flashcard fluency

Question 1

truth of theories is determined by how well it works in practice

Answer 1

pragmatism

think: practical

Question 2

choosing the simplest explanation before considering complex ones

Answer 2

parsimony

hint: simplest explanation

Question 3

behavior influenced by its consequences, strengthened or weakened through reinforcement or punishment (ontogeny)

Answer 3

operant behavior

hint: behavior

Question 4

learning process where behavior is shaped by its consequences, increasing or decreasing based on reinforcement or punishment

Answer 4

operant conditioning

hint: learning process, based on reinforcement & punishment

Question 5

when a behavior is altered based on the presence or absence of an antecedent stimulus

Answer 5

stimulus control

hint: behavior is altered

Question 6

environmental variable that alters the value of a reinforcer or punisher and alters frequency of related behavior

Answer 6

motivating operation

hint: alters value of reinforcer

Question 7

behavior is modified by its consequences, regardless of awareness

Answer 7

automaticity of reinforcement

Question 8

theory/assumption that behavior evolves and is maintained by consequences (function)

Answer 8

selectionism

hint: theory/assumption, behavior evolves

Question 9

behavior learned directly by experience with contingencies

Answer 9

contingency-shaped behavior

hint: contingencies

Question 10

a specific change in behavior caused by manipulating the environment

Answer 10

functional relation

Question 11

procedure testing variable relations

Answer 11

experiment

hint: procedure testing

Question 12

demonstrates functional relations between environmental variables and behavior

Answer 12

functional analysis

hint: demonstrates

Question 13

fictitious/hypothetical variable that tries to explain behavior without evidence

Answer 13

explanatory fiction

hint: explain without evidence

Question 14

presumed but unobservable process or entity (e.g. Freud’s id)

Answer 14

hypothetical construct

hint: unobservable

Question 15

focuses on the behavior’s structure (what the behavior is)

e.g. a child screams loudly and stomps their feet

Answer 15

form

Question 16

focuses on the behavior’s purpose (why the behavior occurs)

e.g. a child screams and stomps for attention or escape from a task

Answer 16

function

think: purpose

Question 17

a relatioship where changes in one variable are systematically associated with changes in another variable

e.g. Pivotal behavior produces covariations in other adaptive untrained behaviors. Teaching a child to self-initiate (e.g. approach others), choice making, self-management, and FCT are likely to produce adaptive variations in untrained settings. Teaching a child to make a choice: covariation effect would be increased communication (e.g. requesting items) and reduced problem behavior.

Answer 17

covariation

Question 18

physical form or shape of behavior; describing how the behavior looks

e.g. behavior: writing name vs topography: picks up pencil, places it on paper, and forms letters on page.

Answer 18

topography

Question 19

a behavior that opens access to new environments, reinforcers, and opportunities

Answer 19

behavioral cusp

think: mountain peak opens access to new life perspective

Question 20

a behavior that, when learned, produces corresponding modifications or covariations in other untrained behaviors

Answer 20

pivotal behavior

think: pivots other behaviors

Question 21

rating scale used to measure attitudes, opinions, or behaviors, typically ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree or from low to high frequency

e.g. for a behavior checklist:
frequency:
1=never 2=rarely 3=sometimes 4=often 5=always

Answer 21

Likert scale

Question 22

target behaviors are selected because they will be reinforced in the natural environment

examples:

Daily Living Skills: maintains hygiene and reduces need for assistance, which will be naturally reinforced by social praise or acceptance

Social Skills: teaching student to say “hi” facilitates peer interactions and friendships which are naturally reinforcing

Academic Skills: teaching to raise hand will be reinforced by teacher acknowledgement

Self Advocacy: teaching to ask for break will be reinforced by reduced stress and access to preferred activities

Safety Skills: teaching child to stop at curb and look both ways before crossing street ensures safety and independence

Answer 22

relevance of behavior rule

Question 23

a group of behaviors with different topographies that serve the same function

Answer 23

response class

Question 24

a group that shares the same function, topography, or temporal relation

Answer 24

stimulus class