Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What term is used to describe the end product of a shaping process?

1. Target Behavior

2. Terminal Behavior

3. Reinforced Behavior

4. Successive Behavior

The correct answer is: Terminal Behavior

The term used to describe the end product of a shaping process is "Terminal Behavior." In the context of applied behavior analysis, shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. The terminal behavior is the final, specific behavior that the shaping process aims to achieve. It represents the goal of the intervention and serves as a clear target for both the technician and the individual being supported. In shaping, behaviors are gradually modified until the desired outcome is reached. The terminal behavior allows practitioners to determine if their shaping procedures have been successful. By precisely defining this endpoint, it becomes easier to break down the learning process into manageable steps and systematically teach the individual how to perform the desired behavior. Other choices may relate to concepts in behavior analysis, but they do not accurately capture the specific end goal of the shaping process like terminal behavior does. For instance, target behavior can refer to any behavior selected for intervention, not necessarily the final one achieved through shaping. Reinforced behavior may suggest a behavior that has been positively reinforced but doesn’t reflect the endpoint of shaping. Successive behavior conveys the idea of behaviors occurring in sequence but lacks the specificity of defining the final desired behavior in shaping.