ASR 

6 Basic Operations of Behavior Analysis

G.R.A.D.E.S

G.raphed Data

R.epeated Measures

A.nalysis and Interpretation

D.irect Observation

E.nvironmental Manipulation

S.ystematic Evaluation

GRAPHED DATA

An ongoing collection of data charted on different types of graphical displays. 

Data collected multiple times before and after each environmental manipulation, and during any other phase. (Again, note sometimes this is referred to as just measurement.)

Visual analysis of single case designs to identify functional relations between behavior and environmental events.

ASR 

Vanessa records the duration of her clients tantrums

 This describes which basic operation of the science of behavior analysis.

A. Direct observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed Data

D. Environmental Manipulations

E. Systematic Evaluation

F. Analysis and Interpretation

ASR

Vanessa goes to her clients' daycare and watches him tantrum when recess is over. This describes which basic operation of the science of behavior analysis.

A.      Direct Observation

B.      Measurement

C.       Graphed Data

D.      Environmental Manipulations

E.       Systematic Evaluation

F.       Analysis and interpretation

A.      Direct Observation

A. because they are Directly Watching the Client engage in Behavior

ASR

Venessa takes this data and inputs it into excel to be displayed visually. This describes which basic operation of the science of behavior.

A.      Direct Observation

B.      Measurement

C.       Graphed Data

D.      Environmental Manipulations

E.       Systematic Evaluation

F.       Analysis and interpretation

C. GRAPHED DATA

VISUAL DISPLAY

ASR

Vanessa trains the daycare staff to provide a five and one-minute warning before recess is about to end. This describes which basic operation of the science of behavior analysis.

A.      Direct Observation

B.      Measurement

C.       Graphed Data

D.      Environmental Manipulations

E.       Systematic Evaluation

F.       Analysis and interpretation

D. Environmental Manipulations

The Antecedent was changed (5-minute timer)

ABA PRACTICE

ASR

ABA practice is most likely to address what behavior?

A. Riding a bike
B. Making a paper airplane
C. Decreasing hand flapping
D. Teaching self-help skills

Behavior (response class) of interest defined
by its topography or function

Development

Strengthening

Replacement

Weakening

Stimulus Control

Maintenance

Generalization

ASR

Henry only takes a bath once a week. This would likely be targeted for:

A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/
Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control.

B. Strengthening

Because he showers well enough but not frequently enough

ASR

David doesn't know how to tie his show. This would likely be targeted.

A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/
Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control.

A. Development

Skill deficit can't do

ASR

Ted can only label brown wooden chairs. This would likely be targeted for...

A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/
Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control.

E. Generalization

can only label brown wooden chairs and not others. So they can only perform behavior under limited circumstances.

ASR

Ronaldo raises his hand at home in order to ask a question. This would likely be targeted for...

A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/
Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control.

F. Stimulus Control

Does it at the wrong place or Does it at the wrong time.

ASR

Troy wants to graduate high school. He needs to obtain passing grades. This involves studying, turning their homework in, and passing exams. Which part of this scenario is Troy's Outcome?

A. Obtaining passing grades

B. Passing Exams

C. Graduating high school

D. Homework Completion

ASR 

Going for a walk when you are sad is a good example of a target behavior: 

A. Yes

B. No

ASR

Max wants to get his driver's license. He needs to pass the written test and driving exam. This involves studying and practicing driving. Which part of this scenario is Max's outcome?

A. Passing his exams

B. Getting his driver's license

C. Practicing Driving

D. Studying

ASR

Changing the batteries in the smoke detector every six months is a good example of a target behavior?

A. YES

B. NO

ASR

Any behavior that results in relocating all the items in a room before painting it is an example.

A. Functional Response Definition

B. Topographical Response Definition

ASR

Which of the following is the best response definition?
A. Kicking: Any instance
where the individual's foot
makes contact with
another individual's body.
B. Tantrum: Crying and
screaming while upset
C. Hitting: Angrily striking
another person when not
receiving the desired item.
D. Yelling: Loudly talking
for attention.

ASR

Which of the following a good example of a response cycle?
A. Cook, Eat Food,
Do Dishes
B. Driving to work
C. Finishing a degree
D. Playing in a
concert

ASR

Vanessa compares the client's baseline data to the intervention data. This
describes which basic operation of the science of behavior analysis.
A. Direct observation
B. Measurement
C. Graphed data
D. Environmental
manipulations
E. Systematic evaluation
F.  Analysis and interpretation

ASR

Sally knitted mittens. Are the mittens an example of a response product?

