ABAT FREE Foundational Knowledge Questions and Answers 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An establishing operation (EO) differs from an abolishing operation (AO) in that an EO:
- Decreases the reinforcing value of a stimulus and decreases behavior
- Increases the reinforcing value of a stimulus and increases relevant behavior (Correct answer)
- Has no effect on reinforcer effectiveness
- Only affects punisher effectiveness
Correct answer: Increases the reinforcing value of a stimulus and increases relevant behavior
An establishing operation increases the current reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus and increases behavior that has produced that stimulus.
Question 2: In a multiple baseline design across behaviors, a practitioner:
- Introduces the intervention to all behaviors simultaneously
- Reverses to baseline conditions to demonstrate experimental control
- Staggers introduction of the intervention across different behaviors (Correct answer)
- Uses alternating treatments to compare two interventions
Correct answer: Staggers introduction of the intervention across different behaviors
A multiple baseline design demonstrates experimental control by staggering intervention introduction across behaviors, settings, or participants.
Question 3: Which data collection method is BEST suited for measuring behaviors that do not have a clear beginning and end?
- Frequency recording
- Duration recording (Correct answer)
- Latency recording
- Inter-response time recording
Correct answer: Duration recording
Duration recording measures the total time a behavior lasts and is ideal for continuous behaviors without discrete onset/offset boundaries.
Question 4: When a BCBA uses Functional Analysis (FA), what is the primary purpose?
- To teach replacement behaviors through reinforcement
- To identify the environmental variables maintaining a problem behavior (Correct answer)
- To measure the intensity of a problem behavior
- To assess a client's skill deficits
Correct answer: To identify the environmental variables maintaining a problem behavior
Functional analysis involves manipulating antecedents and consequences in controlled conditions to identify the function(s) maintaining problem behavior.
Question 5: Which reinforcement schedule produces the highest and most consistent rate of responding with no post-reinforcement pause?
- Fixed ratio (FR)
- Variable ratio (VR) (Correct answer)
- Fixed interval (FI)
- Variable interval (VI)
Correct answer: Variable ratio (VR)
Variable ratio schedules produce high, steady rates of responding with no post-reinforcement pause because the number of responses required for reinforcement is unpredictable.
Question 6: The concept of 'interobserver agreement' (IOA) in ABA is used to:
- Ensure that intervention procedures are followed correctly
- Assess the social validity of a behavior change program
- Verify the accuracy and reliability of behavioral data (Correct answer)
- Measure the generalization of behavior across settings
Correct answer: Verify the accuracy and reliability of behavioral data
IOA is calculated by comparing data collected independently by two observers to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the measurement system.
Question 7: A skill broken into smaller teachable steps that are taught in sequence is called a:
- Task analysis (Correct answer)
- Behavior contract
- Preference assessment
- Competing behavior pathway
Correct answer: Task analysis
Task analysis involves breaking a complex skill into a sequence of smaller, discrete steps that can be taught and measured individually.
ABAT FREE Foundational Knowledge Questions and Answers 5
An establishing operation (EO) differs from an abolishing operation (AO) in that an EO: