Question 1

The topography of a behavior typically tells us a lot about the controlling variables of that behavior.

Accepted Answer

The topography of a behavior refers to the physical form or shape of the behavior, but it does not necessarily reveal the controlling variables (i.e., the reasons or functions) behind that behavior. Understanding the function of a behavior often requires additional analysis beyond observing its topography.

Question 2

When designing a behavior modification program, it is unnecessary to assess whether the behaviors of concern can be counted, timed, or measured in some way.

Accepted Answer

Assessing whether the behaviors can be counted, timed, or measured is necessary in order to establish a baseline and track progress throughout the behavior modification program. This data also helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Question 3

If a behavior modifier is examining the possibility of capitalizing on antecedent control in the design of a behavior modification program, which of the following would the behavior modifier not consider using?
A)rules
B)modelling
C)situational inducement
D)positive reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Antecedent control involves manipulating or altering the antecedent stimuli that trigger the behavior. The purpose is to increase or decrease the probability of the target behavior occurring. Antecedent control methods include the use of rules, modeling, and situational inducement. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is a consequence-based method of behavior modification and not a method of antecedent control. Therefore, D (positive reinforcement) would not be considered in designing a behavior modification program that capitalizes on antecedent control.

Question 4

A broad meaning of functional analysis is finding a relationship between examples of two variables, called an independent variable and a dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct definition of functional analysis, which involves studying the ways in which an independent variable affects a dependent variable.

Question 5

Assume that you are a professional behavior modifier.Under which of the following conditions would you treat a behavior problem that had been referred to you?
A)Once the behavioral goal is reached, it would be easily generalized and maintained.
B)The problem is one that would appear to be unmanageable.
C)The problem appears to have a medical cause.
D)The problem was referred primarily for the benefit of the client's family.

Accepted Answer

As a professional behavior modifier, it would be appropriate to treat a behavior problem that can be easily generalized and maintained once the behavioral goal is reached. This ensures that the client will continue to exhibit the desired behavior even after the treatment is finished. It would not be appropriate to treat a problem that appears to have a medical cause, as it is outside the scope of behavior modification, and the client would need medical intervention instead. Similarly, it is not appropriate to treat a problem primarily for the benefit of the client's family, as the primary goal should be to help the client improve their behavior for their own benefit. Treating an unmanageable problem may also be outside the scope of behavior modification and may require other forms of intervention.

Question 6

A clear statement of what behaviors of what individuals will produce what reinforcers, and who will deliver those reinforcers, is referred to as a:
A)treatment contract
B)three-term contingency statement
C)behavioral contract
D)psychology contract

Accepted Answer

A behavioral contract is a written agreement that outlines specific behaviors that lead to reinforcement and identifies who will deliver the reinforcement. It is often used in behavioral therapy to facilitate behavior change and increase motivation. Treatment contract and psychology contract are not widely used terms in behavior analysis, and the three-term contingency statement only identifies the antecedent-behavior-consequence relationship, but does not specify who will deliver the reinforcement.

Question 7

To ensure that the therapist is responsible or accountable to the client, it is recommended that:
A)an impartial third person monitor the program
B)the therapist and client sign a treatment contract
C)the therapist be supervised by someone with more experience
D)the client should explain the program to a friend

Accepted Answer

Signing a treatment contract establishes clear expectations and responsibilities for both the therapist and the client, ensuring accountability. While options A, C, and D may also be beneficial, a treatment contract is the most direct and effective way to establish accountability.

Question 8

When attempting to decrease a problem behavior, the behavior modifier should first determine whether or not punishment can be used.

Accepted Answer

Before considering punishment, a behavior modifier should first assess and attempt to use positive reinforcement strategies to increase desired behaviors, which can often lead to a natural decrease in the problem behavior.

Question 9

Considering the sequential steps for designing and implementing a treatment program following baseline assessment, and supposing that you have identified the target behaviors and defined the goal, which question would you not be addressing at this time?
A)Is the description precise?
B)Is the treatment cost-effective?
C)Is the goal in the best interest of the client?
D)Has the client been given all possible information about the goal?

