ABA

Question 1

Philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis include

Answer 1

1. Determinism (Lawfulness of behavior)
   2.Experimentation
   3.Empiricism
   4.Parsimony
   5.Philosophic Doubt
   6.Replication
   (cooper p 4-7)

Question 2

Experimentation involves…

Answer 2

*Arranging events to evaluate their influence on phenomena
*Is one of the philosophical foundations of behavior analysis
Experimentation is the systematic arranging of events so as to determine their influence on certain phenomena. (cooper pg 5-6)

Question 3

Experimentation

Answer 3

*Requires control over extraneous variables
*Is an evolution of the cause of one event by other events
*Ideally requires that all variables be controlled except the dependent variable
Experimentation- Factors under investigation are systematically controlled while effects on the dependent variable are measured. Extraneous or confounding variables must be properly controlled. Measuring correlations between one event and another is NOT experimentation. (Cooper p. 5-6)

Question 4

Despite several studies that support the utility of behavioral momentum, a researcher questions the existence of this phenomena. This researcher is

Answer 4

Demonstrating Philosophic Doubt.
A good scientist remains skeptical of scientific conclusion and must be willing to abandon long held beliefs if new data call for it. This is called Philosophic doubt. ( cooper p. 6-7)

Question 5

Lawfulness means or is supported by which of the following statements

Answer 5

• That given perfect experimental control you would always get the same result
• You obtain consistent results over numerous similar experiments
• The computer works the same way each time you turn it on
• Automobiles that come out of the same plant all work the same way
  If given perfect experimental control, you don’t always get the same results. This lawfulness ( or consistency) in nature supports the assumption that behavioral phenomena ( like many other phenomena) are orderly and predictable. Things don’t fly off shelves without reason, defy gravity, or work in unpredictable ways. If a car breaks down, we rightfully attribute it to a mechanical problem, not the vagaries of capriciousness of nature. ( Cooper p. 5)

Question 6

Select the most parsimonious explanation. A 5 yr old tantrums in the candy store due to…

Answer 6

A history of reinforcement in the form of receiving candy

Emotional disturbances and personality disorders are labels that may be applied when specific patterns of behavior are seen, not an explanation of why those behaviors occur. A history of reinforcement refers to patterns or probabilities to emit particular behaviors given the environmental conditions that maintain them. ( cooper p.6)

Question 7

Which of the following is most likely to have empirical support

Answer 7

**Science fair project
Empiricism is the result of measurement of carefully defined phenomena and detailed description of procedures. This is typically only found in controlled experimentation. ( cooper p.3)

Question 8

The most parsimonious explanation

Answer 8

*Requires the fewest assumptions and is built on an existing foundation knowledge of laws

Parsimony gives preference to the simplest explanation that adequately explains the data. Therefore, the explanation with the fewest assumptions would be the most parsimonious one a (Cooper p.6)

Question 9

Given two explanations for the same phenomena, parsimony favors the explanation that is

Answer 9

*Based on the fewest assumptions

cooper p.6

Question 10

A parsimonious explanation is most likely to be

Answer 10

Built on existing foundation of knowledge or laws

Question 11

Elements of empiricism include all of the following except

Answer 11

• prioritization of target behaviors

Empiricism calls for behaviors being objectively observed, thoroughly observed, quantified

Question 12

Behavior that is the result of ones genetic background

Answer 12

Phylogenic

Question 13

reflexivity

Answer 13

A type of stimulus-to-stimulus relation in which the learner, without any prior training or reinforcement for doing so, selects a comparison stimulus that is the same as the sample stimulus (e.g., A = A). Also called generalized identity matching.

