BCBA exam questions with complete
solutions294
158. In the field of behavior analysis a ______________ is derived from descriptive analysis.
158.a. hypotenuse
158.b. statement of causation 158.c. data driven conclusion 158.d. hypothesis - ANSWERS-158.
Answer: d
158. Explanation: Descriptive analysis organizes relevant information about behavior and its
circumstances so the behavior analyst can make an educated guess about the function of the
behavior.
159. The data are as follows: the average number of self-injurious episodes per hour is about 1
during the noncontingent reinforcement treatment and about 3 per hour for the contingent
reinforcement treatment. What kind of measure did you use and what is you data based
recommendation?
159.a. duration; continue both treatments as they are reductive
159.b. rate; begin using noncontingent reinforcement as it shows greater reduction of the target
behavior
159.c. latency; begin using contingent reinforcement as it show an increase in the target
159.d. interresponse time 1 hour; continue combining treatments - ANSWERS-159. Answer: b
159. Explanation: Behavior over time is rate; the noncontingent reinforcement procedure
produces less self injury so it should be the procedure of choice.
160. After reviewing the data, you sit down with the treatment team and the boy. You explain
that he's made good progress, suggest continuation of the noncontingent treatment and ask for
the boy's input. He says, that while he knows he's doing better, he would like to have stickers
added to his plan. Should you incorporate stickers into the plan?
160.a. No, it might skew the results and interfere with the independent variable
,160.b. Yes, since the boy believes stickers are good
160.c. Yes, individual preferences and choices are integral parts of selecting treatments 160.d.
No, the data do not show the effectiveness of stickers. - ANSWERS-160. Answer: c
160. Explanation: Incorporate individuals into the decision making process whenever possible.
161. In utilizing a reinforcer, a behavior analyst must account for establishing operations and
__________.
161.a. use primary and generalized conditioned reinforcers 161.b. Skinner's verbal behavior
161.c. setting events
161.d. discriminative stimuli - ANSWERS-161. Answer: a
161. Explanation: The behavior analyst needs to strengthen behavior and condition a variety of
things as reinforcers.
162. A schedule of reinforcement needs to be __________ to avoid decreased performance.
162.a. gradually thickened 162.b. gradually faded 162.c. gradually diminished 162.d. gradually
thinned - ANSWERS-162. Answer: d
162. Explanation: Thin schedules of reinforcement; fade prompts.
163. You are working with another Behavior Analyst who has a program for a child involving an
FR2VI3 schedule; a ______ schedule of reinforcement.
163.a. simple 163.b. complex 163.c. diverse 163.d. rich - ANSWERS-163. Answer: b
163. Explanation: Complex schedules of reinforcement include combined simple schedules of
reinforcement.
164. All things being equal, the __________, the lower the probability of a response.
164.a. smaller the stimulus 164.b. greater the stimulus 164.c. smaller the effort 164.d. greater
the effort - ANSWERS-164. Answer: d
164. Explanation: Matching law proposes a similar idea.
,165. When determining the appropriateness of punishers in a program ______
165.a. you need to consider protecting the person from unnecessary exposure to aversive
stimuli 165.b. punishers should only be utilized in emergency situations
165.c. reinforcement has no ethical restraints
165.d. punishment has to be descriptive in nature - ANSWERS-165. Answer: a
165. Explanation: The protection of dignity is critical to ethical decision making. Limiting
unnecessary exposure to these stimuli affects helps maintain the dignity of the individual.
166. Initially, punishers should be implemented _____.
166.a. only as emergency efforts 166.b. using high intensity punishers 166.c. with
nondiscriminative stimuli 166.d. as respondent processes - ANSWERS-166. Answer: b
166. Explanation: While punishment is regarded by some as abhorrent, if it is necessary to use
punishment, the behavior analyst needs to safeguard the individual from acclimating to the
punisher which might render the punisher ineffective and necessitate more intense punishers.
167. An individual engages in pica, the ingestion of non-edibles. Which reinforcement schedule
would be most appropriate?