Accepted Answer

After identifying the target behaviors and defining the goal, the next step is to select and implement the treatment/intervention. The questions that should be addressed at this time include whether the description is precise, whether the goal is achievable and in the best interest of the client, and whether the client has been given all the necessary information about the goal. However, cost-effectiveness is not an immediate concern at this stage of the process.

Question 10

A behavior modifier should only accept those referrals for which he/she has
appropriate training and adequate time to carry out an effective program.

Accepted Answer

It is important for behavior modifiers to only accept referrals for which they have the appropriate education and time to effectively carry out a program. This ensures that the client receives the best possible treatment and care. Accepting referrals for which one is not adequately trained or doesn't have enough time can lead to ineffective treatment and potentially harm the client.

Question 11

Assume that you are a professional behavior modifier.Under which of the following conditions would you not treat a behavior problem that had been referred to you?
A)The problem appears to be important to the client.
B)Once the target behavior has been achieved, it might be generalized and maintained.
C)There are individuals who will hinder the program, and who can't be controlled.
D)The problem can be specified in terms of specific behaviors.

Accepted Answer

If there are individuals who will hinder the program and who cannot be controlled, it may not be possible to effectively modify the behavior. It is important for the behavior modifier to have control over the environment and those involved in order to ensure success.

Question 12

When designing a behavior modification program, one of the first concerns of the behavior modifier should be to assess whether or not it is possible to capitalize on existing stimulus control.

Accepted Answer

It is important for the behavior modifier to assess whether existing stimuli can be utilized to reinforce desired behaviors before implementing a new program. This can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the program.

Question 13

Training in a test situation, varying the training conditions, programming common stimuli, and training sufficient stimulus exemplars are four important aspects of:
A)programming stimulus generalization
B)programming response generalization
C)programming stimulus discrimination
D)programming maintenance

Accepted Answer

Programming stimulus generalization involves training the individual to respond to stimuli that are similar but not identical to the original training stimuli. This can be achieved through training in a test situation, varying the training conditions, programming common stimuli, and training sufficient stimulus exemplars.

Question 14

A behavior modifier might determine whether or not a client's behavior might be easily generalized and maintained by assessing:
A)whether or not the problem has a medical cause
B)whether or not there are reinforcers and/or people in the natural environment to maintain the desired behavior
C)if the problem can be reduced to a specific set of behaviors that can be counted, timed, or measured
D)if the problem behavior has been occurring for a short time and under narrow stimulus control

Accepted Answer

In order for a behavior to be easily generalized and maintained, there must be reinforcers and/or people in the natural environment to continue to support the desired behavior. This helps ensure that the behavior will continue beyond the therapy setting and in everyday life. The other answer choices are less relevant to assessing generalization and maintenance of behavior.

Question 15

The nature of a behavior problem and the frequency with which it occurs will influence the assessment procedure selected by the behavior modifier.

Accepted Answer

The nature of the behavior problem and its frequency are important factors in determining the most appropriate assessment method for the behavior modifier to use. Different types of behavior problems may require different assessment procedures, and the frequency of the behavior may impact the reliability and validity of different assessment tools.

Question 16

A behavior modifier might evaluate the ease with which a problem behavior might be changed by determining:
A)whether or not the problem behavior has a medical cause
B)if the problem has been referred primarily for the benefit of the client
C)if the problem can be reduced to a specific set of behaviors that can be counted, timed, or measured
D)if the problem behavior has been occurring for a short time, under narrow stimulus control, and with few instances of intermittent reinforcement

Accepted Answer

A behavior modifier evaluates the ease of changing a problem behavior by assessing if it has been occurring for a short time, under narrow stimulus control, and with few instances of intermittent reinforcement, as these factors indicate the behavior may be easier to modify.

Question 17

When selecting SDs in a behavior modification program, it is important for the behavior modifier to select stimuli that are similar to other stimuli on more than one dimension.

