Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

During a functional analysis, the behavior analyst controls the environment to identify the function of behavior. What methodology is primarily used?

1. Qualitative analysis

2. Quantitative analysis

3. Experimental analysis

4. Descriptive analysis

The correct answer is: Experimental analysis

In a functional analysis, the primary goal is to systematically manipulate variables to identify the function of a specific behavior. Experimental analysis is the correct methodology because it involves a controlled setting where different conditions are implemented to observe changes in behavior. By varying antecedents and consequences, the behavior analyst can determine how these factors influence the behavior, thereby highlighting the function it serves, such as whether the behavior is maintained by attention, escape, access to tangibles, or self-stimulation. This approach is crucial because it allows for direct observation of the effects of manipulated variables on behavior, providing clear and definitive evidence regarding the antecedents and consequences that maintain the target behavior. Through repeated trials, the behavior analyst can ascertain which specific conditions lead to increased occurrences of the behavior, yielding insights that inform intervention strategies. In contrast, qualitative analysis involves non-numerical data and subjective interpretation, quantitative analysis focuses on numerical data without the same level of manipulation as in experimental designs, and descriptive analysis typically involves recording occurrences of behavior under natural conditions without experimental control. These methodologies do not provide the same clarity regarding functional relationships as experimental analysis does.