BCBA EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
3 Principles of Behavior - ANSWER reinforcement, punishment, extinction
4 Functions of Behavior - ANSWER SEAT
Sensory, escape/avoidance, attention, tangible
Anecdotal Data - ANSWER A method of descriptively recording the behavior emitted by the learner, the
response of others, and information about the environment.
Antecedent - ANSWER What occurs before a behavior that then influences behavior; an environment or
a stimulus change existing or occurring prior to a behavior of interest
Applied Behavior Analysis - ANSWER The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior
are applied to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables
responsible for behavior change; The scientific study of principles of learning and behavior
How could you assist in training stakeholders? - ANSWER Train stakeholders by giving them instruction,
modeling, rehearsal, and feedback with regard to behavior skills training
Attention Function - ANSWER A function of behavior in which the individual is reinforced by receiving
attention from others.
Automatic Reinforcement - ANSWER (AKA self-stimming) The behavior itself is reinforcing and is not
dependent on social interaction or receiving a tangible item.
Backward Chaining - ANSWER Training begins the link with the last behavior in the sequence.
Trainer performs all but the last step until the learner masters the last step.
Then trainer performs all but the lasts two steps until learner masters the last two steps and so on.
Baseline Data - ANSWER Data taken before an intervention takes place.
,Describes the existing level of performance.
Chaining - ANSWER A specific sequence of discrete responses, each associated with a particular stimulus
condition.
When components are linked together, they form a chain that produces a terminal outcome.
Components of a Written Behavior Plan - ANSWER 1. Identify, describe, create a goal for a behavior in
observable terms.
2. Assess antecedent/consequence that may maintain behavior.
3. Identify hypothesis of function of behavior.
4. Identify possible replacement behaviors.
5. Select and implement antecedent/consequence based interventions.
6. Create crisis intervention plan.
7. Implementation, modification, generalization and maintenance procedures.
Conditioned Response - ANSWER A behavior that does not come naturally, but must be learning by the
individual by pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Stimulus - ANSWER A previous neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an
unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself.
Consequence - ANSWER Events that follow behavior and may influence it including increasing or
decreasing it in the future; may be reinforcers or punishers.
Contingency - ANSWER Refers to an if _______, then ________ relationship between a behavior and a
consequence.
Continuous Reinforcement Schedule - ANSWER Reinforcing one response class and withholding
reinforcement from another response class; behavior receiving reinforcement should increase while the
behavior for which reinforcement is being withheld should decrease.
, Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA) - ANSWER Focus on increasing a desirable
alternative behavior that directly or indirectly interfere with the performance of the undesired target
behavior (i.e., reinforce knitting or giving self manicure instead of biting nails; reinforce appropriate
language use instead of punishing swearing at others)
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviors (DRI) - ANSWER Similar to DRA but you choose an
alternative behavior to reinforce that, if performed, would be incompatible with undesired target
behavior (i.e., playing nicely vs. fighting; on-task behavior vs. off-task behavior; in seat vs. out of seat;
deep breathing vs. yelling)
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL) - ANSWER Entails reinforcing for reductions in the
frequency of the undesired behavior. Often used when an individual is engaging in a behavior too
frequently (bathroom, calling out)
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO) - ANSWER Providing a reinforcer after a particular
time frame without the target behavior (i.e., engaging in any other behavior except the target behavior)
E.g., every 5 minutes without hitting, individual receives a sticker.
Direct Observation Preference Assessment - ANSWER Identify what is motivating the individual.
The more time spent with an item, the stronger the presumed preference.
Discrete Trial Training - ANSWER Structured instructional methodology used to teach new behaviors;
Designed to maximize a learner's potential by presenting information in a three-part teaching unit;
Based on Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (A.k.a ABC; Stimulus-Response-Consequence); Main
objective is to teach children how to learn from their natural environment and make learning reinforcing.
Discrimination Training - ANSWER Procedure to teach between two targets.
Trial training using phases.
(i.e. phases 1 - 6 Mass Trials of target, Block Trials, and Random Rotation)
Discriminative Stimulus (SD) - ANSWER Environmental cue or instruction that signals that reinforcement
is available for a target behavior; a type of stimulus that is used consistently to gain a specific response
and that increases the possibility that the desired response will occur.
