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OBA practice questions

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Question 1Fundamentals and Core Concepts

In applied behavior analysis, which statement best characterizes the philosophical position known as behaviorism?

  1. Only private events such as thoughts are legitimate data for analysis
  2. Psychology should focus on observable behavior and environmental events Correct answer.
  3. Behavior is determined mainly by inherited traits and instincts
  4. Behavior should be explained by internal mental states and feelings

Explanation

Behaviorism holds that the proper subject matter of psychology is observable behavior and the environmental events that influence it. It rejects explaining behavior by appealing to unobservable mental constructs as causes. This focus on publicly observable events is what makes behavior analysis an empirical natural science.

Question 2Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior occurs and is immediately followed by the removal of an ongoing loud noise, and the behavior increases in frequency. This is an example of which principle?

  1. Negative reinforcement Correct answer.
  2. Positive punishment
  3. Positive reinforcement
  4. Negative punishment

Explanation

Negative reinforcement involves an increase in behavior produced by the removal or avoidance of a stimulus. The loud noise is removed contingent on the response, and the response becomes more frequent. The defining feature is the increase in behavior, not the aversive nature of the stimulus.

Question 3Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which term describes a stimulus that acquires its reinforcing properties through pairing with an existing reinforcer?

  1. Conditioned reinforcer Correct answer.
  2. Discriminative stimulus
  3. Unconditioned reinforcer
  4. Establishing operation

Explanation

A conditioned reinforcer is a previously neutral stimulus that gains reinforcing value by being paired with an unconditioned or other established reinforcer. Money and praise are common examples in humans. Its effectiveness depends on continued pairing with backup reinforcers.

Question 4Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A teacher records how many times a student raises a hand during a 30-minute lesson. Which measurement dimension is being used?

  1. Interresponse time
  2. Duration
  3. Frequency Correct answer.
  4. Latency

Explanation

Frequency, also called count, records the number of occurrences of a behavior within an observation period. Counting hand raises across a lesson yields a frequency measure. Duration, latency, and interresponse time each require timing information rather than a simple count.

Question 5Fundamentals and Core Concepts

The three-term contingency in behavior analysis is composed of which elements?

  1. Stimulus, response, satiation
  2. Response, reinforcer, schedule
  3. Reinforcer, punisher, extinguisher
  4. Antecedent, behavior, consequence Correct answer.

Explanation

The three-term contingency describes the functional relation among an antecedent stimulus, a behavior, and its consequence. This framework explains how environmental events occasion and maintain behavior. It is the basic unit of operant analysis.

Question 6Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which of the following best describes a discriminative stimulus?

  1. A stimulus that signals reinforcement is available for a response Correct answer.
  2. A stimulus that decreases the future frequency of behavior
  3. A stimulus that evokes behavior without prior learning
  4. A stimulus that follows behavior and strengthens it

Explanation

A discriminative stimulus is present when a response has been reinforced and its presence increases the likelihood of that response. It does not itself strengthen behavior; it signals the availability of reinforcement. Its function is established through differential reinforcement in its presence versus absence.

Question 7Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A response is reinforced after every fifth occurrence. Which schedule of reinforcement is in effect?

  1. Fixed ratio Correct answer.
  2. Fixed interval
  3. Variable ratio
  4. Variable interval

Explanation

A fixed ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after a fixed number of responses. Reinforcing every fifth response is an FR 5 schedule. Ratio schedules depend on response count, whereas interval schedules depend on elapsed time.

Question 8Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which measurement procedure involves recording whether a behavior occurred during any part of a specified interval?

  1. Momentary time sampling
  2. Whole-interval recording
  3. Event recording
  4. Partial-interval recording Correct answer.

Explanation

Partial-interval recording scores an interval if the behavior occurs at any point within it. It tends to overestimate behavior because a brief occurrence marks the entire interval. Whole-interval and momentary time sampling use different rules for scoring intervals.

Question 9Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst wants to determine whether a treatment caused a change in behavior. Which dimension of applied behavior analysis does this concern?

  1. Generality
  2. Applied
  3. Effective Correct answer.
  4. Technological

Explanation

The effectiveness dimension requires that the intervention produce a socially significant change in behavior that is demonstrably attributable to the intervention. Demonstrating experimental control is central to establishing effectiveness. Generality, technological, and applied refer to other dimensions of the framework.

Question 10Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A therapist withholds reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, and the behavior gradually decreases. This process is called:

  1. Habituation
  2. Extinction Correct answer.
  3. Satiation
  4. Punishment

Explanation

Extinction is the process by which a previously reinforced behavior decreases when reinforcement is discontinued. It is defined by the withholding of the maintaining reinforcer, not by the presentation of an aversive event. Extinction may initially produce an extinction burst.

Question 11Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which of the following is an example of a motivating operation that increases the value of a reinforcer?

  1. A discriminative stimulus signaling food availability
  2. A period of food deprivation Correct answer.
  3. A punishment contingency
  4. A schedule of reinforcement

Explanation

Food deprivation is an establishing operation that increases the reinforcing effectiveness of food and evokes behavior that has produced food. Motivating operations alter both reinforcer value and the momentary frequency of related behavior. Discriminative stimuli signal availability rather than change value.

Question 12Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A researcher presents a prompt immediately after the instruction and gradually delays it across trials. Which prompt-fading procedure is being used?

  1. Most-to-least prompting
  2. Time delay Correct answer.
  3. Errorless prompting
  4. Stimulus fading

Explanation

Time delay involves inserting a progressively longer interval between the instruction and the prompt. It transfers stimulus control to the natural discriminative stimulus while minimizing errors. Most-to-least prompting instead reduces prompt intrusiveness across trials.

Question 13Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which graph type is most appropriate for displaying the cumulative number of responses over successive sessions?

  1. Bar graph
  2. Scatterplot
  3. Standard celeration chart only
  4. Cumulative record Correct answer.

Explanation

A cumulative record plots total responses over time, so each response adds to the running total. The slope of the record indicates response rate, and flat portions indicate no responding. Other graphs show level or distribution rather than cumulative totals.

Question 14Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst observes that a child's tantrums occur more often when a parent is on the phone. Which type of functional relation is most likely suggested?

  1. Escape from demand
  2. Automatic reinforcement
  3. Attention as reinforcement Correct answer.
  4. Sensory stimulation

Explanation

The correlation between tantrums and parental phone use suggests that parent attention may reinforce the behavior. When the parent is distracted, the child's tantrums may produce attention as a consequence. Confirming this requires a functional analysis rather than correlation alone.

Question 15Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which of the following best defines a response class?

  1. A single response emitted under one condition
  2. A set of responses that produce the same consequence Correct answer.
  3. A set of stimuli that share a common physical property
  4. A schedule that reinforces every response

Explanation

A response class is a group of topographically different responses that share the same function, namely producing a common consequence. For example, various ways of requesting attention form one response class. Stimulus classes, by contrast, group stimuli that evoke similar responses.

Question 16Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A teacher reinforces a student for every correct answer, then gradually requires more correct answers before delivering reinforcement. What is this procedure called?

  1. Schedule thinning Correct answer.
  2. Shaping
  3. Chaining
  4. Discrimination training

Explanation

Schedule thinning gradually increases the response requirement for reinforcement, such as moving from continuous to intermittent reinforcement. It is often used to maintain behavior while reducing the density of reinforcement. Shaping and chaining involve different procedures for developing new behavior.

Question 17Fundamentals and Core Concepts

In a reversal design, the researcher measures baseline, applies treatment, then withdraws treatment and measures again. What is the primary purpose of the withdrawal phase?

  1. To reduce the number of sessions needed
  2. To demonstrate that behavior changes with the treatment Correct answer.
  3. To increase the generality of the treatment
  4. To establish a new baseline for generalization

Explanation

Withdrawing and reinstating the treatment allows the researcher to show that behavior changes when the treatment is applied and reverses when it is removed. This replication within the same subject strengthens the demonstration of experimental control. It is not primarily intended to save sessions or promote generality.

Question 18Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which term refers to the extent to which an independent variable produces a reliable change in the dependent variable?

  1. Construct validity
  2. Social validity
  3. Internal validity Correct answer.
  4. External validity

Explanation

Internal validity concerns whether changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable rather than extraneous factors. Experimental control and proper design features support internal validity. External validity concerns generality to other settings, subjects, and behaviors.

Question 19Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst collects data on two observers watching the same session and compares their records. This assesses which property of measurement?

  1. Accuracy
  2. Sensitivity
  3. Reliability Correct answer.
  4. Validity

Explanation

Interobserver agreement assesses reliability, which is the consistency of measurement across observers or occasions. High agreement suggests the measurement is consistent, though it does not by itself guarantee accuracy. Accuracy refers to correspondence with the true value of the behavior.

