BCBA EXAM 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DETAILED RATIONALES and EXAM
PREPARATION
4 Conditions of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-1.
Contingent Attention
2. Contingent Escape
3. Alone
4. Control (play)
Visually inspecting a graph of the results to see the conditions under which
high rates of bx occurred. - CORRECT ANSWER-How is Functional
Analysis Data Interpreted?
Interpreting Functional Analyses - CORRECT ANSWER-The
function rises to the top
Contingent Attention - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
positive reinforcement.
If problem bx occurs, a mild reprimand is given & attention is removed
again.
Contingent Escape - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
negative reinforcement.
,If the problem bx occurs, demands are removed & then started again after
some time has passed.
Alone Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
automatic reinforcement.
The client remains in a room without demands & with no social interaction.
If the challenging bx occurs, no consequence is given.
Undifferentiated Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER-This means that
problem bx is occurring across all conditions or is variable across
conditions.
Means 1 of 2 possibilities:
1. inconclusive results
2. automatic reinforcement
Play Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
automatic reinforcement & serves as a control condition.
Leisure materials are freely available while attention is given on avg every
30 seconds.
No consequence is delivered for the occurrence of problem bx with the
exception of withholding attention until the problem bx has ceased.
Tangible Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-Only use this when you
hypothesize access to tangibles to be the function of the bx.
Client is given access to highly preferred items &/or activities for a set
amount of time & then you tell the client to give back those items or you
remove the items to establish the MO. If the problem bx occurs, the
tangible item is returned for a set amount of time & then is removed again.
,Brief Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Conducting a
functional analysis in a short period of time.
Each condition is run for 10 mins.
Each condition, except alone, must include an MO & SD that signal
reinforcement is available.
Advantages of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER--Clear
demonstration of variables that relate to the problem bx.
-Standard to which all other forms of FBA are evaluated.
-Enables development of effective reinforcement-based tx.
Disadvantages of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER--May
temporarily strengthen the problem bx.
-May result in bx acquiring new functions.
-Acceptability is low.
-Difficult to use for serious, or low frequency bxs.
-If conducted in contrived setting, may not identify idiosyncratic variables.
-Requires time, effort & professional expertise.
Direct Descriptive FBA - CORRECT ANSWER-AKA: Descriptive
Assessment; Direct Assessment
Direct observation of problem bx under natural conditions.
Events are not arranged.
Provides data on occurrence of problem bx in the natural environment.
, Are approximations of functional analyses.
Involves BL data.
3 Data Collection Methods for Descriptive FBAs - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. ABC Continuous Recording
2. ABC Narrative Recording
3. Scatter Plot
ABC Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-AKA: Sequence
Analysis; A-B-C Descriptive Narrative Data
Data are collected ONLY when bx of interest are observed.
Advantages of Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-Less
consuming than continuous recording.
Disadvantages of Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-
Behavioral function not established.
May yield to false positives bc data is only collected when bx occurs.
The same antecedent & consequent events might be present when problem
bx is absent.
Reliability may be low.
Observers may report "inferred states" rather than events.
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DETAILED RATIONALES and EXAM
PREPARATION
4 Conditions of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-1.
Contingent Attention
2. Contingent Escape
3. Alone
4. Control (play)
Visually inspecting a graph of the results to see the conditions under which
high rates of bx occurred. - CORRECT ANSWER-How is Functional
Analysis Data Interpreted?
Interpreting Functional Analyses - CORRECT ANSWER-The
function rises to the top
Contingent Attention - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
positive reinforcement.
If problem bx occurs, a mild reprimand is given & attention is removed
again.
Contingent Escape - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
negative reinforcement.
,If the problem bx occurs, demands are removed & then started again after
some time has passed.
Alone Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
automatic reinforcement.
The client remains in a room without demands & with no social interaction.
If the challenging bx occurs, no consequence is given.
Undifferentiated Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER-This means that
problem bx is occurring across all conditions or is variable across
conditions.
Means 1 of 2 possibilities:
1. inconclusive results
2. automatic reinforcement
Play Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-This condition tests for
automatic reinforcement & serves as a control condition.
Leisure materials are freely available while attention is given on avg every
30 seconds.
No consequence is delivered for the occurrence of problem bx with the
exception of withholding attention until the problem bx has ceased.
Tangible Condition - CORRECT ANSWER-Only use this when you
hypothesize access to tangibles to be the function of the bx.
Client is given access to highly preferred items &/or activities for a set
amount of time & then you tell the client to give back those items or you
remove the items to establish the MO. If the problem bx occurs, the
tangible item is returned for a set amount of time & then is removed again.
,Brief Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Conducting a
functional analysis in a short period of time.
Each condition is run for 10 mins.
Each condition, except alone, must include an MO & SD that signal
reinforcement is available.
Advantages of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER--Clear
demonstration of variables that relate to the problem bx.
-Standard to which all other forms of FBA are evaluated.
-Enables development of effective reinforcement-based tx.
Disadvantages of Functional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER--May
temporarily strengthen the problem bx.
-May result in bx acquiring new functions.
-Acceptability is low.
-Difficult to use for serious, or low frequency bxs.
-If conducted in contrived setting, may not identify idiosyncratic variables.
-Requires time, effort & professional expertise.
Direct Descriptive FBA - CORRECT ANSWER-AKA: Descriptive
Assessment; Direct Assessment
Direct observation of problem bx under natural conditions.
Events are not arranged.
Provides data on occurrence of problem bx in the natural environment.
, Are approximations of functional analyses.
Involves BL data.
3 Data Collection Methods for Descriptive FBAs - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. ABC Continuous Recording
2. ABC Narrative Recording
3. Scatter Plot
ABC Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-AKA: Sequence
Analysis; A-B-C Descriptive Narrative Data
Data are collected ONLY when bx of interest are observed.
Advantages of Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-Less
consuming than continuous recording.
Disadvantages of Narrative Recording - CORRECT ANSWER-
Behavioral function not established.
May yield to false positives bc data is only collected when bx occurs.
The same antecedent & consequent events might be present when problem
bx is absent.
Reliability may be low.
Observers may report "inferred states" rather than events.
