ABA EXAM 2 Study Guide Qs and
answers verified to pass 2026/2027
Define and provide an example of operant extinction - correct answer operant extinction is defined as
"responding that meets the reinforcement contingency no longer produces the reinforcer and, as a
result, it falls to baseline (no-reinforcer) levels" EX: if I used to reinforce my dog's tricks with a treat
every time and then suddenly stopped reinforcing him at all when I asked him to do a trick, then his
behavior of performing the tricks is less likely to continue occurring in the future
Describe what operant extinction looks like following negative reinforcement and provide an example -
correct answer If the seatbelt light and alarm continued to sound even after putting on your seatbelt,
this would be an example of operant extinction following negative reinforcement. Previously, putting
your seatbelt on would help escape or avoid the aversiveness of the alarm sound. Since engaging in the
behavior did not result in the reinforcer (removal of sound), the behavior of putting on a seatbelt is put
on extinction
Describe what operant extinction looks like following positive reinforcement and provide an example -
correct answer If someone's behavior of bringing home a rose for their significant other was reinforced
by how grateful the person was, the grateful reaction served as a positive reinforcer for the person, and
they began buying them more frequently. However, one day their significant other does not say
anything about the effort and the person stopped receiving that same level of gratitude. The previously
reinforced rose-buying behavior is likely to be put on extinction and they become less likely to keep
bringing home roses from then on
What are the two factors that influence how quickly behavior decreases to baseline levels, list and
describe each - correct answer a. what the rate of reinforcement prior to extinction was. If the
individual contacted reinforcement for engaging in the target behavior frequently, then extinction will
work more quickly (return to baseline levels) than if the behavior was reinforced infrequently
b. motivation. If the individual is highly motivated to contact the reinforcer, then they a more likely to
engage in the behavior more frequently and possibly at higher intensities during extinction than if the
motivation is low (2021).
List and describe the other side effects of extinction (besides the direct effect of decrease in behavior to
baseline levels) - correct answer a. Extinction-induced emotional behavior: experiencing extinction can
, elicit different emotional responses from the individual which can resurface throughout the person's life
when they experience other natural extinction conditions. Often these emotions can be frustration and
anger.
b. Extinction burst: sometimes extinction can cause an initial increase in the previously reinforced
behavior before it decreases to baseline no-reinforcer levels
c. Extinction-induced variability: sometimes the individual will begin to engage in a variety of novel
behaviors because since the previously reinforced behavior is no longer producing a reinforcer, the
individual engages in variable behaviors to see how they can contact reinforcement again
d. Extinction-induced resurgence: placing one behavior on extinction might cause a resurgence in other
behaviors that might have been reinforced a while before extinction period. If one behavior is no longer
being reinforced, the individual engages in behaviors they think might be reinforced based on the fact
that they had been further back in the past.
Example of DR - correct answer if a teacher ignores a child who continuously interrupts class
(extinction) but then reinforces their participation when they raise their hand appropriately
Describe the differences between DRI and DRA and provide an example of each - correct answer a. The
difference between DRI and DRA is that that with DRA, the alternative behavior is usually achieves the
same function as the target behavior but is more socially appropriate, which then serves as a
replacement for the target behavior. An example of DRA could be ignoring a toddler who is crying about
their food and reinforcing them for eating their food independently or asking for a different snack
politely. DRI means that the behavior being taught usually looks completely different than the target
behavior. For example, if a child's problem behavior is biting their own hands, reinforcing them for
playing with toys without engaging in biting would be an example of DRI.