Question 20Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which of the following is the best example of a conditioned aversive stimulus?

  1. Food delivered after a response
  2. A loud noise presented at birth
  3. A neutral tone never paired with anything
  4. A scolding paired repeatedly with loss of privileges Correct answer.

Explanation

A conditioned aversive stimulus acquires punishing properties through pairing with an unconditioned aversive event. A scolding repeatedly paired with loss of privileges can become aversive and suppress behavior. Unconditioned aversive stimuli are aversive without prior learning.

Question 21Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A student's behavior of solving math problems is reinforced in the classroom but not at home, where no one checks the work. Over time, the student stops completing math homework. Which concept best explains this outcome?

  1. Response generalization
  2. Behavioral contrast
  3. Stimulus discrimination Correct answer.
  4. Stimulus generalization

Explanation

Stimulus discrimination occurs when a response is reinforced in the presence of one stimulus but not another, so the response comes to occur only under the discriminative condition. The classroom signals reinforcement, while the home setting does not. Generalization would involve the behavior occurring across both settings.

Question 22Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which statement best captures the difference between reinforcement and punishment?

  1. Reinforcement increases behavior; punishment decreases behavior Correct answer.
  2. Reinforcement is a procedure; punishment is a process
  3. Reinforcement always involves adding stimuli; punishment always involves removing them
  4. Reinforcement is always socially appropriate; punishment is always inappropriate

Explanation

Reinforcement is defined by an increase in the future frequency of behavior, while punishment is defined by a decrease. Both can involve either the presentation or removal of stimuli, giving positive and negative forms. The defining feature is the direction of the behavior change, not the social acceptability of the procedure.

Question 23Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A researcher wants to compare two treatments while controlling for sequence effects. Which design is most appropriate?

  1. Withdrawal design with a single reversal
  2. Alternating treatments design Correct answer.
  3. Multiple baseline across behaviors
  4. AB design

Explanation

The alternating treatments design rapidly alternates two or more conditions within the same subject, which controls for sequence and maturation effects by distributing them across conditions. Comparing conditions close in time reveals differential effects. Multiple baseline and withdrawal designs address different threats to validity.

Question 24Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst notes that a child's self-injurious behavior occurs at high rates even when the child is alone and no social consequences follow. Which functional hypothesis is most consistent with this observation?

  1. Attention-maintained behavior
  2. Automatic reinforcement Correct answer.
  3. Escape-maintained behavior
  4. Tangible-maintained behavior

Explanation

Behavior that persists in the absence of social consequences is likely maintained by automatic reinforcement, where the behavior itself produces sensory consequences. Socially mediated functions such as attention, escape, and tangibles require another person's response. A functional analysis would be needed to confirm the hypothesis.

Question 25Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which statement correctly distinguishes operant from respondent conditioning?

  1. Operant conditioning involves reflexive responses elicited by antecedent stimuli
  2. Respondent conditioning involves behavior controlled primarily by its consequences
  3. Operant behavior is controlled mainly by consequences; respondent behavior by antecedent eliciting stimuli Correct answer.
  4. Both types of conditioning are controlled exclusively by consequences

Explanation

Operant behavior is emitted and controlled primarily by its consequences, while respondent behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli and modified through pairing. Respondent conditioning involves stimulus-stimulus relations, as in classical conditioning. Consequence control is the hallmark of operant behavior.

Question 26Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which term describes the environmental event that follows a behavior and increases the future probability of that behavior?

  1. Discriminative stimulus
  2. Establishing operation
  3. Reinforcer Correct answer.
  4. Punisher

Explanation

A reinforcer is defined by its effect: it follows a response and increases the likelihood of that response occurring again. The defining feature is the increase in future behavior, not the pleasantness of the event itself. Punishers decrease behavior, while antecedent events like establishing operations and discriminative stimuli precede rather than follow the response.

Question 27Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst records the number of hand-raises during a 30-minute lesson. Which dimension of behavior is being measured?

  1. Latency
  2. Interresponse time
  3. Duration
  4. Count Correct answer.

Explanation

Count is a simple tally of how many times a behavior occurs within an observation period, which is exactly what tallying hand-raises produces. Duration measures how long a behavior lasts, latency measures time to onset after a stimulus, and interresponse time measures the gap between successive responses.