167.a. DRI 167.b. DRL 167.c. DRD 167.d. DRH - ANSWERS-167. Answer: a
167. Explanation: Richly reinforcing an incompatible behavior is the best of the 4 offered.
168. A parent uses time-out and a hand signal to indicate time-out is beginning. The mother is
checking her watch and makes a similar motion and the child begins to cry. This is probably due
to ________.
168.a. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
168.b. respondent conditioning
168.c. the insight of a forthcoming reductive procedure
168.d. emotional responses that are phenomena associated with punishment. - ANSWERS-168.
Answer: d
, 168. Explanation: Emotional responding is one potential side effect of using punishment.
169. You observe a parent hug her child contingent upon head slapping. You tell her to do
nothing the next time the child slaps her head, advocating the procedure of ________.
169.a. punishment 169.b. extinction 169.c. reinforcement 169.d. baseline - ANSWERS-169.
Answer: b
169. Explanation: Extinction refers to a procedure where previous reinforcers are withheld.
170. Punishment, by itself, is rarely completely effective because:
170.a. it models punishing behavior, person(s) involved can become conditioned aversive
stimuli, counter control may occur
170.b. punisher suppresses all behavior, person(s) involved is resented and avoided, counter
control may occur
170.c. no behavior is established, decrease in general performance, increased repetitious
responses may occur
170.d. it models aggressive behavior, person(s) involved can become conditioned reinforcing
stimuli, counter control may occur - ANSWERS-170. Answer: a
170. Explanation: These are all known side effects to punishment. Punishment does not
establish behavior
171. While doing some work with young Jessica, you teach and reinforce when she says "A"
when you hold up the letter A. Once she becomes fluent, you hold up an "A" and a "B" to teach
her to ___________.
171.a. make decisions 171.b. minimize errors 171.c. discriminate 171.d. equivocate stimuli -
ANSWERS-171. Answer: c
171. Explanation: Discrimination involves reinforcing responses in the presence of the SD and
putting other responses on leaner schedule, punishment or extinction.
172. A sound rationale for conducting descriptive analysis is to develop ___________________.
172.a. statements of causation
solutions294
158. In the field of behavior analysis a ______________ is derived from descriptive analysis.
158.a. hypotenuse
158.b. statement of causation 158.c. data driven conclusion 158.d. hypothesis - ANSWERS-158.
Answer: d
158. Explanation: Descriptive analysis organizes relevant information about behavior and its
circumstances so the behavior analyst can make an educated guess about the function of the
behavior.
159. The data are as follows: the average number of self-injurious episodes per hour is about 1
during the noncontingent reinforcement treatment and about 3 per hour for the contingent
reinforcement treatment. What kind of measure did you use and what is you data based
recommendation?
159.a. duration; continue both treatments as they are reductive
159.b. rate; begin using noncontingent reinforcement as it shows greater reduction of the target
behavior
159.c. latency; begin using contingent reinforcement as it show an increase in the target
159.d. interresponse time 1 hour; continue combining treatments - ANSWERS-159. Answer: b
159. Explanation: Behavior over time is rate; the noncontingent reinforcement procedure
produces less self injury so it should be the procedure of choice.
160. After reviewing the data, you sit down with the treatment team and the boy. You explain
that he's made good progress, suggest continuation of the noncontingent treatment and ask for
the boy's input. He says, that while he knows he's doing better, he would like to have stickers
added to his plan. Should you incorporate stickers into the plan?
160.a. No, it might skew the results and interfere with the independent variable
,160.b. Yes, since the boy believes stickers are good
160.c. Yes, individual preferences and choices are integral parts of selecting treatments 160.d.
No, the data do not show the effectiveness of stickers. - ANSWERS-160. Answer: c
160. Explanation: Incorporate individuals into the decision making process whenever possible.
161. In utilizing a reinforcer, a behavior analyst must account for establishing operations and
__________.
161.a. use primary and generalized conditioned reinforcers 161.b. Skinner's verbal behavior
161.c. setting events
161.d. discriminative stimuli - ANSWERS-161. Answer: a
161. Explanation: The behavior analyst needs to strengthen behavior and condition a variety of
things as reinforcers.
