B.24: Identify and distinguish between imitation and observational learning.
Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.
An RBT says "Do this" and claps, and the child immediately claps. When the RBT shows a new action never trained before (tapping her head), the child immediately taps his head. The model's behavior controls topographically similar behavior right away. This is best described as:
- A. Echoic behaviorIncorrect. An echoic is a vocal verbal operant. These are motor imitations.
- B. Observational learningIncorrect. Observational learning involves observing another person's behavior and its consequences, with performance that may be delayed and that depends on those consequences.
- C. Stimulus generalizationIncorrect. Although new models are copied, the defining relation here is formal similarity with the model's behavior as the controlling antecedent.
- D. Imitation (including generalized imitation)Correct. Imitation is behavior that is controlled by a model, follows it closely in time, and is topographically similar to it. Copying new models shows generalized imitation.
In a preschool, Ava watches a classmate raise his hand and receive a sticker, and watches another child call out and get ignored. The next day, in a different activity, Ava raises her hand and does not call out. Which term best describes Ava's behavior change?
- A. Respondent conditioning through vicarious pairingIncorrect. Hand raising is operant behavior. No conditioned stimulus is eliciting a reflexive response.
- B. Response generalizationIncorrect. Response generalization is the emission of untrained responses functionally equivalent to a trained response. Ava was not directly trained.
- C. Imitation, because Ava's response matches the peer's responseIncorrect. Imitation requires the model to function as an immediate controlling antecedent. Here performance is delayed and depends on the consequences Ava observed.
- D. Observational learningCorrect. Observational learning is behavior change that results from observing others' behavior and its consequences, often performed later and in other contexts.
During onboarding at a long-term care facility, a new direct-care worker watches a video. In it, one employee uses a gait belt during a transfer and is praised by a supervisor. Another lifts a resident without a belt and receives a written warning. The next week, on the unit, the new worker uses a gait belt for every transfer. Which term best describes this change?
- A. Observational learning, because others' behavior and consequences were seenCorrect. The worker's behavior changed after watching others behave and seeing the consequences that followed (praise versus a warning). That is observational learning.
- B. Generalized imitation, because a model never specifically trained was copiedGeneralized imitation means imitating new models immediately, without specific training on those models. This response was delayed by a week, occurred with no model present, and depended on the consequences the worker observed.
- C. Imitation, because the worker's response matched the model's topographyImitation requires the response to follow the model closely in time, with the model as the controlling antecedent. The worker's behavior happened a week later, in a different setting, with no model present.
- D. Transfer of stimulus control from the video to the unit environmentTransfer of stimulus control involves prompts being faded so that natural SDs come to control a response. No prompting or fading occurred.