ABA Study Guide verified to pass
2026/2027
List the 4 branches of behavior analysis - correct answer Behaviorism, Experimental behavior analysis,
Applied behavior Analysis, Professional practice guided by analysis
Control - correct answer Is the highest level of scientific understanding
Behavior - correct answer what living organisms say or do; implies action
how people think ,feel, and what they say
has an affect on the environment
larger set/class of responses that share physical dimensions/function
Example: study behaviors; hand flapping; thinking about an old boyfriend
Response - correct answer a single instance of behavior
measurable unit of analysis in the science of behavior analysis
example: a single hand-flap
Response Class - correct answer A group of behaviors that comprise an operant /have the same
function
operant=response-consequence relationship
similar behaviors that are strengthen or weakened collectively as a result of operant conditioning
example: your exam prep behaviors (these can look different(e.g. reading manual, filling out quizlet,
flash cards, safmeds), but they have the same function to prepare for your BIG exam!)
Behavior (think verbs) - correct answer Smiling
,Eating
Pacing
Agressing
Pouring water on your own head
Crying
Taking$
Rocking you baby side to side
Repertoire - correct answer All the behaviors that you can do and a collection of skills you have learned
that are related to a specific task or a specific setting
Example: Language skills; everyday routines; practicing ABA; cooking
Environment - correct answer An elaborate and always changing universe of events
In ABA, refers to stimulus conditions that are internal and external to the individual
Behaviors can't occur without an environment
Stimulus - correct answer Physical event(s) that effect the behavior of an individual
External or internal
Example: muscle spasms; bright light; loud noise; person present
Formal/physical features, temporal, and functional
3 HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS IMPACTED BY STIMULI - correct answer Proprioceptors
Interoceptors
Exteroceptors
,Proprioceptors - correct answer receive stimulation from joints, tendons, muscles, etc, needed for
posture, balance, and movement (i.e., internal events)
Example: after you get off of a rollercoaster, you feel dizzy
Interoceptors - correct answer receive stimulation from organs (i.e. internal events)
Example: Headache; hunger pains
Exteroceptors - correct answer Your 5 senses (i.e. hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting). Most
often studied by behavior analysts
Example: smelling smoke; smelling fire; tasting BBQ
When do stimuli occur? - correct answer Before (antecedent), during, or after (i.e. consequence)a
behavior (temporal locus of stimuli)
Stimulus Class - correct answer A group of antecedent or simultaneous stimuli that have a common
effect on an operant class
Group members of a stimulus class tend to evoke or abate the same behavior or response class, yet may
vary across physical dimensions
3 TYPES OF STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer FORMAL
TEMPORAL
FUNCTIONAL
FORMAL - correct answer stimuli that share physical features (i.e. topographies)
Example: size; color; intensity; weight; and spatial positions in relation to other objects (prepositions
(e.g. on top of the TV or to the left of the TV)
can be: social (e.g. request from parents) and non-social (e.g. a bad smell; loud noise; locked door)
, TEMPORAL - correct answer refers to time
Antecedents: stimulus changes that exist or occur before a behavior of interest.
important for learning and motivation
consequences: stimulus changes that occur after a behavior of interest. important for future behaviors
Antecedent and consequent stimuli determine what's learned
FUNCTIONAL - correct answer the effect of the stimulus on the behavior
Stimulus changes that are defined by functional analysis of their effects on behavior
A single stimulus can have multiple functions
Can have an immediate, yet temporary effect on behavior (e.g. a sour tasting glass of milk may cause
you to stop drinking milk immediately)
FEATURE STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer Stimuli in this class can share:
common topographies
common relative relations (i.e., spatial arrangements)
Infinite #of stimuli
created by: stimulus generalization
Example: Concept of dog; concept of house; concept of tree; bigger than; smaller than; on top of, etc
ARBITRARY STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer Stimuli comprising this class evoke the same response,
but they don't share a common stimulus feature; they don't physically look alike
Limited #of stimuli
created by: stimulus equivalence
example: 50%,half,1/2, 0.5(these don't look alike, but they evoke the same response)
example: Apple, Banana, etc. comprise an arbitrary stimulus class of fruit
2026/2027
List the 4 branches of behavior analysis - correct answer Behaviorism, Experimental behavior analysis,
Applied behavior Analysis, Professional practice guided by analysis
Control - correct answer Is the highest level of scientific understanding
Behavior - correct answer what living organisms say or do; implies action
how people think ,feel, and what they say
has an affect on the environment
larger set/class of responses that share physical dimensions/function
Example: study behaviors; hand flapping; thinking about an old boyfriend
Response - correct answer a single instance of behavior
measurable unit of analysis in the science of behavior analysis
example: a single hand-flap
Response Class - correct answer A group of behaviors that comprise an operant /have the same
function
operant=response-consequence relationship
similar behaviors that are strengthen or weakened collectively as a result of operant conditioning
example: your exam prep behaviors (these can look different(e.g. reading manual, filling out quizlet,
flash cards, safmeds), but they have the same function to prepare for your BIG exam!)
