BCBA Exam- PASS the BIG ABA EXAM Solution guide; updated 2021/2022

BCBA exam-PASStheBIGABAEXAM 3 levels of scientific understanding ans: DPC Description Prediction Control Description ans: Systematic observations that can be quantified & classified Prediction ans: AKA: correlation; covariation 2 events may regularly occur at the same time. This does not mean one causes the other Control ans: AKA: causation Functional relation. The highest level of scientific understanding. Experimental demonstration that manipulating one event (IV) results in another event (DV). 6 attitudes of science Philosophical assumptions of bx ans: DEER PP Determinism Empiricism Experimentation Replication Parimony Philosophical Doubt Determinism ans: Cause & effect Lawfulness Orderly & predictable Empiricism ans: Facts Experimental, data-based scientific approach, drawing upon observation & experience. Requires objective qualification & detailed description of events. Experimentation ans: Basic strategy of most sciences. Requires manipulating variables to see effects on DV. Experiment to determine if one event caused another. Replication ans: Repeating experiments Parisomy ans: The simplest theory. All simple & logical explanations must be ruled out first before complex explanations. Philosophical Doubt ans: Having healthy skepticism & a critical eye 7 dimensions of ABA ans: BATCAGE or GET A CAB Behavioral Applied Technological Conceptually Systematic Analytic Generality Effective Behavioral ans: Observable events. Must be a bx in need of improvement. Applied ans: Socially significant bxs Technological ans: Procedures clearly & precisely so they are replicable. RECIPE Conceptually Systematic ans: Procedures should be based on principles of ABA Analytic ans: AKA: Functional Relation, Experimentation, Control, Causation A functional relation is demonstrated. Generality ans: AKA: Generalization Extends bx change across time, settings, or other bxs Effective ans: Improves bx in a practical manner Mentalism Terminology ans: Hypothetical Constructs Explanatory Fictions Circular Reasoning 4 Branches of Behavior Analysis ans: CASE Conceptual Analysis of Behavior ABA Behavior Service Delivery Experimental Analysis of Bx (EAB) 2 types of bx ans: Respondent Operant Respondent Bx ans: AKA: Reflex, Reflexive Relations, Unconditioned, US-UR Elicited Involuntary Reflex Habituation Habituation ans: Eliciting stimulus is presented repeatedly that respondent bx diminishes Phylogenic ans: Bx that is genetic Respondent conditioning ans: AKA: Classical Conditioning, Pavlovian Conditioning, S-S Pairing, CS-CR When new stimuli acquire the ability to elicit respondents. Operant Behavior ans: AKA: S-R-S, 3 term contingency, ABC Emit/evoke Bx whose probability is determined by its history of consequences. Voluntary action. Operants defined in terms of their relationship to controlling variables. FUNCTION. Encompasses both reinforcement & punishment. Adaptation Adaptation ans: Reductions in responding by repeated or prolonged presentation to antecedent stimulus. Ontogentic ans: Learning that results from interactions with environment Operant Contingency ans: AKA: Behavioral Contingency, Contingency, 3-term Contingency, ABC The occasion for a response (SD), the response, & the outcome. The dependency of a particular consequence on the occurrence of the bx. Reinforcer or punisher is "contingent" on a bx 3-term contingency ABC ans: What is the primary analysis in ABA? Contiguity ans: When 2 stimuli occur close together in time, resulting in an association of those 2 stimuli. 3 Principles of Bx ans: PER Punishment Extinction Reinforcement All strategies are derived from these 3 principles. applied ans: ABA is a(n) _______ science. ABA ans: A scientific approach for discovering environmental variables that reliably influence socially significant bx & for developing a technology of bx change that is practical & applicable Science ans: To achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study (socially significant bxs) Response ans: A single instance of bx. Behavior ans: Larger set/class or responses that share physical dimensions or functions. Response Class ans: A group of bxs that comprise an operant. Operant: Response-consequence relationship. Similar bxs that are strengthened or weakened collectively as a result of operant conditioning. Yes. Can widely vary in form but are limited in topographical variations. ans: Can responses in the same response class look different? Repertoire ans: 1. All bxs that an individual can do. 2. A collection of knowledge & skills an individual has learned that are relevant to a particular task. Environment ans: Complex, dynamic universe of events that differs from instance to instance. All bx occurs within an environmental context. Stimulus ans: Physical events that affect the bx of an individual. Internal or external to the individual. An energy change that affects an organism through its receptor cells. Stimulus Class ans: A group of antecedent stimuli that have a common effect on an operant class. Group members of a stimulus class tend to evoke or abate the same bx or response class, yet may vary across physical dimensions. 