Autism Services Practitioner Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Question 1

Which of the following verbal operants is defined as a request for something the speaker wants?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Mand. A mand is a verbal operant that functions as a request for something the speaker wants or needs. It's controlled by motivating operations and reinforced by access to the requested item or action.

Question 2

What distinguishes a tact from other verbal operants?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

It is evoked by a nonverbal stimulus and maintained by generalized social reinforcement. A tact is a verbal operant that labels or identifies objects, actions, events, or properties. It's evoked by a nonverbal stimulus and maintained by generalized social reinforcement, unlike other verbal operants that have different controlling variables.

Question 3

Which phenomenon occurs when a previously extinguished behavior temporarily increases when extinction procedures are first implemented?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Extinction burst. An extinction burst is a temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavior when extinction procedures are first implemented. This is a common side effect of extinction and typically subsides if the extinction procedure is consistently maintained.

Question 4

What is spontaneous recovery in relation to extinction?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of time without that response. Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior after a period of time has passed without the behavior being emitted. This occurs without any additional training or reinforcement.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the seven dimensions of applied behavior analysis as defined by Baer, Wolf, and Risley?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Theoretical. While experimental, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective, generalizable, and applied are the seven dimensions of ABA, theoretical is not one of them. The dimensions focus on practical application and measurable outcomes rather than theoretical constructs.

Question 6

What characterizes a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses. A variable ratio schedule of reinforcement provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, although the average number remains constant. This unpredictability typically leads to high, steady rates of responding that are resistant to extinction.

Question 7

What is resurgence in relation to extinction?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior when a more recently reinforced behavior is placed on extinction. Resurgence is the reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior when a more recently reinforced behavior is placed on extinction. This phenomenon helps explain why old behaviors may return when new intervention strategies are not effective.

Question 8

Which of the following statements best describes stimulus delta (S-delta)?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

A stimulus in the presence of which a particular behavior has not been reinforced. Stimulus delta (S-delta) is a stimulus in the presence of which a particular behavior has not been reinforced. It signals that reinforcement is not available for that behavior, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior occurring.

Question 9

Which of the following is a scientific understanding within applied behavior analysis?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Description, prediction, control. In applied behavior analysis, scientific understanding involves description (precisely defining and measuring behavior), prediction (identifying relationships between behavior and environmental events), and control (manipulating variables to change behavior in meaningful ways).

Question 10

Which verbal operant is defined as a response that has point-to-point correspondence with a verbal stimulus and is maintained by generalized reinforcement?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Echoic. An echoic is a verbal operant that involves repeating what was heard, having point-to-point correspondence with the verbal stimulus. It's maintained by generalized reinforcement such as social approval or confirmation of accuracy.

Autism Services Practitioner Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

More Autism Services Practitioner practice questions

Free practice here. Timed mocks when you are ready.