The extent to which a learner emits untrained responses that are functionally equivalent to the trained target behavior.

• A. Response Generalization
• B. Replication
• C. Response Latency
• D. Repertoire

Answer: (A)

Response generalization is when a learner emits untrained responses that serve the same function as the trained target behavior. In practice, you teach a behavior in one form, and then the learner demonstrates other, untrained topographies that still produce the same reinforcing outcome in similar situations. For example, if you teach a child to ask for a break with a specific verbal prompt and, later, the child uses a different phrase, a gesture, or a picture card that also gets a break, that spread of functionally equivalent responses shows generalization beyond the exact form you trained.

This differs from replication, which would require exactly the same form of the response you taught. It’s not about how quickly the response happens (response latency) or the learner’s overall collection of skills (repertoire). Understanding this helps ensure that skills are useful across contexts and not limited to the exact trained topography.