Sample interview questions: Can you provide examples of how you have used shaping techniques to teach new skills or replace maladaptive behaviors?
Sample answer:
Example 1: Teaching Self-Dressing Skills
- Initial behavior: Child cannot dress themselves independently.
- Shaping sequence:
- Touch clothes (reinforcement for any contact with clothing)
- Hold clothing item (reinforcement for picking up and holding any item of clothing)
- Put clothing on (reinforcement for placing any clothing item on the body, regardless of correctness)
- Fasten clothing (reinforcement for correctly fastening any piece of clothing)
- Dress independently (reinforcement for putting on all clothing items correctly and in the proper sequence)
Example 2: Replacing Temper Tantrums with Calm Behavior
- Initial behavior: Child engages in frequent temper tantrums when frustrated.
- Shaping sequence:
- Staying calm for short periods (reinforcement for remaining calm for even a few seconds)
- Speaking calmly (reinforcement for using a soft, controlled voice)
- Expressing frustration appropriately (reinforcement for verbally expressing frustration without yelling or hittin… Read full answer
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