EDF 6226 Behavioral Assessments in Applied
Behavior Analysis | University of West Florida EDF
6226 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 | ABA
Behavioral Assessment Review, Functional Behavior
Assessment, Functional Analysis, ABC Data
Collection, Target Behavior Definition,
Measurement Systems, Assessment Methodology,
Ethical Considerations, Behavior Intervention
Planning, BCBA & QBA Coursework, Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: In the context of behavioral assessment, which term describes the
repeated measurement of a target behavior across conditions to evaluate the
effects of an independent variable?
A. Interobserver agreement
B. Procedural integrity
C. Baseline logic
D. Social validity
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Baseline logic
Rationale: Baseline logic involves the systematic measurement of a target behavior
under baseline conditions and then again under intervention conditions to determine if
the independent variable had an effect. It relies on prediction, verification, and
replication.
Question 2: A behavior analyst is observing a student's out-of-seat behavior
and records the occurrence only if the student's entire body is outside the
chair for at least 3 seconds. This operational definition best exemplifies which
of the following?
A. Topographical definition
B. Functional definition
C. Broad definition
D. Subjective definition
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Topographical definition
Rationale: A topographical definition describes the behavior by its physical form or
movement, such as the specific body movements required to be counted as out-of-seat.
The 3-second criterion is a measurable, physical parameter.
Question 3: Which of the following is the PRIMARY ethical concern when
conducting functional behavior assessments in a public school setting?
A. Cost of materials
B. Time required for assessment
,C. Obtaining informed consent from guardians
D. The number of staff required for implementation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Obtaining informed consent from guardians
Rationale: Ethically, behavior analysts must prioritize the rights and welfare of the client.
In a public school, informed consent from the parent or legal guardian is a primary and
mandatory ethical obligation before the initiation of any formal behavioral assessment.
Question 4: When using a 10-second momentary time sampling procedure to
record a behavior, the observer should mark the behavior as occurring if:
A. The behavior is occurring for the entire 10-second interval.
B. The behavior is occurring at any point during the 10-second interval.
C. The behavior occurs at the very end of the 10-second interval.
D. The behavior is occurring at the precise moment the interval ends.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The behavior is occurring at the precise moment the
interval ends.
Rationale: Momentary time sampling involves recording whether a behavior is occurring
at the exact moment the interval ends. This is distinct from whole or partial interval
recording which tracks behavior throughout the interval.
Question 5: An observer collects data on the number of times a client asks for
a break. This type of measurement is referred to as:
A. Duration
B. Latency
C. Frequency
D. Interresponse time
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Frequency
Rationale: Frequency is a measurement dimension that involves counting the number of
occurrences of a behavior within a given observation period. "Number of times" is the
defining characteristic of frequency.
Question 6: To determine the "rate" of a behavior, a behavior analyst must
divide the frequency of the behavior by:
A. The number of occurrences
B. The total number of intervals
C. The duration of the observation period
D. The number of staff present
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The duration of the observation period
Rationale: Rate is calculated by taking the total count (frequency) of a behavior and
dividing it by the total time of the observation. This provides a measure of response
speed, often expressed as responses per minute or per hour.
,Question 7: Which single-subject experimental design is characterized by the
repeated alternation of two or more conditions in rapid succession?
A. Multiple baseline design
B. Reversal design
C. Changing criterion design
D. Alternating treatments design
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Alternating treatments design
Rationale: The alternating treatments design (ATD), also known as a multielement
design, involves the rapid and random (or counterbalanced) alternation of two or more
independent variables to compare their effects on the target behavior.
Question 8: During a functional assessment interview, the caregiver reports
that the child engages in tantrums "only when asked to do homework." This
information is an example of a(n):
A. Hypothesized function
B. Operational definition
C. Antecedent stimulus
D. Summary statement
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Antecedent stimulus
Rationale: An antecedent is a stimulus or event that occurs immediately before a
behavior. In this case, the request to do homework precedes the tantrum, making it a
relevant antecedent variable to consider during the assessment.
