A-1
Which goal of behavior analysis involves observing and reporting events accurately and objectively?
a. Prediction
b. Control
c. Description
d. Empiricism
Description
Description is about objectively recording and describing behavior as it occurs.
Which philosophical assumption of behavior analysis states that behavior is lawful and influenced by environmental events?
a. Parsimony
b. Determinism
c. Empiricism
d. Pragmatism
Determinism
Behavior occurs due to cause-and-effect relationships in the environment; nothing is random.
From a radical behavioral perspective, emotions and feelings are
a. defined no differently than other behaviors
b. a special class of respondent behavior that needs physiological measurement
c. mediating internal stimuli that directly lead to observable behaviors
d. not observable and should be left out of a scientific analysis of behavior
defined no differently than other behaviors
From a radical behaviorist perspective (as developed by B.F. Skinner), emotions and feelings are behaviors — just like talking, walking, or writing.
Radical behaviorism includes private events (like thinking, feeling, or emotional responding) within the scope of behavior analysis, rather than excluding them.
These private events are:
Behaviors that occur within the skin,
Subject to the same environmental principles as public (observable) behaviors,
Analyzed functionally, meaning we still look at their antecedents and consequences.
So, emotions and feelings are not “special” or “mediating”; they are simply private forms of behavior that follow the same laws of behavior as overt actions.
Which field focuses on understanding the basic principles of behavior under controlled laboratory conditions, often with non-human subjects?
a. Applied behavior analysis
b. Experimental analysis of behavior
c. Professional practice guided by behavior analysis
d. Radical behaviorism
Experimental analysis of behavior
EAB studies fundamental behavioral principles, often in lab settings, to understand how behavior works.
Which dimension of ABA refers to procedures being clearly and precisely described so they can be replicated?
a. Applied
b. Technological
c. Analytic
d. Conceptually systematic
Technological
Procedures must be detailed enough for others to replicate.
A BCBA notes that a child engages in tantrums more often when demands are placed and less when attention is provided. Which goal of behavior analysis does this illustrate?
a. Prediction
b. Control
c. Description
d. Pragmatism
Prediction
Prediction is identifying relationships between events so future behavior can be anticipated.
The probability of behavior occurring is a function of its consequences. This best exemplifies which of the philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis?
a. parsimony
b. empiricism
c. pragmatism
d. selectionism
Selectionism
“The probability of behavior occurring is a function of its consequences” = selectionism,
because it describes how environmental consequences select which behaviors continue to occur.
Which philosophical assumption includes private events, such as thoughts and feelings, as part of behavior?
a. Radical behaviorism
b. Methodological behaviorism
c. Pragmatism
d. Determinism
Radical behaviorism
Radical behaviorism includes private events as behaviors that can be analyzed functionally.
Which area applies principles of behavior to improve socially significant behaviors in real-world settings?
a. Experimental analysis of behavior
b. Behaviorism
c. Applied behavior analysis
d. Professional practice guided by behavior analysis
Applied behavior analysis
ABA applies behavior principles to produce meaningful change in socially important behaviors.
A functional analysis of self-injurious behavior produces inconsistent results across conditions. Which dimension of ABA may be compromised?
a. Analytic
b. Technological
c. Conceptually systematic
d. Effective
Technological
Unclear or inconsistent procedures reduce replicability.
When a behavior analyst designs an intervention that successfully decreases aggression, which goal of behavior analysis is demonstrated?
a. Description
b. Prediction
c. Control
d. Parsimony
Control
Control is achieving reliable and socially significant behavior change.
A BCBA develops an intervention for an adult who engages in eye poking, emphasizing the need to be flexible to achieve the desired outcome of a positive and meaningful change in this person's life. This practical approach to problem-solving exemplifies the philosophical concept of
a. parismony
b. empiricism
c. determinism
d. pragmatism
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical assumption of behavior analysis that emphasizes:
Focusing on practical, useful outcomes
Flexibility in how to achieve socially significant behavior change
Evaluating interventions by whether they produce meaningful results in real life
In this scenario:
The BCBA develops an intervention for eye poking.
The BCBA is flexible in approach.
The goal is positive and meaningful change for the individual.
This directly reflects pragmatism, because the emphasis is on what works in practice to improve quality of life, rather than on theory alone.
Why the other options are incorrect:
a. Parsimony:
→ Choosing the simplest explanation for a phenomenon. Not the focus here.
b. Empiricism:
→ Relies on objective observation and measurement. While relevant, the scenario emphasizes practicality, not measurement.
c. Determinism:
→ Assumes behavior is lawful and predictable. The scenario emphasizes flexible problem-solving, not the predictability of behavior.
From a radical behaviorist perspective, private events such as thoughts and feelings are:
a. Causes of behavior that must be inferred
b. Special mental processes separate from behavior
c. Behaviors subject to the same principles as overt behavior
d. Ignored in behavior analysis
Behaviors subject to the same principles as overt behavior
Radical behaviorism treats private events as behavior occurring “within the skin” that can be analyzed functionally.
