BCBA Exam Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Latest Version 2024 | Verified
Jesse's teacher says that he keeps acting out in class. The teacher approaches the behavior analyst and
explains that Jesse's behavior is likely the result of his diet, that he eats way too much sugar and
processed foods, causing problem behaviors. As a behavior analyst, which attitude of science must be
considered in this scenario?
A)Parsimony.B)Philosophic doubt.C)Empiricism.D)Determinism - ✔✔A. Parsimony means that the
simplest, most logical explanations must be ruled out before more complex explanations are considered.
In this example, the teacher should rule out other variables that could be responsible for the problem
behavior before making the assumption that something more complex is responsible for controlling the
behavior. "Philosophic doubt" is continually questioning the truthfulness of scientific knowledge.
"Determinism" is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly. "Empiricism" is the objective
observation of the phenomena of interest.
Louis is designing an intervention for his client. He makes sure that the techniques making up the
intervention are completely identified and described, so that other ABA practitioners may replicate his
intervention. Which dimension of behavior analysis (according to Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968) is described
in this scenario? A)GeneralityB)EffectiveC)BehavioralD)Technological - ✔✔D. The technological
dimension of ABA means that the techniques making up a particular behavioral application are
completely identified and described. This means that behavior analysts should write their interventions
clearly and concisely so that other ABA practitioners can replicate their intervention.
This approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only those independent and
dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe:
A)Radical Behaviorism B)Experimental Analysis of BehaviorC)Applied Behavior AnalysisD)Methodological
Behaviorism - ✔✔D. Methodological behaviorism is the approach to psychology restricts the science of
psychology to only those independent and dependent variables that two independent people can
directly observe. Radical behaviorism is incorrect because it includes thoughts and feelings
(methodological behaviorism does not). Applied behavior analysis is the science in which tactics derived
from the principles of behavior are systematically to improve socially significant behavior and
experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change. Experimental analysis
of behavior focuses on analyzing the basic principles that explain behavior.
This philosophical assumption of science states that scientific knowledge is built on the practice of
objective observation of the phenomena of interest:
,A)Parsimony.B)Empiricism.C)Selectionism.D)Determinism. - ✔✔B. Empiricism means that we observe
behaviors objectively and do not make any assumptions about why the behavior is occurring.
"Determinism" is incorrect because it is the general assumption that the entire universe is orderly and
that all phenomena occur as the result of some other event. "Parsimony" is using the simplest and most
logical explanations to explain why a behavior is occurring. "Selectionism" is incorrect because it is the
philosophical assumption that all behavior, in all living organisms, is the result of an interaction with the
environment.
Which explanation of behavior would most likely be made by a radical behavior analyst?
A)Jimmy gets frustrated when the other children don't play with him.B)Jimmy runs around the classroom
because he eats too much sugar at breakfast time. C)Jimmy enjoys reading over math because he
engages in fewer problem behaviors during reading time. D)Jimmy's environment does not provide
enough reinforcement and he engages in the problem behavior to receive attention. - ✔✔D. This is the
most correct choice for the explanation of behavior from the perspective of a radical behavior analyst.
Jerry is a behavior analyst who is a veteran in the field of ABA. He has been using a procedure to teach
his clients how to wash their hands for the past 20 years. Mallory is a recently certified behavior analyst
who discovered a more beneficial way to teach clients how to wash their hands. Even though Jerry has
been using the same method to teach hand washing for the past 20 years, he starts using Mallory's
strategy instead because the data show it is more effective. What attitude of science does this describe?
A)DeterminismB)ParsimonyC)EmpiricismD)Philosophic doubt - ✔✔D. Philosophic doubt means that
scientists are willing to set aside their beliefs and strategies when an experiment scientifically proves
that a better strategy is available. "Determinism" is incorrect since this refers to the belief that behavior
is lawful and will remain unchanged if nothing in the environment changes. "Parsimony" is incorrect
since this means that scientists explain phenomena with the easiest explanation available. "Empiricism"
is incorrect since this refers to the idea that scientists should remain unbiased and objective during
experiments.
Which explanation of behavior would a behavior analyst most likely use to describe why a student is
physically aggressive towards his teacher?
A)"He hits his teacher because he likes getting out of math assignments."B)"He hits his teacher because
in the past it has resulted in him not having to complete his math assignment."C)"He hits his teacher
because he is diagnosed with dyslexia which makes math more difficult for him compared to his
typically-developing peers."D)"He hits his teacher because he knows he will get out of having to do his
math assignment." - ✔✔B. This is the least mentalistic of all the answer choices. "He knows" and "He
likes" are mentalistic terms. Blaming it on an inner-identity or diagnosis involves circular reasoning and is
mentalistic.
