Behavior Modification Practice Test
Questions (test 1) Exam Questions
Correct Answers New Update
(Verified A+ Pass)
Provide an example of a description of behavior and the label applied to that behavior. -
Answers -✔✔ Screaming at mother, can be labeled as "anger". Punching someone,
can be labeled as "aggression".
identify and describe he four dimensions of behavior that can be observed and
recorded. - Answers -✔✔ (1) frequency —the number of times a behavior occurs; (2)
duration—the time from when an instance of the behavior starts until it stops; (3)
intensity—the physical force involved in the behavior; and latency—the time from some
stimulus to the onset of the behavior.
Provide an example of how a behavior has an impact on the physical environment.
Provide one that has a social impact. - Answers -✔✔ Physical: punishing the wall
causes the wall to break. Social: yelling at someone causes them to cry and be upset
with you.
What does it mean to say a behavior is lawful? what is a functional relationship? -
Answers -✔✔ To say that behavior is lawful is to say that its occurrence is
systematically influenced by environmental events. A "functional relationship" refers to
how our behavior is influenced by, or occurs as a function of, environmental events.
Describe the distinction between overt behavior and covert behavior. Provide an
example of each. Which is the focus of this book? - Answers -✔✔ An overt behavior is
an action of an individual that can be observed and recorded by an individual other than
the one engaging in the behavior. An example of an overt behavior is talking. Covert
behaviors, on the other hand, are not observable to others. For example, thinking is a
covert behavior. This textbook will focus on behavior modification with overt behaviors.
Identify the six characteristics of human behavior. - Answers -✔✔ - Behavior is what
people do and say
- Behaviors have one or more dimensions
- Behaviors can be observed, described, and recorded - Behaviors have an impact on
the environment
- Behavior is lawful
- Behaviors may be overt or covert
,What doe sit mean to say that behavior mod procedures are based on behavior
principles? - Answers -✔✔ behavior mod if the application of principles. (principles that
were established in early lab experiments)
what causes human behavior? Describe how a label might be mistakenly identified as a
cause of behavior. - Answers -✔✔ Human behavior is controlled by events in the
immediate environment. However, a label might be mistakenly identified as a cause of
behavior. A label is derived from observable patterns of behavior. For example, to say
that an autistic child engages in problem behaviors because he is autistic is incorrect.
Rather, the label of autism is made based on a pattern of behaviors observed in the
child. The label cannot be the cause of the behavior because the label does not exist as
a physical entity or event.
Why is it important to describe behavior modification procedures precisely? - Answers -
✔✔ By describing behavior modification procedures precisely, researchers and other
professionals make it more likely that the procedures will be used correctly each time to
produce the desired changes in behavior.
Who implements behavior modification procedures? - Answers -✔✔ While behavior
modification procedures are developed by professionals or paraprofessionals trained in
behavior modification, the procedures are often implemented by people such as
teachers, parents, job supervisors, or others.
Why is it important to measure behavior before and after modification procedures are
used? - Answers -✔✔ It is important to measure behavior before and after behavior
modification procedures are used to document the behavior change resulting from the
use of the behavior modification procedures.
Why doesn't behavior mod focus on the past as the cause of behavior? - Answers -✔✔
Behavior modification places emphasis on current environmental events as causes of
behavior. Although information of past events is useful, knowledge of current controlling
variables will be most useful for developing effective behavior modification interventions,
because you can only change events in the current environment as part of a behavior
modification intervention.
Identify nine defining characteristics of behavior modification. - Answers -✔✔ - Focus
on behavior
- Guided by the theory and philosophy of behaviorism - Based on behavior principles
- Emphasis on current environmental events
- Procedures are described precisely
- Implemented by persons in everyday life
- Measurement of behavior change
- De-emphasis on past events as causes of behavior
- Rejection of hypothetical "underlying" causes of behavior
, Briefly describe the contributions of Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson and Skinner to the
development of behavior modification. - Answers -✔✔ Ivan B. Pavlov conducted
experiments which uncovered the basic processes of respondent conditioning. Pavlov
demonstrated that a reflex (salivation in response to food) could be conditioned to a
neutral stimulus (the sound of a metronome). Edward L. Thorndike described the "law of
effect," which says that a behavior that produces a favorable effect on the environment
will be more likely to be repeated in the future. In his article, "Psychology as the
behaviorist views it," John B. Watson asserted that observable behavior was the proper
subject matter of psychology and that all behavior was controlled by environmental
events. B. F. Skinner expanded the field of behaviorism originally described by Watson.
His research elaborated the basic principles of operant behavior, and is the foundation
of behavior modification.
Why is it important to record the behavior you are trying to change? - Answers -✔✔
First, measurement of the behavior prior to treatment will provide information that can
help you decide whether treatment is necessary. Second, behavioral assessment can
provide information that helps you choose the best treatment. Third, measurement of
the target behavior during and after treatment will allow you to determine whether the
behavior changed following the implementation of treatment.
Identify the four step involved in a behavior recording plan. - Answers -✔✔ (1) defining
the target behavior;
(2) identifying who, when, and where to record the behavior; (3) choosing a recording
method;
(4) choosing a recording instrument.
What is a behavioral definition? How does it differ from a label for a behavior? -
Answers -✔✔ A behavioral definition includes active verbs describing specific
behaviors that a person exhibits. A behavioral definition differs from a label for a
behavior in that a behavioral definition is objective and unambiguous. Labels for
behaviors are ambiguous; they can mean different things to different people because
they do not identify specific actions.
Provide a possible behavioral definition of politeness. - Answers -✔✔ A behavioral
definition of "politeness" for an individual may read as follows: "Politeness" for Jason
entails saying "please" when making a request, saying "thank you" after a request has
been granted, and speaking only after another individual has finished speaking.
Why is it important to identify who will record a behavior? - Answers -✔✔ It is important
to identify a specific individual(s) who will record a behavior. The observer(s) must be
trained to identify the occurrence of the target behavior and record the behavior
immediately. The observer must have the time to observe and record the behavior and
must be willing to function as an observer.
Questions (test 1) Exam Questions
Correct Answers New Update
(Verified A+ Pass)
Provide an example of a description of behavior and the label applied to that behavior. -
Answers -✔✔ Screaming at mother, can be labeled as "anger". Punching someone,
can be labeled as "aggression".
identify and describe he four dimensions of behavior that can be observed and
recorded. - Answers -✔✔ (1) frequency —the number of times a behavior occurs; (2)
duration—the time from when an instance of the behavior starts until it stops; (3)
intensity—the physical force involved in the behavior; and latency—the time from some
stimulus to the onset of the behavior.
Provide an example of how a behavior has an impact on the physical environment.
Provide one that has a social impact. - Answers -✔✔ Physical: punishing the wall
causes the wall to break. Social: yelling at someone causes them to cry and be upset
with you.
What does it mean to say a behavior is lawful? what is a functional relationship? -
Answers -✔✔ To say that behavior is lawful is to say that its occurrence is
systematically influenced by environmental events. A "functional relationship" refers to
how our behavior is influenced by, or occurs as a function of, environmental events.
Describe the distinction between overt behavior and covert behavior. Provide an
example of each. Which is the focus of this book? - Answers -✔✔ An overt behavior is
an action of an individual that can be observed and recorded by an individual other than
the one engaging in the behavior. An example of an overt behavior is talking. Covert
behaviors, on the other hand, are not observable to others. For example, thinking is a
covert behavior. This textbook will focus on behavior modification with overt behaviors.
Identify the six characteristics of human behavior. - Answers -✔✔ - Behavior is what
people do and say
- Behaviors have one or more dimensions
- Behaviors can be observed, described, and recorded - Behaviors have an impact on
the environment
- Behavior is lawful
- Behaviors may be overt or covert
,What doe sit mean to say that behavior mod procedures are based on behavior
principles? - Answers -✔✔ behavior mod if the application of principles. (principles that
were established in early lab experiments)
what causes human behavior? Describe how a label might be mistakenly identified as a
cause of behavior. - Answers -✔✔ Human behavior is controlled by events in the
immediate environment. However, a label might be mistakenly identified as a cause of
behavior. A label is derived from observable patterns of behavior. For example, to say
that an autistic child engages in problem behaviors because he is autistic is incorrect.
