Cheat sheet
BCBA Cheat Sheet
Behaviorism + Foundations
- 5% of exam
- Selectionism Determinism Radical Behaviorism ABA Dimensions
Concepts + Principles
- 14% of exam
- Reinforcement Punishment Extinction Stimulus Control MOs
Measurement + Display
- 12% of exam
- Operational Definitions Measurement Picker IOA Graphs Validity
Experimental Design
- 7% of exam
- Design Picker Visual Analysis Reversal Multiple Baseline
Ethical Issues
- 13% of exam
- Competence Consent Confidentiality Public Statements Culture
Behavior Assessment
- 13% of exam
- Records Preference Descriptive Functional Analysis Goals
Behavior-Change Procedures
- 14% of exam
- Differential Reinforcement Prompting Chaining Shaping Generalization
Selecting Interventions
- 11% of exam
- Social Validity Contextual Fit Procedural Integrity Relapse
Supervision + Management
- 11% of exam
- BST Feedback Performance Management Supervision Goals Equity
Quick Facts
- Exam BCBA
- Questions 185 total
- Scored 175 items
- Pilot 10 items
- Time 4 hours
- Blueprint TCO6
- Result Pass/fail
- Initial fees $370
ABA Dimensions FO
- GET A CAB marks seven dimensions
- General Effective Technological Applied Conceptual Analytic Behavioral
Exam Format FO
- Total 185 questions
- Scored 175 questions
- Pilot 10 questions
- Time 4 hours
- Tasks 104 TCO tasks
- Domains 9 areas
- Scoring Criterion referenced
Foundations FO
- Selectionism Consequences select
- Determinism Lawful behavior
- Empiricism Observe data
- Parsimony Simplest account
- Pragmatism Effective action
- ABA Applied science
- Radical Private events included
Reinforcement vs Punishment CO
Reinforcement
- Behavior increases
- Consequence follows
- Function defined
Punishment
- Behavior decreases
- Consequence follows
- Function defined
- Increase vs decrease
Concepts CO
- Behavior Observable activity
- Response Single instance
- Response class Same function
- Stimulus Environmental event
- Reinforcement Behavior increases
- Punishment Behavior decreases
- Extinction Reinforcer withheld
- SD Signals reinforcement
- MO Alters value
- Verbal operant Function of language
Positive vs Negative CO
Positive
- Stimulus added
- Not good
- Operation word
Negative
- Stimulus removed
- Not bad
- Operation word
- Add vs remove
MO vs SD CO
MO
- Changes value
- Changes behavior
- Motivating context
SD
- Signals availability
- Discriminative cue
- Reinforcement history
- Value vs signal
Validity vs Reliability ME
Validity
- Measures target
- Correct construct
- Useful data
Reliability
- Consistent measurement
- Repeatable scores
- Stable process
- Right thing vs consistent
Measurement Picker ME
- Countable events → Frequency
- Time differs → Rate
- Lasting behavior → Duration
- Cue to start → Latency
- Between responses → IRT
- Product remains → Permanent product
Measurement ME
- Frequency Count responses
- Rate Count per time
- Duration How long
- Latency Cue to response
- IRT Between responses
- Trials Attempts to criterion
- Permanent product Outcome count
- IOA Observer agreement
- Integrity Procedure accuracy
Integrity vs IOA ME
Integrity
- Plan implemented
- Staff accuracy
- Procedure fidelity
IOA
- Observers agree
- Data reliability
- Measurement check
- Doing vs counting
Graphs ME
- Level Data height
- Trend Data direction
- Variability Data spread
- Immediacy Quick change
- Overlap Shared range
- Phase line Condition change
- Y-axis Behavior measure
Single-Case Logic DE
- PVR proves control
- Prediction Verification Replication
Design Picker DE
- Can withdraw treatment → Reversal
- Cannot reverse safely → Multiple baseline
- Compare treatments fast → Multielement
- Gradual goal shifts → Changing criterion
- Test components → Component analysis
- Test intensity → Parametric analysis
Designs DE
- Prediction Baseline projection
- Verification Effect checked
- Replication Effect repeated
- Reversal Remove IV
- Withdrawal Return baseline
- Multiple baseline Staggered starts
- Multielement Rapid alternation
- Changing criterion Stepwise targets
Ethics ET
- Competence Work within training
- Consent Informed permission
- Assent Willingness when consent isn't possible
- Confidentiality Protect information
- Documentation Accurate records
- Public statements Truthful claims
- Multiple relation Boundary risk
- Cultural humility Responsive practice
Descriptive vs FA AS
Descriptive
- Natural observation
- Correlation
- No manipulation
FA
- Variables manipulated
- Causal test
- Controlled conditions
- Observe vs test
Assessment AS
- Records review Existing data
- Interview Indirect source
- ABC Antecedent-behavior-consequence
- Descriptive Observe naturally
- FA Manipulate variables
- Preference Identify reinforcers
- Skill assessment Strengths/needs
- Baseline Before intervention
Differential Reinforcement CH
- A, I, O, L: alternative patterns
- DRA DRI DRO DRL
DRA vs DRO CH
DRA
- Alternative behavior
- Teach replacement
- Function match
DRO
- No target behavior
- Interval based
- No replacement required
- Alternative vs absence
Intervention Picker CH
- Teach replacement → DRA/FCT
- Impossible together → DRI
- Reduce rate → DRL
- Withhold reinforcer → Extinction
- Need independence → Prompt fading
- Need complex skill → Chaining
Change Procedures CH
- DRA Alternative reinforced
- DRI Incompatible reinforced
- DRO Absence reinforced
- DRL Low rate reinforced
- NCR Time-based reinforcement
- FCT Communication replacement
- Shaping Successive approximations
- Chaining Task steps linked
- Prompting Extra assistance
Interventions IN
- Goal Observable target
- Replacement Same function
- Contextual fit Feasible plan
- Social validity Stakeholder value
- Evidence Supported method
- Relapse Behavior returns
- Generalization Across contexts
- Maintenance Lasts over time
BST SU
- Instructions, modeling, rehearsal, feedback
- Tell Show Practice Correct
Supervision SU
- Contract Clear expectations
- BST Teach performance
- Feedback Specific and timely
- Modeling Show skill
- Rehearsal Practice skill
- Performance data Staff behavior
- Function-based Match contingencies
- Equity Fair access
Common Traps
Positive vs pleasant
- Positive means added ≠ Not necessarily preferred
Negative vs aversive
- Negative means removed ≠ Not necessarily bad
Function vs topography
- Function is why ≠ Topography is form
FA vs FBA
- FA manipulates variables ≠ FBA is broader
IOA vs integrity
- IOA checks data ≠ Integrity checks procedure
Ethics vs preference
- Rights constrain choice ≠ Preference guides fit
Last Minute
- 1. TCO6 has 9 domains
- 2. 175 scored, 10 pilot
- 3. Big domains: 14 / 14
- 4. Function beats topography
- 5. Positive means add
- 6. Negative means remove
- 7. MO changes value
- 8. SD signals availability
- 9. FA manipulates variables
- 10. BST = teach performance