Accepted Answer

Selecting stimuli that are similar on multiple dimensions can lead to confusion and difficulty in distinguishing the SD from other stimuli, which can hinder the effectiveness of the behavior modification program.

Question 18

After a program has been implemented, there are a number of things that can be done to determine whether it is producing satisfactory results.Which of the following is not one of those steps?
A)consult the behavioral journals and experienced behavior modifiers concerning related cases
B)monitor the data
C)sign a behavioral contract with the client
D)consult people who must deal with the behavioral handicap

Accepted Answer

Signing a behavioral contract with the client is not a step to determine whether a program is producing satisfactory results. It may be a step in implementing a behavior modification program, but it is not a step in evaluating the effectiveness of the program. The other options (consulting behavioral journals and experienced behavior modifiers, monitoring data, and consulting with people who must deal with the behavioral handicap) are all appropriate steps for evaluating program effectiveness.

Question 19

Varying the acceptable responses during training or using behavioral momentum to increase low-probability responses are two strategies for programming:
A)stimulus generalization
B)response generalization
C)stimulus discrimination
D)behavior maintenance

Accepted Answer

These strategies are aimed at promoting response generalization, which involves increasing the variety of responses or the situations in which a response is made, rather than focusing on the stimuli (stimulus generalization or discrimination) or the durability of behavior over time (behavior maintenance).

Question 20

If you are considering strategies for decreasing a behavioral excess, which of the following would you not consider:
A)removing SDs for the problem behavior
B)negative reinforcement
C)punishment
D)DRO, DRI, or DRA

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves increasing the frequency of a behavior by removing or avoiding a negative outcome or stimulus, which is not a strategy for decreasing a behavioral excess. Strategies like removing SDs (discriminative stimuli), punishment, and differential reinforcement (DRO, DRI, DRA) are aimed at reducing unwanted behaviors.

Quiz 31: Shaping and Schedules of Reinforcement: A Comprehensive Guide

The topography of a behavior typically tells us a lot about the controlling variables of that behavior.

When designing a behavior modification program, it is unnecessary to assess whether the behaviors of concern can be counted, timed, or measured in some way.

If a behavior modifier is examining the possibility of capitalizing on antecedent control in the design of a behavior modification program, which of the following would the behavior modifier not consider using?

A broad meaning of functional analysis is finding a relationship between examples of two variables, called an independent variable and a dependent variable.

Assume that you are a professional behavior modifier.Under which of the following conditions would you treat a behavior problem that had been referred to you?

A clear statement of what behaviors of what individuals will produce what reinforcers, and who will deliver those reinforcers, is referred to as a:

To ensure that the therapist is responsible or accountable to the client, it is recommended that:

When attempting to decrease a problem behavior, the behavior modifier should first determine whether or not punishment can be used.

Considering the sequential steps for designing and implementing a treatment program following baseline assessment, and supposing that you have identified the target behaviors and defined the goal, which question would you not be addressing at this time?

A behavior modifier should only accept those referrals for which he/she has appropriate training and adequate time to carry out an effective program.

Assume that you are a professional behavior modifier.Under which of the following conditions would you not treat a behavior problem that had been referred to you?

When designing a behavior modification program, one of the first concerns of the behavior modifier should be to assess whether or not it is possible to capitalize on existing stimulus control.

Training in a test situation, varying the training conditions, programming common stimuli, and training sufficient stimulus exemplars are four important aspects of:

A behavior modifier might determine whether or not a client's behavior might be easily generalized and maintained by assessing:

The nature of a behavior problem and the frequency with which it occurs will influence the assessment procedure selected by the behavior modifier.

A behavior modifier might evaluate the ease with which a problem behavior might be changed by determining:

When selecting SDs in a behavior modification program, it is important for the behavior modifier to select stimuli that are similar to other stimuli on more than one dimension.

After a program has been implemented, there are a number of things that can be done to determine whether it is producing satisfactory results.Which of the following is not one of those steps?

Varying the acceptable responses during training or using behavioral momentum to increase low-probability responses are two strategies for programming:

If you are considering strategies for decreasing a behavioral excess, which of the following would you not consider: