CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST EXAM (CBIS)
EXAM GUIDE - PART I QUESTIONS | TESTED AND
PROVEN ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2024/2025
100% (GRADE A+)
What is pseudobulbar affect
Ans>> neurologic condition in which people are prone to sudden, unexpected, inexplicable, and
often inordinate episodes of crying or laughing
What factors influence the type and extent of behavioral difficulties an individual may
demonstrate after brain injury?
Ans>> site and severity of damage; pre-injury characteristics of personality, intelligence, and
learning style, and the current environment
What is coma-emergent agitation? How long does it last?
Ans>> episode of agitation that may occur as an individual emerges from coma that is usually
brief, lasting less than 10 days in duration
What is consequence-based programming?
1
,Ans>> interventions focused on learning; not indicated for individuals emerging from coma and
demonstrating agitation or confusion
What is often the safest and most efficient technique for dealing with agitation in a behavior-
based manner?
Ans>> through environmental management, where the focus is on offering a quiet, organized,
and structured environment with limited and carefully managed stimulation
What is the Stability Triangle?
Ans>> Is a construct which is useful when identifying treatment priorities and establishing the
treatment plan; contains the following: establish medical stability, promote behavior stability, and
develop a stable activity plan
What is applied behavior analysis?
Ans>> the science of prediction and change of socially significant behaviors
What is behavior?
2
,Ans>> anything an individual does that can be measured, NOT necessarily
yelling/hitting/spitting/etc.
What is the goal of applied behavior analysis?
Ans>> to discover variables that reliably influence behavior to either predict behavior change
or promote behavior change
What are indirect methods of behavior assessment?
Ans>> interviews, checklists, may be reviewed with caregivers, family members, and the
individual themselves; can be subject to bias d/t self-reporting
What are direct methods of behavior assessment?
Ans>> direct observations of an individual, either in a naturally-occurring situation or one in
which specific variables have been controlled or manipulated for assessment purposes
What is Functional Analysis/Functional Assessment
Ans>> methods of direct observation within the field of behavior analysis conducted by BCBA to
pinpoint the potential function or purpose of a behavior via experimental manipulation
3
, What is a functionally equivalent alternative?
Ans>> a behavior that serves the same function as the target behavior but is safer or more
appropriate and thus more useful for the individual (e.g., instead of yelling resulting in d/c of a
non-preferred task, request a break)
What is an operational definition?
Ans>> a definition that outlines what exactly will be counted as an occurrence or episode of the
behavior; must be observable and measurable, and the definition must be specific enough such
that multiple observers can agree upon what would count as an occurrence
What are two dimensions of a behavior that will be important to take into account when
developing an operational definition?
Ans>> topography (what the behavior looks like physically) and intensity (describing the
measure of force)
What are five variables of interest when measuring behavior?
Ans>> frequency, rate, duration, latency, and % correct
4
EXAM GUIDE - PART I QUESTIONS | TESTED AND
PROVEN ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2024/2025
100% (GRADE A+)
What is pseudobulbar affect
Ans>> neurologic condition in which people are prone to sudden, unexpected, inexplicable, and
often inordinate episodes of crying or laughing
What factors influence the type and extent of behavioral difficulties an individual may
demonstrate after brain injury?
Ans>> site and severity of damage; pre-injury characteristics of personality, intelligence, and
learning style, and the current environment
What is coma-emergent agitation? How long does it last?
Ans>> episode of agitation that may occur as an individual emerges from coma that is usually
brief, lasting less than 10 days in duration
What is consequence-based programming?
1
,Ans>> interventions focused on learning; not indicated for individuals emerging from coma and
demonstrating agitation or confusion
What is often the safest and most efficient technique for dealing with agitation in a behavior-
based manner?
Ans>> through environmental management, where the focus is on offering a quiet, organized,
and structured environment with limited and carefully managed stimulation
What is the Stability Triangle?
Ans>> Is a construct which is useful when identifying treatment priorities and establishing the
treatment plan; contains the following: establish medical stability, promote behavior stability, and
develop a stable activity plan
What is applied behavior analysis?
Ans>> the science of prediction and change of socially significant behaviors
What is behavior?
2
,Ans>> anything an individual does that can be measured, NOT necessarily
yelling/hitting/spitting/etc.
What is the goal of applied behavior analysis?
Ans>> to discover variables that reliably influence behavior to either predict behavior change
or promote behavior change
What are indirect methods of behavior assessment?
Ans>> interviews, checklists, may be reviewed with caregivers, family members, and the
individual themselves; can be subject to bias d/t self-reporting
What are direct methods of behavior assessment?
Ans>> direct observations of an individual, either in a naturally-occurring situation or one in
which specific variables have been controlled or manipulated for assessment purposes
What is Functional Analysis/Functional Assessment
Ans>> methods of direct observation within the field of behavior analysis conducted by BCBA to
pinpoint the potential function or purpose of a behavior via experimental manipulation
3
, What is a functionally equivalent alternative?
Ans>> a behavior that serves the same function as the target behavior but is safer or more
appropriate and thus more useful for the individual (e.g., instead of yelling resulting in d/c of a
non-preferred task, request a break)
What is an operational definition?
Ans>> a definition that outlines what exactly will be counted as an occurrence or episode of the
behavior; must be observable and measurable, and the definition must be specific enough such
that multiple observers can agree upon what would count as an occurrence
What are two dimensions of a behavior that will be important to take into account when
developing an operational definition?
Ans>> topography (what the behavior looks like physically) and intensity (describing the
measure of force)
What are five variables of interest when measuring behavior?
Ans>> frequency, rate, duration, latency, and % correct
4
