EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA FINAL
EXAM 2025
Although most of you are preparing for the BACB certification exam, please know that
the material is based on the work of ________ and his science and philosophy of
human behavior. There are occasions where we may spend time on items that are no
longer specifically required for the exam, but we feel are required to be an excellent
behavior scientist. -Correct Answer ✔B.F. Skinner
The ________ is the only standardized form of data measurement in our science. In this
course, you will be charting your own behavior - specifically your daily study of ABA
terminology. -Correct Answer ✔Standard Celeration Chart (SCC)
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is the single governing body for
professionals in the field of _______. The BACB was established in 1998 to provide
certification to professionals in an effort to establish minimum criteria to be a reactionary
in the field. -Correct Answer ✔Applied Behavior Analysis
The standard celeration chart is the only standardized form of data ______ in our
science. -Correct Answer ✔measurement
The word _______ refers to a systematic approach for seeking and organizing
knowledge about the natural world. -Correct Answer ✔systematic approach
Scientific investigations can yield information regarding the three levels of
understanding, which are _____ ,_______ , and _______. -Correct Answer
✔description, prediction, control.
What is the purpose for this systematic approach? -Correct Answer ✔-To achieve a
thorough understanding of the phenomena under study.
-To seek to discover the real truths.
--so no bias by groups or organizations
--or by the scientists themselves.
_______ studies produce a collection of facts about the observed events that can be
quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts.
(Can also suggest hypothesis, questions, or additional research ideas.) -Correct Answer
✔Description
The highest level of scientific understanding is ________ . In this regard, we specifically
manipulate one event (the independent variable) in order to produce a reliable change
in another event (the dependent variable), and the change in the dependent variable is
not likely due to other extraneous factors (known as confounding variables). This
EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA
,EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA
relationship is referred to as a _______. -Correct Answer ✔Control; functional
relationship
The _________ is the event in which we observe change. -Correct Answer ✔dependent
variable
What is a functional relationship? -Correct Answer ✔It exists when a well-controlled
experiment demonstrates that a specific change in one event (the dependent variable)
is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event (the independent
variable), and that the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of
other extraneous factors (confounding variables).
The _______ is the event in which we manipulate. -Correct Answer ✔independent
variable
The "behavior" we wish to change in behavior analysis is known as the _________. (2) -
Correct Answer ✔dependent variable (2)
The "intervention" we employ in behavior analysis is known as the ________. (2) -
Correct Answer ✔independent variable (2)
When we apply an intervention, we are manipulating the _______ . The change we see
in the target behavior is known as the ________. -Correct Answer ✔independent
variable; dependent variable
A _______ is demonstrated when we ________ the independent variable and see a
____ in the dependent variable and that change is not likely due to______. -Correct
Answer ✔functional relationship; manipulate; change; extraneous variables
______ is the assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which
phenomena occur as a result of other events. _______ is the objective observation of
the phenomena of interest. _______ is the repeating of experiments to determine the
reliability and usefulness of the findings. -Correct Answer ✔Determinism; Empiricism;
Replication
What is Determinism? -Correct Answer ✔-The idea that scientists follow that the
universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of
other events.
-Events do not occur at will.
-Events are related in systematic ways.
What is Accidentalism? -Correct Answer ✔The idea that events occur by accident or
without cause.
EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA
, EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA
What is Fatalism? -Correct Answer ✔the belief that all events are predetermined and
therefore inevitable. The scientific discovery of functional relations and use of these
discoveries to improve things would be impossible.
Can Accidentalism and Fatalism occur concurrently with Determinism? -Correct Answer
✔NO. They are actually antithetical (opposite) to determinism.
What is Empiricism? -Correct Answer ✔The practice of object observation of the
phenomena or interest. The basis on which all scientific knowledge is built from.
_______ is ensuring we consider the simplest, most logical explanation of a
phenomenon before more complex explanations are considered. -Correct Answer
✔Parsimony
What is parsimony? -Correct Answer ✔all simple explanations are ruled out before more
complex or abstract explanations are considered.
Why is parsimony important? -Correct Answer ✔Parsimonious interpretations help
scientists assess and fit new findings within the field's existing knowledge base. A fully
parsimonious interpretation consists only of those elements that are necessary and
sufficient to explain the phenomenon at hand.
In other words, given a choice between two competing and compelling explanations for
the same phenomenon, one should shave off extraneous variables and choose the
simplest explanation, the one that requires the fewest assumptions.
What is an experiment? -Correct Answer ✔A controlled comparison of some measure of
the phenomena of interest (DV) under two or more different conditions in which only one
factor at a time (IV) differs from one condition to another.
What is replication? -Correct Answer ✔The exact repeating of scientific experiments.
Why is replication important? -Correct Answer ✔It is the primary method with which
scientist determine the reliability and usefulness of their findings and discover their
mistakes. Replication is the primary reason science is self-correcting Enterprise that
ultimately gets it right (not the infallibility or inherent honesty of scientists).
(in ABA replication to be done with the exact same experiment, or reintroducing the
same condition more than one time to see if you get the same results each time. This is
essentially using someone as their own control group doing a single subject design we
can get that replication using the same person over and over again)
What is philosophic doubt? -Correct Answer ✔-The Continuous questioning of the
truthfulness and the validity of all scientific theory and knowledge.
-Using scientific evidence before implementing a new practice and monitoring the
effectiveness of the practice after its implementation.
EDF 6225 FOUNDATIONS OF ABA