Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

Which type of motivating operation is characterized by a decrease in the effectiveness of a reinforcer?

1. Establishing Operations

2. Deprivation

3. Abolishing Operations

4. Discriminative Stimulus

The correct answer is: Abolishing Operations

The correct answer is related to the concept of abolishing operations, which refers to any variables that decrease the effectiveness of a reinforcer. In the context of behavior analysis, when an individual has had ample access to a certain reinforcer, such as food or attention, the value of that reinforcer diminishes. This decrease in effectiveness influences the behavior associated with obtaining that reinforcer. By understanding abolishing operations, practitioners can better predict and manage behavior by considering how the availability or prior exposure to a reinforcer impacts its value. For example, if a child has just eaten a snack, they may be less motivated to engage in behaviors to obtain more snacks, as the current motivating operation has decreased their hunger and, consequently, the snack's effectiveness as a reinforcer. In contrast, establishing operations would increase the effectiveness of a reinforcer, while deprivation specifically emphasizes the lack of access to a reinforcer, leading to an increased need or desire for it. A discriminative stimulus, on the other hand, signals the availability of reinforcement, rather than affecting the effectiveness of that reinforcement. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify how different types of motivating operations influence behavior and reinforcement contingencies.