Which term describes changes in behavior that arise from systematic manipulations of the independent variable, such that changes in the dependent variable are unlikely due to confounding factors?

• A. Functional Relation
• B. Generalized Behavior Change
• C. Extinction Burst
• D. Explanatory Fiction

Answer: (A)

This item tests the idea of a functional relation. In ABA, a functional relation means that systematic manipulations of the independent variable produce changes in the dependent variable, and those changes are unlikely to be due to confounding factors. In other words, you demonstrate experimental control: when the IV is changed, the DV changes in a predictable way, and this pattern holds across conditions or replications, which makes it unlikely that other variables caused the effect. The other phrases refer to different phenomena: a generalized behavior change is about changes that occur across settings or stimuli, not necessarily tied to a documented IV–DV relationship; an extinction burst is a temporary spike in behavior when extinction is implemented; and explanatory fiction refers to non-empirical explanations of behavior. Thus, the term that best fits the description is the functional relation.