B.4: Identify and distinguish between positive and negative reinforcement contingencies.
Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.
Jayden is taught to hand over a "break" card during work. Each time he does, the task materials are removed for two minutes. Over several weeks, his use of the break card increases. Which contingency is operating on card use?
- A. Positive punishmentIncorrect. Positive punishment adds a stimulus and decreases behavior. Neither is happening.
- B. Positive reinforcementIncorrect. Even though a "break" may sound like something given, the functional change is the removal of task demands.
- C. Negative punishmentIncorrect. Negative punishment removes a stimulus and decreases behavior. Here card use increased.
- D. Negative reinforcementCorrect. Removing an aversive stimulus (task demands) contingent on a response, which then increases, is negative reinforcement.
At a group home, a staff member hands Sam a preferred snack whenever he screams, and Sam stops screaming right away. Over time, the staff member hands over snacks faster and faster after screaming begins. Which contingency is maintaining the STAFF MEMBER's snack delivery?
- A. Negative reinforcement, because delivering snacks ends the screamingCorrect. Snack delivery ends an aversive stimulus (screaming), and that behavior has increased, which is negative reinforcement.
- B. Positive reinforcement, because snacks are deliveredIncorrect. The snack is delivered to Sam, not to the staff member. What the staff member gets is the end of the screaming.
- C. Negative punishment, because the staff member loses snacksIncorrect. The staff member's behavior is increasing, so it cannot be a punishment contingency.
- D. Positive reinforcement of Sam's screamingIncorrect. Sam's screaming probably is positively reinforced, but the question asks about the staff member's behavior.
A 30-year-old driver's car beeps loudly until she fastens her seatbelt, and the beeping stops as soon as the belt clicks. She now fastens her seatbelt right after getting into the car. Which contingency is operating on seatbelt fastening?
- A. Positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement means a stimulus is added after the response. Fastening the belt does not add anything. It removes the beeping.
- B. Negative punishmentNegative punishment means a stimulus is removed and the behavior then decreases. Seatbelt fastening increased.
- C. Negative reinforcementCorrect. Fastening the belt removes (or avoids) an aversive stimulus, the beeping, and seatbelt fastening has increased. Removing a stimulus contingent on a response that then increases is negative reinforcement.
- D. Positive punishmentPositive punishment means a stimulus is added and the behavior then decreases. Here a stimulus is removed and the behavior increases.