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 Task List concepts and ABA terminology, study tips, mock exam questions with answer breakdowns, and lifestyle advice to maintain a healthy exam prep regimen.
Hone your experimental design skills through review of a BCBA® mock exam question. PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down the crucial aspect of experiments—how they demonstrate changes in behavior attributed to the independent variable.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-2: Distinguish between internal and external validity.
PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down the three defining features needed to craft a solid operational definition – Remember “OCC” for short.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section C-1: Establish operational definitions of behavior.
PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about programming common stimuli and how this method can help students feel more prepared on exam day.
Refer to Task List section G-21: Use procedures to promote stimulus and response generalization.
Dana Do’s: Programming Common Stimuli Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller discusses the complexities of autoclitics and their role in effective communication. Enhance your understanding of this secondary verbal operant as Dana presents real-life examples of autoclitics and their significance, particularly for individuals with social disabilities.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section B-14: Define and provide examples of the verbal operants.
Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Master Your Understanding of Autoclitic Verbal Behavior Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller puts your understanding of experimental design to the test. What are the critical phases required for a successful and robust experimental setup.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section D-5: Use single-subject experimental designs (e.g., reversal, multiple baseline, multielement, changing criterion).
The Proof of Function is in the Reversal Design Pudding Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller discusses the two types of shaping procedures, one of which teaches novel behaviors and the other improves existing behaviors.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section G-7: Use shaping.
ABA Terminology ➠ The Dynamic Duo of Behavior Transformation via Shaping Procedures Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about the importance of being fluent in experimental designs, not just to pass the exam, but to be a good clinician as well.
Ref Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).
Dana Do’s: Importance of Experimental Design Fluency Read More
Test your knowledge of behavior principles with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she breaks down a BCBA® mock exam question about the concept of punishers, clarifying their true definition based on their effect on behavior.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections B-6: Define and provide examples of positive and negative punishment contingencies; and G-16: Use positive and negative punishment (e.g., time-out, response cost, overcorrection).
Test your ABA terminology with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she discusses the behavior change procedure, Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL). Dana explains how DRL specifically targets lower rates of responding and shares valuable insights on effectively implementing this technique in behavior management strategies.
Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections B-5: Define and provide examples of schedules of reinforcement; and G-14: Use reinforcement procedures to weaken behavior (e.g., DRA, FCT, DRO, DRL, NCR).
Differential Reinforcement Procedure for Problem Behavior Reduction Read More
PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about measuring exam readiness. How do you know if you’re ready to sit?
Dana Do’s: How to Know When You’re Ready to Sit for the BCBA® Exam Read More