TheoryABA Study Guide
Study for the ABA with exam topics, practice questions, a free PDF, video walkthrough and timed mock exam links.
How to study for ABA
- Read the topic list so you know what the exam is likely to cover.
- Answer the free practice questions and read every explanation.
- Download the PDF for offline review.
- Use timed mock exams when your untimed practice feels comfortable.
Topics to review
- The core topics and terminology you'll be tested on
- Rules, standards and best-practice procedures
- Real-world scenarios and how to respond
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Try ABA questions now
Q1Which of the following is not a potential benefit of conducting an assessment of relevant skill strengths and deficits?
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✓ Correct answer: 【2】increased likelihood of making poor decisions
Conducting an assessment of relevant skill strengths and deficits can have a number of potential benefits, including improved self-awareness, enhanced performance and productivity, increased motivation and engagement, and reduced employee turnover. These benefits can be achieved by identifying and addressing any skill gaps that may exist, which can help individuals to better understand their strengths and areas for improvement and can provide a roadmap for development and growth. However, conducting an assessment of relevant skill strengths and deficits is not likely to result in an increased likelihood of making poor decisions. In fact, the opposite is likely to be true - by identifying and addressing skill gaps, individuals are likely to be better equipped to make informed and well-reasoned decisions.
Q2A therapist has identified hypothetical functions of attention and escape for physical aggression by collecting ABC data.<br/><br/>What type of assessment has the therapist completed?
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✓ Correct answer: 【3】Functional assessment
When determining why a problem behavior is occurring, therapists conduct a functional assessment. This involves collecting Antecedent - Behavior - Consequence (ABC) data to identify hypothetical functions. Antecedent: what occurred before the behavior. Behavior: What the behavior looked like (i.e., operational definition). Consequence: what occurred after the behavior.
Q3When conducting a paired choice preference assessment, if the client attempts to grab both items simultaneously, how should the RBT respond?
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✓ Correct answer: 【1】Block the client from accessing both items, remove the items, and represent the trial with the same items
If the client attempts to grab both items, the RBT should block the client from getting both, remove the items, and represent the trial with the same items. Doing so will likely extinguish the client's response of attempting to grab multiple items. Then, once the client selects an item, it is given to the item, which may reinforce the response of choosing one item. If the client continues to attempt to grab both items and this results in problem behaviors, then consult with the client's BCBA, as a different preference assessment may be more fitting.
Q4Decide if the following statement is true:<br/><br/>'Potential reinforcements can only be used as rewards for desired behavior.'
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✓ Correct answer: 【1】false
Potential reinforcements refer to stimuli that can increase the likelihood of a desired behavior occurring. While they can certainly be used as rewards for desired behavior, they can also be used in other ways. For example, potential reinforcements can be used as a means of shaping behavior, as a way to increase the frequency of preferred behavior, or as a way to decrease the frequency of undesired behavior.
Q5Jack is a new client who has a difficult time attending to instructions. Sarah is an RBT who was assigned to collect baseline data on Jack's ability to identify letters. Jack was not making eye contact with Sarah or the letters and appeared to be humming a song. Then, Sarah presents the instruction, "Find the letter A." Jack continues to avoid eye contact and continues humming the song. He made no response to Sarah's instruction. Therefore, Sarah marks a "-" on the data sheet, indicating an incorrect response.<br/><br/>What is wrong with collecting baseline data in this manner?
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✓ Correct answer: 【2】Sarah should ensure that she has Jack's attention prior to giving the instruction and collecting data
Data should only be collected if the client is attending to the instruction - this applies to both baseline and treatment data collection. If the client is not attending, Sarah should not collect data and attempt to gain Jack's attention first (e.g., preference assessment, Premack principle, behavioral momentum, choice, etc.). Reprimands should be avoided since they may function as positive punishers; in ABA, we avoid punishment unless reinforcement has been ruled out or the behavior is severe or dangerous. Additionally, since she is collecting baseline data, prompts should not be delivered. A gestural prompt would not be appropriate until after baseline data are collected.
Q6The primary disadvantage of the <code>_________</code> preference assessment is that it takes a long time to implement; therefore, it's not likely to be conducted in everyday practice
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✓ Correct answer: 【1】Paired choice
The main limitation of the paired choice preference assessment is that it takes a long time to complete. The multiple stimulus preference assessment was developed to mitigate this limitation, as it tends to be faster to conduct.
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