TEXAS ASSISTANT BEHAVIOR ANALYST
CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
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1. A behavior analyst is conducting an initial assessment for a 6-year-
old child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Which action is
the most appropriate first step before implementing any
intervention?
A. Begin extinction procedures immediately
B. Conduct a comprehensive assessment including interviews,
observations, and record review
C. Implement a token economy
D. Introduce response cost
Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment phase is the cornerstone of Applied Behavior
Analysis (ABA). Before selecting interventions, the assistant behavior
analyst must gather comprehensive information through caregiver
interviews, direct observations, record reviews, and functional behavior
assessments to identify behavioral functions and establish baseline
performance. Beginning intervention without assessment risks
implementing ineffective or inappropriate procedures.
2. During discrete trial training (DTT), the therapist presents a picture
of a dog and asks, "What is this?" The learner correctly responds,
"Dog." The therapist immediately delivers praise and a preferred
edible. This consequence is an example of:
1
,A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive punishment
C. Positive reinforcement
D. Extinction
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive reinforcement occurs when a desirable stimulus is
added following a behavior, increasing the future likelihood of that
behavior. Praise and edible items function as reinforcers because they
are presented after the correct response.
3. A child engages in head banging whenever difficult academic tasks
are presented. The behavior stops when tasks are removed. The
most likely maintaining variable is:
A. Automatic reinforcement
B. Escape from demands
C. Access to tangibles
D. Social attention
Answer: B
Rationale: The removal of academic demands following head banging
suggests negative reinforcement through escape. The behavior allows
the learner to avoid or terminate difficult tasks, strengthening the
behavior.
4. Which measurement system records whether a behavior occurred
at any point during an observation interval?
A. Whole interval recording
2
,B. Partial interval recording
C. Frequency recording
D. Permanent product recording
Answer: B
Rationale: Partial interval recording scores an interval if the behavior
occurs at any time during that interval. It often overestimates behaviors
that occur at high rates.
5. Which dimension of ABA emphasizes that interventions are
derived from scientific principles of behavior?
A. Technological
B. Conceptually systematic
C. Effective
D. Applied
Answer: B
Rationale: Conceptually systematic means procedures are based on
established behavioral principles such as reinforcement, extinction,
motivating operations, and stimulus control rather than arbitrary
techniques.
6. Which schedule of reinforcement typically produces high, steady
rates of responding with minimal post-reinforcement pause?
A. Fixed ratio
B. Fixed interval
C. Variable ratio
3
, D. Variable interval
Answer: C
Rationale: Variable ratio schedules reinforce after an unpredictable
number of responses, producing persistent and high response rates.
Gambling is a classic example.
7. During an FBA, the therapist notices aggression consistently
follows denial of preferred toys. What should be done next?
A. Immediately conclude attention is the maintaining variable
B. Conduct hypothesis testing or functional analysis when appropriate
C. Ignore the pattern
D. Increase punishment
Answer: B
Rationale: Observational data generate hypotheses, but functional
analyses or additional assessments strengthen confidence in identifying
behavioral function before intervention.
8. Which is an example of an antecedent intervention?
A. Response cost
B. Functional communication training
C. High-probability request sequence
D. Time-out
Answer: C
4
CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A behavior analyst is conducting an initial assessment for a 6-year-
old child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Which action is
the most appropriate first step before implementing any
intervention?
A. Begin extinction procedures immediately
B. Conduct a comprehensive assessment including interviews,
observations, and record review
C. Implement a token economy
D. Introduce response cost
Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment phase is the cornerstone of Applied Behavior
Analysis (ABA). Before selecting interventions, the assistant behavior
analyst must gather comprehensive information through caregiver
interviews, direct observations, record reviews, and functional behavior
assessments to identify behavioral functions and establish baseline
performance. Beginning intervention without assessment risks
implementing ineffective or inappropriate procedures.
2. During discrete trial training (DTT), the therapist presents a picture
of a dog and asks, "What is this?" The learner correctly responds,
"Dog." The therapist immediately delivers praise and a preferred
edible. This consequence is an example of:
1
,A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive punishment
C. Positive reinforcement
D. Extinction
Answer: C
Rationale: Positive reinforcement occurs when a desirable stimulus is
added following a behavior, increasing the future likelihood of that
behavior. Praise and edible items function as reinforcers because they
are presented after the correct response.
3. A child engages in head banging whenever difficult academic tasks
are presented. The behavior stops when tasks are removed. The
most likely maintaining variable is:
A. Automatic reinforcement
B. Escape from demands
C. Access to tangibles
D. Social attention
Answer: B
Rationale: The removal of academic demands following head banging
suggests negative reinforcement through escape. The behavior allows
the learner to avoid or terminate difficult tasks, strengthening the
behavior.
4. Which measurement system records whether a behavior occurred
at any point during an observation interval?
A. Whole interval recording
2
,B. Partial interval recording
C. Frequency recording
D. Permanent product recording
Answer: B
Rationale: Partial interval recording scores an interval if the behavior
occurs at any time during that interval. It often overestimates behaviors
that occur at high rates.
5. Which dimension of ABA emphasizes that interventions are
derived from scientific principles of behavior?
A. Technological
B. Conceptually systematic
C. Effective
D. Applied
Answer: B
Rationale: Conceptually systematic means procedures are based on
established behavioral principles such as reinforcement, extinction,
motivating operations, and stimulus control rather than arbitrary
techniques.
6. Which schedule of reinforcement typically produces high, steady
rates of responding with minimal post-reinforcement pause?
A. Fixed ratio
B. Fixed interval
C. Variable ratio
3
, D. Variable interval
Answer: C
Rationale: Variable ratio schedules reinforce after an unpredictable
number of responses, producing persistent and high response rates.
Gambling is a classic example.
7. During an FBA, the therapist notices aggression consistently
follows denial of preferred toys. What should be done next?
A. Immediately conclude attention is the maintaining variable
B. Conduct hypothesis testing or functional analysis when appropriate
C. Ignore the pattern
D. Increase punishment
Answer: B
Rationale: Observational data generate hypotheses, but functional
analyses or additional assessments strengthen confidence in identifying
behavioral function before intervention.
8. Which is an example of an antecedent intervention?
A. Response cost
B. Functional communication training
C. High-probability request sequence
D. Time-out
Answer: C
4
