RBT
RBT Certification Exam Study Questions and
Answers Graded A+ 2026
Discrete Trial -Correct Answer ✔-Any operant whose response rate is controlled by a
given opportunity to emit the response.
Each discrete response occurs when an opportunity to respond exists
Synonymous Terms: restricted operant, controlled operants; contrasts with free operant.
ABC Recording -Correct Answer ✔-also known as "anectdotal observation." Usually in
the form of a table in which an observer writes down what happens before (antecedet),
during (behavior), and after (consequence) a behavior of interest, particularly a problem
behavior. May be one part of a descriptive FBA.
Anectdotal (or ABC) observation -Correct Answer ✔-A form of direct, continuous
observation in which the observer records a descriptive, temporally sequenced account
of all behavior(s) of interest and the antecedent conditions and consequences for those
behaviors as the events occur in the client's natural environment.
Stimulus Preference Assessment -Correct Answer ✔-A variety of procedures used to
determine the stimuli that a person prefers, the relative preference values (high versus
low) of those stimuli, the conditions under which those preference values remain in
effect, and their presumed value as reinforcers.
Dependent Variable -Correct Answer ✔-The variable in an experiment measured to
determine if it changes as a result of manipulation of the (other) variable; in applied
behavior analysis, it represents some measure of a socially significant behavior; often, it
is the same as the target behavior
Independent Variable -Correct Answer ✔-The variable that is systematically
manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to see whether changes in this variable
produce reliable changes in the (other) variable. In applied behavior analysis, it is
usually an environmental event or condition antecedent or consequent to the (other)
variable.
Trend -Correct Answer ✔-The overall direction taken by a data path. It is described in
terms of direction (increasing, decreasing, or zero trend), degree (gradual or steep), and
the extent of variability of data points around it. This feature is used in predicting future
measures of the behavior under unchanging conditions.
Data Path -Correct Answer ✔-The level and trend of behavior between successive data
points; created by drawing a straight line from the center of each data point in a given
data set to the center of the next data point in the same set.
RBT
,RBT
Baseline -Correct Answer ✔-A condition of an experiment in which the independent
variable is not preset; data obtained during this phase 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 indpendent
variable of experimental interest.
A-B design -Correct Answer ✔-A two phase experimental design consisting of a pre-
treatment baseline condition, A. Followed by a treatment condition, B
Line Graph -Correct Answer ✔-Based on a Cartesian plane, a two-dimensional area
formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines. Any point within the plane
represents a specific relation between the two dimensions described by the intersecting
lines. It is the most common graphic format for displaying data in applied behavior
analysis.
Frequency -Correct Answer ✔-A ratio of count per observation time; often expressed as
count per standard unit of time (e.g., per minute, per hour, per day) and calculated by
dividing the number of responses recorded by the number of stanard units of time in
which observations were conducted; used interchangably with "rate"
Partial-interval recording -Correct Answer ✔-A time sampling method for measuring
behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals
(typically from 5 to 10 seconds). The observer records whether the target behavior
occured AT ANY TIME during the interval. This type of recording is not concerned with
how many times the behavior occured during the interval or how long the behavior was
present, just that it occured during the interval; tends to OVERESTIMATE the proportion
of the observation period that the behavior actually occured.
Duration Recording -Correct Answer ✔-Measure of the total extent of time in which a
behavior occurs; often subtraction of time of onset from time offset is used to calculate
total time elapsed.
Continuous Measurement -Correct Answer ✔-Measurement conducted in a manner
such that all instances of the response class(es) of interest are detected during the
observation period.
Event Recording -Correct Answer ✔-Measurement procedure for obtaining a tally or
count of the number of times a behavior occurs.
Measurement -Correct Answer ✔-"The process of assigning numbers and units to
particular features of objects or events; involves attaching a number representing the
observed extent of a dimensional quantity to an appropriate unit. The number and the
unit together constitute the measure of the object or event.