Describe the differences between DRO and differential reinforcement of variability and provide an
example of each. - correct answer a. DRO involves reinforcing the absence of a target behavior while
differential reinforcement of variability is reinforcing responses that may have never or rarely occurred
before (novel behavior is reinforced and repetitious behavior is on extinction). An example of DRO
would be delivering a reinforcer after an individual has refrained from engaging in head banging for 20
seconds. An example of differential reinforcement of variability might be delivering a treat for every
different trick a dog engages in and ignoring when the dog does the same trick more than once.
answers verified to pass 2026/2027
Define and provide an example of operant extinction - correct answer operant extinction is defined as
"responding that meets the reinforcement contingency no longer produces the reinforcer and, as a
result, it falls to baseline (no-reinforcer) levels" EX: if I used to reinforce my dog's tricks with a treat
every time and then suddenly stopped reinforcing him at all when I asked him to do a trick, then his
behavior of performing the tricks is less likely to continue occurring in the future
Describe what operant extinction looks like following negative reinforcement and provide an example -
correct answer If the seatbelt light and alarm continued to sound even after putting on your seatbelt,
this would be an example of operant extinction following negative reinforcement. Previously, putting
your seatbelt on would help escape or avoid the aversiveness of the alarm sound. Since engaging in the
behavior did not result in the reinforcer (removal of sound), the behavior of putting on a seatbelt is put
on extinction
Describe what operant extinction looks like following positive reinforcement and provide an example -
correct answer If someone's behavior of bringing home a rose for their significant other was reinforced
by how grateful the person was, the grateful reaction served as a positive reinforcer for the person, and
they began buying them more frequently. However, one day their significant other does not say
anything about the effort and the person stopped receiving that same level of gratitude. The previously
reinforced rose-buying behavior is likely to be put on extinction and they become less likely to keep
bringing home roses from then on
What are the two factors that influence how quickly behavior decreases to baseline levels, list and
describe each - correct answer a. what the rate of reinforcement prior to extinction was. If the
individual contacted reinforcement for engaging in the target behavior frequently, then extinction will
work more quickly (return to baseline levels) than if the behavior was reinforced infrequently
b. motivation. If the individual is highly motivated to contact the reinforcer, then they a more likely to
engage in the behavior more frequently and possibly at higher intensities during extinction than if the
motivation is low (2021).
List and describe the other side effects of extinction (besides the direct effect of decrease in behavior to
baseline levels) - correct answer a. Extinction-induced emotional behavior: experiencing extinction can
, elicit different emotional responses from the individual which can resurface throughout the person's life
when they experience other natural extinction conditions. Often these emotions can be frustration and
anger.
b. Extinction burst: sometimes extinction can cause an initial increase in the previously reinforced
behavior before it decreases to baseline no-reinforcer levels
c. Extinction-induced variability: sometimes the individual will begin to engage in a variety of novel
behaviors because since the previously reinforced behavior is no longer producing a reinforcer, the
individual engages in variable behaviors to see how they can contact reinforcement again
d. Extinction-induced resurgence: placing one behavior on extinction might cause a resurgence in other
behaviors that might have been reinforced a while before extinction period. If one behavior is no longer
being reinforced, the individual engages in behaviors they think might be reinforced based on the fact
that they had been further back in the past.
Example of DR - correct answer if a teacher ignores a child who continuously interrupts class
(extinction) but then reinforces their participation when they raise their hand appropriately
Describe the differences between DRI and DRA and provide an example of each - correct answer a. The
difference between DRI and DRA is that that with DRA, the alternative behavior is usually achieves the
same function as the target behavior but is more socially appropriate, which then serves as a
replacement for the target behavior. An example of DRA could be ignoring a toddler who is crying about
their food and reinforcing them for eating their food independently or asking for a different snack
politely. DRI means that the behavior being taught usually looks completely different than the target
behavior. For example, if a child's problem behavior is biting their own hands, reinforcing them for
playing with toys without engaging in biting would be an example of DRI.
Describe the differences between DRO and differential reinforcement of variability and provide an
example of each. - correct answer a. DRO involves reinforcing the absence of a target behavior while
differential reinforcement of variability is reinforcing responses that may have never or rarely occurred
before (novel behavior is reinforced and repetitious behavior is on extinction). An example of DRO
would be delivering a reinforcer after an individual has refrained from engaging in head banging for 20
seconds. An example of differential reinforcement of variability might be delivering a treat for every
different trick a dog engages in and ignoring when the dog does the same trick more than once.