Question 9: The procedure in which a behavior analyst presents a series of
demands to a client to assess the function of problem behavior is known as:
A. Functional analysis
B. Preference assessment
C. Demand assessment
D. Naturalistic observation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Functional analysis
Rationale: While "demand assessment" is not standard terminology, a functional analysis
is the specific procedure in which the analyst systematically manipulates environmental
events (e.g., presenting demands) and measures the behavior to determine its function.
This is a core component of an FA.
Question 10: In a functional analysis, the "alone" condition is designed to test
which potential function of a behavior?
A. Access to attention
B. Access to tangible items
C. Automatic reinforcement
D. Escape from tasks
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. Automatic reinforcement
Rationale: In the alone condition of a functional analysis, the individual is placed in a
room with no social interaction or tangible items. This condition allows the analyst to
observe if the behavior persists in the absence of social contingencies, suggesting the
behavior is automatically reinforced.
Question 11: Which of the following represents an example of a behavioral
cusp?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Speaking in full sentences
C. Eating with a fork
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
Rationale: A behavioral cusp is a behavior change that has consequences beyond the
initial change itself, exposing the organism to new contingencies and environments. All
three examples open new learning opportunities and environmental interactions.
Question 12: When conducting a stimulus preference assessment, a behavior
analyst is most interested in identifying:
A. The frequency of target behaviors
B. Items or activities that function as reinforcers
C. The function of problem behaviors
D. The mastery of academic skills
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Items or activities that function as reinforcers
Rationale: Stimulus preference assessments are conducted to identify stimuli that an
individual prefers. These preferred stimuli are then used to potentially serve as
reinforcers to increase desired behaviors.
Question 13: An operational definition of "aggression" states it includes
"hitting, kicking, or biting with sufficient force to leave a mark or cause audible
sound." This definition is problematic because it is:
A. Too broad
B. Too vague
C. Lacking functional context
D. Not measurable
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Lacking functional context
Rationale: The definition focuses solely on the topography (the physical form) of the
behavior. It does not address the function (e.g., social attention, escape) or the context in
which it occurs, making it a purely topographic definition.
Behavior Analysis | University of West Florida EDF
6226 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 | ABA
Behavioral Assessment Review, Functional Behavior
Assessment, Functional Analysis, ABC Data
Collection, Target Behavior Definition,
Measurement Systems, Assessment Methodology,
Ethical Considerations, Behavior Intervention
Planning, BCBA & QBA Coursework, Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: In the context of behavioral assessment, which term describes the
repeated measurement of a target behavior across conditions to evaluate the
effects of an independent variable?
A. Interobserver agreement
B. Procedural integrity
C. Baseline logic
D. Social validity
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Baseline logic
Rationale: Baseline logic involves the systematic measurement of a target behavior
under baseline conditions and then again under intervention conditions to determine if
the independent variable had an effect. It relies on prediction, verification, and
replication.
Question 2: A behavior analyst is observing a student's out-of-seat behavior
and records the occurrence only if the student's entire body is outside the
chair for at least 3 seconds. This operational definition best exemplifies which
of the following?
A. Topographical definition
B. Functional definition
C. Broad definition
D. Subjective definition
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Topographical definition
Rationale: A topographical definition describes the behavior by its physical form or
movement, such as the specific body movements required to be counted as out-of-seat.
The 3-second criterion is a measurable, physical parameter.
Question 3: Which of the following is the PRIMARY ethical concern when
conducting functional behavior assessments in a public school setting?
A. Cost of materials
B. Time required for assessment
,C. Obtaining informed consent from guardians
D. The number of staff required for implementation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Obtaining informed consent from guardians
Rationale: Ethically, behavior analysts must prioritize the rights and welfare of the client.
In a public school, informed consent from the parent or legal guardian is a primary and
mandatory ethical obligation before the initiation of any formal behavioral assessment.
Question 4: When using a 10-second momentary time sampling procedure to
record a behavior, the observer should mark the behavior as occurring if:
A. The behavior is occurring for the entire 10-second interval.
B. The behavior is occurring at any point during the 10-second interval.
C. The behavior occurs at the very end of the 10-second interval.
D. The behavior is occurring at the precise moment the interval ends.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The behavior is occurring at the precise moment the
interval ends.
