Portfolio Part B: Comprehensive Study Guide: Check Point 2
SPCE 611: Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
BACB 6th Edition Test Content Outline Items to Cover
B.16. Identify examples of motivating operations.
B.17. Distinguish between motivating operations and stimulus control.
G.2. Design and evaluate differential reinforcement (e.g., DRA, DRO, DRL, DRH)
procedures with and without extinction.
G.3. Design and evaluate time-based reinforcement (e.g., fixed time) schedules.
G.5. Incorporate motivating operations and discriminative stimuli into behavior-change
procedures.
Outline
In this section, provide a comprehensive outline for the BACB Test Content Outline items
above. You may only use content from this course. You may use your textbook, assigned
articles, lectures, or instructional materials. You may not use content from outside of this
course.
B.16 Motivating operations is utilized to weaken or strengthen the value of a
reinforcer. An establishing motivation uses deprivation that shows more reinforcement
due to it being somewhat withheld. For example, if you have not eaten for a long
period of time and lunch time rolls around, you are more likely to eat your entire lunch.
On the other hand, an abolishing operation uses satiation which weakens the value of a
reinforcer. As we are discussing food, once we eat that lunch, we will no longer find
food reinforcing and may want to go lay down instead for reinforcement. Motivating
operations also has two types of effects including behavior and value altering. Value
altering effects are associated with abolishing and establishing operations. “Painful
stimulation is an EO that increases the effectiveness of pain reduction as a reinforcer
and evokes all behavior that has been reinforced by pain reduction” (Michael &
, Miguel, 2020). A behavior altering effect has an evocative or an abative effect. An
evocative effect increases the current frequency of a behavior that has been reinforced,
in other words, it evokes a behavior. “Conversely, a decrease in painful stimulation is
an AO that decreases the effectiveness of pain reduction as a reinforcer and abates all
behavior that has been followed by pain reduction” (Michael & Miguel). An abative
effect is where there is a decrease in behavior that has been reinforced.
B.17 Laraway, Snycerski, Michael, and Poling (2003) “proposed the inclusive term
motivating operations (MO) to encompass the fact that these variables serve not only to
strengthen, but also to weaken, the value of a consequence as a reinforcer.” Motivating
operations alters the value of a reinforcer or the probability of a current behavior being
reinforced. On the other hand, a stimulus control signals the availability of a reinforcer.
An example of motivating operations includes establishing or abolishing operations.
When you have just ran a mile, you may be thirstier than before the run. After drinking
water, it will not be as reinforcing as it was before drinking any. Finally, an example of
stimulus control could be teaching a child to raise their hand when a question is asked,
and they know the answer. The signal could be the question being asked or simply the
teacher being present in which they would call on them. The teacher calling on the
student will increase the likelihood of them raising their hand in the future.
G.2 Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA) provides reinforcement
for more socially appropriate behaviors. For example, if a client asks for a break to
prevent a refusal episode, they will be reinforced for this behavior. To put the refusal
behavior on refusal, the clinicians will only reinforce the client if he is engaging in the
socially appropriate behavior of asking for a break or help during a non-preferred task.
Furthermore, differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) provides
reinforcement for any other behaviors that are not the target behavior for decrease. For
example, if a BCBA was targeting aggression, the client could scream, laugh, jump, or
SPCE 611: Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
BACB 6th Edition Test Content Outline Items to Cover
B.16. Identify examples of motivating operations.
B.17. Distinguish between motivating operations and stimulus control.
G.2. Design and evaluate differential reinforcement (e.g., DRA, DRO, DRL, DRH)
procedures with and without extinction.
G.3. Design and evaluate time-based reinforcement (e.g., fixed time) schedules.
G.5. Incorporate motivating operations and discriminative stimuli into behavior-change
procedures.
Outline
In this section, provide a comprehensive outline for the BACB Test Content Outline items
above. You may only use content from this course. You may use your textbook, assigned
articles, lectures, or instructional materials. You may not use content from outside of this
course.
B.16 Motivating operations is utilized to weaken or strengthen the value of a
reinforcer. An establishing motivation uses deprivation that shows more reinforcement
due to it being somewhat withheld. For example, if you have not eaten for a long
period of time and lunch time rolls around, you are more likely to eat your entire lunch.
On the other hand, an abolishing operation uses satiation which weakens the value of a
reinforcer. As we are discussing food, once we eat that lunch, we will no longer find
food reinforcing and may want to go lay down instead for reinforcement. Motivating
operations also has two types of effects including behavior and value altering. Value
altering effects are associated with abolishing and establishing operations. “Painful
stimulation is an EO that increases the effectiveness of pain reduction as a reinforcer
and evokes all behavior that has been reinforced by pain reduction” (Michael &
, Miguel, 2020). A behavior altering effect has an evocative or an abative effect. An
evocative effect increases the current frequency of a behavior that has been reinforced,
in other words, it evokes a behavior. “Conversely, a decrease in painful stimulation is
an AO that decreases the effectiveness of pain reduction as a reinforcer and abates all
behavior that has been followed by pain reduction” (Michael & Miguel). An abative
effect is where there is a decrease in behavior that has been reinforced.
B.17 Laraway, Snycerski, Michael, and Poling (2003) “proposed the inclusive term
motivating operations (MO) to encompass the fact that these variables serve not only to
strengthen, but also to weaken, the value of a consequence as a reinforcer.” Motivating
operations alters the value of a reinforcer or the probability of a current behavior being
reinforced. On the other hand, a stimulus control signals the availability of a reinforcer.
An example of motivating operations includes establishing or abolishing operations.
When you have just ran a mile, you may be thirstier than before the run. After drinking
water, it will not be as reinforcing as it was before drinking any. Finally, an example of
stimulus control could be teaching a child to raise their hand when a question is asked,
and they know the answer. The signal could be the question being asked or simply the
teacher being present in which they would call on them. The teacher calling on the
student will increase the likelihood of them raising their hand in the future.
G.2 Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA) provides reinforcement
for more socially appropriate behaviors. For example, if a client asks for a break to
prevent a refusal episode, they will be reinforced for this behavior. To put the refusal
behavior on refusal, the clinicians will only reinforce the client if he is engaging in the
socially appropriate behavior of asking for a break or help during a non-preferred task.
Furthermore, differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) provides
reinforcement for any other behaviors that are not the target behavior for decrease. For
example, if a BCBA was targeting aggression, the client could scream, laugh, jump, or
