EDF 6225 Foundations of ABA Final Exam
Updated 2026| A Comprehensive Review of 400
Practice Multichoice Questions with Correct
Verified Answers with Rationales
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive question bank contains 330+ multiple-choice questions
covering the foundational concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis as presented in
the EDF 6225 course materials. The questions are organized to test knowledge
across all major domains including the philosophy of science, behaviorism,
experimental analysis, the seven dimensions of ABA, reinforcement and
punishment, schedules of reinforcement, measurement, experimental design,
ethics, and professional practice. Each question includes the correct answer and a
detailed rationale to enhance learning and understanding.
SECTION 1: SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
(Questions 1-50)
1. What is the systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge
about the natural world?
A. Empiricism
B. Science
C. Determinism
D. Parsimony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Science is defined as a systematic approach for seeking and organizing
knowledge about the natural world. It relies on determinism as its fundamental
assumption, empiricism as its prime directive, experimentation as its basic
strategy, replication as its requirement for believability, parsimony as its
conservative value, and philosophic doubt as its guiding conscience.
,2. What is the purpose of science according to the course materials?
A. To prove existing theories, correct
B. To achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study
C. To discover new instruments and materials
D. To support the beliefs of certain groups
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The purpose of science is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
phenomena under study. Science seeks to discover the real truths, not those held by
certain groups, organizations, or by the scientists themselves.
3. Which level of scientific understanding involves the collection of facts about
observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible
relations with other known facts?
A. Prediction
B. Control
C. Description
D. Replication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Description involves the collection of facts about observed events that
can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known
facts. It often suggests hypotheses or questions for additional research.
4. Which level of scientific understanding demonstrates a functional relation
between events?
A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
D. Empiricism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Control is the highest level of scientific understanding and
demonstrates functional relations. It involves a specific change in one event
,(dependent variable) that can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of
another event (independent variable), with the change unlikely to be the result of
extraneous factors.
5. What is the assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in
which all phenomena occur as the result of other events?
A. Empiricism
B. Parsimony
C. Determinism
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Determinism is the assumption upon which science is predicated. It
presumes that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena
occur as the result of other events. Events do not just occur at will; they are related
in systematic ways.
6. What is the practice of objective observation of phenomena of interest
called?
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Experimentation
D. Replication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Empiricism is the practice of objective observation of phenomena of
interest. It is what all scientific knowledge is built upon, with "objective" being the
key to gaining a better understanding of what is being studied.
7. Which scientific attitude involves the repetition of experiments to determine
the reliability and usefulness of findings?
A. Empiricism
B. Parsimony
, C. Replication
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Replication involves the repetition of experiments to determine the
reliability and usefulness of findings. It includes the repetition of independent
variable conditions within experiments and is the method by which mistakes are
discovered.
8. What is the basic strategy in most sciences that involves controlled
comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest under two or
more different conditions?
A. Empiricism
B. Replication
C. Parsimony
D. Experimentation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Experimentation is the basic strategy in most sciences. An experiment
involves a controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest
(dependent variable) under two or more different conditions in which only one
factor at a time (independent variable) differs from one condition to another.
9. The idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled out before more
complex or abstract explanations are considered is known as:
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Parsimony is the idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled
out, experimentally or conceptually, before more complex or abstract explanations
Updated 2026| A Comprehensive Review of 400
Practice Multichoice Questions with Correct
Verified Answers with Rationales
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive question bank contains 330+ multiple-choice questions
covering the foundational concepts of Applied Behavior Analysis as presented in
the EDF 6225 course materials. The questions are organized to test knowledge
across all major domains including the philosophy of science, behaviorism,
experimental analysis, the seven dimensions of ABA, reinforcement and
punishment, schedules of reinforcement, measurement, experimental design,
ethics, and professional practice. Each question includes the correct answer and a
detailed rationale to enhance learning and understanding.
SECTION 1: SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
(Questions 1-50)
1. What is the systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge
about the natural world?
A. Empiricism
B. Science
C. Determinism
D. Parsimony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Science is defined as a systematic approach for seeking and organizing
knowledge about the natural world. It relies on determinism as its fundamental
assumption, empiricism as its prime directive, experimentation as its basic
strategy, replication as its requirement for believability, parsimony as its
conservative value, and philosophic doubt as its guiding conscience.
,2. What is the purpose of science according to the course materials?
A. To prove existing theories, correct
B. To achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study
C. To discover new instruments and materials
D. To support the beliefs of certain groups
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The purpose of science is to achieve a thorough understanding of the
phenomena under study. Science seeks to discover the real truths, not those held by
certain groups, organizations, or by the scientists themselves.
3. Which level of scientific understanding involves the collection of facts about
observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible
relations with other known facts?
A. Prediction
B. Control
C. Description
D. Replication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Description involves the collection of facts about observed events that
can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known
facts. It often suggests hypotheses or questions for additional research.
4. Which level of scientific understanding demonstrates a functional relation
between events?
A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
D. Empiricism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Control is the highest level of scientific understanding and
demonstrates functional relations. It involves a specific change in one event
,(dependent variable) that can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of
another event (independent variable), with the change unlikely to be the result of
extraneous factors.
5. What is the assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in
which all phenomena occur as the result of other events?
A. Empiricism
B. Parsimony
C. Determinism
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Determinism is the assumption upon which science is predicated. It
presumes that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena
occur as the result of other events. Events do not just occur at will; they are related
in systematic ways.
6. What is the practice of objective observation of phenomena of interest
called?
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Experimentation
D. Replication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Empiricism is the practice of objective observation of phenomena of
interest. It is what all scientific knowledge is built upon, with "objective" being the
key to gaining a better understanding of what is being studied.
7. Which scientific attitude involves the repetition of experiments to determine
the reliability and usefulness of findings?
A. Empiricism
B. Parsimony
, C. Replication
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Replication involves the repetition of experiments to determine the
reliability and usefulness of findings. It includes the repetition of independent
variable conditions within experiments and is the method by which mistakes are
discovered.
8. What is the basic strategy in most sciences that involves controlled
comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest under two or
more different conditions?
A. Empiricism
B. Replication
C. Parsimony
D. Experimentation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Experimentation is the basic strategy in most sciences. An experiment
involves a controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest
(dependent variable) under two or more different conditions in which only one
factor at a time (independent variable) differs from one condition to another.
9. The idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled out before more
complex or abstract explanations are considered is known as:
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
D. Philosophic doubt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Parsimony is the idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled
out, experimentally or conceptually, before more complex or abstract explanations