A. Yes

B. No

ASR

Will is in an ABA program and wants to become a BCBA. Becoming a BCBA is his?

A. Episode

B. Target

C. Outcome 

D. Dream

ASR

Eric stopped responding to greetings 4 weeks after he was taught the skill. What issue is this?
A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/
Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control

ASR

A parent places parental blocks on their child's iPad. This is an example of.
A. Direct observation
B. Measurement
C. Graphed data
D. Environmental
manipulations
E. Systematic evaluation
F.  Analysis and
interpretation

D. Environmental Mesures. 

Antecedent Manipulatiion

ASR

Joe is a couch potato and only walks 2000 steps a day. His
the doctor wants him to increase his daily steps. Joe's walking behavior is being targeted for
A. Development
B. Strengthening
C. Weakening/ Replacement
D. Maintenance
E. Generalization
F. Stimulus Control

ASR 

Any behavior that
results in all the
dishes being cleaned
and put away is an
example of _______.
A. Functional
Response Definition
B. Topographical
Response Definition

ASR

Which of the following is a good example of a response cycle?

A, Playing

B. Cooking

C. Flossing, Brushing Teeth and then putting away toothbrush

D. Cleaning

Jane is a behavior analyst working in a school

setting. A teacher requests assistance with a

student “who has an attitude problem”. Jane first

spends several hours in the classroom each day for a week to see what exactly the student does. This

describes which basic operation of the science of

behavior analysis?

A. Direct Observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed Data

D. Analysis and Interpretation

ASR

After her observations. Jane targets ”throwing work

materials on the floor and/or ripping them up” and

“Making comments such as ‘this is stupid’ and ‘I

hate school’” and begins to collect data on the rate

of these behaviors per day. This describes which

basic operation of the science of behavior analysis?

A. Direct Observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed Data

D. Environmental Manipulation

B. MEASUREMENT 

ASR

Jane notices that the target behaviors seem to 

happen more when independent seat work is 

assigned. She arranges with the teacher to alternate 

between independent seat work and group activities 

every 30 minutes using a mult-element design and 

notes the rate of target behaviors. This describes 

which basic operation of the science of behavior 

analysis?

A. Measurement

B. Graphed Data

C. Systematic Evaluation

D. Analysis and Interpretation

C. SYSTEMATIC Evaluation 

ASR

Now that Jane has manipulated the environment 

and recorded the rate of target behavior during 

independent seat work and group activities, which 

basic operation would Jane MOST likely engage in 

next?

A. Direct Observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed Data

• D. Systematic Evaluation

ASR

Jane reviews the graphed data and 

determines that their does seem to 

be a functional relation between 

independent seat work and the 

student’s target behaviors. This 

describes which basic operation of 

the science of behavior analysis?

A. Graphed Data

B. Environmental Manipulation

C. Systematic Evaluation

D. Analysis and Interpretation

ASR

 Corey sometimes tells SUPER inappropriate jokes THAT SHOULD NEVER BE SAID TO ANYONE when he is in a crowdof people. Some individuals have punched him and even called the police on him. Corey will occasionally tell appropriate jokes that are actually funny and not offensive. He never asks if people want to hear any jokes. What would be the reason to target telling SUPER inappropriate jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

C. Replacement – This is a behavior we do not want to happen at all

ASR

Corey sometimes tells inappropriate jokes when he is in a crowd of people. Some individuals get really offended and have complained about him. Corey will occasionally tell appropriate jokes that are actually

funny and not offensive. He never asks if people want to hear any jokes. What would be the reason to target telling appropriate jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement

D. Weakening

E. Stimulus control

F. Maintenance

G. Generalization

B. Strengthening – This is a behavior to have and should happen more 

often

ASR

Corey sometimes tells inappropriate jokes when he is in a crowd of people. Some individuals get really offended and have complained about him. Corey will occasionally tell appropriate jokes that are actually funny and not offensive. He never asks if people want to hear any jokes. What would be the reason to target asking people if they want to hear jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

