PSYC 331 EXAMS SCRIPT 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Possible causes of self-injurious behavior? - ✔✔1. person gets something he/she
wants from the behavior
2. the person gets out something he/she does not want from the behavior
3. the person "likes" the sensory experience
✔✔Steps in identifying the cause of SIB? - ✔✔1. screen for biological causes
2. if no biological cause is found, determine whether the behavior depends on the social
environment
3. if the social environment is unrelated to the behavior, determine whether the behavior
is affected by other suspects of the situation
✔✔Behavior modification procedures focus more on specific ____ behaviors. -
✔✔target
✔✔Target behavior - ✔✔an isolated behavior selected as the object of a behavior
change program; comes from a behavioral problem
✔✔Target behaviors can involve either behavioral ____ or behavioral ___; they alter
interventions to be carried out and modify behavior - ✔✔excess or deficits
✔✔Behavioral excess - ✔✔target behavior that occur too frequently (too long or with too
much intensity); kicking, biting, crying, yelling, SIB
✔✔behavioral deficit - ✔✔target behavior occurs too little (too short, too little intensity);
little eye contact, non-verbal
✔✔Other characteristics of behavior modification? - ✔✔1. treatments involve the
principles of learning
2. treatments are described precisely to ensure they are followed correctly
3. treatments are implemented in everyday life settings because the goal is to change
behavior where and when problems occur
✔✔Important behaviors found with hoarding disorder? - ✔✔1. frequently acquire items
that are not needed
2. rarely discard unnecessary items
3. feels anxious when discarding items
4. spends little time planning or organizing
✔✔Starting steps to observe and record behavior - ✔✔1. decide whether to perform a
direct or indirect assessment
, ✔✔If a direct assessment is performed: (3 steps) - ✔✔1. identify the target behavior,
define in precise terms
2. decide where and when to observe the behavior
3. choose which recording method to use
✔✔If an indirect assessment is formed, one learns of clients behavior through? -
✔✔questionnaires and interviews
✔✔Indirect assessments are beneficial in observing ___ behaviors? - ✔✔covert (not
directly observable)
✔✔Benefits of indirect observations? - ✔✔1. the only way to examine covert behaviors
or past behavior
2. one can learn a lot of the client's behavior in a short period of time
3. one can learn about the client's behavior from multiple sources
✔✔Issues with indirect observations? - ✔✔is the information accurate? is appropriate
context provided? are some incidents omitted?
✔✔Benefits of direct assessment? - ✔✔One examines the actual behavior in its natural
context. - putting yourself in situations where behavior is actually occurring and tracking
results
✔✔Issues with direct assessments? - ✔✔1. time consuming
2. natural behavior may be difficult to describe and measure
3. observations may not capture typical behavior either because of circumstance or
reactivity
✔✔Reactivity of a person - ✔✔people know they are being observed so they react; may
mask or behave differently than they normally would
✔✔Observing and recording behavior starting steps: if a direct assessment is performed
(3 steps)? - ✔✔1. identify the target behavior, define it in precise terms
2. decide where and when to observe the behavior
3. choose which recording method to use
✔✔Example of a direct assessment in child with autism in a store? - ✔✔Excessive
spinning that lasts 3-5 minutes after pressing a toy button.
✔✔Defining the target behavior and examples? - ✔✔definition should be precise and
tailored to the individual's concern
examples = stuttering, studying, having a tantrum
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Possible causes of self-injurious behavior? - ✔✔1. person gets something he/she
wants from the behavior
2. the person gets out something he/she does not want from the behavior
3. the person "likes" the sensory experience
✔✔Steps in identifying the cause of SIB? - ✔✔1. screen for biological causes
2. if no biological cause is found, determine whether the behavior depends on the social
environment
3. if the social environment is unrelated to the behavior, determine whether the behavior
is affected by other suspects of the situation
✔✔Behavior modification procedures focus more on specific ____ behaviors. -
✔✔target
✔✔Target behavior - ✔✔an isolated behavior selected as the object of a behavior
change program; comes from a behavioral problem
✔✔Target behaviors can involve either behavioral ____ or behavioral ___; they alter
interventions to be carried out and modify behavior - ✔✔excess or deficits
✔✔Behavioral excess - ✔✔target behavior that occur too frequently (too long or with too
much intensity); kicking, biting, crying, yelling, SIB
✔✔behavioral deficit - ✔✔target behavior occurs too little (too short, too little intensity);
little eye contact, non-verbal
✔✔Other characteristics of behavior modification? - ✔✔1. treatments involve the
principles of learning
2. treatments are described precisely to ensure they are followed correctly
3. treatments are implemented in everyday life settings because the goal is to change
behavior where and when problems occur
✔✔Important behaviors found with hoarding disorder? - ✔✔1. frequently acquire items
that are not needed
2. rarely discard unnecessary items
3. feels anxious when discarding items
4. spends little time planning or organizing
✔✔Starting steps to observe and record behavior - ✔✔1. decide whether to perform a
direct or indirect assessment
, ✔✔If a direct assessment is performed: (3 steps) - ✔✔1. identify the target behavior,
define in precise terms
2. decide where and when to observe the behavior
3. choose which recording method to use
✔✔If an indirect assessment is formed, one learns of clients behavior through? -
✔✔questionnaires and interviews
✔✔Indirect assessments are beneficial in observing ___ behaviors? - ✔✔covert (not
directly observable)
✔✔Benefits of indirect observations? - ✔✔1. the only way to examine covert behaviors
or past behavior
2. one can learn a lot of the client's behavior in a short period of time
3. one can learn about the client's behavior from multiple sources
✔✔Issues with indirect observations? - ✔✔is the information accurate? is appropriate
context provided? are some incidents omitted?
✔✔Benefits of direct assessment? - ✔✔One examines the actual behavior in its natural
context. - putting yourself in situations where behavior is actually occurring and tracking
results
✔✔Issues with direct assessments? - ✔✔1. time consuming
2. natural behavior may be difficult to describe and measure
3. observations may not capture typical behavior either because of circumstance or
reactivity
✔✔Reactivity of a person - ✔✔people know they are being observed so they react; may
mask or behave differently than they normally would
✔✔Observing and recording behavior starting steps: if a direct assessment is performed
(3 steps)? - ✔✔1. identify the target behavior, define it in precise terms
2. decide where and when to observe the behavior
3. choose which recording method to use
✔✔Example of a direct assessment in child with autism in a store? - ✔✔Excessive
spinning that lasts 3-5 minutes after pressing a toy button.
✔✔Defining the target behavior and examples? - ✔✔definition should be precise and
tailored to the individual's concern
examples = stuttering, studying, having a tantrum
