Behavior Modification

TEST BANK For Behavior Modification: What It Is and
How To Do It, 12th Edition by Martin & Pear

Shaping - ANSWER:Differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a
target behavior. Involves reinforcement and extinction procedures.

When is shaping used? - ANSWER:To develop new topographies and dimensions of a
behavior. To reinstate old behaviors that are not occurring, When instructions,
modeling, and prompting are not applicable or not effective.

Examples of shaping - ANSWER:language development, animal training,
rehabilitation, voice volume, self injurious behavior, sports applications, preparation
for medical procedures

Shaping problem behaviors - ANSWER:Child tantrums, parents yelling, showing off,
dog begging for food,

To use Shaping - ANSWER:1. Define the target behavior
2. Use instructions, modeling, prompting, if possible if not then you can use shaping.
3. Identify the starting behavior (something to build on)
4. Choose the shaping steps (each step is a closer approximation to the target
behavior)
5. Choose the reinforcer (must be appropriate for individual, consider effects of
satiation)
6. Reinforce each successive approximation (until it occurs more, then stop
reinforcing first approximation and reinforce next)
7. Move at the proper pace

Prompting and Transfer of Stimulus Control - ANSWER:Used to develop stimulus
control (to get the right behavior to occur at the right time in the presence of the SD)
Used to develop NEW behaviors

What is a Prompt? - ANSWER:An antecedent stimulus or event that currently
controls a response. A prompt gets the behavior to occur in the correct situation so
the behavior can be reinforced.

SD + Prompt --> R --> SR

Response Prompts - ANSWER:Involve the behavior of another person
-Verbal prompt
-gestural prompt
- Modeling prompt
-Physical Prompt

Stimulus Prompts - ANSWER:Involve change in an antecedent stimulus

, -Within stimulus prompt (throw the pitch harder)
-Extra-stimulus prompt (light on a billboard)
(most important when you want the person to make a correct discrimination, so you
highlight the SD)

Transfer of Stimulus Control - ANSWER:Getting the behavior to occur in the presence
of the SD without prompts: Fading/ Prompt Delay
Fading transfers the stimulus control to the natural SD

Fading - ANSWER:Gradual removal of a prompt while the response occurs in the
presence of the SD
Prompt Fading: gradually removing the response prompt (less and less physical
assistance)
Stimulus Fading: gradually removing the stimulus prompt (looking at answers on
flashcard less and less)

Prompt Delay - ANSWER:Present the SD, wait X number of seconds then present the
prompt if needed
Ex: teachers shows word to student and waits 4 seconds if doesn't say it then
prompts her

Using prompting and Fading - ANSWER:1. Choose the most appropriate strategy
2. Get the learner's attention
3. Present the SD
4. Prompt the correct response
5. Reinforce the correct response
6. Fade the prompts over trials
7. Continue to reinforce unprompted responses
8. Use intermittent reinforcement for maintenance

Stimulus Response Chain - ANSWER:SD1--> R1
SD2--> R2
SD3--> R3
SD4--> R4--> SR

Task Analysis - ANSWER:Identification of all Stimuli (SDs) and responses (Rs) in a
behavioral chain
Ex: eating a bowl of oatmeal
SD1(bowl spoon in hand)--> R1 (put spoon in food)
SD2(spoon in food)--> R2(scoop food onto spoon)
SD3(food on spoon)--> R3(put food in mouth--> SR (eat)

Backward Chaining - ANSWER:Teach last S-R component first then teach next to last
component and so on

Forward Chaining - ANSWER:Teach first S-R component first, then teach second
component and so on