ABA Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training 2 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: A stimulus generalization gradient shows the relationship between stimuli along a dimension and response rate. What typically happens to response rate as stimuli become more dissimilar to the original SD?
- Response rate increases monotonically
- Response rate remains constant regardless of similarity
- Response rate decreases as stimuli become less similar to the SD (Correct answer)
- Response rate increases only for stimuli on one side of the SD
Correct answer: Response rate decreases as stimuli become less similar to the SD
In a typical generalization gradient, response rate is highest to the original SD and decreases as test stimuli become increasingly dissimilar from it.
Question 2: The peak shift effect refers to a phenomenon in which, after discrimination training, the peak of the generalization gradient:
- Remains at the SD used during training
- Shifts toward the SĪ
- Shifts away from the SĪ beyond the original SD (Correct answer)
- Flattens so all stimuli produce equal response rates
Correct answer: Shifts away from the SĪ beyond the original SD
After discrimination training, the peak response rate shifts away from the SĪ to a stimulus that is even more different from the SĪ than the SD was.
Question 3: A conditional discrimination requires that the learner:
- Respond to the SD regardless of contextual stimuli
- Choose among comparison stimuli based on the relationship to a sample stimulus (Correct answer)
- Generalize responses to all members of a stimulus class
- Emit the response in the presence of any novel stimulus
Correct answer: Choose among comparison stimuli based on the relationship to a sample stimulus
In a conditional discrimination (e.g., match-to-sample), the 'correct' comparison stimulus depends on the sample presented ā the relationship between sample and comparison controls selection.
Question 4: Which concept describes the phenomenon where a stimulus that was not present during conditioning can block the development of stimulus control by a second stimulus?
- Stimulus overshadowing
- Blocking (Correct answer)
- Behavioral contrast
- Stimulus equivalence
Correct answer: Blocking
Blocking occurs when prior conditioning to one stimulus prevents a second stimulus (presented alongside the first) from gaining stimulus control.
Question 5: A student with autism responds correctly to the teacher's question only when the teacher is wearing a red shirt, not any other shirt. This is an example of:
- Behavioral contrast
- Overselective stimulus control (Correct answer)
- Multiple schedule performance
- Derived relational responding
Correct answer: Overselective stimulus control
Overselective stimulus control (tunnel vision) occurs when responding comes under control of a narrow, often irrelevant, feature of a compound stimulus.
Question 6: Transfer of stimulus control refers to a process in which:
- A response trained under one schedule generalizes to a new schedule
- Control over behavior is shifted from a prompt to the natural discriminative stimulus (Correct answer)
- Reinforcement is transferred from an artificial to a natural reinforcer
- A behavior is transferred from one topography to another
Correct answer: Control over behavior is shifted from a prompt to the natural discriminative stimulus
Transfer of stimulus control procedures (e.g., prompt fading, time delay) systematically shift responding from a prompt to the target SD.
Question 7: In a match-to-sample (MTS) procedure, identity matching differs from arbitrary matching in that:
- Identity matching uses three comparison stimuli while arbitrary matching uses two
- Identity matching requires selecting a comparison that is physically identical to the sample (Correct answer)
- Arbitrary matching is only used with vocal behavior
- Identity matching relies solely on reinforcement history without antecedent control
Correct answer: Identity matching requires selecting a comparison that is physically identical to the sample
In identity MTS, the correct comparison stimulus is physically identical to the sample; arbitrary MTS requires selecting a comparison based on a trained ā not perceptual ā relationship.
ABA Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training 2
A stimulus generalization gradient shows the relationship between stimuli along a dimension and response rate.
What typically happens to response rate as stimuli become more dissimilar to the original SD?