WGU D001 Behavioral Support Strategies for
K-12 Learners with Mild to Moderate
Exceptionalities
AB design - ANSWER-A single subject research design that contains one baseline (A)
and one treatment (B).
ABAB design (reversal design) - ANSWER-An extension of the AB design in which the
independent variable is withdrawn and then reapplied. This reversal design can
demonstrate a functional relation between dependent and independent variables.
abscissa - ANSWER-The horizontal or x axis of a graph. The time dimension (sessions)
is represented along the abscissa.
accountability - ANSWER-In education, the assessment of students' progress on a
regular basis and the publication of this assessment, as well as goals, objectives, and
procedures, to parents, school administrators, and other parties with a right to the
information.
acquisition - ANSWER-The basic level of student response competence. It implies the
student's ability to perform a newly learned response to some criterion of accuracy.
alternating treatments design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that
allows comparison of the effectiveness of two or more treatments. It differs from other
single-subject designs in that treatments (sometimes including baseline) are alternated
randomly rather than presented sequentially (also known as multiple schedule design,
multi-element baseline design, alternating conditions design).
antecedent stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that precedes a behavior. This stimulus may
or may not serve as discriminative for a specific behavior.
applied behavior analysis - ANSWER-Systematic application of behavioral principles to
change socially significant behavior to a meaningful degree. Research tools enable
users of these principles to verify a functional relation between a behavior and an
intervention.
aversive stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that decreases the rate or probability of a
behavior when presented as a consequence; as such, it is a type of punisher.
Alternatively, an aversive stimulus may increase the rate or probability of a behavior
when removed as a consequence; as such, it is a negative reinforcer.
backup reinforcer - ANSWER-An object or event received in exchange for a specific
number of tokens, points, etc.
, bar graph - ANSWER-A graph that employs vertical bars rather than horizontal lines to
indicate levels of performance (also called a histogram).
baseline data - ANSWER-Data points that reflect an operant level of the target behavior.
Operant level is the natural occurrence of the behavior before intervention. Baseline
data serve a purpose similar to that of a pretest, to provide a level of behavior against
which the results of an intervention procedure can be compared
behavior - ANSWER-Any observable and measurable act of an individual (also called a
response).
behavioral objective - ANSWER-A statement that communicates a proposed change in
behavior. A behavioral objective must include statements concerning the learner, the
behavior, the conditions under which the behavior will be performed, and the criteria for
evaluation.
chaining - ANSWER-An instructional procedure that reinforces individual responses in
sequence, forming a complex behavior.
changing conditions design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that
involves successively changing the conditions for response performance in order to
evaluate comparative effects. This design does not demonstrate a functional relation
between variables. Also called ABC design
changing criterion design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that involves
successively changing the criterion for reinforcement. The criterion is systematically
increased or decreased in a stepwise manner.
concept - ANSWER-A set of characteristics shared by all members of a set and only the
members of that set.
conditioned aversive stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that has acquired secondary
aversive qualities through pairing with an unconditioned aversive stimulus, such as pain
or discomfort.
conditioned reinforcer - ANSWER-A stimulus that has acquired a reinforcing function
through pairing with an unconditioned or natural reinforcer; includes most social,
activity, and generalized reinforcers
conditions - ANSWER-Naturally existing or teacher-created circumstances under which
a behavior is to be performed.
consequence - ANSWER-Any stimulus presented contingent on a particular response.
K-12 Learners with Mild to Moderate
Exceptionalities
AB design - ANSWER-A single subject research design that contains one baseline (A)
and one treatment (B).
ABAB design (reversal design) - ANSWER-An extension of the AB design in which the
independent variable is withdrawn and then reapplied. This reversal design can
demonstrate a functional relation between dependent and independent variables.
abscissa - ANSWER-The horizontal or x axis of a graph. The time dimension (sessions)
is represented along the abscissa.
accountability - ANSWER-In education, the assessment of students' progress on a
regular basis and the publication of this assessment, as well as goals, objectives, and
procedures, to parents, school administrators, and other parties with a right to the
information.
acquisition - ANSWER-The basic level of student response competence. It implies the
student's ability to perform a newly learned response to some criterion of accuracy.
alternating treatments design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that
allows comparison of the effectiveness of two or more treatments. It differs from other
single-subject designs in that treatments (sometimes including baseline) are alternated
randomly rather than presented sequentially (also known as multiple schedule design,
multi-element baseline design, alternating conditions design).
antecedent stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that precedes a behavior. This stimulus may
or may not serve as discriminative for a specific behavior.
applied behavior analysis - ANSWER-Systematic application of behavioral principles to
change socially significant behavior to a meaningful degree. Research tools enable
users of these principles to verify a functional relation between a behavior and an
intervention.
aversive stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that decreases the rate or probability of a
behavior when presented as a consequence; as such, it is a type of punisher.
Alternatively, an aversive stimulus may increase the rate or probability of a behavior
when removed as a consequence; as such, it is a negative reinforcer.
backup reinforcer - ANSWER-An object or event received in exchange for a specific
number of tokens, points, etc.
, bar graph - ANSWER-A graph that employs vertical bars rather than horizontal lines to
indicate levels of performance (also called a histogram).
baseline data - ANSWER-Data points that reflect an operant level of the target behavior.
Operant level is the natural occurrence of the behavior before intervention. Baseline
data serve a purpose similar to that of a pretest, to provide a level of behavior against
which the results of an intervention procedure can be compared
behavior - ANSWER-Any observable and measurable act of an individual (also called a
response).
behavioral objective - ANSWER-A statement that communicates a proposed change in
behavior. A behavioral objective must include statements concerning the learner, the
behavior, the conditions under which the behavior will be performed, and the criteria for
evaluation.
chaining - ANSWER-An instructional procedure that reinforces individual responses in
sequence, forming a complex behavior.
changing conditions design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that
involves successively changing the conditions for response performance in order to
evaluate comparative effects. This design does not demonstrate a functional relation
between variables. Also called ABC design
changing criterion design - ANSWER-A single-subject experimental design that involves
successively changing the criterion for reinforcement. The criterion is systematically
increased or decreased in a stepwise manner.
concept - ANSWER-A set of characteristics shared by all members of a set and only the
members of that set.
conditioned aversive stimulus - ANSWER-A stimulus that has acquired secondary
aversive qualities through pairing with an unconditioned aversive stimulus, such as pain
or discomfort.
conditioned reinforcer - ANSWER-A stimulus that has acquired a reinforcing function
through pairing with an unconditioned or natural reinforcer; includes most social,
activity, and generalized reinforcers
conditions - ANSWER-Naturally existing or teacher-created circumstances under which
a behavior is to be performed.
consequence - ANSWER-Any stimulus presented contingent on a particular response.
