Applied Behavior Analysis 3rd Edition Ch. 1 Exam
Practice Questions with 100% Correct Answers
ABA - Answer Applied Behavior Analysis - science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior
are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to
identify the variables responsible for behavior change
behaviorism - Answer the philosophy of the science of behavior, basic research is the province of
experimental analysis of behavior (EAB), and developing a technology for improving behavior is the
concern for ABA
Determinism - Answer science is predicated on the assumption of determinism - scientists presume that
the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events
Empiricism - Answer scientific knowledge is built upon empiricism - the practice of objective observation
and measurement of the phenomena of interest
experiment - Answer is a controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (DV)
under two or more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (IV) differs from one factor to
another
Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) - Answer a natural science approach to the study of behavior as
a subject matter in its own right founded by B.F.Skinner
explanatory fiction - Answer a fictitious or hypothetical variable that often takes form of another name
for the observed phenomenon it claims to explain and contributes nothing to a functional account or
understanding of the phenomenon, such as "intelligence" or "cognitive awareness" as explanations for
why an organism puches the lever when the light is on and food is available but does not push the lever
when the light is off and no food is available.
functional analysis - Answer denotes demonstrations of functional relations between environmental
variables and behavior
, functional relation - Answer this exists when when a well controlled experiment demonstrates that a
specific change in one event is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event, and that
the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be result of other extraneous factors
hypothetical construct - Answer presumed but unobserved entities that could not be manipulated in an
experiment
mentalism - Answer An approach to explaining behavior that assumes that a mental, or "inner,"
dimension exists that differs from a behavioral dimension and that phenomena in this dimension either
directly cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior, if not all.
methodological behaviorism - Answer A philosophical position that views behavioral events that cannot
be publicly observed as outside the realm of science.
parsimony - Answer Requires that all simple, logical explanations for the phenomena of interest be ruled
out experimentally or conceptually before more complex or abstract explanations are considered
philosophic doubt - Answer Requires the scientist to continually question the truthfulness of what is
regarded as fact. Practitioners should require specific evidence prior to implementing as well as
continuously evaluate effectiveness of the practice once it has been implemented.
pragmatism - Answer the philosophical position that "the truth value of a statement is a function of how
well the statement promotes effective action"
radical behaviorism - Answer B.F. Skinner's philosophy of the science of human behavior. Most
influential type of behaviorism for guiding the science and practice of behavior analysis.
replication - Answer repeating of experiments as well as repeating independent variable conditions
within the experiment
science - Answer -a systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge about the natural world
-purpose of science: different scientific investigations yield knowledge, enabling three levels of
understanding (description, prediction and control)
Practice Questions with 100% Correct Answers
ABA - Answer Applied Behavior Analysis - science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior
are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to
identify the variables responsible for behavior change
behaviorism - Answer the philosophy of the science of behavior, basic research is the province of
experimental analysis of behavior (EAB), and developing a technology for improving behavior is the
concern for ABA
Determinism - Answer science is predicated on the assumption of determinism - scientists presume that
the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events
Empiricism - Answer scientific knowledge is built upon empiricism - the practice of objective observation
and measurement of the phenomena of interest
experiment - Answer is a controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (DV)
under two or more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (IV) differs from one factor to
another
Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) - Answer a natural science approach to the study of behavior as
a subject matter in its own right founded by B.F.Skinner
explanatory fiction - Answer a fictitious or hypothetical variable that often takes form of another name
for the observed phenomenon it claims to explain and contributes nothing to a functional account or
understanding of the phenomenon, such as "intelligence" or "cognitive awareness" as explanations for
why an organism puches the lever when the light is on and food is available but does not push the lever
when the light is off and no food is available.
functional analysis - Answer denotes demonstrations of functional relations between environmental
variables and behavior
, functional relation - Answer this exists when when a well controlled experiment demonstrates that a
specific change in one event is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event, and that
the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be result of other extraneous factors
hypothetical construct - Answer presumed but unobserved entities that could not be manipulated in an
experiment
mentalism - Answer An approach to explaining behavior that assumes that a mental, or "inner,"
dimension exists that differs from a behavioral dimension and that phenomena in this dimension either
directly cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior, if not all.
methodological behaviorism - Answer A philosophical position that views behavioral events that cannot
be publicly observed as outside the realm of science.
parsimony - Answer Requires that all simple, logical explanations for the phenomena of interest be ruled
out experimentally or conceptually before more complex or abstract explanations are considered
philosophic doubt - Answer Requires the scientist to continually question the truthfulness of what is
regarded as fact. Practitioners should require specific evidence prior to implementing as well as
continuously evaluate effectiveness of the practice once it has been implemented.
pragmatism - Answer the philosophical position that "the truth value of a statement is a function of how
well the statement promotes effective action"
radical behaviorism - Answer B.F. Skinner's philosophy of the science of human behavior. Most
influential type of behaviorism for guiding the science and practice of behavior analysis.
replication - Answer repeating of experiments as well as repeating independent variable conditions
within the experiment
science - Answer -a systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge about the natural world
-purpose of science: different scientific investigations yield knowledge, enabling three levels of
understanding (description, prediction and control)
