Reinforcement Principles and Schedules Flashcards
6 cards from real RBT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Reinforcement Principles and Schedules flashcards as text
A child earns a sticker for every 5 math problems completed. Which schedule of reinforcement is this?
Answer: Fixed ratio (FR5)
A fixed ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after a set number of responses. In this case, every 5 problems completed earns a sticker, which is an FR5 schedule.
Which schedule of reinforcement is associated with the HIGHEST resistance to extinction and the most persistent responding?
Answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio (VR) schedules produce the highest resistance to extinction. Because the learner cannot predict when reinforcement will occur, they continue responding at high rates even when reinforcement is temporarily unavailable.
An RBT delivers praise every 3 minutes regardless of what the client is doing. Which type of reinforcement schedule is being used?
Answer: Fixed time (noncontingent reinforcement)
A fixed time (FT) schedule delivers a stimulus at regular, predictable time intervals regardless of the client's behavior. When used to reduce problem behavior, this is called noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) — the reinforcer is delivered on a time schedule, not contingent on any response.
What is meant by 'schedule thinning' in the context of reinforcement?
Answer: Changing from a continuous reinforcement schedule to a more intermittent schedule as behavior is acquired
Schedule thinning involves gradually reducing the density of reinforcement (e.g., moving from CRF to FR2 to VR5) to maintain behavior with less frequent reinforcement, promoting durability and natural environment performance.
What is the term for the temporary increase in rate, intensity, or variability of a behavior that occurs at the beginning of extinction?
Answer: Extinction burst
An extinction burst is the initial increase in behavior when reinforcement is first withheld. It represents the learner's increased attempts to obtain the previously available reinforcer.
Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?
Answer: A child is given a break from demands after completing a work task correctly
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus (the demand) contingent on a behavior (correct task completion), which increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.