, A behavior analyst is writing a treatment program for a client to learn how to use a city bus route. This
particular client, however, lives in a rural area with limited access to the city busses. Which dimension of
applied behavior analysis did the analyst fail to consider?
A)AppliedB)GeneralityC)Technological D)Conceptual Systems - ✔✔A. Because this client lives in a rural
area with limited access to the city bus route, teaching the client to ride the bus will have little impact on
their life. The "Effective" dimension of ABA means that procedures developed by behavior analysts must
aim to cause a meaningful effect in the client's life.
This approach to psychology considers private events as behavior:
A)Mentalism.B)Pragmatism. C)Methodological Behaviorism.D)Radical Behaviorism. - ✔✔D. Radical
Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that addresses everything in terms of the principles of
behavior (including private events). This differs from methodological behaviorists that do not consider
private events or feelings to be behavior.
Lexi says, "It never fails. Whenever there is a full moon, people start acting weird." However, Lexi has no
data to support her theory. Which scientific analysis is Lexi using?
A)A Descriptive AnalysisB)A Hypothetical AnalysisC)An Experimental AnalysisD)A Correlational Analysis -
✔✔B. A hypothetical analysis is simply assuming that two things go together, without taking any data or
manipulating any variables. Lexi did not take data on the full moon or "weird behavior" and did not
manipulate these variables. "Experimental analysis" is incorrect since this would require manipulating
the environment and recording the behavior. "Correlation(al) analysis" and "descriptive analysis" are
incorrect since they would involve recording the behavior as well.
Which dimension of applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate
experimental control over the behavior?
A)AnalyticB)EffectiveC)Conceptually SystematicD)Technological - ✔✔A. The analytic dimension of
applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate experimental control over the
behavior (in other words, the intervention is the cause of the behavior change).
A methodological behaviorist would not consider which of the following events a behavior?
A)Mary slaps Kelly on the face.B)Kelly avoids Mary because she is scared.C)Mary follows Kelly around at
recess.D)Kelly tells the teacher about Mary's behavior. - ✔✔B. Methodological behaviorists do not
consider private events as behaviors. The other examples, "Mary follows Kelly around at recess," "Kelly
tells the teacher about Mary's behavior," and, "Mary slaps Kelly on the face," are examples of public
events that methodological behaviorists would consider a behavior.
Answers | Latest Version 2024 | Verified
Jesse's teacher says that he keeps acting out in class. The teacher approaches the behavior analyst and
explains that Jesse's behavior is likely the result of his diet, that he eats way too much sugar and
processed foods, causing problem behaviors. As a behavior analyst, which attitude of science must be
considered in this scenario?
A)Parsimony.B)Philosophic doubt.C)Empiricism.D)Determinism - ✔✔A. Parsimony means that the
simplest, most logical explanations must be ruled out before more complex explanations are considered.
In this example, the teacher should rule out other variables that could be responsible for the problem
behavior before making the assumption that something more complex is responsible for controlling the
behavior. "Philosophic doubt" is continually questioning the truthfulness of scientific knowledge.
"Determinism" is the assumption that the universe is lawful and orderly. "Empiricism" is the objective
observation of the phenomena of interest.
Louis is designing an intervention for his client. He makes sure that the techniques making up the
intervention are completely identified and described, so that other ABA practitioners may replicate his
intervention. Which dimension of behavior analysis (according to Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968) is described
in this scenario? A)GeneralityB)EffectiveC)BehavioralD)Technological - ✔✔D. The technological
dimension of ABA means that the techniques making up a particular behavioral application are
completely identified and described. This means that behavior analysts should write their interventions
clearly and concisely so that other ABA practitioners can replicate their intervention.
This approach to psychology restricts the science of psychology to only those independent and
dependent variables that two independent people can directly observe:
A)Radical Behaviorism B)Experimental Analysis of BehaviorC)Applied Behavior AnalysisD)Methodological
Behaviorism - ✔✔D. Methodological behaviorism is the approach to psychology restricts the science of
psychology to only those independent and dependent variables that two independent people can
directly observe. Radical behaviorism is incorrect because it includes thoughts and feelings
(methodological behaviorism does not). Applied behavior analysis is the science in which tactics derived
from the principles of behavior are systematically to improve socially significant behavior and
experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change. Experimental analysis
of behavior focuses on analyzing the basic principles that explain behavior.
This philosophical assumption of science states that scientific knowledge is built on the practice of
objective observation of the phenomena of interest:
,A)Parsimony.B)Empiricism.C)Selectionism.D)Determinism. - ✔✔B. Empiricism means that we observe
behaviors objectively and do not make any assumptions about why the behavior is occurring.
