BCBA ACTUAL EXAMINERS 2026 SET ALL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔6 Components of Experiments in ABA - ✔✔1. At least one subject
2. At least one behavior (DV)
3. At least one setting
4. At least one treatment (IV)
5. A measurement system and ongoing analysis of data
6. An experimental design
✔✔Experimental Question - ✔✔All well-planned experiments begin with this.
A brief but specific statements of what the researcher wants to learn from conducting
the experiment.
✔✔At least one subject (Single-Subject Designs) - ✔✔AKA: Single-Case Designs;
Within-Subject Designs; Intra-Subject Designs
Subjects acts as his/her own control.
This means repeated measures of the subject's behavior during each phase of the
study.
The individual is exposed to each condition several times over the course of a study.
Each subject is graphed separately.
,✔✔At least one behavior - ✔✔AKA: Dependent Variable (DV)
In some studies, more than one DV is measured.
-Provides data patterns that can serve as controls for evaluating & replicating the effects
of an IV
-Assess the presence & the extent of the IV's effects on bxs other than the response
class to which it was directly applied
✔✔At least one setting - ✔✔Control 2 sets of environmental variables to demonstrate
experimental control:
1. IV
2. Extraneous Variables
When unplanned variations take place, you must try to wait them out or incorporate
them into the design.
✔✔At least one treatment - ✔✔AKA: Independent Variable (IV); Intervention;
Experimental Variable
The particular aspect of the environment that the experimenter manipulates to find out
whether it affects the subject's behavior.
✔✔Measurement System & Ongoing Analysis of Data - ✔✔Observation & recording
procedures must be conducted in a standardized manner.
Standardization involves every aspect of the measurement system.
Behaviorist must detect changes in level, trend, & variability.
✔✔Experimental Design - ✔✔Particular arrangement of conditions in a study so that
meaningful comparisons of the effects of the presence, absence, or different values of
the IV can be made.
2 Types:
1. Nonparametric Analysis
2. Parametric Analysis
✔✔Nonparametric Analysis - ✔✔IV either present or absent during study.
✔✔Parametric Analysis - ✔✔The value of the IV is manipulated. Seeks to discover the
differential effects of a range of values.
✔✔Component Analysis - ✔✔After I have created a tx package, how do I analyze the
individual txs that are part of that package?
✔✔Steady State Responding - ✔✔AKA: Stable State Responding
,A pattern of responding that exhibits very little variation.
Provides the basis for Baseline Logic.
✔✔Baseline Logic - ✔✔Prediction
Verification
Replication
✔✔Steady State Strategy - ✔✔Repeated exposure of a given subject to a given
condition while eliminating extraneous influences on bx & obtaining a stable pattern of
responding.
✔✔Function of Baseline Data - ✔✔Serves as a control condition.
Does NOT imply the absence of intervention.
Can be the absence of a specific IV.
✔✔Benefits of Baseline Data - ✔✔Objective basis for detecting change.
Guide us in setting the initial criteria for reinforcement.
To see if the bx targeted for change really warrants intervention.
✔✔4 Patterns of Baseline Data - ✔✔DAVS
Descending Baseline
Ascending Baseline
Variable Baseline
Stable Baseline
✔✔5 Main Experimental Designs - ✔✔MC RAW
Multiple Baseline
Changing Criterion
Reversal
Alternating Txs
Withdrawal
✔✔Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔Most widely used design.
Highly flexible.
Staggered implementation of the intervention in a step-wise fashion across bxs, settings
& subjects.
Do not have a withdraw tx
✔✔2 Variations of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔1. Multiple Probe Design
2. Delayed Multiple Baseline Design
✔✔Multiple Probe Design - ✔✔Analyzes relation between the IV & acquisition of skill
sequences.
, Probes provide basis for determining if bx change has occurred prior to intervention.
✔✔Delayed Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔Initial baseline & intervention begin &
subsequent baselines are added in a delayed or staggered fashion.
✔✔Guidelines for Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔1. Select independent, yet functionally
similar baselines.
2. Select concurrent & plausibly related multiple baselines.
3. Do not apply the IV to the next bx too soon.
4. Vary significantly the lengths of multiple baselines.
5. Intervene on the most stable baseline first.
✔✔Advantages of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔-Successful intervention does not have
to be removed.
-Evaluates generalization.
-Easy to implement.
✔✔Disadvantages of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔-Functional relationship is NOT
directly shown.
-No information regarding function of target bx.
-IV may be delayed
-Takes resources to implement properly.
✔✔Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔Initial baseline is followed by a series of tx phases
consisting of successive & gradually changing criteria for reinforcement of punishment.
-ONLY one behavior in this design.
-Bx has to already be in individual's repertoire.
-Evaluates tx that is applied or step-wise fashion.
✔✔Guidelines for Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔1. Length of phases
-each phase must be long enough to achieve stable responding
2. Magnitude of criterion changes
-the size of the changes between each criterion should vary
-large enough to be detected
3. Number of criterion changes
-the more criterion changes, the better proof of experimental control
✔✔Advantages of Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔-Does not require reversal
-Enables an experimental analysis within the context of a gradually improving bx
✔✔Disadvantages of Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔-Target bx must already be in the
student's repertoire.
-Not appropriate for analyzing the effects of a shaping program.