Rather, the label of autism is made based on a pattern of behaviors observed in the
child. The label cannot be the cause of the behavior because the label does not exist as
a physical entity or event.
Why is it important to describe behavior modification procedures precisely? - Answers -
✔✔ By describing behavior modification procedures precisely, researchers and other
professionals make it more likely that the procedures will be used correctly each time to
produce the desired changes in behavior.
Who implements behavior modification procedures? - Answers -✔✔ While behavior
modification procedures are developed by professionals or paraprofessionals trained in
behavior modification, the procedures are often implemented by people such as
teachers, parents, job supervisors, or others.
Why is it important to measure behavior before and after modification procedures are
used? - Answers -✔✔ It is important to measure behavior before and after behavior
modification procedures are used to document the behavior change resulting from the
use of the behavior modification procedures.
Why doesn't behavior mod focus on the past as the cause of behavior? - Answers -✔✔
Behavior modification places emphasis on current environmental events as causes of
behavior. Although information of past events is useful, knowledge of current controlling
variables will be most useful for developing effective behavior modification interventions,
because you can only change events in the current environment as part of a behavior
modification intervention.
Identify nine defining characteristics of behavior modification. - Answers -✔✔ - Focus
on behavior
- Guided by the theory and philosophy of behaviorism - Based on behavior principles
- Emphasis on current environmental events
- Procedures are described precisely
- Implemented by persons in everyday life
- Measurement of behavior change
- De-emphasis on past events as causes of behavior
- Rejection of hypothetical "underlying" causes of behavior
, Briefly describe the contributions of Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson and Skinner to the
development of behavior modification. - Answers -✔✔ Ivan B. Pavlov conducted
experiments which uncovered the basic processes of respondent conditioning. Pavlov
demonstrated that a reflex (salivation in response to food) could be conditioned to a
neutral stimulus (the sound of a metronome). Edward L. Thorndike described the "law of
effect," which says that a behavior that produces a favorable effect on the environment
will be more likely to be repeated in the future. In his article, "Psychology as the
behaviorist views it," John B. Watson asserted that observable behavior was the proper
subject matter of psychology and that all behavior was controlled by environmental
events. B. F. Skinner expanded the field of behaviorism originally described by Watson.
His research elaborated the basic principles of operant behavior, and is the foundation
of behavior modification.
Why is it important to record the behavior you are trying to change? - Answers -✔✔
First, measurement of the behavior prior to treatment will provide information that can
help you decide whether treatment is necessary. Second, behavioral assessment can
provide information that helps you choose the best treatment. Third, measurement of
the target behavior during and after treatment will allow you to determine whether the
behavior changed following the implementation of treatment.
Identify the four step involved in a behavior recording plan. - Answers -✔✔ (1) defining
the target behavior;
(2) identifying who, when, and where to record the behavior; (3) choosing a recording
method;
(4) choosing a recording instrument.
What is a behavioral definition? How does it differ from a label for a behavior? -
Answers -✔✔ A behavioral definition includes active verbs describing specific
behaviors that a person exhibits. A behavioral definition differs from a label for a
behavior in that a behavioral definition is objective and unambiguous. Labels for
behaviors are ambiguous; they can mean different things to different people because
they do not identify specific actions.
Provide a possible behavioral definition of politeness. - Answers -✔✔ A behavioral
definition of "politeness" for an individual may read as follows: "Politeness" for Jason
entails saying "please" when making a request, saying "thank you" after a request has
been granted, and speaking only after another individual has finished speaking.
Why is it important to identify who will record a behavior? - Answers -✔✔ It is important
to identify a specific individual(s) who will record a behavior. The observer(s) must be
trained to identify the occurrence of the target behavior and record the behavior
immediately. The observer must have the time to observe and record the behavior and
must be willing to function as an observer.
