ABA Research, Analysis, and Intervention 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a structural (descriptive) functional behavior assessment method?
- Analog functional analysis (Iwata et al., 1982/1994)
- Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) recording (Correct answer)
- Functional analysis with control and test conditions
- Brief functional analysis with latency measures
Correct answer: Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) recording
ABC recording is a descriptive method that observes naturally occurring behavior without manipulating variables, unlike experimental functional analysis.
Question 2: An intervention package that combines differential reinforcement with extinction would address the maintaining consequence of problem behavior by:
- Reinforcing the problem behavior on a thinner schedule
- Withholding reinforcement for problem behavior while providing it for alternative behavior (Correct answer)
- Punishing every instance of problem behavior with response cost
- Increasing the density of prompts prior to each opportunity
Correct answer: Withholding reinforcement for problem behavior while providing it for alternative behavior
Pairing extinction (removing reinforcement for problem behavior) with differential reinforcement (providing reinforcement for appropriate behavior) directly targets the maintaining contingency.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of conducting a preference assessment before an intervention?
- To diagnose the topography of the target behavior
- To identify stimuli likely to function as reinforcers (Correct answer)
- To establish baseline levels of challenging behavior
- To determine the appropriate punishment procedure
Correct answer: To identify stimuli likely to function as reinforcers
Preference assessments identify stimuli the learner approaches or selects, which are then used as candidates for reinforcers in intervention.
Question 4: A practitioner notes that data collected across observers on the same sessions consistently produces IOA scores below 80%. The most appropriate immediate action is to:
- Continue collecting data and compute the mean IOA at the end of the study
- Re-train observers on the operational definition of the target behavior (Correct answer)
- Switch from frequency to duration recording to simplify data collection
- Increase the number of sessions before recalculating IOA
Correct answer: Re-train observers on the operational definition of the target behavior
IOA below 80% signals unclear definitions or observer drift; retraining observers on the operational definition is the first corrective step.
Question 5: In a changing criterion design, experimental control is demonstrated when:
- Behavior matches each successive criterion level as the criterion changes (Correct answer)
- Behavior reaches the terminal criterion after a single phase change
- The intervention is withdrawn and behavior returns to baseline
- A concurrent operant arrangement shows relative response allocation
Correct answer: Behavior matches each successive criterion level as the criterion changes
The changing criterion design shows control by demonstrating that behavior tracks each stepwise criterion change in the expected direction.
Question 6: A researcher reports a phi coefficient of +0.85 between a teacher's proximity and student on-task behavior. This statistic describes:
- The slope of an OLS regression line
- The strength and direction of association between two dichotomous variables (Correct answer)
- The percentage of non-overlapping data between baseline and treatment
- The proportion of variance explained by the independent variable
Correct answer: The strength and direction of association between two dichotomous variables
Phi (φ) measures the strength and direction of association between two binary variables, ranging from -1 to +1.
Question 7: Which ethical obligation most directly constrains how long a researcher may maintain a participant in an ineffective baseline before beginning treatment?
- The principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence (Correct answer)
- The requirement for informed assent from participants under 18
- The need to obtain IRB approval before any observation
- The publication requirement for peer review
Correct answer: The principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence
Beneficence requires that researchers act in participants' best interests, limiting how long potentially harmful baselines can be sustained for experimental purposes.
ABA Research, Analysis, and Intervention 3
Which of the following is an example of a structural (descriptive) functional behavior assessment method?