In the clinic, a BCBA is confronted with a problem behavior that is related to a rare disorder, for which there is no empirical literature to guide evidence-based practices. The BCBA and a colleague conduct applied research to help find an effective treatment. The research being conducted is an example of
a. applied behavior analysis
b. practices guided by behavior analysis
c. experimental analysis of behavior
d. radical behaviorism
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is defined as the science in which principles of behavior are systematically applied to improve socially significant behaviors, and experimentation is used to identify variables responsible for behavior change.
In this scenario:
The BCBA is dealing with a problem behavior that is socially significant (clinically important).
There is no existing literature, so they are conducting applied research to identify effective interventions.
This involves systematically applying behavior-analytic principles and collecting data to guide treatment.
This is the essence of ABA: taking principles of behavior and experimentally applying them to solve real-world problems.
Why the other options are incorrect:
b. Practices guided by behavior analysis:
→ Refers to interventions that are informed by behavioral principles but are not systematically evaluated or experimentally verified.
c. Experimental analysis of behavior (EAB):
→ Involves basic research in controlled laboratory settings to understand fundamental principles of behavior. This scenario is applied, not basic.
d. Radical behaviorism:
→ This is a philosophical perspective that underlies behavior analysis, not the actual research being conducted.
A BCBA conducted a functional analysis (FA) to identify the maintaining variables of a child's self-injury. The results came back undifferentiated (i.e., unclear). The inability to determine the function of the behavior during FA represents a problem with which dimension of ABA?
a. behavioral
b. applied
c. technological
d. analytic
Technological
The technological dimension of ABA means that procedures are described clearly and precisely enough so that another person can replicate them and achieve the same results.
If the FA results are undifferentiated, it suggests that the procedures or implementation were not clear, systematic, or consistent enough for the assessment to yield interpretable data.
In other words, something in the design, description, or execution of the FA may have been technologically weak — not fully clear, precise, or replicable.
A researcher collects data on how often students raise their hands in class without trying to change it. Which goal is being addressed?
a. Control
b. Description
c. Prediction
d. Pragmatism
Description
The researcher is documenting behavior systematically without manipulating variables.
Which of the following is an example of selectionism?
a. Using reinforcement to increase hand-raising in class
b. Measuring behavior frequency using a stopwatch
c. Applying the simplest explanation for behavior
d. Using trial-and-error to teach swimming
Using reinforcement to increase hand-raising in class
Selectionism refers to behavior being “selected” by its consequences.
Which statement aligns with radical behaviorism?
a. Thoughts and feelings are unobservable and irrelevant to science
b. Thoughts and feelings are behaviors influenced by environmental variables
c. Mental states are internal causes of behavior
d. Behavior cannot be predicted because private events are mysterious
Thoughts and feelings are behaviors influenced by environmental variables
Radical behaviorism incorporates private events into the analysis of behavior.
A psychologist observes and measures a child’s tantrum behavior in a classroom and implements interventions to reduce it, based on reinforcement principles. This is an example of:
a. EAB
b. ABA
c. Behaviorism
d. PGSB
ABA
This is applying behavioral principles to socially significant behavior in a natural setting.
Which assumption emphasizes the usefulness of an intervention in producing socially significant change rather than abstract theory?
a. Parsimony
b. Empiricism
c. Pragmatism
d. Selectionism
Pragmatism
Interventions are judged by their practical outcomes and meaningful impact.
A BCBA observes that a child is more likely to request a break after being denied access to a preferred item. This allows the BCBA to anticipate future behavior. Which goal is this?
a. Description
b. Prediction
c. Control
d. Selectionism
Prediction
Prediction involves determining how behavior is likely to occur under certain conditions.
Which philosophical assumption emphasizes reliance on observation, measurement, and experimentation?
a. Parsimony
b. Empiricism
c. Pragmatism
d. Selectionism
Empiricism
ABA is grounded in objective, observable, and measurable phenomena.
A child whispers to themselves “I can’t do this” while attempting a challenging puzzle, and then pushes the puzzle aside. From a radical behaviorist perspective, how should the BCBA conceptualize the whispered statement?
a. As an internal cause of the behavior that cannot be measured
b. As a private verbal behavior influenced by environmental contingencies
c. As a mental mediator that directly triggers the puzzle-pushing
d. As irrelevant and outside the scope of behavior analysis
As a private verbal behavior influenced by environmental contingencies
Radical behaviorism views private events — such as thoughts, feelings, or self-talk — as behaviors occurring “within the skin”. These behaviors are subject to the same principles of reinforcement, punishment, and environmental influence as overt behaviors. The child’s whispered statement is therefore analyzable and can be shaped or reinforced like any other behavior.
Which practice uses evidence-based procedures derived from behavioral principles but may not be directly applied as formal ABA?
a. Experimental analysis of behavior
b. Professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis
c. Behaviorism
d. Radical behaviorism
Professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis (PGSB)
PGSB includes interventions influenced by behavior science but not formal ABA programs.
A behavior analyst observes, measures, and records behavior objectively. Which philosophical assumption does this demonstrate?
a. Empiricism
b. Determinism
c. Selectionism
d. Radical behaviorism
Empiricism
Objective observation and measurement are central to scientific study in ABA.