ABAT Study Guide 2026

Sensory extinction involves blocking or masking the sensory consequence that reinforces the behavior, such as using protective equipment to prevent the automatic reinforcement.

A declining trend without procedural changes warrants a functional assessment to determine whether environmental, motivational, or behavioral variables have shifted.

Explanation: Thinning a schedule of reinforcement gradually means reducing the frequency or intensity of rewards given for a particular behavior. This can lead to decreased performance because the individual may become less motivated to engage in the behavior if they are not receiving rewards as frequently. When rewards are less frequent, the behavior may not be reinforced enough to maintain its strength, resulting in a decrease in performance.

Natural maintaining contingencies are the reinforcers that exist in the natural environment and can sustain a behavior once the formal intervention ends.

Stereotypy in ASD most commonly serves an automatic reinforcement function, meaning the sensory feedback produced by the behavior itself maintains it.

The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to engage in ongoing professional development and stay current with scientific and professional literature. Competence is not static and must be actively maintained throughout one's career.