Core ABA Principles Flashcards

A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals to an organism that:

Answer: Reinforcement is available for a particular behavior

The SD is a stimulus in the presence of which a particular behavior has been reinforced in the past, making the behavior more likely to occur.

Stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination differ in that:

Answer: Generalization involves responding to stimuli similar to the SD; discrimination involves responding only in the presence of the SD

Generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the trained SD, whereas discrimination is confining responding specifically to the SD.

A therapist demonstrates washing hands step-by-step and the learner then performs the same sequence. The therapist used which type of prompt?

Answer: Model prompt

A model prompt involves demonstrating the target behavior for the learner to imitate.

In least-to-most (LTM) prompting, the practitioner:

Answer: Starts with the least intrusive prompt and increases intrusiveness only if the learner does not respond correctly

LTM prompting begins with the least supportive prompt and escalates only when necessary, allowing opportunities for independent responding.

Shaping is defined as:

Answer: Differentially reinforcing successive approximations toward a terminal behavior

Shaping uses differential reinforcement to gradually shift responding toward a target behavior by reinforcing closer and closer approximations.

In forward chaining, the practitioner:

Answer: Teaches the first step first and adds subsequent steps sequentially

Forward chaining begins instruction with the first step in the task analysis and adds steps in order as each is mastered.

Stimulus fading involves:

Answer: Gradually changing a stimulus dimension to transfer stimulus control while maintaining correct responding

Stimulus fading systematically alters a property of the stimulus (e.g., color, size, intensity) across trials to achieve stimulus control without errors.