AND ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
3 Principles of Behavior - ANSWER reinforcement, punishment, extinction
4 Functions of Behavior - ANSWER SEAT
Sensory, escape/avoidance, attention, tangible
Anecdotal Data - ANSWER A method of descriptively recording the behavior emitted by the learner, the
response of others, and information about the environment.
Antecedent - ANSWER What occurs before a behavior that then influences behavior; an environment or
a stimulus change existing or occurring prior to a behavior of interest
Applied Behavior Analysis - ANSWER The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior
are applied to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables
responsible for behavior change; The scientific study of principles of learning and behavior
How could you assist in training stakeholders? - ANSWER Train stakeholders by giving them instruction,
modeling, rehearsal, and feedback with regard to behavior skills training
Attention Function - ANSWER A function of behavior in which the individual is reinforced by receiving
attention from others.
Automatic Reinforcement - ANSWER (AKA self-stimming) The behavior itself is reinforcing and is not
dependent on social interaction or receiving a tangible item.
Backward Chaining - ANSWER Training begins the link with the last behavior in the sequence.
Trainer performs all but the last step until the learner masters the last step.
Then trainer performs all but the lasts two steps until learner masters the last two steps and so on.
Baseline Data - ANSWER Data taken before an intervention takes place.
,Describes the existing level of performance.
Chaining - ANSWER A specific sequence of discrete responses, each associated with a particular stimulus
condition.
When components are linked together, they form a chain that produces a terminal outcome.
Components of a Written Behavior Plan - ANSWER 1. Identify, describe, create a goal for a behavior in
observable terms.
2. Assess antecedent/consequence that may maintain behavior.
3. Identify hypothesis of function of behavior.
4. Identify possible replacement behaviors.
5. Select and implement antecedent/consequence based interventions.
6. Create crisis intervention plan.
7. Implementation, modification, generalization and maintenance procedures.
Conditioned Response - ANSWER A behavior that does not come naturally, but must be learning by the
individual by pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Stimulus - ANSWER A previous neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an
unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself.
Consequence - ANSWER Events that follow behavior and may influence it including increasing or
decreasing it in the future; may be reinforcers or punishers.
Contingency - ANSWER Refers to an if _______, then ________ relationship between a behavior and a
consequence.
Continuous Reinforcement Schedule - ANSWER Reinforcing one response class and withholding
reinforcement from another response class; behavior receiving reinforcement should increase while the
behavior for which reinforcement is being withheld should decrease.
, Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA) - ANSWER Focus on increasing a desirable
alternative behavior that directly or indirectly interfere with the performance of the undesired target
behavior (i.e., reinforce knitting or giving self manicure instead of biting nails; reinforce appropriate
language use instead of punishing swearing at others)
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviors (DRI) - ANSWER Similar to DRA but you choose an
alternative behavior to reinforce that, if performed, would be incompatible with undesired target
behavior (i.e., playing nicely vs. fighting; on-task behavior vs. off-task behavior; in seat vs. out of seat;
deep breathing vs. yelling)
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL) - ANSWER Entails reinforcing for reductions in the
frequency of the undesired behavior. Often used when an individual is engaging in a behavior too
frequently (bathroom, calling out)
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO) - ANSWER Providing a reinforcer after a particular
time frame without the target behavior (i.e., engaging in any other behavior except the target behavior)
E.g., every 5 minutes without hitting, individual receives a sticker.
Direct Observation Preference Assessment - ANSWER Identify what is motivating the individual.
The more time spent with an item, the stronger the presumed preference.
Discrete Trial Training - ANSWER Structured instructional methodology used to teach new behaviors;
Designed to maximize a learner's potential by presenting information in a three-part teaching unit;
Based on Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (A.k.a ABC; Stimulus-Response-Consequence); Main
objective is to teach children how to learn from their natural environment and make learning reinforcing.
Discrimination Training - ANSWER Procedure to teach between two targets.
Trial training using phases.
(i.e. phases 1 - 6 Mass Trials of target, Block Trials, and Random Rotation)
Discriminative Stimulus (SD) - ANSWER Environmental cue or instruction that signals that reinforcement
is available for a target behavior; a type of stimulus that is used consistently to gain a specific response
and that increases the possibility that the desired response will occur.
