BCBA COMPLETE EXAM PREP |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
Jim always shares his toys with his friends. His teacher told the classroom aide that Jim has
a big heard since he always shares his toys. The aide says: "why does he share his toys?"
and the teacher replied: "Because he has a big heart". What does this best exemplify?
a: pragmatism
b: circular reasoning
c: explanatory fiction
d: parsimony
CORRECT ANSWER
A: pragmatism (practical, easy)
B: circular reasoning: talking in circles.
C: explanatory fiction (making something up)
D: parsimony: simplest explanation
B IS CORRECT
Question 2
Susan is a BCBA working with Joanne. Joanne is a nonverbal 9 year old with ASD. Joanne
keeps putting her hand on her mouth and crying. Susan suggests that mom take her to the
dentist to see if she could have a toothache. What is a toothache?
A: explanatory fiction
1
,B: a hypothetical construct
C: a functional relation
D: a private event
CORRECT ANSWER
A: making something up, not based in truth
B: a condition/construct that cannot be observable; mentalistic depression, anxiety)
C: when this happens, that happens
D: a behavior we can not observe (radical bx).
D IS CORRECT
Question 3
Joan is a BCBA who works in a preschool classroom for children with ASD & other. While at
the salon, she reads an article in a tabloid about how having a pet hamster can help
improve social skills for kids. She stops at the pet store on the way home and buys a
hamster for the classroom. She writes lesson plans for all her students to include daily
time with hamster. What attitude of science did Joan violate?
A: Philosophical doubt
B: Parsimony
C: Empiricism
D: Experimentation
CORRECT ANSWER
A: we're doubting findings of our outcomes. question
B: rule out simple explanation first
C: based in scientific evidence (data, research)
D: conducting an experiment; using an experimental design to prove that IV effects DV
2
, C IS CORRECT
Question 4
Which form of behavior science recognizes and seeks to understand the influence of
private events on behavior?
A: radical behaviorism
B: experimental analysis of behavior
C: ontogeny
D: methodological behaviorism
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Skinner's bx
B: conducted in lab (animals- research)
C: form of selectionism (we select behaviors over the lifetime based on consequences)
D: what preceded radical beh (can't observe it, isn't real), didn't seek to understand
private events
A IS CORRECT
Question 5
Jessica puts Lucky in his crate every time that she goes to yoga. One day, when Jessica
picked up her yoga mat, Lucky went into his crate without being asked. Jessica praised
Lucy and give him a treat. Now every night when Jessica picks up her yoga mat, Lucky goes
into his cage. What explains this?
A: Generality
B: Pragmatism
3
, C: Phylogeny
D: Ontogeny
CORRECT ANSWER
A: the findings of one setting can be generalized into another setting, stimulus, person
(replicate)
B: practical interventions
C: selectionism amongst the species (overtime for survival of species)
D: behaviors selected over lifetime due to consequences
D IS CORRECT
Question 6
Timothy is a BCBA who is going on vacation in Barbados. Carlos will see all of his kids while
he is away. Timothy made sure all of his plans were easy for Timothy to understand and
follow. Which characteristic of ABA does this best represent?
A: Effective
B: Generality
C: Conceptually systematic
D: Technological
CORRECT ANSWER
A: intervention works
B: intervention can be replicated/applied elsewhere
C: interventions follow principles of ABA
D: written in way that it is easy for anyone who is trained in ABA can read and
understand and implement
D IS CORRECT
4
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
Jim always shares his toys with his friends. His teacher told the classroom aide that Jim has
a big heard since he always shares his toys. The aide says: "why does he share his toys?"
and the teacher replied: "Because he has a big heart". What does this best exemplify?
a: pragmatism
b: circular reasoning
c: explanatory fiction
d: parsimony
CORRECT ANSWER
A: pragmatism (practical, easy)
B: circular reasoning: talking in circles.
C: explanatory fiction (making something up)
D: parsimony: simplest explanation
B IS CORRECT
Question 2
Susan is a BCBA working with Joanne. Joanne is a nonverbal 9 year old with ASD. Joanne
keeps putting her hand on her mouth and crying. Susan suggests that mom take her to the
dentist to see if she could have a toothache. What is a toothache?
A: explanatory fiction
1
,B: a hypothetical construct
C: a functional relation
D: a private event
CORRECT ANSWER
A: making something up, not based in truth
B: a condition/construct that cannot be observable; mentalistic depression, anxiety)
C: when this happens, that happens
D: a behavior we can not observe (radical bx).
D IS CORRECT
Question 3
Joan is a BCBA who works in a preschool classroom for children with ASD & other. While at
the salon, she reads an article in a tabloid about how having a pet hamster can help
improve social skills for kids. She stops at the pet store on the way home and buys a
hamster for the classroom. She writes lesson plans for all her students to include daily
time with hamster. What attitude of science did Joan violate?
A: Philosophical doubt
B: Parsimony
C: Empiricism
D: Experimentation
CORRECT ANSWER
A: we're doubting findings of our outcomes. question
B: rule out simple explanation first
C: based in scientific evidence (data, research)
D: conducting an experiment; using an experimental design to prove that IV effects DV
2
, C IS CORRECT
Question 4
Which form of behavior science recognizes and seeks to understand the influence of
private events on behavior?
A: radical behaviorism
B: experimental analysis of behavior
C: ontogeny
D: methodological behaviorism
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Skinner's bx
B: conducted in lab (animals- research)
C: form of selectionism (we select behaviors over the lifetime based on consequences)
D: what preceded radical beh (can't observe it, isn't real), didn't seek to understand
private events
A IS CORRECT
Question 5
Jessica puts Lucky in his crate every time that she goes to yoga. One day, when Jessica
picked up her yoga mat, Lucky went into his crate without being asked. Jessica praised
Lucy and give him a treat. Now every night when Jessica picks up her yoga mat, Lucky goes
into his cage. What explains this?
A: Generality
B: Pragmatism
3
, C: Phylogeny
D: Ontogeny
CORRECT ANSWER
A: the findings of one setting can be generalized into another setting, stimulus, person
(replicate)
B: practical interventions
C: selectionism amongst the species (overtime for survival of species)
D: behaviors selected over lifetime due to consequences
D IS CORRECT
Question 6
Timothy is a BCBA who is going on vacation in Barbados. Carlos will see all of his kids while
he is away. Timothy made sure all of his plans were easy for Timothy to understand and
follow. Which characteristic of ABA does this best represent?
A: Effective
B: Generality
C: Conceptually systematic
D: Technological
CORRECT ANSWER
A: intervention works
B: intervention can be replicated/applied elsewhere
C: interventions follow principles of ABA
D: written in way that it is easy for anyone who is trained in ABA can read and
understand and implement
D IS CORRECT
4
