BCABA Behavior Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The primary purpose of a functional behavior assessment (FBA) is to:
- Determine a diagnosis
- Identify the antecedents and consequences maintaining a behavior (Correct answer)
- Select a punishment procedure
- Measure the frequency of a behavior
Correct answer: Identify the antecedents and consequences maintaining a behavior
An FBA identifies the environmental variables (antecedents and consequences) that trigger and maintain a problem behavior to guide function-based intervention.
Question 2: Which method of functional assessment involves a trained observer watching and recording the client's behavior in the natural environment without manipulating variables?
- Functional analysis
- Indirect assessment
- Descriptive assessment (Correct answer)
- Analog assessment
Correct answer: Descriptive assessment
Descriptive assessment involves direct observation of behavior in natural contexts without experimenter manipulation of antecedents or consequences.
Question 3: Indirect functional assessment methods include:
- ABC observation
- Analog functional analysis
- Interviews and rating scales (Correct answer)
- Structured ABC recording
Correct answer: Interviews and rating scales
Indirect assessments gather information about behavior through interviews, questionnaires, and rating scales completed by caregivers or teachers without direct observation.
Question 4: In a functional analysis (Iwata et al., 1982/1994), the 'alone' condition is used to test for:
- Social positive reinforcement
- Automatic reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Social negative reinforcement
- Tangible reinforcement
Correct answer: Automatic reinforcement
In the alone condition, the client is placed without access to social stimulation or tasks to test whether the behavior is maintained by automatic (sensory) reinforcement.
Question 5: The 'attention' condition in a functional analysis tests whether behavior is maintained by:
- Escape from demands
- Automatic reinforcement
- Social positive reinforcement (attention) (Correct answer)
- Access to tangibles
Correct answer: Social positive reinforcement (attention)
In the attention condition, the practitioner provides attention contingent on the problem behavior to test whether attention serves as the maintaining reinforcer.
Question 6: A behavior that is maintained by escape from aversive tasks is serving which function?
- Social positive reinforcement
- Automatic positive reinforcement
- Social negative reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Automatic negative reinforcement
Correct answer: Social negative reinforcement
Escape-maintained behavior is negatively reinforced because the removal of an aversive task (the demand) follows the behavior, increasing its future frequency.
BCABA Behavior Assessment 1
The primary purpose of a functional behavior assessment (FBA) is to: