RBT CALIFORNIA STATE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Positive Reinforcement - Answer-* In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement
involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus followed by a behavior that makes more
likely that the behavior will occur again in the future
* When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular
response or behavior will be strengthened
* Example: You get an A on your test (positive stimulus), which increases your behavior
of studying (reinforcer)
Negative Reinforcement - Answer-* Is a term described by B.F. Skinner in his theory of
operant conditioning
* In negative reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping,
removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus
* Example: You avoid getting a sun burn (negative stimulus), which increases your
behavior of applying sunblock in the future (reinforcement)
Reinforcer - Answer-* Reinforcers are tangible and intangible objects or actions that are
used to increase the occurrence of a certain behavior
* Reinforcers are critical to the success of an ABA therapy program because they are
instrumental in getting and shaping the right behaviors in a child diagnosed with ASD
Punisher - Answer-* Positive Punishment: This works by presenting a negative
consequence after an undersized behavior is exhibited, making the behavior less likely
to happen in the future
* Example: A child picks his nose during class and the teacher reprimands him in front
of his classmates
* Negative punishment: This happens when a certain desired stimulus/item is removed
after a particular undesired behavior is exhibited, resulting in the behavior happening
less often in the future
* Example: Siblings get in a fight over who gets to go first in a game or who gets to play
with a new toy, the parent takes the game/toy away
Conditioned Reinforcer - Answer-* Secondary reinforcement
* A learned reinforcer that gains value through its association with a primary reinforcer
* Example: Money
* Example: A boss offers incentives, like bonuses for good work
Unconditioned Reinforcer - Answer-* Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that have
innate reinforcing qualities. These kind of reinforcers are not learned
* Water, food, sleep, sex, and tough, among others, are primary (unconditioned)
reinforcers
* Pleasure is also a primary reinforcer
, * Example: Jumping in a cool lake on a very hot day would be reinforcing and the cool
lake would be innately reinforcing - the water would cool the person off (a physical
need), as well as provide pleasure
Extinction - Answer-* No longer providing the reinforcement that was being provided to
a particular behavior
* When using extinction, it is helpful to provide reinforcement for a behavior you would
rather see instead
* If needed, teach or shape the alternative behavior if the child (or person) does not
currently perform the behavior
* Example: Mom could put her child's whining on extinction by no longer giving the child
what he wants when he whines
Deprivation - Answer-* Is not having any or enough of something
* Deprivation of a single reinforcer increases the value of that reinforcer
* Example: When using water balloons for a reinforcer, make sure the child only has
access to the water balloons when you are around so the child is deprived of the
reinforcer
Satiation - Answer-* Refers to having too much
* If the same reinforcer is used over and over again, it will lose its reinforcing value
Contingency - Answer-* Is the relationship between two events, one event "contingent"
or a consequence of the other event
* The success of establishing contingency requires quick reinforcement, clear
communication and consistency
* Learners who don't receive immediate reinforcement, or are not clear about the
relationship contingency, will not be as successful as those children who clearly
understand the relationship or contingency
* Example: It took a while for the team at Jonathan's school to help him understand the
contingency between his behavior and receiving reinforcement, so they repeated a
simple imitation program with direct, one to one reinforcement until he would comply
regularly
Motivating Operation - Answer-* Motivating operation (MO) is a behavioristic concept
introduced by Jack Michael in 1982
* Alter the effectiveness of some stimulus, object, or event as a reinforcer
* Alter the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus,
object, or event
* Establishing Operation (EO): Increases the current effectiveness of some stimulus,
object, or event as reinforcement
* Abolishing Operation (AO): Decrease the current effectiveness of some stimulus,
object, or event as reinforcement
Antecedent - Answer-* An antecedent is a stimulus that cues an individual to perform a
learned behavior. When an individual perceives an antecedent stimulus, they behave in
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Positive Reinforcement - Answer-* In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement
involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus followed by a behavior that makes more
likely that the behavior will occur again in the future
* When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular
response or behavior will be strengthened
* Example: You get an A on your test (positive stimulus), which increases your behavior
of studying (reinforcer)
Negative Reinforcement - Answer-* Is a term described by B.F. Skinner in his theory of
operant conditioning
* In negative reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping,
removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus
* Example: You avoid getting a sun burn (negative stimulus), which increases your
behavior of applying sunblock in the future (reinforcement)
Reinforcer - Answer-* Reinforcers are tangible and intangible objects or actions that are
used to increase the occurrence of a certain behavior
* Reinforcers are critical to the success of an ABA therapy program because they are
instrumental in getting and shaping the right behaviors in a child diagnosed with ASD
Punisher - Answer-* Positive Punishment: This works by presenting a negative
consequence after an undersized behavior is exhibited, making the behavior less likely
to happen in the future
* Example: A child picks his nose during class and the teacher reprimands him in front
of his classmates
* Negative punishment: This happens when a certain desired stimulus/item is removed
after a particular undesired behavior is exhibited, resulting in the behavior happening
less often in the future
* Example: Siblings get in a fight over who gets to go first in a game or who gets to play
with a new toy, the parent takes the game/toy away
Conditioned Reinforcer - Answer-* Secondary reinforcement
* A learned reinforcer that gains value through its association with a primary reinforcer
* Example: Money
* Example: A boss offers incentives, like bonuses for good work
Unconditioned Reinforcer - Answer-* Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that have
innate reinforcing qualities. These kind of reinforcers are not learned
* Water, food, sleep, sex, and tough, among others, are primary (unconditioned)
reinforcers
* Pleasure is also a primary reinforcer
, * Example: Jumping in a cool lake on a very hot day would be reinforcing and the cool
lake would be innately reinforcing - the water would cool the person off (a physical
need), as well as provide pleasure
Extinction - Answer-* No longer providing the reinforcement that was being provided to
a particular behavior
* When using extinction, it is helpful to provide reinforcement for a behavior you would
rather see instead
* If needed, teach or shape the alternative behavior if the child (or person) does not
currently perform the behavior
* Example: Mom could put her child's whining on extinction by no longer giving the child
what he wants when he whines
Deprivation - Answer-* Is not having any or enough of something
* Deprivation of a single reinforcer increases the value of that reinforcer
* Example: When using water balloons for a reinforcer, make sure the child only has
access to the water balloons when you are around so the child is deprived of the
reinforcer
Satiation - Answer-* Refers to having too much
* If the same reinforcer is used over and over again, it will lose its reinforcing value
Contingency - Answer-* Is the relationship between two events, one event "contingent"
or a consequence of the other event
* The success of establishing contingency requires quick reinforcement, clear
communication and consistency
* Learners who don't receive immediate reinforcement, or are not clear about the
relationship contingency, will not be as successful as those children who clearly
understand the relationship or contingency
* Example: It took a while for the team at Jonathan's school to help him understand the
contingency between his behavior and receiving reinforcement, so they repeated a
simple imitation program with direct, one to one reinforcement until he would comply
regularly
Motivating Operation - Answer-* Motivating operation (MO) is a behavioristic concept
introduced by Jack Michael in 1982
* Alter the effectiveness of some stimulus, object, or event as a reinforcer
* Alter the current frequency of all behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus,
object, or event
* Establishing Operation (EO): Increases the current effectiveness of some stimulus,
object, or event as reinforcement
* Abolishing Operation (AO): Decrease the current effectiveness of some stimulus,
object, or event as reinforcement
Antecedent - Answer-* An antecedent is a stimulus that cues an individual to perform a
learned behavior. When an individual perceives an antecedent stimulus, they behave in
