Essential Reading
Read the following materials to deepen your understanding of behavioural principles and the idea of “selection by consequences”:
- Thomas & Waltz and Stephen Hayes: An Introduction to Principles of Behavior (PDF) — Pages 1-14 are essential; the remainder is optional. Later pages address verbal behaviour and relational framing, which we’ll cover later or are beyond this course’s scope.
- Biglan, A.: Selection by Consequences (PDF) — Read pages 1-12 as essential reading. The final 8 pages are optional for those interested in broader applications to prevention science.
Essential Video
Watch this overview by Veronica Howard, which explains stimulus control within the context of the four-term contingency. This video helps consolidate your understanding of the principles discussed throughout this module:
Optional Video
This optional video provides real-world examples of discriminative stimuli (SDs) and motivating operations (MOs):
Conversation Exercise
Complete the Conversation Exercise with FRED, our AI-powered chatbot to reinforce your understanding of the principles you’ve learned so far.
Click for instructions on accessing and using FRED
Click the conversation icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, or open FRED directly here.
For guidance on using FRED effectively, read our instructions here.
Reflection Exercise
After completing the readings, video(s), and conversation exercise, reflect on your learning using the prompts below. Your reflection should be:
- Between 100 and 500 words (about 5–7 sentences minimum)
- Written in your preferred language
- Expressed in your own words — do not copy text from chatbots, websites, or this course
You’ll receive an email copy of your reflection to aid your RBT exam preparation.
Click to view Reflection Prompts & Example
Reflection Prompts (use one or more):
- Summarise Key Concepts: What key ideas did you learn about the principles of behaviour and selection by consequences?
- Define in Your Own Words: How would you explain the four-term contingency to someone new to ABA?
- Importance and Connections: Why is understanding motivating operations and setting events critical for understanding behaviour?
- Practical Applications: How might these concepts influence your approach to working with clients?
- Insights: Did anything about these readings or videos change your view of behaviour or how it is influenced?
Example Reflection:
I found the idea of the four-term contingency particularly useful because it adds more depth to the standard three-term contingency by including motivating operations. I hadn’t fully appreciated before how temporary changes like hunger or tiredness can so significantly affect whether a behaviour occurs. This is really important when thinking about why a client might sometimes respond well to an SD and sometimes not. I also found the selection by consequences perspective really helpful—it frames behaviour not just in the moment but as something shaped over time. This has given me a better understanding of why generalisation and maintenance of behaviours can be challenging without proper planning.
When you’re ready, submit your reflection below:
You need to be registered and logged in to take this quiz. Log in or Register