Question 1

Which action would MOST likely increase the effectiveness of a punisher?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clearly explain the punishment consequences to the person whose behavior is targeted for reduction. 
B)  Discontinue reinforcement contingencies for the behavior targeted for reduction. 
C)  Ensure that the punisher fits the behavior targeted for reduction. 
D)  Remove attention for the behavior targeted for reduction.

Question 2

Unwanted side-effects associated with the use of an extinction procedure are MOST likely to appear:

Accepted Answer

A)  immediately after the extinction burst. 
B)  after the individual realizes that the procedure will be implemented consistently. 
C)  when ratio schedules are increased too rapidly. 
D)  shortly after the procedure is first implemented.

Question 3

If a client exhibits problem behaviors throughout the day and evenings regardless of what is going on in the environment and what activities he/she is participating in, which would be the BEST way to reduce the high frequency and increase latency?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use a differential reinforcement procedure for the absence of problem behaviors for an amount of time with a high magnitude reinforcer as a reward. 
B)  Use a high magnitude punishment procedure every time he/she exhibits the problem behavior. 
C)  Use a low magnitude punishment procedure every time he/she exhibits the problem behavior. 
D)  Use a fixed ratio reinforcer every time he/she exhibits appropriate behavior.

Question 4

A child diagnosed with autism engages in hand flapping almost continuously at home, day care and school. An intervention is devised to alleviate this challenging behavior. Which type of experimental design would be BEST?

Accepted Answer

A)  reversal 
B)  multi-element 
C)  withdrawal 
D)  multiple baseline

Question 5

Self-management strategies are:

Accepted Answer

A)  applying behavior analysis principles to change one's own behavior. 
B)  a method for capitalizing on an individual's will power. 
C)  primarily used for extinguishing one's own undesirable behaviors. 
D)  based on personalized systems of instruction.

Question 6

Which of the following measures would be the MOST appropriate for reporting head banging during each 5-minute interval of work?

Accepted Answer

A)  duration of head banging 
B)  latency from a request to the first response 
C)  rate of head banging 
D)  inter-response time

Question 7

According to the BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct, documenting professional and scientific work is necessary to:

Accepted Answer

A)  prevent litigation. 
B)  ensure accountability. 
C)  bill for third-party insurance payments. 
D)  maintain ongoing contractual relationships.

Question 8

Specifying the hand with which Linda eats, writes, and works is an example of.

Accepted Answer

A)  response function. 
B)  an operant class. 
C)  a stimulus class. 
D)  response topography.

Question 9

Jamie and Morgan have similar behavior challenges and similar daily schedules. A behavior analyst has spent extensive time and effort on developing and implementing Morgan's plan, which is proving to be very successful. How should the behavior analyst proceed with developing a treatment plan for Jamie?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the behaviors are topographically similar, implementing the plan designed for Morgan would be appropriate as it is the least restrictive option. 
B)  Complete a separate functional assessment and plan for Jamie. 
C)  Use the same plan for both, just ensure the ecological variables correspond to the student. 
D)  Do a separate functional analysis, but the same behavior supports can be applied to both students.

Question 10

Responses that are likely to allow access to new reinforcers or environments, produce generative behavior, and compete with inappropriate responses are called.

Accepted Answer

A)  behavioral cusps. 
B)  component behaviors. 
C)  prerequisite behaviors. 
D)  normalized behaviors.

Question 11

A teacher is tracking the performance of both math and spelling assignments for each of her 25 students. For feedback purposes, she wishes to display each student's percent correct for both areas using a line graph. What would be the MOST effective and efficient way to accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prepare a large graph for spelling and a similar one for math and place on the graphs the average data for the entire class in the two content areas. 
B)  Prepare a separate graph for each student and, using a unique symbol for each content area, record the data and connect the similar symbols to create data path lines. 
C)  Prepare a single large graph and display each student's data for the spelling and math areas using unique symbols for each student and for each content area. 
D)  Prepare two graphs for each student, one for spelling and one for math, because there is no appropriate method for reporting these two content areas together on the same graph.

Question 12

To teach Beth to wash her hands, staff trained Beth in all the steps identified in the task analysis in each session. They also introduced prompts in successive levels if Beth did not respond after a two-second waiting period. Which behavior chaining procedure was used in this program?

Accepted Answer

A)  backward 
B)  forward 
C)  global 
D)  total task

Question 13

The dependency between a response and the stimuli that precede and follow it is referred to as a

Accepted Answer

A)  behavior chain. 
B)  behavioral correlation. 
C)  contingency. 
D)  functional response class.

Question 14

When using time out in a classroom, which of the following should be considered?

Accepted Answer

A)  Escape behavior could be punished. 
B)  Positive reinforcement for the teacher is likely to contribute to increased duration of time out. 
C)  The technique is easily abused and needs to be monitored and supervised carefully. 
D)  For children who are relatively non-disruptive and for innocuous behavior time out is optimal.

Question 15

A mand is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a demand for attention. 
B)  a verbal operant which specifies its reinforcer. 
C)  verbal behavior elicited by a particular reinforcer. 
D)  a verbal response which changes the value of a reinforcer.

Question 16

A narrative recording is used to clearly determine all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  duration of a behavior. 
B)  function of a behavior. 
C)  presence of a particular behavior. 
D)  topography of undesirable behavior.

Question 17

An extinction procedure involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  withholding all reinforcement. 
B)  withholding the maintaining reinforcer after the occurrence of the target behavior. 
C)  removing all attention from the client when the target behavior occurs. 
D)  removing the SD for the target behavior.

Question 18

Which of the following scenarios involves a behavioral contingency?

Accepted Answer

A)  James ate dinner tonight and came down with indigestion. 
B)  While throwing a chair, Linda bit her tongue. 
C)  Susan hit her head on the wall, and a staff person asked her to stop. 
D)  When asked to do her tasks, Doris said, "I will not do that!"

Question 19

When setting criteria for behavior change, behavior analysts attempt to implement the simplest mode of intervention necessary to elicit the desired outcome. As such, the identified outcome criteria should be

Accepted Answer

A)  applied to ecological assessments to generalize skills. 
B)  developed prior to the identified intervention. 
C)  initially broad in focus with subsequent reduction to a target response. 
D)  measured independent of practice effects or reactivity.

Question 20

Disruptive behavior occurs at a moderate rate and consistent intensity level throughout the school day. How should the teacher collect data on the behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  Keep a running tally of the occurrences on the chalk board. 
B)  Record each occurrence using a portable counter. 
C)  Use a timer and record the number of minutes for each occurrence. 
D)  Document whether or not the behavior occurred every hour.

Exam 1: Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst