QABA QBA cheat sheet

Three-term contingency: a motivating operation or discriminative stimulus sets the occasion for a response, which is followed by a consequence that alters future frequency.

Operant behavior is selected by its consequences; respondent (Pavlovian) behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli through pairing of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.

Reinforcement increases and punishment decreases future response frequency; positive means a stimulus is added and negative means a stimulus is removed.

Extinction is the discontinuation of the reinforcer that previously maintained behavior; it commonly produces an extinction burst, response variability, and spontaneous recovery.

Ratio schedules depend on number of responses and interval schedules on elapsed time; variable schedules generally generate steadier responding and greater resistance to extinction than fixed schedules.

Motivating operations have a value-altering effect (changing reinforcer effectiveness) and a behavior-altering effect (changing the momentary frequency of relevant behavior); establishing operations increase value, abolishing operations decrease it.

Stimulus control is demonstrated when a response occurs more often in the presence of the SD than in its absence or in the presence of the S-delta.

Shaping reinforces successive approximations to a terminal response; chaining links a task analysis of discrete responses in forward, backward, or total-task order.

Verbal operants include the mand (controlled by a motivating operation), tact (controlled by a nonverbal SD), echoic (duplicated vocal stimulus), and intraverbal (verbal SD).

Continuous measures: frequency or rate, duration, latency, and interresponse time; discontinuous measures: partial interval, whole interval, and momentary time sampling.

Partial-interval recording tends to overestimate behavior, whole-interval recording tends to underestimate it, and momentary time sampling samples only the instant at the end of each interval.

Common IOA formulas: total count, mean count-per-interval, exact count, trial-by-trial, total duration, and scored-interval or unscored-interval; a commonly cited acceptability criterion is 80-90% agreement.

Scored-interval IOA is the more stringent index for low-rate or short-duration behavior; unscored-interval IOA is more stringent for high-rate behavior.

Functional behavior assessment methods include indirect (interviews, rating scales), descriptive (ABC recording, scatterplot), and experimental functional analysis, which alone permits causal conclusions.

A standard functional analysis compares alone, attention, demand, and play (control) conditions; the alone condition is designed to test automatic reinforcement.

Preference assessments include single stimulus, paired choice, MSWO, MSW, and free operant; a reinforcer assessment then verifies that the preferred item actually increases responding.

Baseline logic rests on steady state and visual analysis of level, trend, and variability; a behavior definition must be observable, measurable, and include examples and non-examples.

Threats to measurement accuracy include observer drift, reactivity, and bias; retraining and frequent IOA checks counteract drift.

A BIP specifies operationally defined target behaviors, baseline data, function-based goals, antecedent and consequence strategies, reinforcement schedules, a crisis plan, data collection, and monitoring procedures.

Match intervention to function: attention-maintained behavior - noncontingent attention and time-in; escape-maintained - demand fading, choice, and break requests; tangible-maintained - functional communication training; automatically maintained - competing sensory stimulation.

Antecedent interventions include noncontingent reinforcement, high-probability request sequences, functional communication training, priming, choice making, and environmental rearrangement.

Differential reinforcement variants: DRA reinforces a specific alternative response, DRI reinforces a behavior incompatible with the target, DRO reinforces any other behavior, and DRL reinforces low rates of the target itself.

Functional communication training is a DRA procedure; the replacement response must produce the same reinforcer as the problem behavior and problem behavior is placed on extinction.

A token economy uses tokens as generalized conditioned reinforcers exchanged for backup reinforcers; response cost removes tokens contingent on the target behavior.

Plan for generalization and maintenance using multiple exemplars, loosely sequenced training, common stimuli, indiscriminable contingencies, and transfer to natural contingencies.

Extinction should be combined with reinforcement-based procedures because it may evoke bursts, aggression, and spontaneous recovery; it is contraindicated where the burst risks serious harm.

Least restrictive and least intrusive effective procedures are preferred, selected through documented risk-benefit analysis with informed consent.

Behavioral skills training consists of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback, repeated until the trainee meets a preset performance criterion.

Feedback is most effective when it is specific, delivered immediately or close in time, frequent, and includes both praise for correct performance and corrective guidance.

Treatment integrity (procedural fidelity) is measured by direct observation or component checklists and reported as the percentage of planned steps implemented correctly.

Supervision includes direct observation of staff performance, review of client data, goal setting, and follow-up; periodic re-observation counteracts observer drift and skill decay.

Pyramidal training uses an expert to train a small cohort of staff who then train and coach others, extending limited training resources.

Staff performance is monitored through permanent products, session recordings, data accuracy checks, and IOA of staff-implemented procedures.

Generalization and maintenance of staff skills are supported by self-monitoring, peer feedback, refresher training, and naturally occurring supervisory contingencies.

Supervisors delegate only tasks the supervisee is trained and competent to perform, retaining responsibility for client outcomes and ethical compliance.

Core ethical principles include benefiting others, treating others with compassion, dignity, and respect, behaving with integrity, and ensuring professional competence.

Informed consent requires capacity, voluntariness, understandable explanation of procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives, and the ongoing right to withdraw.

Confidentiality is limited by need-to-know sharing, consent, and legal exceptions such as suspected abuse, imminent risk of harm, and court order.

A risk-benefit analysis documents that the selected procedure maximizes benefit while using the least restrictive effective option.

Data must never be fabricated, falsified, or selectively reported; graphs and progress summaries must accurately reflect collected data.

Multiple relationships and conflicts of interest are avoided or disclosed when they could impair objectivity or exploit the client or supervisee.

Practice is limited to the boundaries of training and experience; unfamiliar cases require supervision, consultation, or referral.

Documentation must be timely, accurate, and retained according to legal and organizational requirements, and clients must be given access as permitted.