3 Types of Stimulus Classes ans: FTF (For The Fun) Formal: Physical features Temporal: time Functional: effect of the stimulus on the bx, can be multiple functions of a single stimulus Feature Stimulus Class ans: Stimuli share: common topographies relative relations INFINITE number of stimuli developed through stimulus generalization Arbitrary Stimulus Class ans: Stimuli that evoke the same response, but they do NOT share a common stimulus feature. They do not physically look alike or share a relative relationship. LIMITED number of stimuli Developed through stimulus equivalence. Consequences ans: Only affect FUTURE bx. Consequences select response classes, NOT individual responses. Immediate consequences have the greatest effect. Automaticity (of R & P) ans: A person does not have to know what a consequence means for it to work. Automatic Reinforcement ans: AKA: Sensory, Self-Stimualtory Bxs, Stereotypy Reinforcement that occurs independent of the social mediation of others. Because it feels good! WARNING!! What looks like automatic reinforcement (i.e. hand flapping) might not be. Automatic Punishment ans: Punishment that occurs independent of the social mediation of others. Reinforcement ans: Does NOT only strengthen rate. Also strengthen: -Duration -Latency -Magnitude -Topography What happens right before reinforcement will be reinforced. Delayed consequence are not technically reinforcement, but they can influence bx. What Reinforcement Does ans: -Makes antecedent stimulus conditions relevant. -Changes what comes after bx & what comes before bx. -Creates stimulus control -depends on motivation Unwanted effects of Reinforcement ans: -Effects of reinforcement can be temporary. -Ethical concerns arise from the severity of the EO that occasions the bx. -Relying on the use of contrived reinforcers as opposed to natural reinforcers. -Using potential reinforcers that may be harmful to long-term health or require undesirably marked deprivation procedures as MOs NOT TRUE -Giving reinforcement will result in loss of intrinsic motivation. -People confusing reinforcement with bribery. Reinforcement TRUMPS Punishment ans: You should recommend reinforcement rather than punishment WHENEVER POSSIBLE Positive Reinforcement ans: AKA: Type 1 Reinforcement; Sr+ A PROCESS that occurs when a bx is followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus that increases FUTURE frequency of the bx in similar conditions. MOST IMPORTANT & WIDELY USED CONCEPT IN ABA. 5 Types of Positive Reinforcers ans: EATSS Edible Activity Tangible Social Sensory Negative Reinforcement ans: AKA: Type II Reinforcement; Sr- A PROCESS that occurs when a bx is followed immediately by the REDUCTION or REMOVAL of a stimulus that increases the FUTURE frequency of the bx in similar conditions. 2 Types of Negative Reinforcement ans: 1. Escape 2. Avoidance Escape ans: A bx allows escape from an ongoing aversive stimulus. Avoidance ans: A response that prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus. 2 Types: -Discriminated Avoidance -Free-Operant Avoidance Discriminated Avoidance ans: A contingency in which responding in the presence of a signal prevents the onset of a stimulus from which escape is a reinforcer. Free-Operant Avoidance ans: NO WARNING. A contingency in which responses at any time during the interval prior to the scheduled onset of an aversive stimulus. The avoidance bx is "FREE" to occur at any time. Ethical Warning about Negative Reinforcement ans: Creating an aversive condition for the individual is unethical & may even bring about more challenging bxs! Unconditioned Reinforcer/Reinforcement ans: AKA: UCR; Primary Reinforcer; Unlearned Reinforcer A stimulus change that can increase the future frequency of bx without prior pairing without any other form of reinforcement. -No learning history required. -Products of phylogeny. All members of a species generally share the same UCRs. Conditioned Reinforcer/Reinforcement ans: AKA: CR; Secondary Reinforcer; Learned Reinforcer When a previously neutral stimulus acquired the ability to function as a reinforcer through S-S pairing with one or more unconditioned or conditioned reinforcers. -Learning