Unit 3

Question 1

Reinforcement that occurs independent of the social mediation of others (for example, scratching an insect bite relieves the itch).

Answer 1

Automatic reinforcement

Question 2

A stimulus change or condition that functions to evoke a behavior that has terminated it in the past, as a punisher when presented following behavior, and/or as a reinforcer when withdrawn following behavior.

Answer 2

Aversive stimulus

Question 3

A behavior that prevents an aversive event.

Answer 3

Avoidance behavior

Question 4

A contingency in which a response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus.

Answer 4

Avoidance contingency

Question 5

A previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established reinforcer and consequently functions as a reinforcer itself.

Answer 5

Conditioned reinforcer

Question 6

Refers to dependent and/or temporal relations between operant behavior and its controlling variables.

Answer 6

Contingency

Question 7

The assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which phenomena occur in relation to other events and not in a willy-nilly, accidental fashion.

Answer 7

Determinism

Question 8

Behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.

Answer 8

Escape behavior

Question 9

A contingency in which a response terminates (produces escape from) an ongoing stimulus.

Answer 9

Escape contingency

Question 10

A hypothetical variable that often takes the form of another name for the observed phenomenon it claims to explain and contributes nothing to a functional account or understanding of the phenomenon.

Answer 10

Explanatory fiction

Question 11

An extensive interview protocol that explores (a) the topography, frequency, and intensity of challenging behaviors; (b) environmental conditions related to behavior; (c) contextual variables that may be related to challenging behaviors such as the student’s history and biological or physiological status; (d) functional alternative behaviors and communication skills exhibited by the student; and (e) potential reinforcers and interventions.

Answer 11

Functional analysis interview

Question 12

The process of generating information on the events preceding and following the behavior in an attempt to determine which antecedents and consequences are reliably associated with the occurrence of the behavior.

Answer 12

Functional assessment

Question 13

Interventions that decrease problem behaviors without the use of punishment by modifying the antecedents and consequences that control the behaviors.

Answer 13

Functional interventions

Question 14

Any measurement of a learner’s performance of a target behavior in a setting and/or stimulus situation in which direct training has not been provided.

Answer 14

Generalization probe

Question 15

Any place or stimulus situation that differs in some meaningful way from the instructional setting and in which performance of the target behavior is desired.

Answer 15

Generalization setting

Question 16

A self-management strategy in which the person decides on and writes down the desired level of the target behavior he or she hopes to achieve as a result of self-management procedures.

Answer 16

Goal setting

Question 17

Assessment that relies on information from others.

Answer 17

Indirect assessment

Question 18

Structured interviews, checklists, rating scales, or questionnaires used to obtain information from people who are familiar with the person exhibiting the problem behavior.

Answer 18

Indirect functional assessment

Question 19

Occurs when the behavior that is measured is in some way different from the behavior of interest.

Answer 19

Indirect measurement

Question 20

The environment where instruction occurs; includes all aspects of the environment, planned and unplanned, that may influence the learner’s acquisition and generalization of the target behavior.

Answer 20

Instructional setting

Question 21

A type of reinforcement in which the occurrence of the behavior is followed by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus.

Answer 21

Negative reinforcement

Question 22

A type of reinforcement in which, contingent on the behavior, a stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior increases in the future.

Answer 22

Positive reinforcement

Question 23

Holds that only behaviors likely to produce reinforcement in that person’s natural environment should be targeted for change.

Answer 23

Relevance of behavior rule

Question 24

Refers to the extent to which target behaviors are appropriate, intervention procedures are acceptable, and important and significant changes in target and collateral behaviors are produced.

Answer 24

Social validity

Question 25

The response class selected for intervention.

Answer 25

Target behavior

Question 26

Defines instances of the targeted response class by the shape or form of the behavior.

Answer 26

Topography-based definition