SPE 563 FOUNDATIONAL
TERMINOLOGY EXAM STUDY GUIDE.
Reinforcement Trap - ANS A short term contingency that reinforces maladaptive behavior is
pitted against a long-term contingency that provides large reinforcers for good behavior.
Example: short term reinforcement of smoking is chosen over the long term reinforcement of
good health.
Ontogeny - ANS How the environment changes an individual over their lifetime
Phylogeny - ANS The evolutionary history of individuals originating from the contingencies
that operate during the environmental history of a species
Selectionism - ANS All forms of life evolve as a result of selection with respect to function.
The notion that "behaviors evolve and persist through natural selection". Behaviors occur for a
purpose (ie survival, reinforcement, cultural norms)
Phylogenetic Selectionism - ANS The evolution of a genetically related group of organisms. A
behavior with phylogenetic origins is one that was acquired by the species during the course of
its evolution as a result of contingencies of survival.
Ontogenetic Selectionism - ANS Changes in an organism resulting from interaction with the
environment; changes based on operant conditioning.
Cultural Selectionism - ANS Passing behavior from one person to another by imitation and
modeling; involves operant conditioning and may refer to individuals or groups.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Experiment - ANS A controlled comparison of a phenomenon of interest (dependent
variable) under two or more different conditions (independent variable).
Experimentation in ABA - ANS Single Subject Design/Single Case Designs. Includes at least
one dependent variable and one independent variable. Unlike "experimental designs" (which
use statistical measures to identify experimental control), single subject designs use a single
individual as both the control and experimental group. Single Case design uses a form of
experimental reasoning (baseline logic) to demonstrate the effects of the independent variable
on the behavior of individual subjects. Baseline logic: prediction, verification, replication
Functional Relation - ANS Experimental control is also known as "Functional Relation" as
determined by visual analysis of graphed data. Functional relation is indicated when there is a
clear change in behavior between the baseline phase and the experimental phase. Functional
relation is only determined when there is replication
Experimental Analysis of Behavior - ANS A natural science approach to the study of behavior
as a subject matter. Analysis or study of Operant Behavior.
Independent Variable - ANS The variable that is systematically manipulated in an experiment
to see whether changes in the independent variable produce reliable changes in the dependent
variable.
Dependent Variable - ANS The variable measured to determine if it changes as a result of
manipulations of the independent variable.The behavior being studied; the behavior being
changed.
Replication - ANS Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of
effects and increase internal validity.
Internal validity - ANS The extent to which the intervention is responsible for any changes in
behavior. (Think of degree of confidence)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
TERMINOLOGY EXAM STUDY GUIDE.
Reinforcement Trap - ANS A short term contingency that reinforces maladaptive behavior is
pitted against a long-term contingency that provides large reinforcers for good behavior.
Example: short term reinforcement of smoking is chosen over the long term reinforcement of
good health.
Ontogeny - ANS How the environment changes an individual over their lifetime
Phylogeny - ANS The evolutionary history of individuals originating from the contingencies
that operate during the environmental history of a species
Selectionism - ANS All forms of life evolve as a result of selection with respect to function.
The notion that "behaviors evolve and persist through natural selection". Behaviors occur for a
purpose (ie survival, reinforcement, cultural norms)
Phylogenetic Selectionism - ANS The evolution of a genetically related group of organisms. A
behavior with phylogenetic origins is one that was acquired by the species during the course of
its evolution as a result of contingencies of survival.
Ontogenetic Selectionism - ANS Changes in an organism resulting from interaction with the
environment; changes based on operant conditioning.
Cultural Selectionism - ANS Passing behavior from one person to another by imitation and
modeling; involves operant conditioning and may refer to individuals or groups.
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
, Experiment - ANS A controlled comparison of a phenomenon of interest (dependent
variable) under two or more different conditions (independent variable).
Experimentation in ABA - ANS Single Subject Design/Single Case Designs. Includes at least
one dependent variable and one independent variable. Unlike "experimental designs" (which
use statistical measures to identify experimental control), single subject designs use a single
individual as both the control and experimental group. Single Case design uses a form of
experimental reasoning (baseline logic) to demonstrate the effects of the independent variable
on the behavior of individual subjects. Baseline logic: prediction, verification, replication
Functional Relation - ANS Experimental control is also known as "Functional Relation" as
determined by visual analysis of graphed data. Functional relation is indicated when there is a
clear change in behavior between the baseline phase and the experimental phase. Functional
relation is only determined when there is replication
Experimental Analysis of Behavior - ANS A natural science approach to the study of behavior
as a subject matter. Analysis or study of Operant Behavior.
Independent Variable - ANS The variable that is systematically manipulated in an experiment
to see whether changes in the independent variable produce reliable changes in the dependent
variable.
Dependent Variable - ANS The variable measured to determine if it changes as a result of
manipulations of the independent variable.The behavior being studied; the behavior being
changed.
Replication - ANS Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of
effects and increase internal validity.
Internal validity - ANS The extent to which the intervention is responsible for any changes in
behavior. (Think of degree of confidence)
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
