A behavior analyst observes and records the frequency of a child’s tantrum behavior across multiple settings and time periods without intervening. Which scientific goal of behavior analysis does this activity primarily represent?

A research team demonstrates that whenever a teacher increases praise rate, a student’s on-task behavior reliably increases, and when praise is withdrawn, on-task behavior reliably decreases. Which scientific goal has been achieved?

A child completes her homework and her mother stops reminding her to do it. As a result, the child completes homework more consistently in the future. Which process best explains this outcome?

A practitioner observes that a learner’s self-injurious behavior (SIB) increases when demands are present and decreases when demands are removed, and concludes SIB is maintained by negative reinforcement. A colleague argues it may also involve positive reinforcement. Which finding would MOST support the colleague’s claim?

A teacher records how many times a student calls out without raising their hand during a 45-minute class period. Which dimension of behavior is the teacher measuring?

A behavior technician records the number of self-injurious head hits per minute across sessions of varying lengths. Reporting results as hits per minute rather than raw count allows the analyst to:

A researcher wants to determine whether a token economy increases on-task behavior in a classroom. In this study, the token economy is best classified as which type of variable?

In a single-subject study examining whether differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) reduces self-injurious behavior (SIB), which of the following is the dependent variable?

A BCBA is designing an intervention for a client with severe self-injurious behavior. The BCBA selects the least restrictive procedure that is likely to be effective before considering more restrictive alternatives. This decision most directly reflects which core ethical principle?

During a session, a behavior technician mocks a client’s speech in front of other staff. The supervising BCBA observes this. What is the BCBA’s most appropriate immediate response?

Before conducting a functional behavior assessment for a 10-year-old student with autism, a BCBA reviews the student’s cumulative school record. Which of the following is the PRIMARY reason for reviewing existing records prior to direct assessment?

A BCBA is about to begin a functional behavior assessment for an adult with intellectual disability who recently transitioned to a new group home. Records from the previous provider show that the client’s self-injurious behavior decreased significantly when scheduled break times were increased. How should this information most appropriately influence the assessment?

A student completes her homework assignment and her teacher removes a daily check-in requirement the student dislikes. The student’s rate of homework completion increases. This is an example of:

A behavior analyst wants to increase a client’s rate of requesting preferred items. After each request the therapist delivers a preferred snack, and the client’s requesting increases over time. What procedure is being used?

A behavior analyst writes the following goal: ‘The client will improve communication.’ Which revision makes this goal observable and measurable?

Which component is MOST critical to include when writing a behavioral goal to ensure it is measurable?

A BCBA who provides supervision to a registered behavior technician is ultimately responsible for ensuring the quality of services delivered by that supervisee. Which of the following best explains why this supervisory accountability is a core principle in applied behavior analysis?

A new BCBA is asked to explain to her employer why ongoing supervisory contact with direct-care staff is necessary even after initial training is complete. Which of the following is the most behavior-analytically sound rationale?