinforcer.

Latency

The interval between the opportunity to respond and the response itself.

Learning

Relatively enduring change in behavior due to experience.

Magnitude

The force or intensity of a behavior.

Negative punishment

Remove a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of responding.

Negative reinforcement

Remove a stimulus to increase the likelihood of responding.

Neutral stimulus

A stimulus that neither elicits nor evokes the response.

Noncontingent consequence

A consequence occurring after the response, but not caused by it.

Operant behavior

Responses influenced by antecedents, producing the same consequence.

Operant conditioning

Consequences to behavior change the likelihood of its future occurrence.

Operant extinction

Responses no longer followed by a consequence; Responding that meets the reinforcement contingency no longer produces the reinforcer and, as a result, falls to baseline (no-reinforcer) levels.

Partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE)

Relation between prior reinforcement and extinction speed.

Pavlovian extinction

Conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus; The procedure of repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus (CS) without the unconditioned stimulus (US), the effect of which is a reduction or elimination of the CS’s ability to evoke the conditioned response (CR).

Pavlovian generalization

Conditioned responding to a novel stimulus resembling the CS.

Phylogenetically important event (PIE)

Stimulus event important for individual survival.

Phylogenetically selected behaviors

Behaviors that increase chances of survival and are genetically passed on.

Positive punishment

Present a stimulus to decrease the odds of responding.

Positive reinforcement

Present a stimulus to increase the odds of responding.

Premack principle

Access to a high-probability behavior functions as a reinforcer for a low-probability behavior.

Prompt

An antecedent stimulus that facilitates or guides the desired response.

Punishment

Procedure whereby a consequence decreases the future probability of the operant response.

Ratio schedule

Reinforcement occurs as a result of responding rather than time.

Reactivity

Behavior changes due to awareness of being observed.

Reinforcement

Process by which a reinforcer increases operant behavior above its baseline level.

Reinforcer

A consequence that increases operant behavior above baseline level.

Response

A single instance of behavior.

Response topography

The physical movement or form of the response.

Rewards

Beneficial consequences that are expected to function as reinforcers.

Rule-governed behavior

Behavior influenced by a verbal description of the operative three-term contingency.

Schedule of reinforcement

Specifies the contingent relation between a response and a reinforcer.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations to a new behavior; Differential reinforcement of successive approximations to a terminal behavior.

Spontaneous recovery

Increase in conditioned responding following time since Pavlovian extinction.

Stimulus

Something experienced through the senses.

Temporal contiguity

Simultaneous occurence of two events.

Three-term contingency

Functional relation between antecedent, behavior, and consequence.

Time-out from positive reinforcement

Suspension of a positive-reinforcement contingency to decrease future problem behavior.

Unconditioned response (UR)

US elicits a reflexive response without prior training.

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Stimulus that elicits a UR without prior training.

Variable-interval (VI) schedule

The time before the first response is reinforced is variable.

Variable-ratio (VR) schedule

The number of responses required per reinforcer is variable.

Within-individuals replications

Independent variable manipulation produces the same effect on the individual's behavior each time.