ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Core ABA Principles Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept describes the relationship between a behavior and the consequence that follows it, where the consequence increases the future probability of that behavior?
- Punishment
- Reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Extinction
- Stimulus control
Correct answer: Reinforcement
Reinforcement is defined as a consequence that increases the future frequency or probability of a behavior.
Question 2: A child repeatedly bangs their head when denied a preferred item. After a functional behavior assessment, the team determines the behavior is maintained by attention. This is an example of behavior maintained by which function?
- Automatic reinforcement
- Escape/avoidance
- Tangible reinforcement
- Socially mediated positive reinforcement (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Socially mediated positive reinforcement
When behavior is maintained by attention provided by others, it is a form of socially mediated positive reinforcement.
Question 3: In ABA, the term 'operant' refers to:
- A stimulus that precedes behavior and signals availability of reinforcement
- Behavior that operates on the environment to produce consequences (Correct answer)
- A measurement of response latency
- The intensity of a conditioned stimulus
Correct answer: Behavior that operates on the environment to produce consequences
An operant is behavior that acts on the environment and is influenced by its consequences.
Question 4: Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest and most consistent rate of responding and is most resistant to extinction?
- Fixed ratio
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
- Fixed interval
- Variable interval
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce the highest and most consistent response rates and are most resistant to extinction because reinforcement is unpredictable.
Question 5: A behavior analyst graphs a client's data and observes that the behavior is decreasing across sessions without any intervention change. This pattern is called:
- Baseline stability
- Therapeutic drift
- Spontaneous recovery
- Regression to the mean (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Regression to the mean
Regression to the mean describes the phenomenon where extreme scores naturally move closer to the average over repeated measurement.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?
- To identify the topography of a behavior
- To identify the function or purpose a behavior serves for an individual (Correct answer)
- To determine the severity of a behavioral disorder
- To compare behavior rates to neurotypical peers
Correct answer: To identify the function or purpose a behavior serves for an individual
An FBA is conducted to identify the variables that maintain a behavior, i.e., the function it serves for the individual.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?
- A student receives a sticker for completing homework
- A child throws a tantrum and is given a toy
- A student completes work quickly to avoid staying after class (Correct answer)
- A teacher gives a child verbal praise for raising their hand
Correct answer: A student completes work quickly to avoid staying after class
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus (staying after class) that increases the future probability of the behavior (completing work quickly).
ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Core ABA Principles Questions and Answers 3
Which concept describes the relationship between a behavior and the consequence that follows it, where the consequence increases the future probability of that behavior?