ABA Glossary

By Dana Meller, M.A., BCBA
Edited by Tyra Sellers, J.D., Ph.D., BCBA-D
ABA Glossary by Dana Meller, M.A., BCBA, edited by Tyra Sellers, J.D., Ph.D., BCBA-D

Tact

An elementary verbal operant in which a speaker names non-verbal SDs they have direct contact with through any of their sense modes and private experiences that has a history of generalized conditioned reinforcement.

5th Edition Task List

B-14  Define and provide examples of the verbal operants.

6th Edition TCO

B.19 Identify and distinguish among verbal operants.

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    An elementary verbal operant in which a speaker reads words that are presented in writing (i.e., text) that has a history of generalized conditioned reinforcement.
  • Transcription
    An elementary verbal operant in which a speaker converts spoken or written words into identical written words that has a history of generalized conditioned reinforcement.
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    An elementary verbal operant in which a speaker differentially responds to the verbal behavior of others that has a history of generalized conditioned reinforcement.
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    A concept in verbal behavior wherein the controlling stimulus (verbal SD) and the verbal behavior have the same topographical sense mode/form.
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    An elementary verbal operant in which the speaker vocally repeats the vocal verbal behavior of another speaker that has a history of generalized conditioned reinforcement.
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    Any verbal behavior that shares formal similarity and point-to-point correspondence with its controlling stimulus (e.g., echoic).
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    Any verbal behavior that does not share formal similarity with its controlling stimulus but does share point-to-point correspondence (e.g., transcription).
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    A secondary verbal operant that modifies one’s own primary verbal behavior and is controlled by an MO in that it commands the listener to take some sort of action.
  • Autoclitic tact
    A secondary verbal operant that modifies one’s own primary verbal behavior and is controlled by some nonverbal aspect of the main response.
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