What are Positive Reinforcement and Negative Reinforcement in Applied Behavior Analysis? Reinforcement is a principle of behavior change. All behavior change plans should begin with a careful consideration of how to use reinforcement properly. Reinforcement occurs when a response is followed by a stimulus change (a consequence) that results in similar responses occurring more often …
Positive Reinforcement and Negative Reinforcement Read More »
In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), there are two types of prompts: stimulus prompts and response prompts.
Stimulus prompts are external cues that remind the individual of what they should be doing. For example, a picture of a drink may be a stimulus prompt for an individual to ask for a drink.
Response prompts are cues that help the individual to respond correctly. For example, if an individual is asked to name a color, a response prompt might be to say “red” if the color red is presented.
Both stimulus and response prompts are important in ABA, as they help the individual to learn new skills and to generalize those skills to new situations.
Continuous Measurement on the RBT Exam The first thing you should study and learn for the RBT exam is continuous measurement. Not only does it appear first on the task list, but it’s straightforward and easy to grasp. A registered behavior technician should know the following continuous measurement terms: frequency, rate, duration, IRT (interresponse time), …
Continuous Measurement – Frequency, Rate, Duration, IRT, Latency Read More »
What is generalization and maintenance in Applied Behavior Analysis? Generalization and maintenance are essential to providing quality treatment as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). You could argue that if you are not teaching for generalization then you are not providing quality ABA service. Generalization occurs when a trained …
Generalization and Maintenance in Applied Behavior Analysis Read More »
The simplest way to explain extinction is withholding reinforcement from a previously reinforced behavior. When something used to exist but is no longer available, it is said to have become extinct. Extinction in applied behavior analysis simply refers to the gradual elimination of unappealing and undesirable behaviors. This is accomplished through a series of therapeutic …
What Should You Use to Pass the RBT Exam? Two of the most frequent questions people ask when preparing for the RBT exam are is the RBT exam hard, and what should I use to pass the RBT exam on the first try? I have been teaching RBT classes for over five years and believe …
Three-Term Contingency in ABA Your work as an RBT should be guided by just two words: if and then. If and then are used to set up contingencies that lead to opportunities for reinforcement, and, at times, punishment. An if-then statement is called a contingency. You might hear some people refer to it as “first-then.” …
Stimulus Transfer Control Procedures. Fade the Prompt! “Transfer of stimulus control occurs when behavior initially evoked (controlled) by one SD comes under the control of a different SD” (Bloh, 2008) Maybe the most requested video and explanation I get is for stimulus transfer control procedures. The technical name alone strikes fear into the hearts of …
The Simple Way to Remember MOs vs SDs First things first, don’t think you’re alone when it comes to struggling with motivating operations and discriminative stimuli. Other than single subject design, my BCBA friends and my friends preparing to become BCBAs have an extremely difficult time wrapping their heads around motivating operations. It’s easy to …
Motivating Operations and Discriminative Stimuli Read More »
How to Manage Anxiety Social anxiety. Academic anxiety. Eating anxiety. Sleeping anxiety. The list goes on. Anxiety comes in many forms. Although a little bit of anxiety is a part of life, severe and crippling anxiety shouldn’t be. It’s important to know that children with autism are at risk for anxiety disorders. Furthermore, Covid-19 might …
Performance Problem or Skill Deficit? What makes a professional golfer great? How does this relate to applied behavior analysis? The answer lies in one simple question: is it a performance problem or a skill deficit? Those who win at the highest level in golf, a sport all about the individual, are said to perform better …
What is Reinforcement and Punishment in Applied Behavior Analysis? Perhaps the most difficult part of training parents, or training aspiring registered behavior technicians, is taking them through the process of unlearning everything they know about punishment and reinforcement. See, in Applied Behavior Analysis reinforcement is not reinforcement and punishment is not punishment, unless, of course, …
