Practice Test Geeks(ABA) Applied Behavior Analyst Certification Practice Test
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Concepts & Principles of Behavior Analysis Flashcards

7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Concepts & Principles of Behavior Analysis flashcards as text

  1. Which term refers to the process by which a previously conditioned stimulus loses its ability to elicit a conditioned response?

    Answer: Extinction (respondent)

    Respondent extinction occurs when a conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, eventually eliminating the conditioned response.

  2. Satiation with a reinforcer best exemplifies which type of motivating operation?

    Answer: Unconditioned abolishing operation

    Satiation is an unconditioned abolishing operation (UAO) that decreases the reinforcing value of a stimulus through biological mechanisms without a learning history.

  3. A pigeon trained to peck a red key also pecks orange and yellow keys without additional training. This demonstrates:

    Answer: Stimulus generalization

    Stimulus generalization occurs when responses trained to one stimulus transfer to similar, untrained stimuli based on their physical properties.

  4. The three-term contingency (A-B-C) in operant conditioning consists of:

    Answer: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence

    The three-term contingency describes the functional relationship between the antecedent stimulus, the behavior, and the consequence that follows.

  5. Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a terminal behavior. Which principle underlies the effectiveness of shaping?

    Answer: Differential reinforcement of closer approximations

    Shaping works by differentially reinforcing behaviors that progressively more closely resemble the target behavior while withholding reinforcement from earlier approximations.

  6. Which concept describes the phenomenon where punishment of a behavior in one setting leads to an increase of that behavior in another setting where punishment is absent?

    Answer: Behavioral contrast

    Behavioral contrast is the increase in response rate in one condition when reinforcement is decreased or punishment is introduced in an alternative condition.

  7. A behavior analyst defines a target behavior in terms of observable actions that can be measured. This approach reflects which core dimension of ABA?

    Answer: Behavioral

    The 'behavioral' dimension of ABA requires that target behaviors be overt, observable, and measurable rather than defined by inferred internal states.