A. Development –This is a good to have that he does not have

ASR

Corey sometimes tells inappropriate jokes when he is in a crowd of people. Some individuals get really offended and have complained about him. Corey will occasionally tell appropriate jokes that are actually funny and not offensive. He never asks if people want to hear any jokes. The BCBA was able to successfully teach Corey to ask folks if they wanted to hear a joke at school, but Corey continues to not ask at church and at Grandma’s nursing home. What could be a reason to target asking folks if they want to hear jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

ASR

Corey sometimes tells inappropriate jokes when he is in a crowd of people. Some individuals (Nuns) get really offended and have complained about him. Some groups (Bikers and Frat boys) really love his inappropriate jokes. What could be a reason to target inappropriate jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

E. Stimulus control – The behavior can occur, but only certain places

ASR

Corey sometimes tells inappropriate jokes when he is in a crowd of people. Some individuals get really offended and have complained about 

him. Corey will occasionally tell appropriate jokes that are actually funny and not offensive. He never asks if people want to hear any jokes. 

The BCBA was able to successfully teach Corey to ask folks if they wanted to hear a joke across locations and the BCBA fades services, but 

Corey starts to ask folks if they want to hear jokes less often. What could be a reason to target asking folks if they want to hear jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

F .Maintenance – The behavior should be durable or persist over time

ASR

Corey has gotten really good at asking everyone on the planet if they want to hear a joke. He is so good at asking he does not do anything else 

and no one else can get anything done. What could be a reason to target asking folks everyone on planet earth if they want to hear jokes?

A. Development

B. Strengthening

C. Replacement 

D. Weakening 

E. Stimulus control 

F. Maintenance 

G. Generalization

ASR

Is this a good example of a response definition?

Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)

A.Good response definition

B.Not a good response definition

B.Not a good response definition

ASR

Which of these is the best example of a response 

definition for self-injurious behavior?

A. Running into objects with the intent of self-harm

B. Biting, defined by teeth marks on the skin, breaking of skin

C. Any instance of hands to head

D. Self-hitting out of frustration

B. Biting, defined by teeth marks on the skin, breaking of skin

ASR

Is this a good example of a response definition?

Expletives/obscenities spoken 

A.Good response definition

B.Not a good response definition

A.Good response definition- but could 

define further 

ASR

What’s wrong with this response definition?

Expletives/obscenities spoken 

A.It’s not objective

B.It’s not clear

C.It’s not complete

C. It’s not complete How could we 

make this definition complete?

ASR

Is this a good example of a response definition?

provoking peers 

A.Good response definition

B.Not a good response definition

B.Not a good response definition

What question(s) might you ask to get at 

a better response definition?

67/79

ASR

What’s wrong with this response definition?

provoking peers 

A.It’s not objective

B.It’s not clear

C.It’s not complete

B.It’s not clear

ASR

Disruptive behavior, defined as speaking in class 

without permission or making other noises, 

tapping or hitting the desk with hands or writing 

utensils, or moving in chair such that it squeaks. 

This is an example of a: 

A. Functional response definition

B. Topographical response definition

B. Topographical response definition

ASR

Making negative comments when independent 

seat work is assigned resulting in removal of 

work. 

This is an example of a: 

A. Functional response definition

B. Topographical response definition

A. Functional response definition

Aggression’ defined as using one or both palms of

one’s hands, making contact with another person, and pushing them forward or backward.”

A. Objective

B. Clear

C. Complete

D. All three characteristics are present

C. COMPLETE 

 Boundaries are not defined

– Occurrence vs non-

occurrence

– Exceptions? are not stated

“Jumping up and down” occurs more than 50

times a minute. It would be best if we define

this behavior as a(n):

A. Single response

B. Response cycle

C. Episode

D. Response product

C. EPISODE 

Due to frequentoccurrenceofoneormore

behaviors

Throwing an object at a peer” occurs seven

times a day on average. It would be best if we

define this behavior as a(n):

A. Single response

B. Response cycle

C. Episode

D. Response product

A. Single Response 

Not happening frequently 

 Three Questions:

– Can you count it?

– Can someone else see it?

– Can you break it down?

Which of the following is an example of a response

cycle?

