Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

What is the term for when a child learns to say "red" for both a red card and an orange card?

1. Stimulus discrimination

2. Stimulus generalization

3. Response generalization

4. Functional response class

The correct answer is: Stimulus generalization

The term for when a child learns to say "red" for both a red card and an orange card is stimulus generalization. This concept refers to the tendency for a response that has been reinforced in the presence of one stimulus to occur in the presence of different, yet similar, stimuli. In this scenario, the child learned to label not only the specific red card but also an orange card with the same term "red." This indicates that the child is applying the learned label to a broader range of stimuli based on shared characteristics, like color, rather than distinguishing between them. Such generalization is a normal aspect of language development and learning, allowing children to apply concepts and vocabulary flexibly across various contexts. Understanding this term helps in differentiating it from other concepts such as stimulus discrimination, where an individual learns to differentiate between different stimuli, or response generalization, which would refer to variations in responses for the same stimulus.