EDF 6226 Behavioral Assessments in Applied
Behavior Analysis | University of West Florida EDF
6226 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 |
Behavioral Assessment, Applied Behavior Analysis,
Functional Behavior Assessment, Functional
Analysis, Behavior Measurement, Target Behavior
Definition, Data Collection, Direct & Indirect
Assessment, ABC Recording, Scatterplots, Ethical
Assessment, BCBA Coursework, Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a
behavioral assessment in Applied Behavior Analysis?
A. To diagnose psychological disorders
B. To identify the function of behavior and develop effective interventions
C. To prescribe psychotropic medication
D. To determine an individual's IQ score
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify the function of behavior and develop
effective interventions
Rationale: In ABA, behavioral assessment is fundamentally aimed at identifying the
function (or purpose) of a behavior to inform the development of effective, function-
based interventions. It is not used for diagnosis (A), prescribing medication (C), or
measuring IQ (D).
Question 2: An operational definition must be both objective and clear. What
does it mean for a definition to be "objective"?
A. It is agreed upon by two or more observers
B. It refers to observable and measurable events
C. It is easy to understand by laypeople
D. It includes a list of non-examples
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It refers to observable and measurable events
Rationale: Objectivity in an operational definition means that the target behavior is
described in terms of observable and measurable physical events, not subjective feelings
or internal states. Inter-observer agreement (A) is a measure of reliability, not objectivity.
Question 3: In the context of behavioral assessment, what is a "topography-
based" definition?
A. A definition based on the effect of the behavior on the environment
B. A definition based on the form or shape of the behavior
C. A definition based on the intensity of the behavior
D. A definition based on the cause of the behavior
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. A definition based on the form or shape of the behavior
Rationale: Topography-based definitions describe the behavior by its physical form or
shape (how it looks). This is distinct from function-based definitions (A), which describe
behavior by its effect on the environment.
Question 4: When conducting a behavioral assessment, why is it crucial to
conduct a "functional assessment" before designing an intervention?
A. To ensure the intervention is easy to implement
B. To identify the reinforcement maintaining the behavior
C. To build rapport with the client
D. To determine the client's eligibility for services
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify the reinforcement maintaining the behavior
Rationale: A functional assessment is crucial because it identifies the environmental
events (reinforcement) that maintain a behavior. This understanding is essential for
developing interventions that are effective and address the root cause of the behavior.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a "stimulus" in a
behavioral assessment?
A. A student's feeling of frustration
B. A teacher's instruction to "sit down"
C. A child's act of hitting another child
D. A person's internal thought about a past event
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A teacher's instruction to "sit down"
Rationale: In ABA, a stimulus is any physical event or change in the environment that
can be detected by an organism. A teacher's instruction is an external environmental
event. Feelings (A), behaviors (C), and thoughts (D) are not stimuli; they are behaviors or
private events.
Question 6: What is the primary difference between a "direct" and "indirect"
assessment method?
A. Direct assessments are more time-consuming
B. Direct assessments involve observing the behavior in real-time
C. Indirect assessments are more objective
D. Direct assessments are only used in schools
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Direct assessments involve observing the behavior in
real-time
Rationale: Direct assessment involves observing and recording the target behavior as it
occurs. Indirect assessment relies on interviews, questionnaires, or rating scales from
others' recollections, making B the correct distinction.
,Question 7: An "A-B-C" descriptive assessment involves recording which three
terms?
A. Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
B. Assessment, Behavior, Conclusion
C. Action, Behavior, Cause
D. Activity, Baseline, Change
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
Rationale: The A-B-C model is the foundation of behavioral assessment, recording the
environmental events that precede the behavior (Antecedent), the behavior itself, and
the events that follow it (Consequence).
Question 8: A behavior analyst is conducting an assessment and notes that a
student engages in hand-flapping only in the presence of certain staff
members. This is best described as a:
A. Stimulus preference assessment
B. Descriptive assessment
C. Discriminative stimulus (SD) assessment
D. Structural assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Discriminative stimulus (SD) assessment
Rationale: By noting that the behavior occurs only in the presence of certain staff, the
analyst is identifying a discriminative stimulus (SD)—an antecedent stimulus that signals
the availability of reinforcement for that behavior. This is a key part of a functional
assessment.
