BCBA Mock Exam 200 Mock Questions Practice Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2025|2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Jesse's teacher says that he keeps acting out in class. The teacher approaches the behavior analyst
and explains that Jesse's behavior is likely the result of his diet, that he eats way too much sugar and
processed foods, causing problem behaviors. As a behavior analyst, which attitude of science must be
considered in this scenario?
A)Parsimony.
B)Philosophic doubt
.C)Empiricism.
D)Determinism - correct answer -A.
Parsimony means that the simplest, most logical explanations must be ruled out before more complex
explanations are considered. In this example, the teacher should rule out other variables that could be
responsible for the problem behavior before making the assumption that something more complex is
responsible for controlling the behavior. "Philosophic doubt" is continually questioning the truthfulness
of scientific knowledge. "Determinism" is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly.
"Empiricism" is the objective observation of the phenomena of interest.
Louis is designing an intervention for his client. He makes sure that the techniques making up the
intervention are completely identified and described, so that other ABA practitioners may replicate
his intervention. Which dimension of behavior analysis (according to Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968) is
described in this scenario?
A)Generality
B)Effective
C)Behaviora
lD)Technological - correct answer -D.
The technological dimension of ABA means that the techniques making up a particular behavioral
application are completely identified and described. This means that behavior analysts should write
their interventions clearly and concisely so that other ABA practitioners can replicate their intervention.
This approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only those independent and
dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe:
A)Radical Behaviorism
1|Page
,B)Experimental Analysis of Behavior
C)Applied Behavior Analysis
D)Methodological Behaviorism - correct answer –D
. Methodological behaviorism is the approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only
those independent and dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe. Radical
behaviorism is incorrect because it includes thoughts and feelings (methodological behaviorism does
not). Applied behavior analysis is the science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are
systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the
variables responsible for behavior change. Experimental analysis of behavior focuses on analyzing the
basic principles that explain behavior.
This philosophical assumption of science states that scientific knowledge is built on the practice of
objective observation of the phenomena of interest:
A)Parsimony.
B)Empiricism.
C)Selectionism.
D)Determinism. - correct answer –B
. Empiricism means that we observe behaviors objectively and do not make any assumptions about why
the behavior is occurring. "Determinism" is incorrect because it is the general assumption that the entire
universe is orderly and that all phenomena occur as the result of some other event. "Parsimony" is using
the simplest and most logical explanations to explain why a behavior is occurring. "Selectionism" is
incorrect because it is the philosophical assumption that all behavior, in all living organisms, is the result
of an interaction with the environment.
Which explanation of behavior would most likely be made by a radical behavior analyst?
A)Jimmy gets frustrated when the other children don't play with him.
B)Jimmy runs around the classroom because he eats too much sugar at breakfast tim
C)Jimmy enjoys reading over math because he engages in fewer problem behaviors during reading
time.
D)Jimmy's environment does not provide enough reinforcement and he engages in the problem
behavior to receive attention. - correct answer -D. This is the most correct choice for the explanation
of behavior from the perspective of a radical behavior analyst.
2|Page
,Jerry is a behavior analyst who is a veteran in the field of ABA. He has been using a procedure to teach
his clients how to wash their hands for the past 20 years. Mallory is a recently certified behavior
analyst who discovered a more beneficial way to teach clients how to wash their hands. Even though
Jerry has been using the same method to teach hand washing for the past 20 years, he starts using
Mallory's strategy instead because the data show it is more effective. What attitude of science does
this describe?
A)Determinism
B)Parsimony
C)Empiricism
D)Philosophic doubt - correct answer -D.
Philosophic doubt means that scientists are willing to set aside their beliefs and strategies when an
experiment scientifically proves that a better strategy is available. "Determinism" is incorrect since this
refers to the belief that behavior is lawful and will remain unchanged if nothing in the environment
changes. "Parsimony" is incorrect since this means that scientists explain phenomena with the easiest
explanation available. "Empiricism" is incorrect since this refers to the idea that scientists should remain
unbiased and objective during experiments.
Which explanation of behavior would a behavior analyst most likely use to describe why a student is
physically aggressive towards his teacher?
A)"He hits his teacher because he likes getting out of math assignments."
B)"He hits his teacher because in the past it has resulted in him not having to complete his math
assignment."
C)"He hits his teacher because he is diagnosed with dyslexia which makes math more difficult for him
compared to his typically-developing peers."
D)"He hits his teacher because he knows he will get out of having to do his math assignment." - correct
answer -B.
This is the least mentalistic of all the answer choices. "He knows" and "He likes" are mentalistic terms.
Blaming it on an inner-identity or diagnosis involves circular reasoning and is mentalistic.
A behavior analyst is writing a treatment program for a client to learn how to use a city bus route. This
particular client, however, lives in a rural area with limited access to the city busses. Which dimension
of applied behavior analysis did the analyst fail to consider?
A)Applied
B)Generality
C)Technological
3|Page
, D)Conceptual Systems - correct answer -A.
Because this client lives in a rural area with limited access to the city bus route, teaching the client to
ride the bus will have little impact on their life. The "Effective" dimension of ABA means that procedures
developed by behavior analysts must aim to cause a meaningful effect in the client's life.
This approach to psychology considers private events as behavior:
A)Mentalism.
B)Pragmatism.
C)Methodological Behaviorism.
D)Radical Behaviorism. - correct answer -D.
Radical Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that addresses everything in terms of the principles of
behavior (including private events). This differs from methodological behaviorists that do not consider
private events or feelings to be behavior.
Lexi says, "It never fails. Whenever there is a full moon, people start acting weird." However, Lexi has
no data to support her theory. Which scientific analysis is Lexi using?
A)A Descriptive Analysis
B)A Hypothetical Analysis
C)An Experimental Analysis
D)A Correlational Analysis - correct answer -B.
A hypothetical analysis is simply assuming that two things go together, without taking any data or
manipulating any variables. Lexi did not take data on the full moon or "weird behavior" and did not
manipulate these variables. "Experimental analysis" is incorrect since this would require manipulating
the environment and recording the behavior. "Correlation(al) analysis" and "descriptive analysis" are
incorrect since they would involve recording the behavior as well.
Which dimension of applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate
experimental control over the behavior?
A)Analytic
B)Effective
C)Conceptually Systematic
D)Technological - correct answer -A.
4|Page
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) 2025|2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Jesse's teacher says that he keeps acting out in class. The teacher approaches the behavior analyst
and explains that Jesse's behavior is likely the result of his diet, that he eats way too much sugar and
processed foods, causing problem behaviors. As a behavior analyst, which attitude of science must be
considered in this scenario?
A)Parsimony.
B)Philosophic doubt
.C)Empiricism.
D)Determinism - correct answer -A.
Parsimony means that the simplest, most logical explanations must be ruled out before more complex
explanations are considered. In this example, the teacher should rule out other variables that could be
responsible for the problem behavior before making the assumption that something more complex is
responsible for controlling the behavior. "Philosophic doubt" is continually questioning the truthfulness
of scientific knowledge. "Determinism" is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly.
"Empiricism" is the objective observation of the phenomena of interest.
Louis is designing an intervention for his client. He makes sure that the techniques making up the
intervention are completely identified and described, so that other ABA practitioners may replicate
his intervention. Which dimension of behavior analysis (according to Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968) is
described in this scenario?
A)Generality
B)Effective
C)Behaviora
lD)Technological - correct answer -D.
The technological dimension of ABA means that the techniques making up a particular behavioral
application are completely identified and described. This means that behavior analysts should write
their interventions clearly and concisely so that other ABA practitioners can replicate their intervention.
This approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only those independent and
dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe:
A)Radical Behaviorism
1|Page
,B)Experimental Analysis of Behavior
C)Applied Behavior Analysis
D)Methodological Behaviorism - correct answer –D
. Methodological behaviorism is the approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only
those independent and dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe. Radical
behaviorism is incorrect because it includes thoughts and feelings (methodological behaviorism does
not). Applied behavior analysis is the science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are
systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the
variables responsible for behavior change. Experimental analysis of behavior focuses on analyzing the
basic principles that explain behavior.
This philosophical assumption of science states that scientific knowledge is built on the practice of
objective observation of the phenomena of interest:
A)Parsimony.
B)Empiricism.
C)Selectionism.
