Question 1

The key to understanding how scientific discoveries work lies in what basic truth about scientist (or investigator) behavior?

Accepted Answer

Scientific discoveries rely on the behavior of scientists, which can be studied and analyzed using scientific methods just like any other behavior. Understanding how scientists think, what motivates them, and how they approach their work can provide insights into how scientific discoveries are made.

Question 2

What is the difference between the primary focus of researchers and practitioners?

Accepted Answer

The primary focus of researchers is to find relations between environment and behavior, while the goal of practitioners is to improve the lives of their clients. While researchers may conduct highly controlled experimental studies, this is not their primary focus, and practitioners may use research findings to inform their practice, but this is not their sole focus.

Question 3

Which outcome is likely a major reinforcer for researchers?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

How is it that an investigator (researcher or practitioner) both controls and is controlled by the subject matter?

Accepted Answer

The investigator must exert control over the variables in the study in order to investigate a particular phenomenon or effect, but the subject matter may also influence the investigator's approach or prompt changes in the study design. Thus, there is a reciprocal relationship between the investigator and the subject matter.

Question 5

The scientific discovery of behavior includes which of the following activities?

Accepted Answer

Framing questions, measuring behavior, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions are all key components of the scientific discovery of behavior. A scientist must gather data through measurements, analyze the data, and draw conclusions based on their findings. Creating and testing hypotheses can also be part of the process, but it is not the only activity involved. Including only results that match a hypothesis (B) is not scientifically rigorous and can lead to biased results. Discussing variables without direct measurement (D) is also not a reliable way to understand behavior.

Question 6

Talking about investigator behavior in the same way that we approach any other behavior of interest is useful because it can help us:

Accepted Answer

Approaching investigator behavior like any other behavior of interest allows us to identify the factors that have influenced their decision-making and behavior, such as personal biases, incentives or institutional pressures, which may have implications for the validity and reliability of their research. For instance, studies have found that investigator bias can influence the design, conduct, analysis or reporting of studies, leading to methodological flaws or wrongful conclusions. By identifying antecedents and consequences of investigator behavior, we can also propose targeted interventions, such as training, accountability mechanisms or transparency measures, to improve the quality and integrity of research. However, determining if the proper methodological protocol was followed or identifying any unethical behaviors may be part of this approach, but they are not the primary focus.

Question 7

An investigator conducts a study during which she varies the enthusiasm of praise statements given by therapists and measures the number of skills acquired by clients. The enthusiasm of praise statements is the ______ variable and the number of skills acquired is the ______ variable.

Accepted Answer

The enthusiasm of praise statements is the variable that is being manipulated or controlled by the investigator, making it the independent variable. On the other hand, the number of skills acquired is the variable that is being measured and is expected to be affected by changes in the independent variable, making it the dependent variable.

Question 8

A researcher has two groups of participants, one group receives monetary compensation for completing exercise activities and the other group does not. All individuals in both groups are weighed weekly. What is the dependent variable in this study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in this study is the weight (in pounds) of the participants. This variable is being measured and expected to change based on whether or not participants receive monetary compensation for completing exercise activities. The amount of money earned (A), participation in the exercise regimen (B), and amount of time spent exercising (D) may be relevant independent variables, but they are not the dependent variable being measured in this study.

Question 9

______ may be described as a set of loose rules and traditions that have evolved over many years of experimental practice.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is a set of loose rules and traditions that have evolved over many years of experimental practice. It involves the process of formulating a hypothesis, testing it through experimentation, and making conclusions or revisions based on the results.

Question 10

All studies require a unique series of decisions made by investigators, and consequences of those decisions should:

Accepted Answer

The consequences of decisions in studies should lead to a clear understanding of how certain conditions affect target behaviors, which is the primary goal of research.

Question 11

All choices made by investigators have an effect on ___________.

Accepted Answer

All choices made by investigators can influence what results are obtained, what conclusions can be drawn from those results, and future decisions made by the same investigators. Therefore, all of the choices listed can be influenced by the decisions made during an investigation.

Question 12

A main difference between practitioners and researchers is _______.

Accepted Answer

Practitioners often work in real-world settings where controlling all factors influencing behavior is challenging, while researchers typically design studies to control for as many extraneous variables as possible to isolate the effects of the variables of interest.

Question 13

For practitioners, carefully tracking changes in target behaviors of clients is essential for______.

Accepted Answer

Practitioners need to carefully track changes in target behaviors of clients to make informed treatment decisions. This allows them to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and adjust their approach as needed. Tracking changes also helps practitioners to monitor their clients' progress and ensure that they are making the expected improvements over time. While tracking changes can be useful for setting up an analog environment and determining if treatment was implemented correctly, these are not the main reasons for tracking changes. Similarly, tracking changes is not necessary for gaining future employment as researchers.

Question 14

Practitioners must understand research methods because they ______.

Accepted Answer

Practitioners need to be able to evaluate research and determine which interventions are supported by evidence in order to make informed clinical decisions. While some practitioners may conduct research themselves, this is not a universal requirement for all practitioners. Teaching research methods courses is also not a universal requirement for practitioners.

Question 15

Practitioners and researchers both share the same interest in:

Accepted Answer

Both practitioners and researchers are interested in utilizing behavioral methods for studying or changing behavior, as this is a core aspect of their work in understanding and applying behavioral science principles.

Question 16

Megan is a BCBA Practitioner and she discovered some interesting clinical findings with one of her clients. She is interested in studying these results more. Which of the below is her best option?

Accepted Answer

As a BCBA Practitioner, Megan should follow the ethical guidelines and consider conducting a more systematic investigation to validate the clinical findings. This will also help in contributing to the field of behavior analysis and improving treatment outcomes for clients. Referring the study to university researchers or reading published studies may also be helpful, but Megan should not shy away from conducting her own investigation.

Question 17

A researcher has two groups of participants, one group receives monetary compensation for completing exercise activities and the other group does not. All individuals in both groups are weighed weekly. What is a potential extraneous variable to control for in this study?

Accepted Answer

What participants eat while taking part in the study is a potential extraneous variable to control for because it could impact weight change. A participant who is in the exercise group and receives compensation may be more likely to eat healthily than a participant who does not receive compensation or exercise. Therefore, controlling for dietary habits is important to ensure that any weight changes observed are due to the exercise and not other variables.

Question 18

Basic and applied behavior analysis research has been guided by many of the same fundamental methodological principles of other ______.

Accepted Answer

Behavior analysis research shares fundamental methodological principles with the natural sciences, emphasizing empirical, observable, and measurable phenomena.

Question 19

Both practitioners and researchers in behavior analysis

Accepted Answer

Practitioners and researchers in behavior analysis view behaviors in terms of antecedents and consequences, carefully measure target behaviors, and graph and analyze data to make conclusions. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 20

Most applied behavior analysts are not researchers, but work to

Accepted Answer

Applied behavior analysts work to change individuals' behaviors in socially significant ways through the application of principles of behavior analysis to practical situations. While they may read and stay up-to-date on research, their primary focus is on implementing behavior change interventions and assessing their effectiveness in their individual clients. They may also collaborate with researchers to contribute to the evidence base for behavior analytic interventions, but publishing research is not their main role. Having a large number of clients is not necessarily a goal for behavior analysts, as their focus is on individualized intervention and ensuring progress for each individual client.

Quiz 1: Discovery in Research and Practice