"Determinism" is incorrect because it is the general assumption that the entire universe is orderly and
that all phenomena occur as the result of some other event. "Parsimony" is using the simplest and most
logical explanations to explain why a behavior is occurring. "Selectionism" is incorrect because it is the
philosophical assumption that all behavior, in all living organisms, is the result of an interaction with the
environment.
Which explanation of behavior would most likely be made by a radical behavior analyst?
A)Jimmy gets frustrated when the other children don't play with him.B)Jimmy runs around the classroom
because he eats too much sugar at breakfast time. C)Jimmy enjoys reading over math because he
engages in fewer problem behaviors during reading time. D)Jimmy's environment does not provide
enough reinforcement and he engages in the problem behavior to receive attention. - ✔✔D. This is the
most correct choice for the explanation of behavior from the perspective of a radical behavior analyst.
Jerry is a behavior analyst who is a veteran in the field of ABA. He has been using a procedure to teach
his clients how to wash their hands for the past 20 years. Mallory is a recently certified behavior analyst
who discovered a more beneficial way to teach clients how to wash their hands. Even though Jerry has
been using the same method to teach hand washing for the past 20 years, he starts using Mallory's
strategy instead because the data show it is more effective. What attitude of science does this describe?
A)DeterminismB)ParsimonyC)EmpiricismD)Philosophic doubt - ✔✔D. Philosophic doubt means that
scientists are willing to set aside their beliefs and strategies when an experiment scientifically proves
that a better strategy is available. "Determinism" is incorrect since this refers to the belief that behavior
is lawful and will remain unchanged if nothing in the environment changes. "Parsimony" is incorrect
since this means that scientists explain phenomena with the easiest explanation available. "Empiricism"
is incorrect since this refers to the idea that scientists should remain unbiased and objective during
experiments.
Which explanation of behavior would a behavior analyst most likely use to describe why a student is
physically aggressive towards his teacher?
A)"He hits his teacher because he likes getting out of math assignments."B)"He hits his teacher because
in the past it has resulted in him not having to complete his math assignment."C)"He hits his teacher
because he is diagnosed with dyslexia which makes math more difficult for him compared to his
typically-developing peers."D)"He hits his teacher because he knows he will get out of having to do his
math assignment." - ✔✔B. This is the least mentalistic of all the answer choices. "He knows" and "He
likes" are mentalistic terms. Blaming it on an inner-identity or diagnosis involves circular reasoning and is
mentalistic.
, A behavior analyst is writing a treatment program for a client to learn how to use a city bus route. This
particular client, however, lives in a rural area with limited access to the city busses. Which dimension of
applied behavior analysis did the analyst fail to consider?
A)AppliedB)GeneralityC)Technological D)Conceptual Systems - ✔✔A. Because this client lives in a rural
area with limited access to the city bus route, teaching the client to ride the bus will have little impact on
their life. The "Effective" dimension of ABA means that procedures developed by behavior analysts must
aim to cause a meaningful effect in the client's life.
This approach to psychology considers private events as behavior:
A)Mentalism.B)Pragmatism. C)Methodological Behaviorism.D)Radical Behaviorism. - ✔✔D. Radical
Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that addresses everything in terms of the principles of
behavior (including private events). This differs from methodological behaviorists that do not consider
private events or feelings to be behavior.
Lexi says, "It never fails. Whenever there is a full moon, people start acting weird." However, Lexi has no
data to support her theory. Which scientific analysis is Lexi using?
A)A Descriptive AnalysisB)A Hypothetical AnalysisC)An Experimental AnalysisD)A Correlational Analysis -
✔✔B. A hypothetical analysis is simply assuming that two things go together, without taking any data or
manipulating any variables. Lexi did not take data on the full moon or "weird behavior" and did not
manipulate these variables. "Experimental analysis" is incorrect since this would require manipulating
the environment and recording the behavior. "Correlation(al) analysis" and "descriptive analysis" are
incorrect since they would involve recording the behavior as well.
Which dimension of applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate
experimental control over the behavior?
A)AnalyticB)EffectiveC)Conceptually SystematicD)Technological - ✔✔A. The analytic dimension of
applied behavior analysis means that interventions should demonstrate experimental control over the
behavior (in other words, the intervention is the cause of the behavior change).
A methodological behaviorist would not consider which of the following events a behavior?
A)Mary slaps Kelly on the face.B)Kelly avoids Mary because she is scared.C)Mary follows Kelly around at
recess.D)Kelly tells the teacher about Mary's behavior. - ✔✔B. Methodological behaviorists do not
consider private events as behaviors. The other examples, "Mary follows Kelly around at recess," "Kelly
tells the teacher about Mary's behavior," and, "Mary slaps Kelly on the face," are examples of public
events that methodological behaviorists would consider a behavior.
