RBT

Identify Target Behavior

The specific behavior you are measuring in a data collection context.

Frequency

A count of how many times a behavior occurs.

Duration

The total time a behavior occurs from start to finish.

Latency

The time between the presentation of a stimulus and the initiation of a response.

Inter-Response Time (IRT)

The time between the end of one response and the beginning of another of the same class.

Rate

The frequency of behavior occurring over a given period of time.

Partial Interval Measurement

A discontinuous measurement method that records if a behavior occurred at any point during an interval.

Whole Interval Measurement

A discontinuous measurement method that counts a behavior only if it occurred throughout the entire interval.

Momentary Time Sampling

A method of measuring behavior by observing if it occurs at the very end of an interval.

Permanent Product

The tangible effect or item that results from a behavior, allowing for measurement without direct observation.

Graphing Behaviors

Using visual displays, such as line graphs, to track and analyze behavior data over time.

Defining Behavior

Describing observable and measurable actions taken by an organism.

Preference Assessments

Methods used to identify potential reinforcers based on client likes.

Free Operant

An assessment where the client has unrestricted access to items, and their engagement is recorded.

Forced Choice

A preference assessment method involving two items and asking the client to choose one.

Multiple Stimulus with Replacement (MSW)

Presenting multiple items to choose from, where selected items are returned after choice.

Multiple Stimulus without Replacement (MSWO)

Presenting multiple items where the selected item is removed from future options.

Functional Assessments

Evaluation methods that uncover the cause-effect relationship between environment and behavior.

Probing

Assessing a client's current skill level prior to intervention through task performance.

Skill Acquisition Plan

A structured approach outlining how skills will be taught, including goals and measurement.

Contingencies of Reinforcement

The conditions under which reinforcement is administered to increase or maintain a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus following a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus following a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

ABC Data

A descriptive assessment method that involves recording the Antecedent (what happened before), Behavior (the observable action), and Consequence (what happened after).

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

A teaching method where skills are broken down into smaller components and taught systematically in a one-on-one, structured environment.

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

A teaching strategy that uses the child's natural interests and environment to teach skills, embedding learning opportunities into everyday activities.

Prompt

An antecedent stimulus that is added to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior occurring.

Prompt Fading

Systematically reducing the intensity of a prompt until it is no longer needed, allowing the learner to respond independently.

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

A procedure that reinforces a desirable alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement for the undesirable target behavior.

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)

A procedure that delivers reinforcement for the non-occurrence of a target behavior during a specified time interval.

Chaining

A teaching procedure that breaks down a complex behavior into a sequence of smaller, manageable steps, and teaches the individual to perform these steps in order.

Forward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain by starting with the first step and prompting/reinforcing subsequent steps until the entire chain is learned.

Backward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain by starting with the last step and prompting/reinforcing subsequent steps until the entire chain is learned. The learner completes the last step independently first.

Task Analysis

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

Shaping

A procedure used to teach new behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior.

Extinction

The process of withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, resulting in a decrease in the frequency of that behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

A stimulus that signals that a particular response will be reinforced.

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

A stimulus that signals that a particular response will not be reinforced.

Generalization

The occurrence of a learned behavior in the presence of stimuli that were not present during training.

Maintenance

The continuation of a learned behavior after intervention has been discontinued.

Token Economy

A system where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for backup reinforcers.

Response Cost

A form of negative punishment in which a reinforcing item or privilege is removed contingent on the occurrence of an undesirable behavior.

Overcorrection

A punishment procedure requiring the individual to engage in effortful behavior that goes past simple correction, either by restoring the environment to a better state (restitutional overcorrection) or repeatedly practicing appropriate behavior (positive practice overcorrection).

Functions of Behavior

The four main reasons a behavior occurs: attention, escape, access to tangibles, and automatic (sensory).

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus following a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus following a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

ABC Data

A descriptive assessment method that involves recording the Antecedent (what happened before), Behavior (the observable action), and Consequence (what happened after).

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

A teaching method where skills are broken down into smaller components and taught systematically in a one-on-one, structured environment.

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

A teaching strategy that uses the child's natural interests and environment to teach skills, embedding learning opportunities into everyday activities.

Prompt

An antecedent stimulus that is added to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior occurring.

Prompt Fading

Systematically reducing the intensity of a prompt until it is no longer needed, allowing the learner to respond independently.

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

A procedure that reinforces a desirable alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement for the undesirable target behavior.

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)

A procedure that delivers reinforcement for the non-occurrence of a target behavior during a specified time interval.

Chaining

A teaching procedure that breaks down a complex behavior into a sequence of smaller, manageable steps, and teaches the individual to perform these steps in order.

Forward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain by starting with the first step and prompting/reinforcing subsequent steps until the entire chain is learned.

Backward Chaining

Teaching a behavioral chain by starting with the last step and prompting/reinforcing subsequent steps until the entire chain is learned. The learner completes the last step independently first.

Task Analysis

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

Shaping

A procedure used to teach new behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior.

Extinction

The process of withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, resulting in a decrease in the frequency of that behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

A stimulus that signals that a particular response will be reinforced.

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

A stimulus that signals that a particular response will not be reinforced.

Generalization

The occurrence of a learned behavior in the presence of stimuli that were not present during training.

Maintenance

The continuation of a learned behavior after intervention has been discontinued.

Token Economy

A system where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for backup reinforcers.

Response Cost

A form of negative punishment in which a reinforcing item or privilege is removed contingent on the occurrence of an undesirable behavior.

Overcorrection

A punishment procedure requiring the individual to engage in effortful behavior that goes past simple correction, either by restoring the environment to a better state (restitutional overcorrection) or repeatedly practicing appropriate behavior (positive practice overcorrection).

Functions of Behavior

The four main reasons a behavior occurs: attention, escape, access to tangibles, and automatic (sensory).

Motivating Operations (MOs)

Environmental variables that alter the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer and the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus.

Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where reinforcement is delivered after a fixed number of responses.

Variable Ratio (VR) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed Interval (FI) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where reinforcement is delivered for the first response after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Variable Interval (VI) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where reinforcement is delivered for the first response after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Physical Prompt

Providing physical guidance to help a learner emit a behavior.

Verbal Prompt

Using spoken words, phrases, or vocalizations to assist a learner in emitting a behavior.

Gestural Prompt

Using a physical movement or gesture to indicate the desired response.

Model Prompt

Demonstrating the desired behavior for the learner to imitate.

Visual Prompt

Using visual aids (e.g., pictures, written words, objects) to help a learner emit a behavior.

Imitation

Copying the behavior of another person. A key skill in early learning.

Pairing

The process of associating oneself with preferred items or activities to become a reinforcer.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

A scientific discipline that applies empirical approaches based on the principles of operant and classical conditioning to change behavior of social significance.

ABC

The three-term contingency, referring to the Antecedent (what happens before a behavior), the Behavior (the action itself), and the Consequence (what happens immediately after the behavior).