FIT ABA Comps Quiz
Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
alternating treatments design - Answer: An experimental design in which two or more conditions (one of
which may be a no-treatment control condition) are presented in rapidly alternating succession (e.g. on
alternating sessions or days) independent of the level of responding ; differences in responding between
or among conditions are attributed to the effects of the conditions (also called concurrent schedule
design, multielement design, multiple schedule design).
ascending baseline - Answer: A data path that shows an increasing trend in the response measure over
time.
B-A-B design - Answer: A three-phase experimental design that begins with the treatment conditions.
After steady state responding has been obtained during the initial treatment phase (B), the treatment
variable is withdrawn (A) to see whether responding changes in the absence of the independent
variable. The treatment variable is then reintroduced (B) in an attempt to recapture the level of
responding obtained during the first treatment phase.
baseline - Answer: A condition of an experiment in which the independent variable is not present; data
obtained during baseline are the basis for determining the effects of the independent variable; a control
condition that does not necessarily mean the absence of instruction or treatment, only the absence of a
specific independent variable of experimental interest.
baseline logic - Answer: A term sometimes used to refer to the experimental reasoning inherent in
single-subject experimental designs; entails three elements: prediction, verification, and replication.
changing criterion design - Answer: An experimental design in which an initial baseline phase is followed
by a series of treatment phases consisting of successive and gradually changing criteria for
reinforcement or punishment. Experimental control is evidenced by the extent the level of responding
changes to conform to each new criterion.
,component analysis - Answer: Any experiment designed to identify the active elements of a treatment
condition, the relative contributions of different variables in a treatment package, and/or the necessary
and sufficient components of an intervention. Component analyses take many forms, but the basic
strategy is to compare levels of responding across successive phases in which the intervention is
implemented with one or more components left out.
delayed multiple baseline design - Answer: A variation of the multiple baseline design in which an initial
baseline, and perhaps intervention, are begun for one behavior (or setting, or subject), and subsequent
baselines for additional behaviors are begun in a staggered or delayed fashion.
descending baseline - Answer: A data path that shows a decreasing trend in the response measure over
time.
differential reinforcement of alternative behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental
technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
alternative behavior (DRA) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition, the
stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurrences of a specified behavior that is an alternative to the target behavior. A higher level of
responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential reinforcement of alternative
behavior condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent
reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental
technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
incompatible behavior (DRI) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition,
the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurrences of a specified behavior that is incompatible with the target behavior. A higher level of
responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential reinforcement of
incompatible behavior condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent
reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
differential reinforcement of other behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental technique for
demonstrating the effects of reinforcement by using differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)
as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the differential
reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) condition, the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the
reinforcement condition is presented contingent on the absence of the target behavior for a specified
time period. A higher level of responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential
,reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are a result
of contingent reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
direct replication - Answer: An experiment in which the researcher attempts to duplicate exactly the
conditions of an earlier experiment.
double-blind control - Answer: A procedure that prevents the subject and the observer(s) from detecting
the presence or absence of the treatment variable; used to eliminate confounding of results by subject
expectations, parent and teacher expectations, differential treatment by others, and observer bias.
experimental control - Answer: Two meanings: (a) the outcome of an experiment that demonstrates
convincingly a functional relation, meaning that experimental control is achieved when a predictable
change in behavior (the dependent variable) can be reliably produced by manipulating a specific aspect
of the environment (the independent variable); and (b) the extent to which a researcher maintains
precise control of the independent variable by presenting it, withdrawing it, and/or varying its value,
and also by eliminating or holding constant all confounding and extraneous variables.
experimental design - Answer: The particular type and sequence of conditions in a study so that
meaningful and comparisons of the effects of the presence and absence (or different values) of the
independent variable can be made.
experimental question - Answer: A statement of what the researcher seeks to learn by conducting the
experiment; may be presented in question form and is most often found in a published account as a
statement of the experiment's purpose. All aspects of an experimenter's design should follow from the
experimental question (also called the research question).
external validity - Answer: The degree to which a study's findings have generality to other subjects,
settings, and/or behaviors.
extraneous variable - Answer: Any aspect of the experimental setting (i.e. lighting, temperature) that
must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation.
general case study - Answer: A systematic process for identifying and selecting teaching examples that
represent the full range of stimulus variations and response requirements in the generalization
setting(s).