D)Determinism. - correct answer –B
. Empiricism means that we observe behaviors objectively and do not make any assumptions about why
the behavior is occurring. "Determinism" is incorrect because it is the general assumption that the entire
universe is orderly and that all phenomena occur as the result of some other event. "Parsimony" is using
the simplest and most logical explanations to explain why a behavior is occurring. "Selectionism" is
incorrect because it is the philosophical assumption that all behavior, in all living organisms, is the result
of an interaction with the environment.
Which explanation of behavior would most likely be made by a radical behavior analyst?
A)Jimmy gets frustrated when the other children don't play with him.
B)Jimmy runs around the classroom because he eats too much sugar at breakfast tim
C)Jimmy enjoys reading over math because he engages in fewer problem behaviors during reading
time.
D)Jimmy's environment does not provide enough reinforcement and he engages in the problem
behavior to receive attention. - correct answer -D. This is the most correct choice for the explanation
of behavior from the perspective of a radical behavior analyst.
2|Page
,Jerry is a behavior analyst who is a veteran in the field of ABA. He has been using a procedure to teach
his clients how to wash their hands for the past 20 years. Mallory is a recently certified behavior
analyst who discovered a more beneficial way to teach clients how to wash their hands. Even though
Jerry has been using the same method to teach hand washing for the past 20 years, he starts using
Mallory's strategy instead because the data show it is more effective. What attitude of science does
this describe?
A)Determinism
B)Parsimony
C)Empiricism
D)Philosophic doubt - correct answer -D.
Philosophic doubt means that scientists are willing to set aside their beliefs and strategies when an
experiment scientifically proves that a better strategy is available. "Determinism" is incorrect since this
refers to the belief that behavior is lawful and will remain unchanged if nothing in the environment
changes. "Parsimony" is incorrect since this means that scientists explain phenomena with the easiest
explanation available. "Empiricism" is incorrect since this refers to the idea that scientists should remain
unbiased and objective during experiments.
Which explanation of behavior would a behavior analyst most likely use to describe why a student is
physically aggressive towards his teacher?
A)"He hits his teacher because he likes getting out of math assignments."
B)"He hits his teacher because in the past it has resulted in him not having to complete his math
assignment."
C)"He hits his teacher because he is diagnosed with dyslexia which makes math more difficult for him
compared to his typically-developing peers."
D)"He hits his teacher because he knows he will get out of having to do his math assignment." - correct
answer -B.
This is the least mentalistic of all the answer choices. "He knows" and "He likes" are mentalistic terms.
Blaming it on an inner-identity or diagnosis involves circular reasoning and is mentalistic.
A behavior analyst is writing a treatment program for a client to learn how to use a city bus route. This
particular client, however, lives in a rural area with limited access to the city busses. Which dimension
of applied behavior analysis did the analyst fail to consider?
A)Applied
B)Generality
C)Technological
3|Page
, D)Conceptual Systems - correct answer -A.
Because this client lives in a rural area with limited access to the city bus route, teaching the client to
ride the bus will have little impact on their life. The "Effective" dimension of ABA means that procedures
developed by behavior analysts must aim to cause a meaningful effect in the client's life.
This approach to psychology considers private events as behavior:
A)Mentalism.
B)Pragmatism.
C)Methodological Behaviorism.
D)Radical Behaviorism. - correct answer -D.
Radical Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that addresses everything in terms of the principles of
behavior (including private events). This differs from methodological behaviorists that do not consider
private events or feelings to be behavior.
Lexi says, "It never fails. Whenever there is a full moon, people start acting weird." However, Lexi has
no data to support her theory. Which scientific analysis is Lexi using?
A)A Descriptive Analysis
B)A Hypothetical Analysis
C)An Experimental Analysis
D)A Correlational Analysis - correct answer -B.
A hypothetical analysis is simply assuming that two things go together, without taking any data or
manipulating any variables. Lexi did not take data on the full moon or "weird behavior" and did not
manipulate these variables. "Experimental analysis" is incorrect since this would require manipulating
the environment and recording the behavior. "Correlation(al) analysis" and "descriptive analysis" are
incorrect since they would involve recording the behavior as well.
Which dimension of applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate
experimental control over the behavior?
A)Analytic
B)Effective
C)Conceptually Systematic
D)Technological - correct answer -A.
4|Page