history required. -Products of ontogency. Generalized Conditioned Reinforcer ans: AKA: Generalized Reinforcer; GCSR A type of conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with many unconditioned & conditioned reinforcers. -Does not depend on an MO for its effectiveness. -They are likely to be reinforcing at any time. -Same reinforcement is given to people with different preferences. Punishment ans: AKA: SD-; SDP; SP; Punishment-based SD When a response if followed immediately by a stimulus that decreases the FUTURE frequency of similar responses. -Defined by function, not topography. -Defined by future effects on bx. -2-term contingency: Behavior--Consequence -Becomes 3-term contingency when you add the antecedent, "Discriminative Effects of Punishment", when punishment occurs only in some conditions & not in others. Threats are not punishment ans: If a person stops a bx when you threaten them, this is NOT bc of punishment. But bc the threat functions as the MO that evokes alternative bxs that avoid the threatened punishment. Recovery from Punishment ans: When punishment is stopped, the effects on bx are not permanent. Equivalent to extinction for reinforcement. Unwanted effect of Punishment ans: -Society dislikes this -Effect of punishment can be temporary -People who are doing the procedures may be negatively reinforced by their bx. -Does not address the cause of the challenging bx -Emotional & aggressive reactions -Escape & avoidance of ppl and settings -Requires lots of supervision, resources & time -Behavioral Contrast Punisher ans: A stimulus change that decreases the future frequency of the bx that immediately precedes it Positive Punishment ans: AKA: Type I Punishment A PROCESS that occurs when a stimulus is added immediately following a bx that results in a decrease in FUTURE frequency of the bx. 5 Types of Positive Punishment Interventions ans: ROSER Reprimands Overcorrection Shock/Contingent Electrical Stimulation/ECT Exercise/Contingent Exercise Response Blocking Overcorrection ans: 2 Types: 1. Restitutional Overcorrection: repair environment better than original state 2. Positive Practice Overcorrection: individual is required to correctly repeat bx for a certain amount of time or a certain number of times Exercise/Contingent Exercise ans: An individual is required to perform a response not topographically related to the bx. Response Blocking ans: Physically intervening as soon as individual begins to emit bx to "block" the completion of the response Negative Punishment ans: AKA: Type II Punishment; Penalty Principle; Penalty Contingency A PROCESS when a response is immediately followed by removal of a stimulus (or decrease in intensity of stimulus) that decreases the FUTURE frequency of similar responses Negative Punishment Procedures ans: Response Cost Time-Out Response Cost ans: Loss of a specific amount of reinforcement contingent on a bx. -Produces mod-to-rapid decrease in bx 2 Methods 1. Bonus Response Cost 2. Direct Fines **Watch out for ethical issues associated with removing reinforcers Bonus Response Cost ans: When you make additional non-contingent reinforcers available to the individual & then take those away. Example: Students usually get 15 minutes of recess daily, but you give them a "bonus" 15 minutes, so you can take away those extra minutes. Direct Fines ans: Direct loss of positive reinforcers Time-Out ans: AKA: Time-Out from Positive Reinforcement 2 Types: 1. Non-Exclusionary Time-Out 2. Exclusionary Time-Out **Ethical issues about duration & conditions of time-out Non-Exclusionary Time-Out ans: Individual not removed from space. Preferred over exclusionary bc it is less restrictive. 4 Types: (IWOR) 1. Ignoring/Planned ignoring 2. Withdrawal of a Specific Positive Reinforcer 3. Observation/Contingent Observation 4. Ribbon/Time-Out Ribbon Ignoring/Planned Ignoring ans: social reinforcers removed for a specific amount of time Withdrawal of a Specific Positive Reinforcer ans: Taking something preferred away Observation/Contingent Observation ans: Individual is re-positioned in room, so they can observe everything, but not participate. Ribbon/Time-Out Ribbon ans: Colored band placed on individual's wrist. This becomes discriminated for getting reinforcement. Ribbon on = can earn reinforcement Ribbon off = cannot earn reinforcement Exclusionary Time-Out ans: Individual removed from space. 