RBT
, RBT
Variable-Momentary DRO (VM-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at specific moments of time, which are separated by variable
amounts of time in random sequence, and delivered if the problem is not occuring at
those times.
Spaced-responding DRL -Correct Answer ✔-A procedure for implementing DRL in
which reinforcement follows each occurence of the target behavior that is separated
from the previous response by a minimum interresponse time.
Interval DRL -Correct Answer ✔-A procedure for implementing DRL in which the total
session is divided into equal intervals and reinforcement is provided at the end of each
interval in which the number of responses during the interval is equal to or below a
criterion limit.
fixed-momentary DRO (FM-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at specific moments of time, which are separated by a fixed
amount of time, and delivered contingent on the problem behavior not occuring at those
moments.
Variable-Interval DRO (VI-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at the end of intervals of variable duration and delivered
contingent on the absence of the problem behavior during the interval.
DRI/DRA reversal technique -Correct Answer ✔-An experimental technique that
demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
incompatible or alternative behavior (DRI/DRA) as a control condition instead of a no-
reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the DRI/DRA condition, the stimulus change
used as a reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurences of a specified behavior that is either incompatible with the target behavior or
an alternative to the target behavior. A higher level of responding during the
reinforcement condition than during the DRI/DRA condition demonstrates that the
changes in heavier are the result of contingent reinforcement, not simply the
presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) -Correct Answer ✔-A
procedure for decreasing problem behavior in which reinforcement is delivered for a
behavior that serves as a desirable alternative to the behavior targeted for reduction
and withheld following instances of the problem behavior (e.g. reinforcing completion of
academic worksheet items when the behavior targeted for reduction is talk-outs)
Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) -Correct Answer ✔-A schedule of
reinforcement in which reinforcement (a) follows each occurence of the target behavior
that is separated by a minimum interresponse time (IRT), or (b) is contingent on the
number of responses within a period of time not exceeding a predetermined criterion.
RBT
RBT Certification Exam Study Questions and
Answers Graded A+ 2026
Discrete Trial -Correct Answer ✔-Any operant whose response rate is controlled by a
given opportunity to emit the response.
Each discrete response occurs when an opportunity to respond exists
Synonymous Terms: restricted operant, controlled operants; contrasts with free operant.
ABC Recording -Correct Answer ✔-also known as "anectdotal observation." Usually in
the form of a table in which an observer writes down what happens before (antecedet),
during (behavior), and after (consequence) a behavior of interest, particularly a problem
behavior. May be one part of a descriptive FBA.
Anectdotal (or ABC) observation -Correct Answer ✔-A form of direct, continuous
observation in which the observer records a descriptive, temporally sequenced account
of all behavior(s) of interest and the antecedent conditions and consequences for those
behaviors as the events occur in the client's natural environment.
Stimulus Preference Assessment -Correct Answer ✔-A variety of procedures used to
determine the stimuli that a person prefers, the relative preference values (high versus
low) of those stimuli, the conditions under which those preference values remain in
effect, and their presumed value as reinforcers.
Dependent Variable -Correct Answer ✔-The variable in an experiment measured to
determine if it changes as a result of manipulation of the (other) variable; in applied
behavior analysis, it represents some measure of a socially significant behavior; often, it
is the same as the target behavior
Independent Variable -Correct Answer ✔-The variable that is systematically
manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to see whether changes in this variable
produce reliable changes in the (other) variable. In applied behavior analysis, it is
usually an environmental event or condition antecedent or consequent to the (other)
variable.
Trend -Correct Answer ✔-The overall direction taken by a data path. It is described in
terms of direction (increasing, decreasing, or zero trend), degree (gradual or steep), and
the extent of variability of data points around it. This feature is used in predicting future
measures of the behavior under unchanging conditions.
Data Path -Correct Answer ✔-The level and trend of behavior between successive data
points; created by drawing a straight line from the center of each data point in a given
data set to the center of the next data point in the same set.
RBT
,RBT
Baseline -Correct Answer ✔-A condition of an experiment in which the independent
variable is not preset; data obtained during this phase 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 indpendent
variable of experimental interest.
