ABA Generalization and Maintenance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Generalization across stimuli occurs when:
- A trained response occurs in the presence of stimuli similar to but not identical to training stimuli (Correct answer)
- The same behavior is emitted by multiple people
- A behavior increases across multiple settings simultaneously
- The response rate is maintained after reinforcement is thinned
Correct answer: A trained response occurs in the presence of stimuli similar to but not identical to training stimuli
Stimulus generalization is the occurrence of a trained response in the presence of novel stimuli that share physical or functional properties with the original SD.
Question 2: Response generalization occurs when:
- Training one behavior leads to untrained but functionally similar responses increasing (Correct answer)
- The trained behavior occurs across novel settings
- The same behavior is maintained after the program ends
- A different person elicits the trained response
Correct answer: Training one behavior leads to untrained but functionally similar responses increasing
Response generalization is the spread of effects to untrained responses that are functionally equivalent to the trained behavior.
Question 3: Programming common stimuli is a strategy for promoting generalization that involves:
- Including stimuli from the natural environment in training sessions (Correct answer)
- Reinforcing behavior only in the natural environment
- Removing all prompts from training before natural environment practice
- Using the same reinforcer in training and in the natural setting
Correct answer: Including stimuli from the natural environment in training sessions
Programming common stimuli brings elements (people, materials, cues) from the natural environment into training so the behavior is more likely to transfer to that environment.
Question 4: Which strategy involves teaching a range of exemplars to promote generalization?
- Multiple exemplar training (Correct answer)
- Common stimuli programming
- Loose training
- Indiscriminable contingencies
Correct answer: Multiple exemplar training
Multiple exemplar training exposes the learner to many varied examples of a concept or stimulus class so the behavior generalizes broadly beyond training exemplars.
Question 5: 'Loose training' promotes generalization by:
- Varying non-essential aspects of training (therapist, setting, materials) deliberately (Correct answer)
- Making all training stimuli identical across sessions
- Using only one reinforcer throughout training
- Reducing prompt intensity rapidly
Correct answer: Varying non-essential aspects of training (therapist, setting, materials) deliberately
Loose training intentionally introduces variation in irrelevant dimensions of training stimuli (e.g., different rooms, trainers, materials) to broaden the stimulus control.
Question 6: Indiscriminable contingencies are used to promote maintenance by:
- Making it unclear to the learner when reinforcement will or will not be delivered (Correct answer)
- Delivering reinforcement after every correct response
- Removing all reinforcement in the natural environment
- Using only extinction across all environments
Correct answer: Making it unclear to the learner when reinforcement will or will not be delivered
When learners cannot discriminate between reinforcement and non-reinforcement conditions, they continue responding at high rates, supporting maintenance.
ABA Generalization and Maintenance 1
Generalization across stimuli occurs when: