ABAT Core ABA Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A child receives a sticker every time they complete exactly 5 math problems, regardless of elapsed time. Which reinforcement schedule is this?
- Variable ratio (VR5)
- Fixed interval (FI5)
- Fixed ratio (FR5) (Correct answer)
- Variable interval (VI5)
Correct answer: Fixed ratio (FR5)
A fixed ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after a fixed number of responses, in this case every 5 completions.
Question 2: What typically occurs at the onset of an extinction procedure for a behavior that was previously reinforced?
- Immediate and permanent suppression of the behavior
- Rapid generalization to untrained settings
- A temporary increase in rate, intensity, or variability of the behavior (Correct answer)
- Spontaneous recovery of a competing behavior
Correct answer: A temporary increase in rate, intensity, or variability of the behavior
An extinction burst is the temporary increase in the frequency or intensity of a behavior when reinforcement is first withheld.
Question 3: Negative reinforcement is best defined as:
- Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
- Removing an aversive stimulus contingent on a behavior, thereby increasing that behavior (Correct answer)
- Adding a pleasant stimulus following an unwanted behavior
- Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
Correct answer: Removing an aversive stimulus contingent on a behavior, thereby increasing that behavior
Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an aversive stimulus when the behavior occurs.
Question 4: The 'scalloped' cumulative response pattern, where responding accelerates near the end of each time period, is characteristic of which schedule?
- Variable ratio
- Fixed ratio
- Variable interval
- Fixed interval (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Fixed interval
Fixed interval schedules produce a scallop pattern because the subject learns reinforcement becomes available only after a set amount of time elapses.
Question 5: Which reinforcement schedule produces the greatest resistance to extinction?
- Fixed ratio
- Fixed interval
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
- Continuous reinforcement
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce the most resistance to extinction because the unpredictable timing of reinforcement makes it difficult for the subject to detect that extinction has begun.
Question 6: A parent praises a child approximately every 4 to 6 instances of sharing on average. This is best described as a:
- Fixed interval schedule
- Variable ratio schedule (Correct answer)
- Fixed ratio schedule
- Variable interval schedule
Correct answer: Variable ratio schedule
A variable ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after an average number of responses, with the exact count varying each time.
Question 7: Spontaneous recovery in behavioral terms refers to:
- A behavior permanently disappearing after sustained extinction
- The reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior after a period of rest (Correct answer)
- Rapid generalization of a new behavior to all settings
- Transfer of stimulus control without explicit training
Correct answer: The reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior after a period of rest
Spontaneous recovery occurs when an extinguished behavior briefly reappears after a rest period, indicating extinction must be consistently maintained.
ABAT Core ABA Principles 2
A child receives a sticker every time they complete exactly 5 math problems, regardless of elapsed time.
Which reinforcement schedule is this?