A-B design -Correct Answer ✔-A two phase experimental design consisting of a pre-
treatment baseline condition, A. Followed by a treatment condition, B
Line Graph -Correct Answer ✔-Based on a Cartesian plane, a two-dimensional area
formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines. Any point within the plane
represents a specific relation between the two dimensions described by the intersecting
lines. It is the most common graphic format for displaying data in applied behavior
analysis.
Frequency -Correct Answer ✔-A ratio of count per observation time; often expressed as
count per standard unit of time (e.g., per minute, per hour, per day) and calculated by
dividing the number of responses recorded by the number of stanard units of time in
which observations were conducted; used interchangably with "rate"
Partial-interval recording -Correct Answer ✔-A time sampling method for measuring
behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals
(typically from 5 to 10 seconds). The observer records whether the target behavior
occured AT ANY TIME during the interval. This type of recording is not concerned with
how many times the behavior occured during the interval or how long the behavior was
present, just that it occured during the interval; tends to OVERESTIMATE the proportion
of the observation period that the behavior actually occured.
Duration Recording -Correct Answer ✔-Measure of the total extent of time in which a
behavior occurs; often subtraction of time of onset from time offset is used to calculate
total time elapsed.
Continuous Measurement -Correct Answer ✔-Measurement conducted in a manner
such that all instances of the response class(es) of interest are detected during the
observation period.
Event Recording -Correct Answer ✔-Measurement procedure for obtaining a tally or
count of the number of times a behavior occurs.
Measurement -Correct Answer ✔-"The process of assigning numbers and units to
particular features of objects or events; involves attaching a number representing the
observed extent of a dimensional quantity to an appropriate unit. The number and the
unit together constitute the measure of the object or event.
RBT
, RBT
Variable-Momentary DRO (VM-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at specific moments of time, which are separated by variable
amounts of time in random sequence, and delivered if the problem is not occuring at
those times.
Spaced-responding DRL -Correct Answer ✔-A procedure for implementing DRL in
which reinforcement follows each occurence of the target behavior that is separated
from the previous response by a minimum interresponse time.
Interval DRL -Correct Answer ✔-A procedure for implementing DRL in which the total
session is divided into equal intervals and reinforcement is provided at the end of each
interval in which the number of responses during the interval is equal to or below a
criterion limit.
fixed-momentary DRO (FM-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at specific moments of time, which are separated by a fixed
amount of time, and delivered contingent on the problem behavior not occuring at those
moments.
Variable-Interval DRO (VI-DRO) -Correct Answer ✔-A DRO procedure in which
reinforcement is available at the end of intervals of variable duration and delivered
contingent on the absence of the problem behavior during the interval.
DRI/DRA reversal technique -Correct Answer ✔-An experimental technique that
demonstrates the effects of reinforcement; it uses differential reinforcement of an
incompatible or alternative behavior (DRI/DRA) as a control condition instead of a no-
reinforcement (baseline) condition. During the DRI/DRA condition, the stimulus change
used as a reinforcement in the reinforcement condition is presented contingent on
occurences of a specified behavior that is either incompatible with the target behavior or
an alternative to the target behavior. A higher level of responding during the
reinforcement condition than during the DRI/DRA condition demonstrates that the
changes in heavier are the result of contingent reinforcement, not simply the
presentation of or contact with the stimulus event.
Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) -Correct Answer ✔-A
procedure for decreasing problem behavior in which reinforcement is delivered for a
behavior that serves as a desirable alternative to the behavior targeted for reduction
and withheld following instances of the problem behavior (e.g. reinforcing completion of
academic worksheet items when the behavior targeted for reduction is talk-outs)
Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) -Correct Answer ✔-A schedule of
reinforcement in which reinforcement (a) follows each occurence of the target behavior
that is separated by a minimum interresponse time (IRT), or (b) is contingent on the
number of responses within a period of time not exceeding a predetermined criterion.
RBT