3 Types: (RPH) 1. Room/Time-Out Room 2. Partition Time-Out 3. Hallway Time-Out Room/Time-Out Room ans: Confined space outside of normal environment; devoid of positive reinforcers. -Individual safely placed -Should be located near time-in setting -minimal furnishing Partition Time-Out ans: Individual remains in room, but view is restricted by wall or partition Hallway Time-Out ans: Individual sits in hallway Positive Punishment & Negative Reinforcement ans: Aversive Control Unconditioned Punishers/Punishment ans: AKA: UCP; Primary Punisher; Unlearned Punisher A stimulus change that decreases the frequency of any behavior that immediately precedes it irrespective of the organism's learning history with the stimulus. -No learning history required. -Product of phylogeny. All members of species generally share the same unconditioned punishers. Conditioned Punishers/Punishment ans: AKA: CP; Secondary Punisher; Learned Punisher A previously neutral stimulus change that functions as a punisher bc of prior pairing with 1 or more punishers. -Learning history required. -Products of ontogeny. Generalized Conditioned Punishers ans: AKA: Generalized Punisher A type of conditioned punisher that has been paired with MANY unconditioned & conditioned punishers. -Does NOT depend on an MO for its effectiveness. Verbal Analog Conditioning ans: Verbal pairing procedure without direct pairing Extinction ans: AKA: EXT; Operant Extinction A procedure where maintaining reinforcement is not longer provided, to decrease future bx. -Not punishment -Ext will be more rapid for bx maintained on CRF schedule Unwanted effects of Extinction ans: -Extinction bursts -Extinction induced aggression -Difficult to use on clients that rarely display the target bx -Difficult to know what the reinforcer is for a bx -Difficult or dangerous to ignore -Extinction NOT used in a tx package can cause ethical concerns What Extinction is NOT ans: -Ignoring -Does not refer to a decrease in bx -Response blocking -NCR 3 Types of Extinction ans: PAN Positive Reinforcement Automatic Reinforcement (AKA Sensory Extinction) Negative Reinforcement (AKA Escape Extinction) Extinction Burst ans: The Burst is First Immediate increase in frequency of responding Spontaneous Recovery ans: Bx diminished during extinction reoccurs even though bx does not produce reinforcement Resistance to Extinction ans: 1. Long history of reinforcement 2. Intermittent schedules 3. High quality reinforcer 4. Large amount of reinforcer 5. Response requiring little effort 6. Number of previous extinction trials (relates to intermittent schedules) Operant Extinction ans: withholding reinforcement when bx occurs Respondent Extinction ans: un-pairing of CS & US Antecedent Control ans: Response is altered in the presence of an antecedent stimulus. Factors Affecting Stimulus Control ans: 1. Pre-attending skills 2. Stimulus Salience: prominence of the stimulus in person's environment Discriminative Stimulus ans: AKA: SD Let's you know that reinforcement is available Stimulus Delta ans: AKA: S∆ Stimulus that tells that reinforcement is not available OR has NOT received reinforcement in the past "Repertoire-Altering Effect" ans: SDs & MOs in combo MO ans: Something that changes the value of a stimulus as a reinforcer. Stimulus Generalization ans: Same bx, different conditions -loose stimulus control -WITHIN Stimulus Class Example: All shades of green Stimulus Discrimination ans: New stimuli do NOT evoke the same response as the controlling stimulus -tight stimulus control -BETWEEN/ACROSS Stimulus Classes Example: Green vs. other colors Stimulus Discrimination Training ans: AKA: Discrimination Training A procedure where responses are reinforced in the presence of one stimulus condition (SD) and NOT in the presence of other (S∆) Generalization Gradient ans: AKA: Stimulus Generalization Gradient A Graph of the extent to which bx has been reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus condition is emitted in the presence of other stimuli Flat Slope = little stimulus control Increasing Slope = more stimulus control Concept ans: NOT mentalism Product of both stimulus generalization & stimulus discrimination. Requires an individual to discriminate between what is included & what is excluded from a stimulus class. Simple Discrimination ans: Antecedent evokes or abates the bx. -3-term contingency involved (SD--Response--Consequence) Conditional Discrimination ans: Only if the particular antecedent stimuli are presented & accompanied by particular additional stimuli, then you reinforce that response. -Role of one SD is CONDITIONAL on the presence of another SD -4 -term contingency (conditional stimuli-- antecedent stimuli--response--consequence) -Different contexts can change effects of discriminative stimuli Matching-to-Sample ans: selecting a comparison stimulus corresponding to a sample stimulus Identity Matching-to-Sample ans: sample & comparison stimuli are physically identical