Page 1 of 45
EDF6225 FOUNDATIONS OF APPLIED
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) – EXAM 2
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES CURRENT
TESTING
Section 1: Philosophical Foundations & Scientific Attitudes (Questions 1–20)
1. This is the assumption upon which science is predicated—the idea that the universe is a
D
lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events.
O
A. Empiricism
B. Determinism
N
C. Parsimony
O
D. Replication
T
Correct answer: B. Determinism
C
O
Rationale: Determinism is the philosophical assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly
place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events. This is the foundational
PY
assumption upon which science is predicated.
2. This is the idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled out experimentally or
conceptually before more complex or abstract explanations are considered.
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic Doubt
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Correct answer: C. Parsimony
Rationale: Parsimony is the scientific attitude that simple, logical explanations should be
considered first and ruled out before more complex explanations are entertained.
3. The overall goal of __________ is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
phenomenon under study.
A. Applied Behavior Analysis
B. Science
C. Experimental Analysis
D. Radical Behaviorism
Correct answer: B. Science
D
Rationale: The overall goal of science is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
O
phenomenon under study. Science seeks to describe, predict, and control phenomena.
N
O
4. The level of investigation that involves the collection of facts about observed events that
T
can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts is
called:
C
A. Control
O
B. Description
PY
C. Prediction
D. Replication
Correct answer: B. Description
Rationale: Description is the level of investigation that involves collecting facts about
observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with
other known facts. It often suggests a hypothesis or question for additional research.
5. The level of investigation in which functional relations can be derived is: A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
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D. Replication
Correct answer: C. Control
Rationale: The level of investigation in which functional relations can be derived is control.
Control demonstrates that specific manipulations of one event (independent variable)
produce a change in another event (dependent variable).
6. Which attitude of science involves the objective observation of phenomena? A.
Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic Doubt
D
Correct answer: B. Empiricism
O
Rationale: Empiricism is the attitude of science that involves objective observation and the
N
collection of data through systematic, measurable means.
O
T
7. The defining characteristic of behavior analysis that focuses on investigating socially
C
significant behaviors with immediate importance to the participants is:
O
A. Behavioral
PY
B. Applied
C. Analytic
D. Technological
Correct answer: B. Applied
Rationale: The "Applied" dimension of ABA focuses on investigating socially significant
behaviors with immediate importance to the participants. This is one of the seven defining
dimensions identified by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968).
8. The defining characteristic of applied behavior analysis that demonstrates
experimental control over the occurrence and non-occurrence of behavior is:
A. Applied
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B. Behavioral
C. Analytic
D. Effective
Correct answer: C. Analytic
Rationale: The "Analytic" dimension of ABA demonstrates experimental control over the
occurrence and non-occurrence of behavior. This requires a functional relation to be
demonstrated between the intervention and the behavior change.
9. The dimension of ABA that signals ABA's commitment to effecting improvements
in socially significant behaviors that enhance and improve people's lives is:
A. Effective
D
B. Applied
O
C. Generality
N
D. Technological
O
Correct answer: A. Effective
T
Rationale: The "Effective" dimension signals ABA's commitment to effecting improvements
C
in socially significant behaviors that enhance and improve people's lives.
O
PY
10. A behavior-analytic procedure is described in a way that everyone is able to follow
through with the same results. This describes which dimension of ABA?
A. Analytic
B. Behavioral
C. Technological
D. Conceptually Systematic
Correct answer: C. Technological
Rationale: The "Technological" dimension requires that behavioranalytic procedures be
described in sufficient detail so that others can replicate them with the same results.
EDF6225 FOUNDATIONS OF APPLIED
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) – EXAM 2
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES CURRENT
TESTING
Section 1: Philosophical Foundations & Scientific Attitudes (Questions 1–20)
1. This is the assumption upon which science is predicated—the idea that the universe is a
D
lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events.
O
A. Empiricism
B. Determinism
N
C. Parsimony
O
D. Replication
T
Correct answer: B. Determinism
C
O
Rationale: Determinism is the philosophical assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly
place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events. This is the foundational
PY
assumption upon which science is predicated.
2. This is the idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled out experimentally or
conceptually before more complex or abstract explanations are considered.
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic Doubt
, Page 2 of 45
Correct answer: C. Parsimony
Rationale: Parsimony is the scientific attitude that simple, logical explanations should be
considered first and ruled out before more complex explanations are entertained.
3. The overall goal of __________ is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
phenomenon under study.
A. Applied Behavior Analysis
B. Science
C. Experimental Analysis
D. Radical Behaviorism
Correct answer: B. Science
D
Rationale: The overall goal of science is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
O
phenomenon under study. Science seeks to describe, predict, and control phenomena.
N
O
4. The level of investigation that involves the collection of facts about observed events that
T
can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts is
called:
C
A. Control
O
B. Description
PY
C. Prediction
D. Replication
Correct answer: B. Description
Rationale: Description is the level of investigation that involves collecting facts about
observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with
other known facts. It often suggests a hypothesis or question for additional research.
5. The level of investigation in which functional relations can be derived is: A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
, Page 3 of 45
D. Replication
Correct answer: C. Control
Rationale: The level of investigation in which functional relations can be derived is control.
Control demonstrates that specific manipulations of one event (independent variable)
produce a change in another event (dependent variable).
6. Which attitude of science involves the objective observation of phenomena? A.
Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic Doubt
D
Correct answer: B. Empiricism
O
Rationale: Empiricism is the attitude of science that involves objective observation and the
N
collection of data through systematic, measurable means.
O
T
7. The defining characteristic of behavior analysis that focuses on investigating socially
C
significant behaviors with immediate importance to the participants is:
O
A. Behavioral
PY
B. Applied
C. Analytic
D. Technological
Correct answer: B. Applied
Rationale: The "Applied" dimension of ABA focuses on investigating socially significant
behaviors with immediate importance to the participants. This is one of the seven defining
dimensions identified by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968).
8. The defining characteristic of applied behavior analysis that demonstrates
experimental control over the occurrence and non-occurrence of behavior is:
A. Applied
, Page 4 of 45
B. Behavioral
C. Analytic
D. Effective
Correct answer: C. Analytic
Rationale: The "Analytic" dimension of ABA demonstrates experimental control over the
occurrence and non-occurrence of behavior. This requires a functional relation to be
demonstrated between the intervention and the behavior change.
9. The dimension of ABA that signals ABA's commitment to effecting improvements
in socially significant behaviors that enhance and improve people's lives is:
A. Effective
D
B. Applied
O
C. Generality
N
D. Technological
O
Correct answer: A. Effective
T
Rationale: The "Effective" dimension signals ABA's commitment to effecting improvements
C
in socially significant behaviors that enhance and improve people's lives.
O
PY
10. A behavior-analytic procedure is described in a way that everyone is able to follow
through with the same results. This describes which dimension of ABA?
A. Analytic
B. Behavioral
C. Technological
D. Conceptually Systematic
Correct answer: C. Technological
Rationale: The "Technological" dimension requires that behavioranalytic procedures be
described in sufficient detail so that others can replicate them with the same results.
