Sample interview questions: Can you explain the principles of operant conditioning and how they relate to behavior analysis?
Sample answer:
Principles of Operant Conditioning:
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Positive Reinforcement: When a desired behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence, the behavior is more likely to be repeated. For instance, if a child receives a sticker for completing homework, they are more likely to do their homework in the future.
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Negative Reinforcement: When an undesired behavior is followed by the removal of an unpleasant consequence, the behavior is more likely to decrease in occurrence. For example, if a child’s annoying behavior is ignored, they are less likely to engage in that behavior in the future because they are not receiving attention.
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Punishment: When an undesired behavior is followed by an unpleasant consequence, the behavior is less likely to be repeated. For example, if a child is spanked for hitting their sibling, they are less likely to hit their sibling in the future.
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Extinction: When a behavior is no longer followed by any consequence, the behavior is less likely to occur. For instance, if a child’s tantrums are no longer met with attention or rewards, the tantrums are likely to decrease over time.
Behavior Analysis and Operant Conditioning:
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Functional Behavior Assessment:… Read full answer