SPCE 630 Midterm Exam |Questions and Answers Latest Updated 2026 (Graded
A+)
SPCE 630: RESEARCH METHODS FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
MIDTERM EXAMINATION - PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
SECTION 1: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS & SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
(Q1-Q25)
Q1. A researcher repeatedly observes children with and without autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) during recess. She notices that children with ASD are more likely to
join in play when children without ASD initiate the social interaction. She
concludes there is a correlation between joining play and who initiates the
interaction. Which level of scientific understanding is the researcher using?
A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
,D. Determinism
Answer: B - Prediction
Rationale: The three levels of scientific understanding in behavior analysis are
Description (systematic observation and measurement), Prediction (observing
correlation between two variables, knowing one event will likely occur with
another), and Control (functional/causal relationship demonstrated through
experimentation). This researcher has observed a reliable correlation (co-
variation) between two events but has not yet experimentally manipulated
variables, representing prediction .
Q2. Professor Smith wants to increase time working on research activities by
implementing a structured schedule, self-monitoring, and goal setting. What
is/are the dependent variable(s)?
A. Structured schedule
B. Self-monitoring
C. Goal setting
,D. Time working on research-related activities
Answer: D - Time working on research-related activities
Rationale: The dependent variable is the target behavior measured to assess the
effects of the intervention. Here, time spent working on research activities is the
outcome being measured. The independent variables (structured schedule, self-
monitoring, goal setting) are manipulated to produce change in the dependent
variable .
Q3. Which of the following is NOT one of the six attitudes of science underlying
behavior analysis?
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
, D. Subjectivity
Answer: D - Subjectivity
Rationale: The six attitudes of science are: Determinism (lawful order of events),
Empiricism (objective observation), Experimentation (controlled manipulation),
Replication (repeating findings), Parsimony (simplest explanation), and
Philosophic Doubt (continuous questioning). Subjectivity conflicts with the
objective, empirical nature of behavior analysis .
Q4. What does "philosophic doubt" refer to in behavior analysis?
A. The belief that all behavior is predetermined
B. The attitude of skepticism and continuous questioning of facts and processes in
science
C. The principle that the simplest explanation should be preferred
D. The requirement to replicate findings before accepting them
A+)
SPCE 630: RESEARCH METHODS FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
MIDTERM EXAMINATION - PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
SECTION 1: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS & SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
(Q1-Q25)
Q1. A researcher repeatedly observes children with and without autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) during recess. She notices that children with ASD are more likely to
join in play when children without ASD initiate the social interaction. She
concludes there is a correlation between joining play and who initiates the
interaction. Which level of scientific understanding is the researcher using?
A. Description
B. Prediction
C. Control
,D. Determinism
Answer: B - Prediction
Rationale: The three levels of scientific understanding in behavior analysis are
Description (systematic observation and measurement), Prediction (observing
correlation between two variables, knowing one event will likely occur with
another), and Control (functional/causal relationship demonstrated through
experimentation). This researcher has observed a reliable correlation (co-
variation) between two events but has not yet experimentally manipulated
variables, representing prediction .
Q2. Professor Smith wants to increase time working on research activities by
implementing a structured schedule, self-monitoring, and goal setting. What
is/are the dependent variable(s)?
A. Structured schedule
B. Self-monitoring
C. Goal setting
,D. Time working on research-related activities
Answer: D - Time working on research-related activities
Rationale: The dependent variable is the target behavior measured to assess the
effects of the intervention. Here, time spent working on research activities is the
outcome being measured. The independent variables (structured schedule, self-
monitoring, goal setting) are manipulated to produce change in the dependent
variable .
Q3. Which of the following is NOT one of the six attitudes of science underlying
behavior analysis?
A. Determinism
B. Empiricism
C. Parsimony
, D. Subjectivity
Answer: D - Subjectivity
Rationale: The six attitudes of science are: Determinism (lawful order of events),
Empiricism (objective observation), Experimentation (controlled manipulation),
Replication (repeating findings), Parsimony (simplest explanation), and
Philosophic Doubt (continuous questioning). Subjectivity conflicts with the
objective, empirical nature of behavior analysis .
Q4. What does "philosophic doubt" refer to in behavior analysis?
A. The belief that all behavior is predetermined
B. The attitude of skepticism and continuous questioning of facts and processes in
science
C. The principle that the simplest explanation should be preferred
D. The requirement to replicate findings before accepting them
