ABSC 160: Exam 4 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
Question: What is the primary focus of applied behavior analysis (ABA)?
Answer: ✔✔ The primary focus of applied behavior analysis is to understand and improve
specific behaviors through the systematic application of behavioral principles and techniques,
with the goal of enhancing an individual’s quality of life.
Question: How does reinforcement differ from punishment in behavior management?
Answer: ✔✔ Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again by providing
a desirable consequence, while punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring
again by introducing an aversive consequence or removing a desirable stimulus.
Question: What are the key components of a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?
Answer: ✔✔ The key components of a functional behavior assessment include identifying the
target behavior, gathering data on the behavior’s antecedents and consequences, analyzing
patterns to determine the function of the behavior, and developing an intervention plan based on
this analysis.
Question: What is a behavior intervention plan (BIP) and what should it include?
1
,Answer: ✔✔ A behavior intervention plan is a strategic plan designed to address challenging
behaviors identified through an FBA. It should include specific behavioral goals, intervention
strategies, and methods for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions.
Question: How do you differentiate between antecedent and consequent interventions?
Answer: ✔✔ Antecedent interventions involve modifying the environment or context before the
behavior occurs to prevent the behavior from happening, while consequent interventions focus
on altering the consequences that follow the behavior to modify its future occurrence.
Question: What role do functional analysis procedures play in behavior assessment?
Answer: ✔✔ Functional analysis procedures involve systematically manipulating environmental
variables to observe their effect on the target behavior, helping to identify the specific function or
purpose the behavior serves for the individual.
Question: How does the principle of shaping work in behavior modification?
Answer: ✔✔ Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior,
gradually guiding the individual towards the target behavior by providing positive reinforcement
for each step that progressively resembles the final goal.
2
, Question: What are the differences between continuous and intermittent reinforcement
schedules?
Answer: ✔✔ Continuous reinforcement provides reinforcement after every occurrence of the
desired behavior, while intermittent reinforcement provides reinforcement after some
occurrences of the behavior, which can lead to higher resistance to extinction and increased
behavior durability.
Question: What is the significance of data collection in ABA?
Answer: ✔✔ Data collection is crucial in ABA as it provides objective evidence of behavior
changes, helps evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, guides decision-making, and ensures
that interventions are based on empirical evidence.
Question: What is meant by “generalization” in the context of behavior change?
Answer: ✔✔ Generalization refers to the ability of an individual to apply learned behaviors or
skills in different settings, with different people, or under different conditions beyond the initial
training environment.
Question: What is the purpose of conducting a preference assessment in ABA?
3
Answers Graded A+
Question: What is the primary focus of applied behavior analysis (ABA)?
Answer: ✔✔ The primary focus of applied behavior analysis is to understand and improve
specific behaviors through the systematic application of behavioral principles and techniques,
with the goal of enhancing an individual’s quality of life.
Question: How does reinforcement differ from punishment in behavior management?
Answer: ✔✔ Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again by providing
a desirable consequence, while punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring
again by introducing an aversive consequence or removing a desirable stimulus.
Question: What are the key components of a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?
Answer: ✔✔ The key components of a functional behavior assessment include identifying the
target behavior, gathering data on the behavior’s antecedents and consequences, analyzing
patterns to determine the function of the behavior, and developing an intervention plan based on
this analysis.
Question: What is a behavior intervention plan (BIP) and what should it include?
1
,Answer: ✔✔ A behavior intervention plan is a strategic plan designed to address challenging
behaviors identified through an FBA. It should include specific behavioral goals, intervention
strategies, and methods for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions.
Question: How do you differentiate between antecedent and consequent interventions?
Answer: ✔✔ Antecedent interventions involve modifying the environment or context before the
behavior occurs to prevent the behavior from happening, while consequent interventions focus
on altering the consequences that follow the behavior to modify its future occurrence.
Question: What role do functional analysis procedures play in behavior assessment?
Answer: ✔✔ Functional analysis procedures involve systematically manipulating environmental
variables to observe their effect on the target behavior, helping to identify the specific function or
purpose the behavior serves for the individual.
Question: How does the principle of shaping work in behavior modification?
Answer: ✔✔ Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior,
gradually guiding the individual towards the target behavior by providing positive reinforcement
for each step that progressively resembles the final goal.
2
, Question: What are the differences between continuous and intermittent reinforcement
schedules?
Answer: ✔✔ Continuous reinforcement provides reinforcement after every occurrence of the
desired behavior, while intermittent reinforcement provides reinforcement after some
occurrences of the behavior, which can lead to higher resistance to extinction and increased
behavior durability.
Question: What is the significance of data collection in ABA?
Answer: ✔✔ Data collection is crucial in ABA as it provides objective evidence of behavior
changes, helps evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, guides decision-making, and ensures
that interventions are based on empirical evidence.
Question: What is meant by “generalization” in the context of behavior change?
Answer: ✔✔ Generalization refers to the ability of an individual to apply learned behaviors or
skills in different settings, with different people, or under different conditions beyond the initial
training environment.
Question: What is the purpose of conducting a preference assessment in ABA?
3
