BxLog is PTB’s exam prep blog, edited and curated by veteran ABA professionals with a mission to provide candidates helpful tools and guidance along their BCBA® exam prep journey. Explore short videos and articles containing valuable information including explanations of Test Content Outline concepts and ABA terminology, study tips, mock exam questions with answer breakdowns, and lifestyle advice to maintain a healthy exam prep regimen.
What are the three indicators of trustworthy measurement in ABA? PTB co-founder Dana Meller explains and why they ensure data accuracy and reliability.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section C-8: Evaluate the validity and reliability of measurement procedures.
ABA Terminology Break Down ➠ Indicators of Trustworthy Measurement Read More
Given the common confusion between terms due to their association with aversive events, PTB co-founder Dana Meller clarifies the distinction between positive punishment and negative reinforcement.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections G-1: Use positive and negative reinforcement; and G-16: Use positive and negative punishment (e.g., time-out, response cost, overcorrection). procedures to strengthen behavior.
PTB co-founder Dana Meller provides insight to better understand why these concepts can be confusing, despite both leading to a decrease in behavior.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections B-6: Define and provide examples of positive and negative punishment contingencies; and B-9: Define and provide examples of operant extinction.
ABA Terminology Challenge ➠ Negative Punishment vs. Extinction Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares a trick for discriminating between response and stimulus prompts.
BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section G-4: Use stimulus and response prompts and fading (e.g., errorless, most-to-least, least-to-most, prompt delay, stimulus fading)
Dana Do’s: Need a Prompt to Understand Prompting? Read More
PTB founder Dana Meller breaks down a BCBA® mock exam question about baseline logic for a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Dana explains the significance of replication in providing more convincing evidence of a functional relationship and how to make scientific justifications using baseline logic in various designs.
Test your behavior assessment skills. Let’s break down a BCBA® mock exam question about functional analysis (FA) including its role in testing for the escape function of behavior.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section F-8: Conduct a functional analysis of problem behavior.
PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down the original condition of functional analysis (FA) and the initial withholding of attention.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section F-8: Conduct a functional analysis of problem behavior.
Attention, Please… Master Your Understanding of This Original FA Condition Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller illustrates a perfect example of rule-governed behavior centered on our shared and dreaded annual Tax Day obligation.
BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section B-13: Define and provide examples of rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior.
Dana’s Do’s: WWSD (What Would #Skinner Do?) on Tax Day? Read More
Focusing on ABC data collection, PTB founder Dana Meller discusses functional assessment procedures. Dana explains how to generate mathematical probabilities for target behaviors based on specific antecedents and consequences, providing a step-by-step guide to quantitatively analyzing the gathered information.
Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Functional Assessment Procedures Read More
Let’s break down a BCBA® mock exam question on the dimensions of ABA, their application in real-world scenarios, and what sets behavior analysts apart.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section A-5: Describe and define the dimensions of applied behavior analysis (Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968).