A. Someone calls your name, you turn around, they

hand you an envelope

B. Pulling out a phone, pressing the app, logging into a course

C. The doorbell rings, you open the door, you grab

your food delivery

D. The teacher asks a question, you raise your hand,

the teacher calls on you

B. Pulling out a phone, pressing the app, logging

into a course

Frank is a BCBA conducting an observation at a

restaurant. Frank records the number of times

Charlie, Mac, and Deandra greet customers that

enter. This describes which basic operation of the

science of behavior analysis?

A. Measurement

B. Environmental manipulations

C. Systematic evaluation

D. Analysis and interpretation

A supervisor turns in a completed behavior

plan for review before a deadline occurs 3-5

times a month. It would be best if we define

this behavior as a(n):

A. Single response

B. Response cycle

C. Episode

D. Response product

_{A. Single response}

Leigh is watching Jack during circle time and

records the number of times he engages in

clapping. This is an example of _____.

A. Direct observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed data

D. Environmental manipulations

E. Systematic evaluation

F. Analysis and interpretation

B. Measurement

Number of responses, when the

response occurs relative to other 

Leigh collected data over 5 school days in which school staff gave attention to Jack for clapping and then 5 school days in which staff withheld attention for clapping and recorded the count of clapping. She replicated this and again collected data

with staff giving attention for clapping then withholding attention. This describes which basic operation of the science of behavior

analysis.

A. Direct observation

B. Measurement

C. Graphed data

D. Environmental manipulation

E. Systematic evaluation

F. Analysis and interpretation

E. Systematic evaluation

Set up experiments to show how those

environmental manipulations affect the

behavior of an individual

A) Count

ASRs

• Jennifer increased her words read per minute by 2 times since last week. (e.g., last week she read 14 words per minute, this week 28 words per minute). This is an example of which dimensional quantity?

A) Count

B) Rate

C) Celeration

D) Inter-response time

E) Latency

F) Duration

C) Celeration

ASRs

• Loretta meets with a psychologist concerning her daughter’s anxiety. Before they meet, the psychologist sends Loretta an anxiety questionnaire she can fill out with her daughter. After they meet, the psychologist sends Loretta a satisfaction survey. This describes a(n):

A. Direct measurement

B. Indirect measurement

B. Indirect measurement

• For example: Questionnaires, Interviews, Rating scales

ASRs

• Stefanie observes a 1-hour session and counts the number of

spontaneous mands Matthew emits during that hour. This describes

a(n):

A. Direct measurement

B. Indirect measurement

A. Direct measurement

 Measuring the EXACT thing we will draw conclusions from

ASRs – Multiple select

• Select all that are continuous recording methods

A) Event recording

B) Time Sampling

C) IRT recording

D) Latency recording

E) Duration recording

A) Event recording

C) IRT recording

D) Latency recording

E) Duration recording

ASRs

• Adam is running discrete trials with his client Brian. Is this appropriate 

for event recording?

A) Yes

B) No

ASRs

• Phoebe engages in motor stereotypy throughout her school day. Motor stereotypy can occur at any point during the day and it is clear when each episode begins and ends. Is this appropriate for event 

recording?

A) Yes

B) No

A) Yes

When would we use IRT recording?

• When we are concerned about the time between responses

• Interest can be increasing time between responses (as in time between

cigarettes)

• Interest can be decreasing time between responses (as in time between bites at

mealtime)

ASR

When would we use event recording?

• When would we use event recording?

• When measuring free operants

• When the response has a clear beginning and end

Event Recording [Obj21] is

Recording procedure that involves COUNTING every instance of the

behavior of interest and CONVERTING it to RATE.

• Formula: Count/unit of time

• How to: Write down when observation begins, count # of responses, record

time observation ends, convert, report as rate

ASR

When would we use latency recording?

^{When the time between the opportunity to respond and the actual response is the primary concern.} 

^{• Decrease latency when I want a child to “FREEZE” immediately when I say “FREEZE”, so they don’t run into the road}

^{• What about increasing latency? Is there ever a time this might be important?}

^{• How about when someone is asked a question and they immediately answer versus} 

^{taking some time to think. “Will you move in with me”}

^{• Waiting some time before you take a bite of hot food}

Latency Recording [Obj23] is?

Recording procedure that involves measuring the AMOUNT OF TIME between

an antecedent stimulus and the behavior of interest.

• Example: the time between telling my daughter to take a bite of her lunch and when 

she actually takes a bite

• Non-example: the time spent chewing her food