Domain A: Philosophical & Foundational Concepts
Which assumption of behavior analysis states that behavior is lawful and predictable?
Determinism
Which measurement system overestimates behavior?
Partial interval recording
Which design demonstrates functional relation through replication?
Multiple baseline or reversal design.
Reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as problem behavior is:
DRI
Delivering reinforcement after every correct response is which schedule?
FR1 (continuous reinforcement)
A BCBA states that private events are behavior subject to the same principles as public behavior. This reflects what position?
Radical behaviorism
A behavior occurs at high rates with short duration. Which measurement is most appropriate?
Frequency or rate
In a reversal design, behavior fails to return to baseline during withdrawal. The most likely explanation is
Irreversibility or learning effect
A behavior maintained by escape is treated by providing breaks for task completion. This is an example of:
FCT
A learner responds correctly only in the therapy room. This indicates failure of:
Generalization.
A practitioner avoids inferring traits like “lazy” and instead identifies observable contingencies. This reflects
Selectionism / Environmental explanation of behavior
Two observers agree on 18 intervals and disagree on 2. Calculate IOA using total interval IOA
18 / 20 = 90%
Which threat to internal validity occurs when measurement procedures change mid-study?
Answer: Instrumentation.
Instrumentation
Which must occur before implementing punishment according to ethical guidelines?
Reinforcement-based procedures attempted and documented.
Using a time delay before providing a prompt is designed to:
Transfer stimulus control
Which dimension of ABA ensures procedures are described with enough detail to replicate?
Technological
Which visual analysis feature reflects direction of data path?
Trend
A researcher introduces intervention sequentially across participants after stable baselines. What design?
Multiple baseline across participants
Extinction burst is best defined as:
Temporary increase in frequency, intensity, or variability when reinforcement is removed.
In discrete trial training, the SD signals what?
Availability of reinforcement contingent on correct response.
A supervisor prioritizes socially significant goals and client assent over rapid skill acquisition. Which dimension is most emphasized?
Applied
A graph shows decreasing overlap between baseline and intervention phases across tiers. What does this suggest?
Increasing evidence of experimental control
A behavior analyst gradually increases academic expectations and behavior changes only when criteria change. What design is this?
Changing criterion design
A BCBA implements DRO but problem behavior increases. Most likely error?
Reinforcing absence without teaching alternative behavior OR interval too long.
A learner independently labels items during discrete trial training but fails to demonstrate the skill during play with peers or at home. Data show high accuracy in the teaching setting only.
What is the MOST appropriate next step?
Program for generalization across people, settings, and stimuli.