Concepts and Principles
Rule-governed behavior and observational learning
Distinguish rule-governed from contingency-shaped behavior and identify imitation or observational learning when behavior changes after models or described contingencies.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Identify behavior controlled by stated rules.
- 2Distinguish direct contingency shaping from instruction following.
- 3Recognize imitation or observational learning in teaching examples.
Common misconceptions
- Assuming all instruction-following is contingency-shaped.
- Calling any similar behavior imitation without a model relation.
- Ignoring whether contact with consequences occurred.
Distractor patterns
- Choose reinforcement history when the stem emphasizes a rule.
- Choose imitation when no modeled response is present.
- Ignore delayed or described contingencies.
Related terms
rule-governed behaviorcontingency-shaped behaviorimitationobservational learning