RBT Behavior Acquisition Practice Questions
Behavior Acquisition makes up 13 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest RBT practice test. Here are 10 of the 52 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on the BACB RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.) and the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real exam.
1. Positive reinforcement occurs when a stimulus is:
- A.Removed and behavior decreases
- B.Added and behavior increases
- C.Removed and behavior increases
- D.Added and behavior decreases
Answer: B. In behavior analysis, positive means added and reinforcement means the behavior increases in the future. Removing a stimulus to increase behavior is negative reinforcement.
2. A client finishes chores to stop a parent's nagging, and chore completion increases. This is:
- A.Negative punishment
- B.Escape extinction
- C.Positive reinforcement
- D.Negative reinforcement
Answer: D. The nagging is removed after the behavior and the behavior increases, so it is negative reinforcement. Negative punishment would decrease the behavior.
3. Which statement about negative reinforcement is true?
- A.It increases behavior
- B.It adds an aversive
- C.It is a kind of punishment
- D.It decreases behavior
Answer: A. All reinforcement, positive or negative, increases behavior. Negative reinforcement works by removing or avoiding something aversive.
4. A reinforcer works best when it is delivered:
- A.Before the instruction
- B.At random times
- C.Right after the response
- D.At the end of the session
Answer: C. Immediacy matters: the closer the reinforcer follows the response, the more effective it is. Delays let other behaviors come between.
5. Which is a dimension of reinforcement the technician can adjust?
- A.Variability
- B.Topography
- C.Magnitude
- D.Latency
Answer: C. Reinforcer magnitude (amount), intensity and variety affect how well reinforcement works. Latency, variability and topography describe behavior or data, not the reinforcer.
6. Why would a technician rotate among several reinforcers?
- A.To reduce satiation
- B.To shorten sessions
- C.To stop prompting
- D.To confuse the client
Answer: A. Varying reinforcers keeps any one item from losing value through satiation.
7. A client has had no snacks all morning, so food is a stronger reinforcer now. This effect is called:
- A.Generalization
- B.Satiation
- C.Extinction
- D.Deprivation
Answer: D. Deprivation is a motivating operation that raises a reinforcer's value. Satiation lowers it after a lot of access.
8. Reinforcing every correct response is called:
- A.Fixed interval schedule
- B.Continuous reinforcement
- C.Intermittent reinforcement
- D.Variable ratio schedule
Answer: B. Continuous reinforcement (CRF, or FR1) reinforces each correct response. It is best for teaching new skills.
9. On a fixed ratio 3 (FR3) schedule, reinforcement follows:
- A.The first response after 3 minutes
- B.Every third response
- C.Every 3 minutes
- D.About every third response
Answer: B. A fixed ratio reinforces after a set number of responses. Variable ratio reinforces after an average number.
10. A variable ratio schedule tends to produce:
- A.A scalloped response pattern
- B.Rapid extinction
- C.A pause after each reinforcer
- D.High, steady response rates
Answer: D. Variable ratio schedules produce high, steady responding and resist extinction, because the next response could always be reinforced.
Practice all 52 behavior acquisition questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free RBT training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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