Plain-English definitions of terms that appear on the RBT exam, in the 3rd Edition Test Content Outline (effective January 1, 2026). Terms with a link have their own page with examples. Partial-interval, whole-interval and momentary time sampling are explained on the discontinuous measurement page.
- Antecedent: What happens right before a behavior.
- Behavior: Anything a person does that can be observed and measured.
- Consequence: What happens right after a behavior.
- ABC data: A record of the antecedent, behavior and consequence for an event.
- Reinforcement: A consequence that makes a behavior more likely in future. It can be positive (something added) or negative (something aversive removed).
- Punishment: A consequence that makes a behavior less likely in future.
- Response cost: A punishment procedure that removes some reinforcers after a behavior.
- Extinction: No longer providing the reinforcer that maintained a behavior.
- Extinction burst: A temporary increase in a behavior when extinction begins.
- Motivating operation: A change that makes a consequence more or less effective as a reinforcer and changes how likely related behavior is.
- Satiation: A reinforcer becomes less effective after the learner has had plenty of it.
- Deprivation: A reinforcer becomes more effective after the learner has gone without it.
- Discriminative stimulus (SD): A stimulus in the presence of which a response is reinforced.
- Stimulus generalization: Responding the same way to stimuli similar to the one used in training.
- Generalization: A skill occurs across people, places and materials beyond where it was taught.
- Maintenance: A skill continues over time after teaching ends.
- Prompt: Extra help that increases the chance of a correct response.
- Prompt fading: Gradually reducing prompts so the learner responds independently.
- Prompt dependence: The learner waits for a prompt instead of responding on their own.
- Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior.
- Chaining: Teaching a sequence of steps, using forward, backward or total task presentation.
- Discrete-trial teaching: Teaching in short trials with a cue, a response and a consequence.
- Naturalistic teaching: Teaching within everyday activities and routines.
- Reinforcement schedule: The rule for when a behavior is reinforced, such as CRF, FR, VR, FI or VI.
- Fixed interval (FI): Reinforcement for the first response after a set amount of time.
- Variable interval (VI): Reinforcement for the first response after a varying amount of time.
- Token economy: A system where tokens are earned and traded for backup reinforcers.
- Mand: A request, such as asking for a drink.
- Tact: Labeling or commenting on something in the environment.
- Echoic: Repeating what someone else says.
- Intraverbal: Responding to what someone else says with words that are not a copy, such as answering a question.
- DRA: Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior.
- DRI: Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior: reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior.
- DRO: Differential reinforcement of other behavior: reinforcement when the problem behavior does not occur for a set time.
- DRL: Differential reinforcement of low rates: reinforcement when behavior stays at or below a set rate.
- Function of behavior: The purpose the behavior serves, commonly attention, escape, tangibles or automatic reinforcement.
- Operational definition: A clear, observable and measurable description of a behavior.
- Frequency: A count of how many times a behavior occurs.
- Rate: Frequency divided by time, such as responses per minute.
- Duration: How long a behavior lasts.
- Latency: Time between a cue and the start of the response.
- Inter-response time (IRT): Time between the end of one response and the start of the next.
- Discontinuous measurement: Recording behavior for only part of the time, such as partial-interval, whole-interval and momentary time sampling.
- Permanent product: Measuring the lasting result of a behavior, such as a completed worksheet.
- Preference assessment: A way to identify items likely to work as reinforcers.
- Behavior intervention plan: A written plan from the supervisor that the RBT implements as written.
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