BCAT STUDY GUIDE/ QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Autism
Answer - Problems w/social communication/interactions, Presence of
restrictive/repetitive behavior patterns
Varies in each person
DSM 5 criteria for ASD
Answer - Problems w/social communication/interactions,
Restrictive/repetitive behaviors
Hyper/hypo sensory stimulation
Issues w/motor skills/adaptive tasks
Pervasive skill deficits (Tantrums, aggression, non-compliance, eloping,
protest behaviors)
EIBI (early intensive behavioral intervention)
Answer - Treatment Should:
begin early
intensive
based on ABA
individualized
transition to natural environment
comprehensive
Active parent/caregiver involvement
In the U.S., what is the ratio of people with autism compared to those who
don't?
Answer - 1 in 54 in the U.S.
Are boys or girls more affected by autism?
Answer - Boys are 4.3x more likely
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) ?
Answer - applying the "Principles of behavior" systematically to improve
social behavior, and identify variables responsible for behavior change
What is the Core principle of ABA?
Answer - Desirable consequences will increase whereas undesirable
consequences will decrease behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Positive reinforcement?
Answer - ADD pleasant stimulus to INCREASE/maintain behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Negative reinforcement?
,Answer - Remove aversive stimulus to INCREASE/maintain behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Positive punishment?
Answer - ADD aversive stimulus to Decrease behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of negative punishment?
Answer - Remove stimulus to decrease behavior
What do we need to know for ABA?
Answer - General info abt client
Current levels of skills
Behavioral challenges
Client/family priorities
Previous treatment history
Client Preferences
What do you need to do before starting ABA program?
Answer - Individualized assessment
Individualized assessment procedures
Answer - Direct/indirect assessment
Direct assessment
Answer - observing the learner/gathering data on the actual behavior that's
occurring
indirect assessment
Answer - gathering info through interviews, questionnaires, record reviews
What is an unconditioned (primary) reinforcer? Answer - INNATELY
reinforcing stimulus; unlearned; fulfills basic needs
What is a conditioned (secondary) reinforcer?
Answer - Learned reinforcer; neutral stimulus gained reinforcing properties
by being paired with something
Behavior
Answer - anything a person says or does
Stimulus
Answer - any physical object/event that an individual can see, hear, smell,
touch taste
What is 3-term contingency?
Answer - Antecedent
Behavior
, Consequence
Antecedent
Answer - what happens prior to the behavior
Behavior(response)
Answer - what occurs after the antecedent
consequence
Answer - what happens immediately following the behavior
What is key in ABA?
Answer - Consistency (b/c w/o it, behaviors don't change)
Individualization
What is the difference between extinction burst and spontaneous recovery?
Answer - Extinction burst is when the conditioned behavior increases in
frequency right before the behavior is eliminated for good.
Spontaneous recovery is when the conditioned behavior WAS extinct, but all
of a sudden it comes back.
What is Stimulus Discrimination Training?
Answer - SDT is reinforcing the correct/desired response AND putting the
incorrect re. on extinction
What does Discrete Trial Training consist of?
Answer - Break down skills into smaller teachable parts
Teach each skill component until mastery
Intensive teaching sessions
Use of and fading of prompts when necessary
Increase skills through reinforcement strategies
Instructor-lead
In the 3-term contingency, what makes a good Antecedent?
Answer - Performed by instructor
clear, concise, consistent
In the 3-term contingency, describe "Behavior".
Answer - Can either be correct or incorrect
In the 3-term contingency, what does the "Consequence" consist of?
Answer - the Consequence involves either the reinforcement or correction of
the behavior
ANSWERS
Autism
Answer - Problems w/social communication/interactions, Presence of
restrictive/repetitive behavior patterns
Varies in each person
DSM 5 criteria for ASD
Answer - Problems w/social communication/interactions,
Restrictive/repetitive behaviors
Hyper/hypo sensory stimulation
Issues w/motor skills/adaptive tasks
Pervasive skill deficits (Tantrums, aggression, non-compliance, eloping,
protest behaviors)
EIBI (early intensive behavioral intervention)
Answer - Treatment Should:
begin early
intensive
based on ABA
individualized
transition to natural environment
comprehensive
Active parent/caregiver involvement
In the U.S., what is the ratio of people with autism compared to those who
don't?
Answer - 1 in 54 in the U.S.
Are boys or girls more affected by autism?
Answer - Boys are 4.3x more likely
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) ?
Answer - applying the "Principles of behavior" systematically to improve
social behavior, and identify variables responsible for behavior change
What is the Core principle of ABA?
Answer - Desirable consequences will increase whereas undesirable
consequences will decrease behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Positive reinforcement?
Answer - ADD pleasant stimulus to INCREASE/maintain behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Negative reinforcement?
,Answer - Remove aversive stimulus to INCREASE/maintain behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of Positive punishment?
Answer - ADD aversive stimulus to Decrease behavior
What is being done in the ABA principle of negative punishment?
Answer - Remove stimulus to decrease behavior
What do we need to know for ABA?
Answer - General info abt client
Current levels of skills
Behavioral challenges
Client/family priorities
Previous treatment history
Client Preferences
What do you need to do before starting ABA program?
Answer - Individualized assessment
Individualized assessment procedures
Answer - Direct/indirect assessment
Direct assessment
Answer - observing the learner/gathering data on the actual behavior that's
occurring
indirect assessment
Answer - gathering info through interviews, questionnaires, record reviews
What is an unconditioned (primary) reinforcer? Answer - INNATELY
reinforcing stimulus; unlearned; fulfills basic needs
What is a conditioned (secondary) reinforcer?
Answer - Learned reinforcer; neutral stimulus gained reinforcing properties
by being paired with something
Behavior
Answer - anything a person says or does
Stimulus
Answer - any physical object/event that an individual can see, hear, smell,
touch taste
What is 3-term contingency?
Answer - Antecedent
Behavior
, Consequence
Antecedent
Answer - what happens prior to the behavior
Behavior(response)
Answer - what occurs after the antecedent
consequence
Answer - what happens immediately following the behavior
What is key in ABA?
Answer - Consistency (b/c w/o it, behaviors don't change)
Individualization
What is the difference between extinction burst and spontaneous recovery?
Answer - Extinction burst is when the conditioned behavior increases in
frequency right before the behavior is eliminated for good.
Spontaneous recovery is when the conditioned behavior WAS extinct, but all
of a sudden it comes back.
What is Stimulus Discrimination Training?
Answer - SDT is reinforcing the correct/desired response AND putting the
incorrect re. on extinction
What does Discrete Trial Training consist of?
Answer - Break down skills into smaller teachable parts
Teach each skill component until mastery
Intensive teaching sessions
Use of and fading of prompts when necessary
Increase skills through reinforcement strategies
Instructor-lead
In the 3-term contingency, what makes a good Antecedent?
Answer - Performed by instructor
clear, concise, consistent
In the 3-term contingency, describe "Behavior".
Answer - Can either be correct or incorrect
In the 3-term contingency, what does the "Consequence" consist of?
Answer - the Consequence involves either the reinforcement or correction of
the behavior