, internal validity - Answer: The extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in
behavior are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown
variables.
irreversibility - Answer: A situation that occurs when the level of responding observed in a previous
phase cannot be reproduced even though the experimental conditions are the same as they were during
the earlier phase.
multiple baseline across behaviors design - Answer: A multiple baseline design in which the treatment
variable is applied to two or more different behaviors of the same subject in the same setting.
multiple baseline across subjects design - Answer: A multiple baseline design in which the treatment
variable is applied to the same behavior of two or more subjects (or groups) in the same setting.
multiple baseline design - Answer: An experimental design that begins with the concurrent
measurement of two or more behaviors in a baseline condition, followed by the application of the
treatment variable to one of the behaviors while baseline conditions remain in effect for the other
behavior(s). After maximum change has been noted in the first behavior, the treatment variable is
applied in sequential fashion to each of the other behaviors in the design. Experimental control is
demonstrated if each behavior shows similar changes when, and only when, the treatment variable is
introduced.
multiple probe design - Answer: A variation of the multiple baseline design that features intermittent
measures, or probes, during baseline. It is used to evaluate the effects of instruction on skill sequences
in which it is unlikely that the subject can improve performance on later steps in the sequence before
learning prior steps.
multiple treatment interference - Answer: The effects of one treatment on a subject's behavior being
confounding by the influence of another treatment administered in the same study.
multiple treatment reversal design - Answer: Any experimental design that uses the experimental
methods and logic of the reversal tactic to compare the effects of two or more experimental conditions
to baseline and/or to one another (e.g. A-B-A-B-C-B-C, A-B-A-C-A-D-A-C-A-D, A-B-A-B-B+C-B-B+C).
Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
alternating treatments design - Answer: An experimental design in which two or more conditions (one of
which may be a no-treatment control condition) are presented in rapidly alternating succession (e.g. on
alternating sessions or days) independent of the level of responding ; differences in responding between
or among conditions are attributed to the effects of the conditions (also called concurrent schedule
design, multielement design, multiple schedule design).
ascending baseline - Answer: A data path that shows an increasing trend in the response measure over
time.
B-A-B design - Answer: A three-phase experimental design that begins with the treatment conditions.
After steady state responding has been obtained during the initial treatment phase (B), the treatment
variable is withdrawn (A) to see whether responding changes in the absence of the independent
variable. The treatment variable is then reintroduced (B) in an attempt to recapture the level of
responding obtained during the first treatment phase.
baseline - Answer: A condition of an experiment in which the independent variable is not present; data
obtained during baseline are the basis for determining the effects of the independent variable; a control
condition that does not necessarily mean the absence of instruction or treatment, only the absence of a
specific independent variable of experimental interest.
baseline logic - Answer: A term sometimes used to refer to the experimental reasoning inherent in
single-subject experimental designs; entails three elements: prediction, verification, and replication.
changing criterion design - Answer: An experimental design in which an initial baseline phase is followed
by a series of treatment phases consisting of successive and gradually changing criteria for
reinforcement or punishment. Experimental control is evidenced by the extent the level of responding
changes to conform to each new criterion.
,component analysis - Answer: Any experiment designed to identify the active elements of a treatment
condition, the relative contributions of different variables in a treatment package, and/or the necessary
and sufficient components of an intervention. Component analyses take many forms, but the basic
strategy is to compare levels of responding across successive phases in which the intervention is
implemented with one or more components left out.
delayed multiple baseline design - Answer: A variation of the multiple baseline design in which an initial
baseline, and perhaps intervention, are begun for one behavior (or setting, or subject), and subsequent
baselines for additional behaviors are begun in a staggered or delayed fashion.
descending baseline - Answer: A data path that shows a decreasing trend in the response measure over
time.
