RBT Certification Terminology Study Guide

Measurement (Data Collection)

• Frequency: Counting the number of times a behavior occurs.
• Duration: Measuring how long a behavior lasts from start to finish.
• Latency: Time between a cue and the start of a behavior.
• Interresponse Time (IRT): Time between instances of the same behavior.
• Continuous Measurement: Data collected on all instances of a behavior (e.g., frequency, duration).
• Discontinuous Measurement: Data collected on some instances (e.g., partial interval, momentary time sampling).
  • Partial Interval Recording: Behavior is recorded if it occurred at any time during the interval.
  • Whole Interval Recording: Behavior is recorded only if it occurred during the entire interval.
  • Momentary Time Sampling: Behavior is recorded if it occurs at the end of an interval.

Assessment

• Preference Assessment: Identifying preferred items or activities that may be used as reinforcers.
• Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): Identifying the function (cause) of a behavior.
• ABC Data:
  • Antecedent: What happens before the behavior
  • Behavior: The observable action
  • Consequence: What happens after the behavior

Skill Acquisition

• Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Structured teaching using a 3-part sequence: SD (instruction), response, consequence.
• Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Teaching skills in everyday settings during typical routines.
• Task Analysis: Breaking a complex skill into smaller, teachable steps.
• Chaining: Teaching a behavior chain (sequence of steps):
  • Forward Chaining: Teaching steps in order.
  • Backward Chaining: Teaching the last step first.
• Prompting: Assisting a learner to complete a task.
  • Types: Verbal, Gestural, Physical, Model, Visual
  • Prompt Fading: Gradually removing prompts to encourage independence.
• Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior.
• Generalization: Behavior occurs in different settings, with different people, or across different stimuli.
• Maintenance: The ability to continue using a skill over time without reinforcement.

Behavior Reduction

• Antecedent Interventions: Changes to the environment before behavior occurs to prevent it.
• Consequence Interventions: Responses after behavior to decrease its future occurrence.
• Extinction: Stopping reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior.
• Reinforcement:
  • Positive Reinforcement: Adding something to increase behavior.
  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing something to increase behavior.
• Punishment:
  • Positive Punishment: Adding something to decrease behavior.
  • Negative Punishment: Taking something away to decrease behavior.
• Differential Reinforcement:
  • DRA: Reinforcing an alternative behavior.
  • DRO: Reinforcing the absence of the behavior.
  • DRI: Reinforcing a behavior that is incompatible with the problem behavior.
  • DRL: Reinforcing lower rates of behavior.

Documentation and Reporting

• Objective Notes: Data and observations free of opinions or assumptions.
• Session Notes: Records summarizing what occurred during a session.
• Incident Reporting: Documenting any accidents or unusual events during sessions.

Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice

• Supervision: RBTs must receive ongoing supervision by a qualified BCBA.
• Scope of Practice: Only perform tasks within your training and under supervision.
• Confidentiality: Protect client information according to HIPAA and ethical guidelines.
• Dual Relationships: Avoid personal relationships with clients to maintain professionalism.