Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

Which principle asserts that the universe operates in a lawful and orderly manner?

1. Determinism

2. Empiricism

3. Philosophic Doubt

4. Parsimony

The correct answer is: Determinism

The principle that asserts the universe operates in a lawful and orderly manner is determinism. Determinism is a foundational concept in behavioral science and philosophy that posits all events, including human behavior, are determined by prior causes or laws. This underlines the belief that behavior is predictable if the conditions that lead to it are known. Understanding this principle is crucial for applied behavior analysis (ABA), as it supports the idea that behaviors can be modified through the identification and manipulation of antecedents and consequences. While the other concepts—empiricism, philosophic doubt, and parsimony—play significant roles in the scientific method and ABA practices, they do not specifically emphasize the orderly and lawful nature of the universe as determinism does. Empiricism refers to the reliance on observation and experience for knowledge, philosophic doubt involves questioning and skepticism about knowledge claims, and parsimony calls for simplicity in explanations. Each of these principles is important in scientific inquiry but does not directly encapsulate the notion of a predictable and lawful universe like determinism does.