ABAT Skill Acquisition Programming 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of prompt involves physically guiding a learner through the correct response?
- Physical prompt (Correct answer)
- Gestural prompt
- Verbal prompt
- Model prompt
Correct answer: Physical prompt
A physical prompt involves hand-over-hand or other physical contact to guide the learner through the target response.
Question 2: In errorless learning, prompts are provided at what point relative to the learner's response opportunity?
- After three incorrect responses
- Before the learner has a chance to respond incorrectly (Correct answer)
- After the learner attempts the response
- Only when the learner requests help
Correct answer: Before the learner has a chance to respond incorrectly
Errorless learning delivers prompts immediately with the SD to prevent the learner from making errors before prompts are given.
Question 3: Which prompt fading strategy reduces prompt intrusiveness from most to least over successive trials?
- Constant time delay
- Graduated guidance
- Most-to-least prompt fading (Correct answer)
- Stimulus shaping
Correct answer: Most-to-least prompt fading
Most-to-least fading begins with the most intrusive prompt and systematically reduces prompt level as the learner demonstrates competence.
Question 4: Progressive time delay differs from constant time delay in that it:
- Increases the delay in fixed increments across sessions (Correct answer)
- Uses a fixed delay throughout training
- Always begins with a 5-second delay
- Only applies to verbal prompts
Correct answer: Increases the delay in fixed increments across sessions
Progressive time delay starts with a 0-second delay and incrementally increases (e.g., by 1–2 seconds) until the learner responds independently before the prompt.
Question 5: What is the primary goal of stimulus control transfer in skill acquisition?
- Moving the behavior to a new reinforcer
- Shifting stimulus control from a prompt to the natural discriminative stimulus (Correct answer)
- Increasing the rate of correct responding
- Expanding a response to new topographies
Correct answer: Shifting stimulus control from a prompt to the natural discriminative stimulus
Stimulus control transfer procedures fade artificial prompts so the natural SD — not the prompt — evokes the target behavior.
Question 6: Incidental teaching is a naturalistic teaching procedure that is primarily initiated by:
- The behavior analyst setting a structured schedule
- The learner's spontaneous interest or initiation (Correct answer)
- A pre-set timer that signals each trial
- The caregiver following a scripted protocol
Correct answer: The learner's spontaneous interest or initiation
Incidental teaching capitalizes on the learner's own initiations and motivation in the natural environment to create teaching opportunities.
Question 7: Response blocking is best defined as:
- Physically preventing a response from occurring or being completed (Correct answer)
- Withholding all reinforcement during training
- Preventing generalization across settings
- Removing the SD before the learner can respond
Correct answer: Physically preventing a response from occurring or being completed
Response blocking is an antecedent or consequent procedure that physically interrupts a response, often used alongside redirection to an alternative behavior.
ABAT Skill Acquisition Programming 2
Which type of prompt involves physically guiding a learner through the correct response?