-NOT a comparison design.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔6 Components of Experiments in ABA - ✔✔1. At least one subject
2. At least one behavior (DV)
3. At least one setting
4. At least one treatment (IV)
5. A measurement system and ongoing analysis of data
6. An experimental design
✔✔Experimental Question - ✔✔All well-planned experiments begin with this.
A brief but specific statements of what the researcher wants to learn from conducting
the experiment.
✔✔At least one subject (Single-Subject Designs) - ✔✔AKA: Single-Case Designs;
Within-Subject Designs; Intra-Subject Designs
Subjects acts as his/her own control.
This means repeated measures of the subject's behavior during each phase of the
study.
The individual is exposed to each condition several times over the course of a study.
Each subject is graphed separately.
,✔✔At least one behavior - ✔✔AKA: Dependent Variable (DV)
In some studies, more than one DV is measured.
-Provides data patterns that can serve as controls for evaluating & replicating the effects
of an IV
-Assess the presence & the extent of the IV's effects on bxs other than the response
class to which it was directly applied
✔✔At least one setting - ✔✔Control 2 sets of environmental variables to demonstrate
experimental control:
1. IV
2. Extraneous Variables
When unplanned variations take place, you must try to wait them out or incorporate
them into the design.
✔✔At least one treatment - ✔✔AKA: Independent Variable (IV); Intervention;
Experimental Variable
The particular aspect of the environment that the experimenter manipulates to find out
whether it affects the subject's behavior.
✔✔Measurement System & Ongoing Analysis of Data - ✔✔Observation & recording
procedures must be conducted in a standardized manner.
Standardization involves every aspect of the measurement system.
Behaviorist must detect changes in level, trend, & variability.
✔✔Experimental Design - ✔✔Particular arrangement of conditions in a study so that
meaningful comparisons of the effects of the presence, absence, or different values of
the IV can be made.
2 Types:
1. Nonparametric Analysis
2. Parametric Analysis
✔✔Nonparametric Analysis - ✔✔IV either present or absent during study.
✔✔Parametric Analysis - ✔✔The value of the IV is manipulated. Seeks to discover the
differential effects of a range of values.
✔✔Component Analysis - ✔✔After I have created a tx package, how do I analyze the
individual txs that are part of that package?
✔✔Steady State Responding - ✔✔AKA: Stable State Responding
,A pattern of responding that exhibits very little variation.
Provides the basis for Baseline Logic.
✔✔Baseline Logic - ✔✔Prediction
Verification
Replication
✔✔Steady State Strategy - ✔✔Repeated exposure of a given subject to a given
condition while eliminating extraneous influences on bx & obtaining a stable pattern of
responding.
✔✔Function of Baseline Data - ✔✔Serves as a control condition.
Does NOT imply the absence of intervention.
Can be the absence of a specific IV.
✔✔Benefits of Baseline Data - ✔✔Objective basis for detecting change.
Guide us in setting the initial criteria for reinforcement.
To see if the bx targeted for change really warrants intervention.
✔✔4 Patterns of Baseline Data - ✔✔DAVS
Descending Baseline
Ascending Baseline
Variable Baseline
Stable Baseline
✔✔5 Main Experimental Designs - ✔✔MC RAW
Multiple Baseline
Changing Criterion
Reversal
Alternating Txs
Withdrawal
✔✔Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔Most widely used design.
Highly flexible.
Staggered implementation of the intervention in a step-wise fashion across bxs, settings
& subjects.
Do not have a withdraw tx
✔✔2 Variations of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔1. Multiple Probe Design
2. Delayed Multiple Baseline Design
✔✔Multiple Probe Design - ✔✔Analyzes relation between the IV & acquisition of skill
sequences.
, Probes provide basis for determining if bx change has occurred prior to intervention.
✔✔Delayed Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔Initial baseline & intervention begin &
subsequent baselines are added in a delayed or staggered fashion.
✔✔Guidelines for Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔1. Select independent, yet functionally
similar baselines.
2. Select concurrent & plausibly related multiple baselines.
3. Do not apply the IV to the next bx too soon.
4. Vary significantly the lengths of multiple baselines.
5. Intervene on the most stable baseline first.
✔✔Advantages of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔-Successful intervention does not have
to be removed.
-Evaluates generalization.
-Easy to implement.
✔✔Disadvantages of Multiple Baseline Design - ✔✔-Functional relationship is NOT
directly shown.
-No information regarding function of target bx.
-IV may be delayed
-Takes resources to implement properly.
✔✔Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔Initial baseline is followed by a series of tx phases
consisting of successive & gradually changing criteria for reinforcement of punishment.
-ONLY one behavior in this design.
-Bx has to already be in individual's repertoire.
-Evaluates tx that is applied or step-wise fashion.
✔✔Guidelines for Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔1. Length of phases
-each phase must be long enough to achieve stable responding
2. Magnitude of criterion changes
-the size of the changes between each criterion should vary
-large enough to be detected
3. Number of criterion changes
-the more criterion changes, the better proof of experimental control
✔✔Advantages of Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔-Does not require reversal
-Enables an experimental analysis within the context of a gradually improving bx
✔✔Disadvantages of Changing Criterion Design - ✔✔-Target bx must already be in the
student's repertoire.
-Not appropriate for analyzing the effects of a shaping program.
-NOT a comparison design.
