BCBA Exam Study Guide with Complete Solution 2023

BCBA Exam Study Guide with Complete Solution 2023 3 Principles of Behavior - reinforcement, punishment, extinction 4 Functions of Behavior - SEAT Sensory, escape/avoidance, attention, tangible Anecdotal Data - A method of descriptively recording the behavior emitted by the learner, the response of others, and information about the environment. Antecedent - What occurs before a behavior that then influences behavior; an environment or a stimulus change existing or occurring prior to a behavior of interest Applied Behavior Analysis - The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change; The scientific study of principles of learning and behavior How could you assist in training stakeholders? - Train stakeholders by giving them instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback with regard to behavior skills training Attention Function - A function of behavior in which the individual is reinforced by receiving attention from others. Automatic Reinforcement - (AKA self-stimming) The behavior itself is reinforcing and is not dependent on social interaction or receiving a tangible item. Backward Chaining - Training begins the link with the last behavior in the sequence. Trainer performs all but the last step until the learner masters the last step. Then trainer performs all but the lasts two steps until learner masters the last two steps and so on. Baseline Data - Data taken before an intervention takes place. Describes the existing level of performance. Chaining - A specific sequence of discrete responses, each associated with a particular stimulus condition. When components are linked together, they form a chain that produces a terminal outcome. Components of a Written Behavior Plan - 1. Identify, describe, create a goal for a behavior in observable terms. 2. Assess antecedent/consequence that may maintain behavior. 3. Identify hypothesis of function of behavior. 4. Identify possible replacement behaviors. 5. Select and implement antecedent/consequence based interventions. 6. Create crisis intervention plan. 7. Implementation, modification, generalization and maintenance procedures. Conditioned Response - A behavior that does not come naturally, but must be learning by the individual by pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus. Conditioned Stimulus - A previous neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself. Consequence - Events that follow behavior and may influence it including increasing or decreasing it in the future; may be reinforcers or punishers. Contingency - Refers to an if _______, then ________ relationship between a behavior and a consequence. Continuous Reinforcement Schedule - Reinforcing one response class and withholding reinforcement from another response class; behavior receiving reinforcement should increase while the behavior for which reinforcement is being withheld should decrease. Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA) - Focus on increasing a desirable alternative behavior that directly or indirectly interfere with the performance of the undesired target behavior (i.e., reinforce knitting or giving self manicure instead of biting nails; reinforce appropriate language use instead of punishing swearing at others) Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviors (DRI) - Similar to DRA but you choose an alternative behavior to reinforce that, if performed, would be incompatible with undesired target behavior (i.e., playing nicely vs. fighting; on-task behavior vs. off-task behavior; in seat vs. out of seat; deep breathing vs. yelling) Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL) - Entails reinforcing for reductions in the frequency of the undesired behavior. Often used when an individual is engaging in a behavior too frequently (bathroom, calling out) Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO) - Providing a reinforcer after a particular time frame without the target behavior (i.e., engaging in any other behavior except the target behavior) E.g., every 5 minutes without hitting, individual receives a sticker. Direct Observation Preference Assessment - Identify what is motivating the individual. The more time spent with an item, the stronger the presumed preference. Discrete Trial Training - Structured instructional methodology used to teach new behaviors; Designed to maximize a learner's potential by presenting information in a three-part teaching unit; Based on Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (A.k.a ABC; Stimulus-Response-Consequence); Main objective is to teach children how to learn from their natural environment and make learning reinforcing. Discrimination Training - Procedure to teach between two targets. Trial training using phases. (i.e. phases 1 - 6 Mass Trials of target, Block Trials, and Random Rotation) Discriminative Stimulus (SD) - Environmental cue or instruction that signals that reinforcement is available for a target behavior; a type of stimulus that is used consistently to gain a specific response and that increases the possibility that the desired response will occur. Duration Data - Data that is a calculation of the amount of time a behavior occurs. The amount of time a response is performed. Track from onset to offset. Typically used for behaviors that last too long or too short. (i.e. on task behavior, social interactions, engaging in stereotypy) Echoic - A type of verbal operant that occurs when the speaker repeats the verbal behavior of another speaker; Occurs in response to other verbal behavior; Listener is "echoing" what they hear Errorless Learning - Teaching procedures that are designed in such a way that the learning does not have to - and does not - make mistakes as she or he learns new information or procedures. DTT is Errorless Learning. Escape/Avoidance Function - A function of behavior to escape or avoid having to do something. Ethical - Pertaining to right and wrong in conduct; Being in accordance with the rules or standard for right conduct or practice. Extinction - Removal of reinforcement from a previously reinforced behavior. Extinction Burst - Prior to the behavior decreasing you will see a temporary increase in behavior; Immediate increase in frequency in responding. Fixed Interval Reinforcement Schedule (FI) - The first correct response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed. Fixed Ratio Reinforcement Schedule (FR) - Reinforcement should be delivered after a constant or "fixed" number of responses. Forward Chaining - Training begins the link with the first behavior in the sequence. Training only occurs on the steps currently mastered and current step (no training on steps after that). Frequency Data - A form of continuous measurement; Data in which you tally each time the behavior occurs; typically used for behaviors with discrete beginning and ending points (e.g., throwing items, going to the gym, taking medicine, hitting another person); Most frequently used type of data collection. Function - The purpose of meaning behind a behavior. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) - Putting one or more functional analysis together. Can consist of: direct observation, interview, functional analysis (experimental), file review; in this assessment behavior plans must include replacement skills. Generalization - When the effort of reinforcement is extended beyond the conditions in which the training has taken place or to behavior other than those included in training. Generalized Conditioned Reinforcer - Stimuli that have been paired with a variety of unconditioned and conditioned reinforcers - praise, attention, tokens, money Graphing - A method of representing data in a visual way so that we can see patterns and direction over time How to Prepare for Data Collection - 1. Read data from last session 2. Prepare material and programs for current session based on data from last session. 3. Determine what programs you plan to work on during the session. 4. Gather materials for those programs. 5. Set up the first set of programs so they are ready for the client when you begin your session. Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule - Reinforcement is delivered after only SOME of the desired responses occur. Mand - Short for demand, command or reprimand. A type of verbal operant in which a speaker asks for (or states, demands, implies, etc.) what he needs or wants. Only type of verbal operant that directly benefits the speaker b/c the mand allows the speaker to receive reinforcers. Momentary Time Sampling - Look up at the client immediately at pre-designated points and record whether the behavior occurred at that precise moment. Example: presence or absence of client's stereotypic behavior (stimming). Multiple Stimuli Without Replacement Preference Assessment - Chose item is removed from the array, the order or replacement of the remaining items is rearranged, and the next trial begins with a reduced number of items in the array.