Question 9: A baseline is a measure of behavior taken before an intervention is
implemented. What is its primary purpose?
A. To establish a standard for "normal" behavior
B. To provide a point of comparison for evaluating the intervention's effect
C. To determine the client's diagnosis
D. To ensure the staff are implementing the intervention correctly
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To provide a point of comparison for evaluating the
intervention's effect
Rationale: The baseline provides data on the behavior's current level before the
intervention begins. This serves as a control condition to which intervention data can be
compared to determine if the intervention caused a meaningful change.
Question 10: A parent reports that their child "often throws tantrums." For a
behavior analyst, this description is problematic because:
A. It is not culturally sensitive
B. It is not objective and measurable
, C. It is too long
D. It provides information about the function of the behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It is not objective and measurable
Rationale: Terms like "often" and "tantrums" are subjective and not clearly defined. For
an ABA assessment, the behavior must be defined in objective, measurable terms (e.g.,
"crying for more than 10 seconds while lying on the floor") to allow for reliable data
collection.
Question 11: What is a "Functional Behavioral Assessment" (FBA) legally
mandated to include in many educational settings?
A. A medical diagnosis from a physician
B. An IQ test and academic achievement scores
C. A systematic process to identify the function of behavior
D. A list of all medications the student is taking
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A systematic process to identify the function of
behavior
Rationale: Under IDEA, an FBA is required when a student's behavior impedes learning.
It is a systematic process for gathering information to develop a hypothesis about the
function of the behavior, which then informs a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).
Question 12: When observing a client's behavior, inter-observer agreement
(IOA) is essential. What does low IOA suggest?
A. The behavior is occurring at a high rate
B. The operational definition is poor or not being applied consistently
C. The intervention is working
D. The client is not motivated
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The operational definition is poor or not being applied
consistently
Rationale: Low IOA between observers indicates that they are not independently and
consistently identifying the same instances of the behavior. This is most often due to an
unclear or subjective operational definition.
Question 13: Which of the following is NOT a typical method for conducting a
functional assessment?
A. Functional Analysis
B. Descriptive Assessment
C. Indirect Assessment
D. Pharmacological Assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Pharmacological Assessment
Behavior Analysis | University of West Florida EDF
6226 Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 |
Behavioral Assessment, Applied Behavior Analysis,
Functional Behavior Assessment, Functional
Analysis, Behavior Measurement, Target Behavior
Definition, Data Collection, Direct & Indirect
Assessment, ABC Recording, Scatterplots, Ethical
Assessment, BCBA Coursework, Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a
behavioral assessment in Applied Behavior Analysis?
A. To diagnose psychological disorders
B. To identify the function of behavior and develop effective interventions
C. To prescribe psychotropic medication
D. To determine an individual's IQ score
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify the function of behavior and develop
effective interventions
Rationale: In ABA, behavioral assessment is fundamentally aimed at identifying the
function (or purpose) of a behavior to inform the development of effective, function-
based interventions. It is not used for diagnosis (A), prescribing medication (C), or
measuring IQ (D).
Question 2: An operational definition must be both objective and clear. What
does it mean for a definition to be "objective"?
A. It is agreed upon by two or more observers
B. It refers to observable and measurable events
C. It is easy to understand by laypeople
D. It includes a list of non-examples
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It refers to observable and measurable events
Rationale: Objectivity in an operational definition means that the target behavior is
described in terms of observable and measurable physical events, not subjective feelings
or internal states. Inter-observer agreement (A) is a measure of reliability, not objectivity.
Question 3: In the context of behavioral assessment, what is a "topography-
based" definition?
A. A definition based on the effect of the behavior on the environment
B. A definition based on the form or shape of the behavior
C. A definition based on the intensity of the behavior
D. A definition based on the cause of the behavior
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. A definition based on the form or shape of the behavior
Rationale: Topography-based definitions describe the behavior by its physical form or
shape (how it looks). This is distinct from function-based definitions (A), which describe
behavior by its effect on the environment.
Question 4: When conducting a behavioral assessment, why is it crucial to
conduct a "functional assessment" before designing an intervention?
