CBC Applied Behavior Analysis Foundations & Principles 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best defines 'operant conditioning' as used in Applied Behavior Analysis?
- Learning through the association of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
- Learning through consequences that follow a behavior, increasing or decreasing its future frequency (Correct answer)
- Learning through observation of others' behavior and its outcomes
- Learning through repeated exposure to a stimulus until habituation occurs
Correct answer: Learning through consequences that follow a behavior, increasing or decreasing its future frequency
Operant conditioning involves learning based on the consequences (reinforcement or punishment) that follow a behavior, which alter the probability of that behavior recurring.
Question 2: The term 'behavior' in ABA is defined as:
- Any thought or cognitive process that influences action
- Any observable and measurable action or response of an organism (Correct answer)
- The internal motivation that drives an individual to act
- Any emotional reaction to environmental stimuli
Correct answer: Any observable and measurable action or response of an organism
ABA defines behavior strictly as anything an organism does that is observable and measurable, excluding internal mental states that cannot be directly observed.
Question 3: What does the term 'environment' refer to in the context of ABA?
- Only the physical surroundings of the individual
- Only the social and interpersonal context of the individual
- Any events or stimuli, internal or external, that influence behavior (Correct answer)
- The setting of a therapy session exclusively
Correct answer: Any events or stimuli, internal or external, that influence behavior
In ABA, 'environment' broadly encompasses any stimulus or event — physical, social, or biological — that can influence behavior.
Question 4: Which characteristic of ABA ensures that behavior change is meaningful to the individual and society?
- Technological
- Applied (Correct answer)
- Conceptually systematic
- Effective
Correct answer: Applied
The 'applied' dimension of ABA, as described by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968), means the behavior targeted for change must be socially significant.
Question 5: A behavior analyst notices that every time a child throws a tantrum, the parent gives the child a toy. Over time, tantrums increase. This is an example of:
- Negative reinforcement
- Positive punishment
- Positive reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Extinction
Correct answer: Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement occurs when a stimulus (toy) is added following a behavior (tantrum), resulting in an increase in that behavior over time.
Question 6: In ABA, the 'three-term contingency' refers to:
- Establishing operation, motivating operation, and response
- Antecedent, behavior, and consequence (Correct answer)
- Stimulus, response, and reinforcement schedule
- Prompt, response, and error correction
Correct answer: Antecedent, behavior, and consequence
The three-term contingency (ABC) describes the relationship between the Antecedent (what comes before), the Behavior, and the Consequence (what follows), which is the core unit of analysis in ABA.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a 'respondent behavior'?
- A student raising their hand to answer a question
- A dog salivating when it hears a bell previously paired with food (Correct answer)
- A child asking for a snack because they are hungry
- An employee completing a report to earn a bonus
Correct answer: A dog salivating when it hears a bell previously paired with food
Respondent behaviors are elicited automatically by prior stimuli through classical conditioning, such as salivating in response to a conditioned stimulus.
CBC Applied Behavior Analysis Foundations & Principles 1
Which of the following best defines 'operant conditioning' as used in Applied Behavior Analysis?