162. A schedule of reinforcement needs to be __________ to avoid decreased performance.
162.a. gradually thickened 162.b. gradually faded 162.c. gradually diminished 162.d. gradually
thinned - ANSWERS-162. Answer: d
162. Explanation: Thin schedules of reinforcement; fade prompts.
163. You are working with another Behavior Analyst who has a program for a child involving an
FR2VI3 schedule; a ______ schedule of reinforcement.
163.a. simple 163.b. complex 163.c. diverse 163.d. rich - ANSWERS-163. Answer: b
163. Explanation: Complex schedules of reinforcement include combined simple schedules of
reinforcement.
164. All things being equal, the __________, the lower the probability of a response.
164.a. smaller the stimulus 164.b. greater the stimulus 164.c. smaller the effort 164.d. greater
the effort - ANSWERS-164. Answer: d
164. Explanation: Matching law proposes a similar idea.
,165. When determining the appropriateness of punishers in a program ______
165.a. you need to consider protecting the person from unnecessary exposure to aversive
stimuli 165.b. punishers should only be utilized in emergency situations
165.c. reinforcement has no ethical restraints
165.d. punishment has to be descriptive in nature - ANSWERS-165. Answer: a
165. Explanation: The protection of dignity is critical to ethical decision making. Limiting
unnecessary exposure to these stimuli affects helps maintain the dignity of the individual.
166. Initially, punishers should be implemented _____.
166.a. only as emergency efforts 166.b. using high intensity punishers 166.c. with
nondiscriminative stimuli 166.d. as respondent processes - ANSWERS-166. Answer: b
166. Explanation: While punishment is regarded by some as abhorrent, if it is necessary to use
punishment, the behavior analyst needs to safeguard the individual from acclimating to the
punisher which might render the punisher ineffective and necessitate more intense punishers.
167. An individual engages in pica, the ingestion of non-edibles. Which reinforcement schedule
would be most appropriate?
167.a. DRI 167.b. DRL 167.c. DRD 167.d. DRH - ANSWERS-167. Answer: a
167. Explanation: Richly reinforcing an incompatible behavior is the best of the 4 offered.
168. A parent uses time-out and a hand signal to indicate time-out is beginning. The mother is
checking her watch and makes a similar motion and the child begins to cry. This is probably due
to ________.
168.a. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
168.b. respondent conditioning
168.c. the insight of a forthcoming reductive procedure
168.d. emotional responses that are phenomena associated with punishment. - ANSWERS-168.
Answer: d
, 168. Explanation: Emotional responding is one potential side effect of using punishment.
169. You observe a parent hug her child contingent upon head slapping. You tell her to do
nothing the next time the child slaps her head, advocating the procedure of ________.
169.a. punishment 169.b. extinction 169.c. reinforcement 169.d. baseline - ANSWERS-169.
Answer: b
169. Explanation: Extinction refers to a procedure where previous reinforcers are withheld.
170. Punishment, by itself, is rarely completely effective because:
170.a. it models punishing behavior, person(s) involved can become conditioned aversive
stimuli, counter control may occur
170.b. punisher suppresses all behavior, person(s) involved is resented and avoided, counter
control may occur
170.c. no behavior is established, decrease in general performance, increased repetitious
responses may occur
170.d. it models aggressive behavior, person(s) involved can become conditioned reinforcing
stimuli, counter control may occur - ANSWERS-170. Answer: a
170. Explanation: These are all known side effects to punishment. Punishment does not
establish behavior
171. While doing some work with young Jessica, you teach and reinforce when she says "A"
when you hold up the letter A. Once she becomes fluent, you hold up an "A" and a "B" to teach
her to ___________.
171.a. make decisions 171.b. minimize errors 171.c. discriminate 171.d. equivocate stimuli -
ANSWERS-171. Answer: c
171. Explanation: Discrimination involves reinforcing responses in the presence of the SD and
putting other responses on leaner schedule, punishment or extinction.
172. A sound rationale for conducting descriptive analysis is to develop ___________________.
172.a. statements of causation
