BCBA Exam Practice Questions with
Complete Solutions18
Dependent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-The group's reinforcer is dependent on the behavior
of an individual or small group of individuals.
Independent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-All members of a group are offered a contingency,
but only the individual's who meet the contingency earn the reinforcement.
Interdependent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-In order for the group to earn reinforcement, all
of the individuals in a group must meet the criterion of the established contingency.
Response Prompts - ANSWERS-Act on the response itself, NOT on the antecedent stimuli (e.g.
verbal, model, physical prompt).
Stimulus Prompts - ANSWERS-Act on the antecedent stimuli, NOT on the response (e.g.
movement, position, redundancy).
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which
behavior cannot be emitted simultaneously with the challenging behavior (e.g. the behavior
being reinforced and the behavior on extinction cannot occur at the same time).
Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which one
reinforces occurrence of behavior that provides a desirable alternative to the problem behavior;
alternate and challenging behavior are not incompatible.
,Differential Negative Reinforcement of Incompatible/Alternate Behavior (DNRI/DNRA) -
ANSWERS-Terms used to refer to differential reinforcement procedures that specifically involve
escape as the reinforcer.
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which
reinforcement is contingent on the absence of the challenging behavior.
Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Responding (DRH) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement for emitting behaviors that are at or above a pre-
established rate; helps to increase behaviors that are too infrequent.
Differential Reinforcement of Diminishing Rates of Responding (DRD) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement when the number of responses in a specified time
period is less than, or equal to, a prescribed limit; helps to decrease behaviors that occur too
frequently, but not eliminate it entirely.
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement only if the behavior occurs following a specific
period of time during which it did not occur or since the last time it occurred; by increasing IRT,
you are lowering rate of responding.
7 dimensions of ABA- Behavioral - ANSWERS-Observable events.
7 dimensions of ABA- Applied - ANSWERS-Improves socially significant behaviors.
7 dimensions of ABA- Technological - ANSWERS-Defines procedures clearly and in detail so they
are replicable.
7 dimensions of ABA- Conceptually Systematic - ANSWERS-All procedures used should be tied to
the basic principles of behavior analysis from which they were derived.
, 7 dimensions of ABA- Analytic - ANSWERS-A functional relationship is demonstrated.
7 dimensions of ABA- Generality - ANSWERS-Extends behavior change across time, settings, or
other behaviors.
7 dimensions of ABA- Effective - ANSWERS-Improves behavior in a practical manner, not simply
making a change that is statistically significant.
Mentalism - ANSWERS-Approach to explaining behavior that assumes an inner dimension exists
and causes behavior (Freud)
Hypothetical Constructs - ANSWERS-Presumed, but unobserved, entities (e.g. free will)
Explanatory Fictions - ANSWERS-Fictitious variables that are another name for the observed
behavior; contribute nothing to an understanding of the variables responsible for maintaining
behavior (e.g. "knows", "wants").
Circular Responding - ANSWERS-The cause and effect are both inferred from the same
information (e.g. he cried because he felt sad).
Behaviorism - ANSWERS-The philosophy of the science of behavior; environmental (not
mentalistic) explanation of behavior.
4 branches of behavior analysis - ANSWERS-1. Conceptual analysis of behavior (behaviorism):
examines philosophical, theoretical, historical, and methodological issues.
2. ABA: technology for improving behavior.
3. Behavior service delivery: professional practice, consultation, etc.
4. Experimental analysis of behavior: research on basic processes and principles; labs.
Complete Solutions18
Dependent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-The group's reinforcer is dependent on the behavior
of an individual or small group of individuals.
Independent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-All members of a group are offered a contingency,
but only the individual's who meet the contingency earn the reinforcement.
Interdependent Group Contingency - ANSWERS-In order for the group to earn reinforcement, all
of the individuals in a group must meet the criterion of the established contingency.
Response Prompts - ANSWERS-Act on the response itself, NOT on the antecedent stimuli (e.g.
verbal, model, physical prompt).
Stimulus Prompts - ANSWERS-Act on the antecedent stimuli, NOT on the response (e.g.
movement, position, redundancy).
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which
behavior cannot be emitted simultaneously with the challenging behavior (e.g. the behavior
being reinforced and the behavior on extinction cannot occur at the same time).
Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which one
reinforces occurrence of behavior that provides a desirable alternative to the problem behavior;
alternate and challenging behavior are not incompatible.
,Differential Negative Reinforcement of Incompatible/Alternate Behavior (DNRI/DNRA) -
ANSWERS-Terms used to refer to differential reinforcement procedures that specifically involve
escape as the reinforcer.
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) - ANSWERS-A procedure in which
reinforcement is contingent on the absence of the challenging behavior.
Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Responding (DRH) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement for emitting behaviors that are at or above a pre-
established rate; helps to increase behaviors that are too infrequent.
Differential Reinforcement of Diminishing Rates of Responding (DRD) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement when the number of responses in a specified time
period is less than, or equal to, a prescribed limit; helps to decrease behaviors that occur too
frequently, but not eliminate it entirely.
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL) - ANSWERS-A schedule of
reinforcement that provides reinforcement only if the behavior occurs following a specific
period of time during which it did not occur or since the last time it occurred; by increasing IRT,
you are lowering rate of responding.
7 dimensions of ABA- Behavioral - ANSWERS-Observable events.
7 dimensions of ABA- Applied - ANSWERS-Improves socially significant behaviors.
7 dimensions of ABA- Technological - ANSWERS-Defines procedures clearly and in detail so they
are replicable.
7 dimensions of ABA- Conceptually Systematic - ANSWERS-All procedures used should be tied to
the basic principles of behavior analysis from which they were derived.
, 7 dimensions of ABA- Analytic - ANSWERS-A functional relationship is demonstrated.
7 dimensions of ABA- Generality - ANSWERS-Extends behavior change across time, settings, or
other behaviors.
7 dimensions of ABA- Effective - ANSWERS-Improves behavior in a practical manner, not simply
making a change that is statistically significant.
Mentalism - ANSWERS-Approach to explaining behavior that assumes an inner dimension exists
and causes behavior (Freud)
Hypothetical Constructs - ANSWERS-Presumed, but unobserved, entities (e.g. free will)
Explanatory Fictions - ANSWERS-Fictitious variables that are another name for the observed
behavior; contribute nothing to an understanding of the variables responsible for maintaining
behavior (e.g. "knows", "wants").
Circular Responding - ANSWERS-The cause and effect are both inferred from the same
information (e.g. he cried because he felt sad).
Behaviorism - ANSWERS-The philosophy of the science of behavior; environmental (not
mentalistic) explanation of behavior.
4 branches of behavior analysis - ANSWERS-1. Conceptual analysis of behavior (behaviorism):
examines philosophical, theoretical, historical, and methodological issues.
2. ABA: technology for improving behavior.
3. Behavior service delivery: professional practice, consultation, etc.
4. Experimental analysis of behavior: research on basic processes and principles; labs.
