Behavior Assessment Flashcards
6 cards from real BCABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Behavior Assessment flashcards as text
The primary purpose of a functional behavior assessment (FBA) is to:
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.
Which method of functional assessment involves a trained observer watching and recording the client's behavior in the natural environment without manipulating variables?
Answer: Descriptive assessment
Descriptive assessment involves direct observation of behavior in natural contexts without experimenter manipulation of antecedents or consequences.
Indirect functional assessment methods include:
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.
In a functional analysis (Iwata et al., 1982/1994), the 'alone' condition is used to test for:
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.
The 'attention' condition in a functional analysis tests whether behavior is maintained by:
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.
A behavior that is maintained by escape from aversive tasks is serving which function?
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.