Behavior (think verbs) - correct answer Smiling
,Eating
Pacing
Agressing
Pouring water on your own head
Crying
Taking$
Rocking you baby side to side
Repertoire - correct answer All the behaviors that you can do and a collection of skills you have learned
that are related to a specific task or a specific setting
Example: Language skills; everyday routines; practicing ABA; cooking
Environment - correct answer An elaborate and always changing universe of events
In ABA, refers to stimulus conditions that are internal and external to the individual
Behaviors can't occur without an environment
Stimulus - correct answer Physical event(s) that effect the behavior of an individual
External or internal
Example: muscle spasms; bright light; loud noise; person present
Formal/physical features, temporal, and functional
3 HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS IMPACTED BY STIMULI - correct answer Proprioceptors
Interoceptors
Exteroceptors
,Proprioceptors - correct answer receive stimulation from joints, tendons, muscles, etc, needed for
posture, balance, and movement (i.e., internal events)
Example: after you get off of a rollercoaster, you feel dizzy
Interoceptors - correct answer receive stimulation from organs (i.e. internal events)
Example: Headache; hunger pains
Exteroceptors - correct answer Your 5 senses (i.e. hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting). Most
often studied by behavior analysts
Example: smelling smoke; smelling fire; tasting BBQ
When do stimuli occur? - correct answer Before (antecedent), during, or after (i.e. consequence)a
behavior (temporal locus of stimuli)
Stimulus Class - correct answer A group of antecedent or simultaneous stimuli that have a common
effect on an operant class
Group members of a stimulus class tend to evoke or abate the same behavior or response class, yet may
vary across physical dimensions
3 TYPES OF STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer FORMAL
TEMPORAL
FUNCTIONAL
FORMAL - correct answer stimuli that share physical features (i.e. topographies)
Example: size; color; intensity; weight; and spatial positions in relation to other objects (prepositions
(e.g. on top of the TV or to the left of the TV)
can be: social (e.g. request from parents) and non-social (e.g. a bad smell; loud noise; locked door)
, TEMPORAL - correct answer refers to time
Antecedents: stimulus changes that exist or occur before a behavior of interest.
important for learning and motivation
consequences: stimulus changes that occur after a behavior of interest. important for future behaviors
Antecedent and consequent stimuli determine what's learned
FUNCTIONAL - correct answer the effect of the stimulus on the behavior
Stimulus changes that are defined by functional analysis of their effects on behavior
A single stimulus can have multiple functions
Can have an immediate, yet temporary effect on behavior (e.g. a sour tasting glass of milk may cause
you to stop drinking milk immediately)
FEATURE STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer Stimuli in this class can share:
common topographies
common relative relations (i.e., spatial arrangements)
Infinite #of stimuli
created by: stimulus generalization
Example: Concept of dog; concept of house; concept of tree; bigger than; smaller than; on top of, etc
ARBITRARY STIMULUS CLASS - correct answer Stimuli comprising this class evoke the same response,
but they don't share a common stimulus feature; they don't physically look alike
Limited #of stimuli
created by: stimulus equivalence
example: 50%,half,1/2, 0.5(these don't look alike, but they evoke the same response)
example: Apple, Banana, etc. comprise an arbitrary stimulus class of fruit
