BEHV 5600 Final Exam WITH 150
QUESTIONS,MULTIPLE CHOICES, CORRECT
ANSWERS AND IN DEPTH RATIONALES.
SECTION A: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS (Questions 1-20)
1. Which of the following is the attitude of science that states scientific subject matter should be
observed using objective methods?
A) Determinism
B) Empiricism
C) Parsimony
D) Pragmatism
Correct ANSWER: B) Empiricism
Rationale: Empiricism is the attitude of science that requires objective observation of phenomena.
Determinism is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly. Parsimony refers to using the
simplest explanation. Pragmatism focuses on practical utility .
2. The assumption that behavior is lawfully determined by physical events and can be studied as such is
called:
A) Empiricism
B) Pragmatism
C) Determinism
D) Replication
Correct ANSWER: C) Determinism
Rationale: Determinism is the assumption that all events, including behavior, occur as the result of
physical events and can be studied scientifically. This is a foundational assumption of behavior analysis .
3. What is the domain of behavior analysis that focuses on the theory and philosophy of behavior?
,A) Applied Behavior Analysis
B) Experimental Analysis of Behavior
C) Behaviorism
D) Radical Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: C) Behaviorism
Rationale: Behaviorism is the philosophical domain of behavior analysis that focuses on the theory and
philosophy behind the science. The primary activity is conceptual and philosophical analysis .
4. The approach that leads us to search inside the organism for explanations for behavior is called:
A) Determinism
B) Empiricism
C) Mentalism
D) Radical Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: C) Mentalism
Rationale: Mentalism is an approach to understanding behavior that assumes inner causes or mental
entities are responsible for behavior. This is contrasted with a behavior analytic approach that focuses
on environmental events .
5. A variable that is synonymous with some observed behavior but does not further understanding of
the behavior is called:
A) Explanatory fiction
B) Hypothetical construct
C) Mediating variable
D) Intervening variable
Correct ANSWER: A) Explanatory fiction
Rationale: An explanatory fiction is a variable that is described as a cause of behavior but is essentially
synonymous with the behavior itself (e.g., saying someone "has intelligence" because they perform
intelligently). These do not advance scientific understanding .
6. Which dimension of applied behavior analysis ensures a believable demonstration of events
responsible for the occurrence or non-occurrence of behavior?
A) Technological
,B) Applied
C) Analytic
D) Conceptually Systematic
Correct ANSWER: C) Analytic
Rationale: The analytic dimension refers to demonstrating a functional relation between the
environment and behavior through experimental control. This provides a believable demonstration that
specific events are responsible for behavior change .
7. Which of Baer, Wolf, and Risley's dimensions of ABA requires that procedures are completely and
precisely described?
A) Behavioral
B) Analytic
C) Conceptual
D) Technological
Correct ANSWER: D) Technological
Rationale: The technological dimension requires that all procedures are described in sufficient detail
that they can be replicated by other practitioners. This ensures the procedures are clear and replicable .
8. B.F. Skinner's philosophy of a science of behavior is known as:
A) Methodological Behaviorism
B) Radical Behaviorism
C) Watsonian Behaviorism
D) Cognitive Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: B) Radical Behaviorism
Rationale: Radical behaviorism, as developed by B.F. Skinner, includes both public and private events
(e.g., thoughts, feelings) as behavior to be analyzed, while maintaining that all behavior is determined by
environmental events. This distinguishes it from methodological behaviorism .
9. The assumption that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon should be preferred is called:
A) Determinism
B) Parsimony
C) Empiricism
, D) Pragmatism
Correct ANSWER: B) Parsimony
Rationale: Parsimony is the scientific attitude that when multiple explanations exist, the simplest, most
straightforward explanation should be preferred. This helps avoid unnecessary complexity in
understanding behavior .
10. Which of the following describes behavior that has been modified through experience with
contingencies?
A) Rule-governed behavior
B) Contingency-shaped behavior
C) Operant behavior
D) Respondent behavior
Correct ANSWER: B) Contingency-shaped behavior
Rationale: Contingency-shaped behavior is behavior that has been modified through direct experience
with contingencies of reinforcement or punishment. This contrasts with rule-governed behavior, which
is influenced by verbal rules .
11. The interaction between the movement of an organism and its environment defines:
A) Response
B) Behavior
C) Operant
D) Stimulus
Correct ANSWER: B) Behavior
Rationale: Behavior is defined as the interaction between an organism's movement and its environment.
This definition emphasizes that behavior is not just what the organism does, but the interaction
between the organism and environmental events .
12. Which philosophical position holds that only publicly observable events can be studied scientifically?
A) Radical Behaviorism
B) Mentalism
C) Methodological Behaviorism
D) Determinism
QUESTIONS,MULTIPLE CHOICES, CORRECT
ANSWERS AND IN DEPTH RATIONALES.
