B.14: Identify and distinguish between stimulus and response generalization.
Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.
A client is taught to wash his hands at a clinic sink. Without further training, his parents report that he now washes his hands correctly at the kitchen and bathroom sinks at home. This is best described as:
- A. Response maintenanceIncorrect. Maintenance refers to responding continuing over time after intervention ends, not across settings.
- B. Response generalizationIncorrect. The response (handwashing) is the same. What changed is the stimulus setting.
- C. Stimulus discriminationIncorrect. Discrimination is responding differently to different stimuli. Here he responds the same way to new stimuli.
- D. Stimulus generalizationCorrect. A trained response occurring in the presence of untrained stimuli or settings is stimulus generalization.
A socially withdrawn teenager is taught to say "Hi" when peers approach. Over the next weeks, staff observe her also saying "Hey," saying "What's up?", and waving at approaching peers, none of which were taught. These untaught behaviors show:
- A. Stimulus discriminationIncorrect. Discrimination is differential responding across stimuli, which is not the point here.
- B. Response generalizationCorrect. Untrained responses that are functionally equivalent to the trained target are response generalization.
- C. Stimulus generalizationIncorrect. Stimulus generalization is the same response in the presence of new stimuli. Here new responses occurred.
- D. Response maintenanceIncorrect. Maintenance concerns the trained response continuing over time, not new forms appearing.
Which example best shows response generalization rather than stimulus generalization?
- A. A worker taught to fold towels in thirds at his station begins folding some towels in half at the same station, which also fits them neatly on the shelf.Correct. In the same setting, the worker emits an untrained response (folding in half) that is functionally equivalent to the trained one (folding in thirds). That is response generalization.
- B. A teenager taught to say "please" at home now says "please" at school.The same response occurs in a new setting. That is stimulus generalization.
- C. A preschooler taught to greet her teacher now greets the principal without training.The same response (greeting) occurs with a new stimulus (the principal). That is stimulus generalization.
- D. A child taught to sit at his desk at school now sits at the kitchen table at home.The same trained response (sitting) occurs in a new setting. That is stimulus generalization.