A. To ensure the intervention is easy to implement
B. To identify the reinforcement maintaining the behavior
C. To build rapport with the client
D. To determine the client's eligibility for services
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify the reinforcement maintaining the behavior
Rationale: A functional assessment is crucial because it identifies the environmental
events (reinforcement) that maintain a behavior. This understanding is essential for
developing interventions that are effective and address the root cause of the behavior.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a "stimulus" in a
behavioral assessment?
A. A student's feeling of frustration
B. A teacher's instruction to "sit down"
C. A child's act of hitting another child
D. A person's internal thought about a past event
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A teacher's instruction to "sit down"
Rationale: In ABA, a stimulus is any physical event or change in the environment that
can be detected by an organism. A teacher's instruction is an external environmental
event. Feelings (A), behaviors (C), and thoughts (D) are not stimuli; they are behaviors or
private events.
Question 6: What is the primary difference between a "direct" and "indirect"
assessment method?
A. Direct assessments are more time-consuming
B. Direct assessments involve observing the behavior in real-time
C. Indirect assessments are more objective
D. Direct assessments are only used in schools
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Direct assessments involve observing the behavior in
real-time
Rationale: Direct assessment involves observing and recording the target behavior as it
occurs. Indirect assessment relies on interviews, questionnaires, or rating scales from
others' recollections, making B the correct distinction.
,Question 7: An "A-B-C" descriptive assessment involves recording which three
terms?
A. Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
B. Assessment, Behavior, Conclusion
C. Action, Behavior, Cause
D. Activity, Baseline, Change
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
Rationale: The A-B-C model is the foundation of behavioral assessment, recording the
environmental events that precede the behavior (Antecedent), the behavior itself, and
the events that follow it (Consequence).
Question 8: A behavior analyst is conducting an assessment and notes that a
student engages in hand-flapping only in the presence of certain staff
members. This is best described as a:
A. Stimulus preference assessment
B. Descriptive assessment
C. Discriminative stimulus (SD) assessment
D. Structural assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Discriminative stimulus (SD) assessment
Rationale: By noting that the behavior occurs only in the presence of certain staff, the
analyst is identifying a discriminative stimulus (SD)—an antecedent stimulus that signals
the availability of reinforcement for that behavior. This is a key part of a functional
assessment.
Question 9: A baseline is a measure of behavior taken before an intervention is
implemented. What is its primary purpose?
A. To establish a standard for "normal" behavior
B. To provide a point of comparison for evaluating the intervention's effect
C. To determine the client's diagnosis
D. To ensure the staff are implementing the intervention correctly
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To provide a point of comparison for evaluating the
intervention's effect
Rationale: The baseline provides data on the behavior's current level before the
intervention begins. This serves as a control condition to which intervention data can be
compared to determine if the intervention caused a meaningful change.
Question 10: A parent reports that their child "often throws tantrums." For a
behavior analyst, this description is problematic because:
A. It is not culturally sensitive
B. It is not objective and measurable
, C. It is too long
D. It provides information about the function of the behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It is not objective and measurable
Rationale: Terms like "often" and "tantrums" are subjective and not clearly defined. For
an ABA assessment, the behavior must be defined in objective, measurable terms (e.g.,
"crying for more than 10 seconds while lying on the floor") to allow for reliable data
collection.
Question 11: What is a "Functional Behavioral Assessment" (FBA) legally
mandated to include in many educational settings?
A. A medical diagnosis from a physician
B. An IQ test and academic achievement scores
C. A systematic process to identify the function of behavior
D. A list of all medications the student is taking
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A systematic process to identify the function of
behavior
Rationale: Under IDEA, an FBA is required when a student's behavior impedes learning.
It is a systematic process for gathering information to develop a hypothesis about the
function of the behavior, which then informs a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).
Question 12: When observing a client's behavior, inter-observer agreement
(IOA) is essential. What does low IOA suggest?
A. The behavior is occurring at a high rate
B. The operational definition is poor or not being applied consistently
C. The intervention is working
D. The client is not motivated
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The operational definition is poor or not being applied
consistently
Rationale: Low IOA between observers indicates that they are not independently and
consistently identifying the same instances of the behavior. This is most often due to an
unclear or subjective operational definition.
Question 13: Which of the following is NOT a typical method for conducting a
functional assessment?
A. Functional Analysis
B. Descriptive Assessment
C. Indirect Assessment
D. Pharmacological Assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Pharmacological Assessment
