1|Page
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. - ✔✔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. - ✔✔(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. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔An overt behavior is an action of an individual that can be observed and
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,2|Page
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. - ✔✔- 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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
, 3|Page
Why is it important to measure behavior before and after modification procedures are used? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔- 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. - ✔✔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
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
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. - ✔✔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. - ✔✔(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. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔An overt behavior is an action of an individual that can be observed and
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,2|Page
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. - ✔✔- 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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
, 3|Page
Why is it important to measure behavior before and after modification procedures are used? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔- 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. - ✔✔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
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
