Which term describes a contingency in which a response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus?

• A. Avoidance Contingency
• B. Baseline Logic
• C. Baseline
• D. Behavior

Answer: (A)

This item focuses on how a behavior can prevent an aversive stimulus from occurring. An avoidance contingency is when a response is performed in the presence of a signal to prevent the onset of an aversive stimulus, with the outcome reinforcing the behavior because the unpleasant event is avoided. For example, if turning off a loud alarm before it sounds prevents the noise, the action is maintained by negative reinforcement because it stops the aversive stimulus from appearing. The other terms describe phases or reasoning used in research design (baselines and baseline logic) or the behavior itself, not a contingency where the response prevents the stimulus from being presented.