Antecedent-Based Interventions Flashcards

An ABAT is working with a client who often becomes agitated and throws materials when presented with difficult academic tasks. To prevent this, the supervisor suggests offering the client a choice between two different tasks (e.g., 'Would you like to do the math worksheet or the spelling list first?'). This strategy is an example of which antecedent-based intervention?

Answer: Providing Choice

Providing choice is an antecedent-based intervention that gives the individual some control over their environment, which can reduce the motivation to engage in problem behavior. [13] By offering a choice before the task begins, the ABAT is proactively modifying the situation to prevent the agitation from occurring.

A client has difficulty transitioning from a preferred activity (playing on a tablet) to a non-preferred activity (cleaning up). The ABAT creates a visual schedule with pictures showing 'Tablet Time' followed by 'Clean Up Toys.' What is the primary purpose of this antecedent-based intervention?

Answer: To increase predictability and clarify expectations about the upcoming transition.

Visual schedules are antecedent-based interventions that increase predictability and reduce anxiety around transitions. [10, 19] They visually show what is happening now and what will happen next, making the transition less surprising and helping the client understand expectations.

Which of the following is the BEST example of a High-Probability (High-P) Request Sequence?

Answer: Asking a client to perform three easy, known tasks (e.g., 'Clap hands,' 'Touch your nose,' 'Stomp feet') in rapid succession before delivering a more difficult instruction (e.g., 'Put your coat on').

A High-Probability (High-P) Request Sequence, also known as behavioral momentum, involves presenting a series of easy-to-follow requests (high-p) to build momentum before presenting a request that the individual is less likely to follow (low-p). [17, 20, 25]

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) is an antecedent-based intervention that aims to reduce problem behavior by:

Answer: Providing access to a known reinforcer on a time-based schedule, regardless of the client's behavior.

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) involves delivering reinforcement on a set time schedule (e.g., every 5 minutes) that is not dependent on the client's actions. [1, 2] This enriches the environment with the reinforcer, reducing the motivation for the client to engage in problem behavior to obtain it.

A client frequently screams to get attention from the ABAT. A functional behavior assessment (FBA) confirms the function is attention. The supervising BCBA implements an intervention where the ABAT teaches the client to tap a picture of a person on their communication board to request attention. This antecedent-based intervention is known as:

Answer: Functional Communication Training (FCT)

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an antecedent intervention where an individual is taught a new, more appropriate way to communicate their needs (the replacement behavior) to get the same reinforcement that the problem behavior previously provided. [7, 9, 15] In this case, using the communication board replaces screaming to get attention.

The fundamental goal of all antecedent-based interventions is to:

Answer: Modify the environment or context *before* a behavior occurs to prevent it from happening.

Antecedent-based interventions are proactive strategies that involve altering the environment or conditions that precede a behavior to reduce the likelihood that the problem behavior will occur. [5, 8, 14] They focus on prevention rather than reaction.