Question 14

symmetry

Answer 14

A type of stimulus-to-stimulus relationship in which the learner, without prior training or reinforcement for doing so, demonstrates the reversibility of matched sample and comparison stimuli (e.g., if A = B, then B = A).
Learner is taught to select b given a but as a result of training can select a given b
reverse the direction of matching of the originally trained pairs

Question 15

transitivity

Answer 15

A derived (i.e., untrained) stimulus-stimulus relation (e.g., A = C, C = A) that emerges as a product of training two other stimulus-stimulus relations (e.g., A = B, B = C).
Learner is taught to select b given a, and to select c given b, but as a result of training, can also select a given c and c given a  (cooper 398-400)

Question 16

reflex

Answer 16

a response and its associated controlling stimulus

Question 17

respondent behavior

Answer 17

the response component of a reflex; behavior that is elicited, or induced, by antecedent stimuli. cannot be shaped can sometimes be brought under operent control

Question 18

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 18

elicits specific behavior without prior conditioning. cold temp elicits shivering
aroma of food elects salivation

Question 19

respondent conditioning process

Answer 19

a neutral stimulus must be presented with or immediately before an unconditioned stimulus
an unconditioned stimulus that reliably elicits an unconditioned response
absence of neutral stimulus when unconditioned stimulus is absent

Question 20

neutral stimulus

Answer 20

no effort

Question 21

discriminative stimulus

Answer 21

reinforcement has been provided in its presence when given a response occurs and has not been provided in its absence

Question 22

synnonyms for respondent conditioning

Answer 22

classical condition, pavlovian conditioning

Question 23

conditioned stimulus

Answer 23

a previously neutral stimulus that elicits a behavior by being correlated with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 24

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 24

unconditioned response is elicited by…

presentation of a stimulus which elicits a response without prior conditioning

Question 25

a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus when

Answer 25

the NS is paired with an US.UR OR A CS/CR

Question 26

Primary reinforcers

Answer 26

reinforcing without having to be conditioned
not learned
are such by virtue of the organisms biology. we are born with most ( food ,warmth) later (sexual stimulation

Question 27

avoidance

Answer 27

aversive stimuli is prevented by the response

Question 28

positive reinforcement

Answer 28

a stimulus presented contingent upon a behavior or after the behavior that increases the future probability of the behavior

Question 29

escape

Answer 29

the aversive stimulus is presented and the response results in termination
increases the future probabality of behavior that precedes it
happens in negative reinforcement
may be acompanied by avoidance of the setting of which the aversive often occure

Question 30

negative reinforcement

Answer 30

the stimulus is removed after the behavior and increases the future probability of behavior, cessation or avoidance of a stimulus increase behavior

Question 31

reinforcement occurs when

Answer 31

the consequence must increase future probability of behavior

Question 32

secondary reinforcers

Answer 32

learned after birth unique to individual

Question 33

punishment

Answer 33

presentation or removal of a stimulus, decrease behavior

Question 34

extinction

Answer 34

withholding of reinforcement, decrease behavior

Question 35

avoidance

Answer 35

aversive stimulus is prevented by the response

results in aversive stimulus not being experienced

Question 36

generalozed conditioned reinforcers

Answer 36

those that have been associated with access to various back up reinforcers, which may be either primary or secondary reinforcers ex: money, tokens, points, smiles, praise. less susceptible to satiation.

• enable the same reinforcement to be given to individuals with different preferences
• do nt always require back up reinforcer
• are likely to be reinforcing any time, even long after behavior is reinforced

Question 37

unconditioned/primary reinforcer unlearned reinforcer

Answer 37

those that one is born with an are important to the survival of an organism. one is born with the capacity to be reinforced by the sensation of relieving bladder or to be encouraged to relieve ones bladder by the sound of running water.

Question 38

unconditioned punishment

Answer 38

occurs when behavior is punished by primary, or unconditioned punishers. these are typically related to survival of the organism , such as painful stimulation, extreme state of deprivation, signs of danger and the capacity to learn to avoid them.
requires no prior conditioning for punishing stimuli

Question 39

conditioned reinforcers

Answer 39

learned and different for everyone. learned by pairing a previously neutral stimulus with a reinforcer. good job or a smile ,token can be brief take a little time to consume, less satiation effects, more useful in training than primary reinforcers when established. depend on experience and are idiosyncratic are personal

Question 40

secondary reinforcers

Answer 40

learned after birth unique to individual