Rationale: Momentary time sampling involves recording whether a behavior is occurring
at the exact moment the interval ends. This is distinct from whole or partial interval
recording which tracks behavior throughout the interval.
Question 5: An observer collects data on the number of times a client asks for
a break. This type of measurement is referred to as:
A. Duration
B. Latency
C. Frequency
D. Interresponse time
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Frequency
Rationale: Frequency is a measurement dimension that involves counting the number of
occurrences of a behavior within a given observation period. "Number of times" is the
defining characteristic of frequency.
Question 6: To determine the "rate" of a behavior, a behavior analyst must
divide the frequency of the behavior by:
A. The number of occurrences
B. The total number of intervals
C. The duration of the observation period
D. The number of staff present
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The duration of the observation period
Rationale: Rate is calculated by taking the total count (frequency) of a behavior and
dividing it by the total time of the observation. This provides a measure of response
speed, often expressed as responses per minute or per hour.
,Question 7: Which single-subject experimental design is characterized by the
repeated alternation of two or more conditions in rapid succession?
A. Multiple baseline design
B. Reversal design
C. Changing criterion design
D. Alternating treatments design
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Alternating treatments design
Rationale: The alternating treatments design (ATD), also known as a multielement
design, involves the rapid and random (or counterbalanced) alternation of two or more
independent variables to compare their effects on the target behavior.
Question 8: During a functional assessment interview, the caregiver reports
that the child engages in tantrums "only when asked to do homework." This
information is an example of a(n):
A. Hypothesized function
B. Operational definition
C. Antecedent stimulus
D. Summary statement
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Antecedent stimulus
Rationale: An antecedent is a stimulus or event that occurs immediately before a
behavior. In this case, the request to do homework precedes the tantrum, making it a
relevant antecedent variable to consider during the assessment.
Question 9: The procedure in which a behavior analyst presents a series of
demands to a client to assess the function of problem behavior is known as:
A. Functional analysis
B. Preference assessment
C. Demand assessment
D. Naturalistic observation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Functional analysis
Rationale: While "demand assessment" is not standard terminology, a functional analysis
is the specific procedure in which the analyst systematically manipulates environmental
events (e.g., presenting demands) and measures the behavior to determine its function.
This is a core component of an FA.
Question 10: In a functional analysis, the "alone" condition is designed to test
which potential function of a behavior?
A. Access to attention
B. Access to tangible items
C. Automatic reinforcement
D. Escape from tasks
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. Automatic reinforcement
Rationale: In the alone condition of a functional analysis, the individual is placed in a
room with no social interaction or tangible items. This condition allows the analyst to
observe if the behavior persists in the absence of social contingencies, suggesting the
behavior is automatically reinforced.
Question 11: Which of the following represents an example of a behavioral
cusp?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Speaking in full sentences
C. Eating with a fork
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
Rationale: A behavioral cusp is a behavior change that has consequences beyond the
initial change itself, exposing the organism to new contingencies and environments. All
three examples open new learning opportunities and environmental interactions.
Question 12: When conducting a stimulus preference assessment, a behavior
analyst is most interested in identifying:
A. The frequency of target behaviors
B. Items or activities that function as reinforcers
C. The function of problem behaviors
D. The mastery of academic skills
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Items or activities that function as reinforcers
Rationale: Stimulus preference assessments are conducted to identify stimuli that an
individual prefers. These preferred stimuli are then used to potentially serve as
reinforcers to increase desired behaviors.
Question 13: An operational definition of "aggression" states it includes
"hitting, kicking, or biting with sufficient force to leave a mark or cause audible
sound." This definition is problematic because it is:
A. Too broad
B. Too vague
C. Lacking functional context
D. Not measurable
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Lacking functional context
Rationale: The definition focuses solely on the topography (the physical form) of the
behavior. It does not address the function (e.g., social attention, escape) or the context in
which it occurs, making it a purely topographic definition.