differential reinforcement of alternative behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental
technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
alternative behavior (DRA) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition, the
stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurrences of a specified behavior that is an alternative to the target behavior. A higher level of
responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential reinforcement of alternative
behavior condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent
reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental
technique that demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
incompatible behavior (DRI) as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition,
the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurrences of a specified behavior that is incompatible with the target behavior. A higher level of
responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential reinforcement of
incompatible behavior condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are the result of contingent
reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
differential reinforcement of other behavior reversal technique - Answer: An experimental technique for
demonstrating the effects of reinforcement by using differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)
as a control condition instead of a no-reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the differential
reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) condition, the stimulus change used as reinforcement in the
reinforcement condition is presented contingent on the absence of the target behavior for a specified
time period. A higher level of responding during the reinforcement condition than during the differential
,reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) condition demonstrates that the changes in behavior are a result
of contingent reinforcement, not simply the presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
direct replication - Answer: An experiment in which the researcher attempts to duplicate exactly the
conditions of an earlier experiment.
double-blind control - Answer: A procedure that prevents the subject and the observer(s) from detecting
the presence or absence of the treatment variable; used to eliminate confounding of results by subject
expectations, parent and teacher expectations, differential treatment by others, and observer bias.
experimental control - Answer: Two meanings: (a) the outcome of an experiment that demonstrates
convincingly a functional relation, meaning that experimental control is achieved when a predictable
change in behavior (the dependent variable) can be reliably produced by manipulating a specific aspect
of the environment (the independent variable); and (b) the extent to which a researcher maintains
precise control of the independent variable by presenting it, withdrawing it, and/or varying its value,
and also by eliminating or holding constant all confounding and extraneous variables.
experimental design - Answer: The particular type and sequence of conditions in a study so that
meaningful and comparisons of the effects of the presence and absence (or different values) of the
independent variable can be made.
experimental question - Answer: A statement of what the researcher seeks to learn by conducting the
experiment; may be presented in question form and is most often found in a published account as a
statement of the experiment's purpose. All aspects of an experimenter's design should follow from the
experimental question (also called the research question).
external validity - Answer: The degree to which a study's findings have generality to other subjects,
settings, and/or behaviors.
extraneous variable - Answer: Any aspect of the experimental setting (i.e. lighting, temperature) that
must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation.
general case study - Answer: A systematic process for identifying and selecting teaching examples that
represent the full range of stimulus variations and response requirements in the generalization
setting(s).
, internal validity - Answer: The extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in
behavior are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown
variables.
irreversibility - Answer: A situation that occurs when the level of responding observed in a previous
phase cannot be reproduced even though the experimental conditions are the same as they were during
the earlier phase.
multiple baseline across behaviors design - Answer: A multiple baseline design in which the treatment
variable is applied to two or more different behaviors of the same subject in the same setting.
multiple baseline across subjects design - Answer: A multiple baseline design in which the treatment
variable is applied to the same behavior of two or more subjects (or groups) in the same setting.
multiple baseline design - Answer: An experimental design that begins with the concurrent
measurement of two or more behaviors in a baseline condition, followed by the application of the
treatment variable to one of the behaviors while baseline conditions remain in effect for the other
behavior(s). After maximum change has been noted in the first behavior, the treatment variable is
applied in sequential fashion to each of the other behaviors in the design. Experimental control is
demonstrated if each behavior shows similar changes when, and only when, the treatment variable is
introduced.
multiple probe design - Answer: A variation of the multiple baseline design that features intermittent
measures, or probes, during baseline. It is used to evaluate the effects of instruction on skill sequences
in which it is unlikely that the subject can improve performance on later steps in the sequence before
learning prior steps.
multiple treatment interference - Answer: The effects of one treatment on a subject's behavior being
confounding by the influence of another treatment administered in the same study.
multiple treatment reversal design - Answer: Any experimental design that uses the experimental
methods and logic of the reversal tactic to compare the effects of two or more experimental conditions
to baseline and/or to one another (e.g. A-B-A-B-C-B-C, A-B-A-C-A-D-A-C-A-D, A-B-A-B-B+C-B-B+C).
