Behavioral Analysis Final Exam
Questions with complete solution
2026/2027
Define Behavior Modification: - correct answer o The applied science and professional practice
concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior.
o Synonymous with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Define Behavior: - correct answer Behavior refers to the movement of some part of an organism that
changes some aspect of the environment
• Anything a person says or does
• Behavior involves movement and has an impact on the environment
• Is influenced by environmental events
• Can be observed, described, and recorded
o Can be described, observed, and recorded
o Has an impact on the environment
o Behavior is lawful
o May be overt (easily observed or recorded) or covert (what you think in your head)
• Overt behavior can be observed and recorded
• Covert behavior (or privet events) are not observable by others.
What are the four measurable dimensions of behavior? - correct answer • Frequency
• Latency
• Duration
• Intensity
,What are the characteristics of ABA? - correct answer o 1. Focused on behavior (excesses and deficits)
• excesses (something that happens too often that we need to decrease)
• deficits (something that we are looking to increase)
o 2. Guided by theory and philosophy of behaviorism (skinner developed these in this field)
o 3. Based on basic behavioral principals
o 4. Emphasis on current and environmental events
• Controlling variable: events in the immediate environment that are functionally related to behavior.
• ex. Antecedent linked to consequence
o 5. Precise description of bx modification procedures (so others can replicate)
o 6. Tx impliments by people in everyday life
o 7. Measurement of behavior change
o 8. De-emphasis on past events as cause of bx
o 9. Rejection of hypothetical underlying causes of bx
What are the common misconceptions about ABA? - correct answer o Relies on punishment
o Uses bribes
o Ignores real causes of behavior, just treats symptoms
o Ruins intrinsic motivation
o Makes people dependent on external incentives
o It only works with kids and people with disabilities
What are ABA's historical roots? - correct answer • 1911 Thorndike (Law of Effect) (def: behaviors
followed by favorable consiquences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable
consequences become less likely.
• 1924 Watson, "psychology as the behaviorist views it" (his paper and work on lil Al)
,• 1927 Pavlov (respondant conditioning or classiscal conditioning)
• 1930 Skinner- basic research on behavioral principals
• 1950s Skinner- behavior modifications with humans
• 1958 Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• 1968 Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis
• 1978 Association for Behavioral Analysis
• 1980 Florida Association for Behavioral Analysis
• 2000's Functional approach/Certification in BA
Describe the Evolution of ABA. - correct answer o Demostrations of environmental influences on
behavior (first with lab animals then people)
o Treatment development primarily consisting of reinforcement and/or punishment
o Treatment package development
o Development and refinement of functional assessments/analysis
o Functional approach to assessment of behavior and intervention
o Wide range of applications
What are ABA's area of application? - correct answer o Dd population
o Mental illness
o Education
o Special ed
o Rehab
o Business, human services
o Self management
o Child behavioral management
o Prevention
, o Gerontology (huge aging pop in fl)
What are the Professional practice, certification, and ethics of ABA? - correct answer o Behavior
modification has evolved into a profession
o Development of verification by the BACB
• (super increase from 1999 to now)
o ethical guidelines to govern the practice and protest clients/consumers of ABA
Describe behavioral assessment. - correct answer o Measurement of the target behavior is important
o Measuring behavior before, after, and during treatment
o Provides information that aids in selecting appropriate tx
o Allows you to determine if tx was successful`
Describe indirect behavioral assessment. - correct answer • Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Rating scales
• Product measures
• (has more issues with accuracy?)
• ex. How many times use potty
Describe direct behavioral assessment - correct answer • Direct observations and recording as the
behavior occurs.
• EX. Writes down neg thoughts as they happen
Describe recording behaviors: - correct answer o 1. Define the target behavior (operational definitions)
o 2. Identify who, when, and where to record. (find out who patient is and when behavior is and is not
likely to occur)
Questions with complete solution
2026/2027
Define Behavior Modification: - correct answer o The applied science and professional practice
concerned with analyzing and modifying human behavior.
o Synonymous with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Define Behavior: - correct answer Behavior refers to the movement of some part of an organism that
changes some aspect of the environment
• Anything a person says or does
• Behavior involves movement and has an impact on the environment
• Is influenced by environmental events
• Can be observed, described, and recorded
o Can be described, observed, and recorded
o Has an impact on the environment
o Behavior is lawful
o May be overt (easily observed or recorded) or covert (what you think in your head)
• Overt behavior can be observed and recorded
• Covert behavior (or privet events) are not observable by others.
What are the four measurable dimensions of behavior? - correct answer • Frequency
• Latency
• Duration
• Intensity
,What are the characteristics of ABA? - correct answer o 1. Focused on behavior (excesses and deficits)
• excesses (something that happens too often that we need to decrease)
• deficits (something that we are looking to increase)
o 2. Guided by theory and philosophy of behaviorism (skinner developed these in this field)
o 3. Based on basic behavioral principals
o 4. Emphasis on current and environmental events
• Controlling variable: events in the immediate environment that are functionally related to behavior.
• ex. Antecedent linked to consequence
o 5. Precise description of bx modification procedures (so others can replicate)
o 6. Tx impliments by people in everyday life
o 7. Measurement of behavior change
o 8. De-emphasis on past events as cause of bx
o 9. Rejection of hypothetical underlying causes of bx
What are the common misconceptions about ABA? - correct answer o Relies on punishment
o Uses bribes
o Ignores real causes of behavior, just treats symptoms
o Ruins intrinsic motivation
o Makes people dependent on external incentives
o It only works with kids and people with disabilities
What are ABA's historical roots? - correct answer • 1911 Thorndike (Law of Effect) (def: behaviors
followed by favorable consiquences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable
consequences become less likely.
• 1924 Watson, "psychology as the behaviorist views it" (his paper and work on lil Al)
,• 1927 Pavlov (respondant conditioning or classiscal conditioning)
• 1930 Skinner- basic research on behavioral principals
• 1950s Skinner- behavior modifications with humans
• 1958 Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• 1968 Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis
• 1978 Association for Behavioral Analysis
• 1980 Florida Association for Behavioral Analysis
• 2000's Functional approach/Certification in BA
Describe the Evolution of ABA. - correct answer o Demostrations of environmental influences on
behavior (first with lab animals then people)
o Treatment development primarily consisting of reinforcement and/or punishment
o Treatment package development
o Development and refinement of functional assessments/analysis
o Functional approach to assessment of behavior and intervention
o Wide range of applications
What are ABA's area of application? - correct answer o Dd population
o Mental illness
o Education
o Special ed
o Rehab
o Business, human services
o Self management
o Child behavioral management
o Prevention
, o Gerontology (huge aging pop in fl)
What are the Professional practice, certification, and ethics of ABA? - correct answer o Behavior
modification has evolved into a profession
o Development of verification by the BACB
• (super increase from 1999 to now)
o ethical guidelines to govern the practice and protest clients/consumers of ABA
Describe behavioral assessment. - correct answer o Measurement of the target behavior is important
o Measuring behavior before, after, and during treatment
o Provides information that aids in selecting appropriate tx
o Allows you to determine if tx was successful`
Describe indirect behavioral assessment. - correct answer • Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Rating scales
• Product measures
• (has more issues with accuracy?)
• ex. How many times use potty
Describe direct behavioral assessment - correct answer • Direct observations and recording as the
behavior occurs.
• EX. Writes down neg thoughts as they happen
Describe recording behaviors: - correct answer o 1. Define the target behavior (operational definitions)
o 2. Identify who, when, and where to record. (find out who patient is and when behavior is and is not
likely to occur)
