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Core Terminology
- Reinforcement
- A consequence that increases the future likelihood of a behavior
- Punishment
- A consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior
- Extinction
- Withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior
- Prompt
- Assistance given to help evoke a correct response
- Prompt Fading
- Gradually reducing prompts to build independence
- Discrete Trial
- A structured teaching unit with SD, response, and consequence
- Generalization
- Behavior occurring across settings, people, or stimuli
- Maintenance
- Behavior continuing over time after training ends
- Antecedent
- What happens immediately before a behavior
- Consequence
- What happens immediately after a behavior
- ABC Data
- Recording Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence sequences
- Function
- The purpose behavior serves (attention, escape, tangible, automatic)
Data Collection Types
- Frequency
- Count of how many times behavior occurs
- Duration
- How long a behavior lasts
- Latency
- Time between instruction and response initiation
- Interval Recording
- Recording if behavior occurs within time intervals
- Time Sampling
- Recording behavior at specific moments
Functions of Behavior
Attention
Behavior to get social interaction
Ex: Calling out to get teacher to look
Escape
Behavior to avoid/end something
Ex: Tantrum to stop doing homework
Tangible
Behavior to get items/activities
Ex: Screaming to get iPad
Automatic
Behavior that's self-reinforcing
Ex: Hand flapping that feels good
Key Procedures
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
- Get learner's attention
- Present discriminative stimulus (SD)
- Wait for response (or prompt if needed)
- Provide consequence (reinforcement or correction)
- Record data
- Brief inter-trial interval
Error Correction
- Block or interrupt the error
- Re-present the SD
- Prompt the correct response
- Reinforce (with reduced magnitude if needed)
- Re-present trial to check learning
Prompt Hierarchy (Least-to-Most)
- Independent (no prompt)
- Gestural (point, look)
- Verbal (vocal hint)
- Model (demonstrate)
- Partial Physical (light touch)
- Full Physical (hand-over-hand)
Ethics Reminders
- Always work under BCBA supervision
- Follow the behavior intervention plan (BIP) exactly as written
- Report any concerns to your supervisor immediately
- Maintain client confidentiality at all times
- Document accurately and objectively
- Respect client dignity and autonomy
- Never implement procedures you haven't been trained on
- Report suspected abuse or neglect
- Maintain professional boundaries
- Obtain proper consent before recording/photos
Remember
RBTs must work under the close supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA. When in doubt, always consult your supervisor before acting.
RBT Quick Reference Card | TAFMEDS | tafmeds.com/resources
This reference card is for educational purposes. Always follow your organization's policies and BCBA supervision.
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