SECTION A: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS (Questions 1-20)
1. Which of the following is the attitude of science that states scientific subject matter should be
observed using objective methods?
A) Determinism
B) Empiricism
C) Parsimony
D) Pragmatism
Correct ANSWER: B) Empiricism
Rationale: Empiricism is the attitude of science that requires objective observation of phenomena.
Determinism is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly. Parsimony refers to using the
simplest explanation. Pragmatism focuses on practical utility .
2. The assumption that behavior is lawfully determined by physical events and can be studied as such is
called:
A) Empiricism
B) Pragmatism
C) Determinism
D) Replication
Correct ANSWER: C) Determinism
Rationale: Determinism is the assumption that all events, including behavior, occur as the result of
physical events and can be studied scientifically. This is a foundational assumption of behavior analysis .
3. What is the domain of behavior analysis that focuses on the theory and philosophy of behavior?
,A) Applied Behavior Analysis
B) Experimental Analysis of Behavior
C) Behaviorism
D) Radical Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: C) Behaviorism
Rationale: Behaviorism is the philosophical domain of behavior analysis that focuses on the theory and
philosophy behind the science. The primary activity is conceptual and philosophical analysis .
4. The approach that leads us to search inside the organism for explanations for behavior is called:
A) Determinism
B) Empiricism
C) Mentalism
D) Radical Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: C) Mentalism
Rationale: Mentalism is an approach to understanding behavior that assumes inner causes or mental
entities are responsible for behavior. This is contrasted with a behavior analytic approach that focuses
on environmental events .
5. A variable that is synonymous with some observed behavior but does not further understanding of
the behavior is called:
A) Explanatory fiction
B) Hypothetical construct
C) Mediating variable
D) Intervening variable
Correct ANSWER: A) Explanatory fiction
Rationale: An explanatory fiction is a variable that is described as a cause of behavior but is essentially
synonymous with the behavior itself (e.g., saying someone "has intelligence" because they perform
intelligently). These do not advance scientific understanding .
6. Which dimension of applied behavior analysis ensures a believable demonstration of events
responsible for the occurrence or non-occurrence of behavior?
A) Technological
,B) Applied
C) Analytic
D) Conceptually Systematic
Correct ANSWER: C) Analytic
Rationale: The analytic dimension refers to demonstrating a functional relation between the
environment and behavior through experimental control. This provides a believable demonstration that
specific events are responsible for behavior change .
7. Which of Baer, Wolf, and Risley's dimensions of ABA requires that procedures are completely and
precisely described?
A) Behavioral
B) Analytic
C) Conceptual
D) Technological
Correct ANSWER: D) Technological
Rationale: The technological dimension requires that all procedures are described in sufficient detail
that they can be replicated by other practitioners. This ensures the procedures are clear and replicable .
8. B.F. Skinner's philosophy of a science of behavior is known as:
A) Methodological Behaviorism
B) Radical Behaviorism
C) Watsonian Behaviorism
D) Cognitive Behaviorism
Correct ANSWER: B) Radical Behaviorism
Rationale: Radical behaviorism, as developed by B.F. Skinner, includes both public and private events
(e.g., thoughts, feelings) as behavior to be analyzed, while maintaining that all behavior is determined by
environmental events. This distinguishes it from methodological behaviorism .
9. The assumption that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon should be preferred is called:
A) Determinism
B) Parsimony
C) Empiricism
, D) Pragmatism
Correct ANSWER: B) Parsimony
Rationale: Parsimony is the scientific attitude that when multiple explanations exist, the simplest, most
straightforward explanation should be preferred. This helps avoid unnecessary complexity in
understanding behavior .
10. Which of the following describes behavior that has been modified through experience with
contingencies?
A) Rule-governed behavior
B) Contingency-shaped behavior
C) Operant behavior
D) Respondent behavior
Correct ANSWER: B) Contingency-shaped behavior
Rationale: Contingency-shaped behavior is behavior that has been modified through direct experience
with contingencies of reinforcement or punishment. This contrasts with rule-governed behavior, which
is influenced by verbal rules .
11. The interaction between the movement of an organism and its environment defines:
A) Response
B) Behavior
C) Operant
D) Stimulus
Correct ANSWER: B) Behavior
Rationale: Behavior is defined as the interaction between an organism's movement and its environment.
This definition emphasizes that behavior is not just what the organism does, but the interaction
between the organism and environmental events .
12. Which philosophical position holds that only publicly observable events can be studied scientifically?
A) Radical Behaviorism
B) Mentalism
C) Methodological Behaviorism
D) Determinism
