BCBA Exam Prep Questions with Complete Solutions What are the common attitudes and assumptions of science? - Correct Answer determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, and philosophic doubt Explain the difference between EAB and ABA - Correct Answer EAB involves basic research, reporting only on basic behavior experiments whose primary goal is to discover and clarify the basic principles of behavior and determine functional relations between behavior and controlling variables.ABA involves applied research and has the goal of creating a technology for improving socially significant behavior and to determine functional relations between socially significant behavior and controlling variables.Describe the methodological features of EAB - Correct Answer rate of response is the most common dependent variable; repeated or continuous measurement is made of carefully defined response classes; within-subject experimental comparisons are used instead of group designs; visual analysis of graphed data is preferred over statistical inference; a description of functional relations is valued over formal theory testing.
- functions/phases of behavioral assessment - Correct Answer a) screening, b) defining and quantifying
- main methods for obtaining assessment information - Correct Answer interviews, checklists, tests, and
problems or goals, c) pinpointing the target behavior(s), d) monitoring progress, e) following up
direct observation What is an ecological assessment? - Correct Answer gathering a large amount of information about the person and the environments in which that person lives and works; this type of assessment is neither necessary nor warranted for most ABA programs What is reactivity? - Correct Answer the effects of an assessment procedure on the behavior being assessed, most likely during direct observation when the individual is aware they are being observed 1 / 3
What questions should be asked to determine the social significance and habilitative (adjustment, competence) value of a potential target behavior? - Correct Answer Will the behavior be reinforced in the person's daily life?Is the behavior a necessary prerequisite for a useful skill?Will the behavior increase the person's access to environments in which other important behaviors can be learned or used?Will the behavior predispose others to interact with the person in a more appropriate and supportive manner?Is the behavior a cusp or pivotal behavior?Is the behavior age appropriate?Does the behavior represent the actual problem or is it only indirectly related?What are the two basic effects that a stimulus change has on behavior? - Correct Answer 1. an immediate but temporary effect of increasing or decreasing the current frequency of the behavior (ex: a sudden downpour is likely to immediately increase the frequency of all behavior that has resulted in the person successfully escaping the rain in the past)
- a delayed but relatively permanent effect in terms of frequency of that type of behavior in the future
(ex: if the individual decided not to take an umbrella the downpour will decrease the frequency of that behavior on cloudy days in the future) Explain higher order respondent conditioning - Correct Answer the process when a neutral stimulus is paired with a conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned reflex Describe respondent extinction - Correct Answer when a conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus until the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response Define and describe the difference between ontogeny and phylogeny - Correct Answer The former is the history of development of an individual organism during its lifetime. The latter is the history of the natural evolution of a species.Explain the multiple ways that consequences affect behavior (operant conditioning) - Correct Answer Consequences can affect only future behavior.Consequences select response classes, not individual responses. 2 / 3
Immediate consequences are most effective.Consequences select any behavior that precedes them.Operant conditioning occurs automatically.Name the three dimensional quantities of behavior. - Correct Answer repeatability (count), temporal extent (duration), and temporal locus (when behavior occurs) Which type of interval recording overestimates behavior and which underestimates behavior. - Correct Answer Whole-interval recording usually underestimates behavior and partial interval recording overestimates behavior.What behaviors are most appropriate for whole interval recording? - Correct Answer continuous behaviors (i.e. cooperative play) or behaviors that occur at high rates that are difficult to differentiate from one occurrence to another (i.e. rocking or humming) Which behaviors would be best for partial interval recording? - Correct Answer lower frequency behaviors with more distinct beginning/ending (if the behavior occurs very frequency this method will misrepresent the occurrence of the behavior).When is momentary time sampling an effective measurement method? - Correct Answer when measuring continuous activity behaviors (i.e. task engagement). NOT recommended for low frequency or short-duration behaviors What is a PLACHECK? - Correct Answer a version of momentary time sampling in which the observer records whether each individual in a group is engaged in the target behavior.When is a behavior suitable for measurement via permanent product? - Correct Answer 1. Each occurrence of the target behavior must produce the same permanent product.
- The permanent product can only be produced by the target behavior.
- / 3
What are some threats to measurement validity? - Correct Answer Indirect measurement (i.e. using response to a questionnaire to determine the frequency of behavior) Measuring the wrong dimension of the behavior