ABAT - Applied Behavior Analysis Test Applied Behavior Analysis Autism Core Knowledge 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'stimulus overselectivity' as it commonly appears in individuals with ASD?
- Responding to the full range of relevant cues in a complex stimulus
- Responding to only one or a limited number of cues in a multi-element stimulus (Correct answer)
- Generalizing a learned response across multiple novel stimuli
- Discriminating between two stimuli that differ on multiple dimensions
Correct answer: Responding to only one or a limited number of cues in a multi-element stimulus
Stimulus overselectivity (also called 'tunnel vision') occurs when a learner responds to only a narrow subset of available cues rather than the broader stimulus complex, a pattern particularly common in individuals with ASD and a key consideration when designing ABA instructional programs.
Question 2: In the context of ASD and ABA, 'manding' is a verbal operant that is primarily maintained by:
- Automatic reinforcement independent of social consequences
- Specific reinforcement directly related to the content of the verbal behavior (Correct answer)
- Generalized conditioned reinforcement such as praise or attention
- Avoidance of aversive stimuli presented by the listener
Correct answer: Specific reinforcement directly related to the content of the verbal behavior
A mand (request) is the only verbal operant whose reinforcement is directly specified by the response itself — asking for 'water' is reinforced by receiving water. This specificity makes mand training a foundational priority in ABA programs for individuals with ASD who have limited communication.
Question 3: Which behavioral mechanism BEST explains why a child with ASD may engage in repetitive self-stimulatory behavior (stereotypy)?
- Positive reinforcement via access to tangibles
- Negative reinforcement via escape from demands
- Automatic reinforcement from sensory consequences produced by the behavior itself (Correct answer)
- Socially mediated positive reinforcement via attention from others
Correct answer: Automatic reinforcement from sensory consequences produced by the behavior itself
Stereotypy is most commonly maintained by automatic reinforcement — the sensory feedback generated by the behavior itself — rather than by social consequences. This distinguishes it from many other problem behaviors and requires different intervention strategies.
Question 4: The term 'theory of mind' deficit in individuals with ASD refers to difficulty with:
- Recalling sequences of past events in chronological order
- Understanding that others have beliefs, desires, and perspectives different from one's own (Correct answer)
- Processing rapid auditory information in conversational speech
- Generalizing motor skills learned in one setting to a new environment
Correct answer: Understanding that others have beliefs, desires, and perspectives different from one's own
Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to attribute independent mental states — beliefs, intentions, emotions — to oneself and others. Deficits in ToM are strongly associated with ASD and help explain challenges in social communication, perspective-taking, and predicting others' behavior.
Question 5: A behavior analyst is teaching a child with ASD to greet peers across multiple settings, trainers, and stimuli. This procedure is BEST described as:
- Discrimination training
- Chaining
- Programming for generalization (Correct answer)
- Shaping
Correct answer: Programming for generalization
Programming for generalization involves intentionally varying trainers, settings, materials, and stimuli so that a learned behavior occurs across relevant untrained conditions. Because individuals with ASD frequently show restricted generalization, this is an explicit and essential component of ABA intervention planning.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes 'pivotal response training' (PRT) as used in ABA for individuals with ASD?
- A discrete-trial procedure conducted entirely at a table with massed practice trials
- A naturalistic intervention targeting pivotal areas such as motivation and self-management to produce broad collateral improvements (Correct answer)
- A parent-training model focused exclusively on reducing problem behavior through extinction
- A structured curriculum that teaches academic readiness skills in a one-to-one format
Correct answer: A naturalistic intervention targeting pivotal areas such as motivation and self-management to produce broad collateral improvements
PRT is a naturalistic, play-based ABA approach developed by Koegel and colleagues that targets 'pivotal' behavioral areas — motivation, responsivity to multiple cues, self-management, and social initiations — because improvements in these areas produce widespread collateral gains across untrained behaviors and settings.