Question 28Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which term refers to a behavior that occurs without any prior learning history and is strengthened by consequences?

  1. Reflexive behavior
  2. Respondent behavior
  3. Elicited behavior
  4. Operant behavior Correct answer.

Explanation

Operant behavior is controlled primarily by its consequences and is described as emitted rather than elicited. Respondent, reflexive, and elicited behavior are all controlled by antecedent stimuli and occur largely without regard to consequences. The distinction between emitted operants and elicited respondents is foundational in behavior analysis.

Question 29Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which schedule of reinforcement typically produces a high, steady rate of responding with brief post-reinforcement pauses?

  1. Variable interval
  2. Variable ratio Correct answer.
  3. Fixed ratio
  4. Fixed interval

Explanation

Variable ratio schedules deliver reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, which sustains high, steady responding with minimal pausing. Fixed ratio schedules also produce high rates but show pronounced post-reinforcement pauses. Interval schedules depend on time and generally produce lower or more scalloped response patterns.

Question 30Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst wants to strengthen a behavior that currently occurs rarely. Which procedure is most appropriate?

  1. Positive reinforcement Correct answer.
  2. Differential reinforcement of other behavior
  3. Response cost
  4. Extinction

Explanation

Positive reinforcement involves delivering a consequence after the target behavior that increases its future frequency, which directly strengthens a low-rate behavior. Differential reinforcement of other behavior, extinction, and response cost are all procedures designed to reduce or eliminate behavior rather than build it up.

Question 31Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which statement best describes the role of a conditioned reinforcer?

  1. It reduces behavior because of its aversive properties
  2. It acquires reinforcing value through pairing with established reinforcers Correct answer.
  3. It signals that reinforcement is unavailable
  4. It is effective from birth without any learning history

Explanation

A conditioned reinforcer is a neutral stimulus that gains reinforcing effectiveness by being paired with an already effective reinforcer, such as praise paired with food. Its value is learned rather than innate, and it strengthens rather than reduces behavior. Stimuli that signal unavailability of reinforcement are discriminative stimuli for extinction, not conditioned reinforcers.

Question 32Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A therapist teaches a learner to request a break by saying 'break' instead of engaging in aggression. Which procedure does this illustrate?

  1. Extinction alone
  2. Stimulus control transfer
  3. Punishment
  4. Functional communication training Correct answer.

Explanation

Functional communication training replaces a problem behavior with an appropriate communicative response that produces the same reinforcer. The learner gains access to the maintaining consequence, such as a break, through a socially acceptable response. Punishment and extinction alone do not teach a replacement skill.

Question 33Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between a response and a response class?

  1. A response class contains responses that produce the same consequence Correct answer.
  2. A response class is defined by the stimuli that precede it
  3. A response class contains responses that look physically identical
  4. A response class is a single instance of behavior

Explanation

A response class groups topographically different responses that share a common function, meaning they produce the same consequence. Members need not look alike, which is why a class can include varied forms of requesting. A single instance is a response, and antecedent stimuli define stimulus classes rather than response classes.

Question 34Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior occurs at high rates during baseline, drops when treatment is applied, returns to baseline levels when treatment is withdrawn, and drops again when treatment is reinstated. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The treatment likely controls the behavior Correct answer.
  2. The baseline data are invalid
  3. The behavior is under respondent control
  4. The treatment has no effect

Explanation

Repeated reversals that consistently reproduce the behavior change provide strong evidence that the independent variable controls the dependent variable. This pattern is characteristic of an ABAB reversal design. A single change would be weaker evidence, but the repeated correspondence across phases supports a functional relation.

Question 35Fundamentals and Core Concepts

Which procedure involves reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior?

  1. Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior Correct answer.
  2. Noncontingent reinforcement
  3. Differential reinforcement of low rates
  4. Extinction

Explanation

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior reinforces a response that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior, so engaging in the alternative precludes the problem response. Differential reinforcement of low rates merely reduces frequency, and noncontingent reinforcement delivers reinforcers independent of behavior. Extinction removes reinforcement without building an alternative.

Question 36Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst writes an operational definition of aggression. Which feature is most essential?

  1. It lists the likely causes of the behavior
  2. It explains why the learner becomes aggressive
  3. It describes observable movements in measurable terms Correct answer.
  4. It uses clinical labels such as 'frustrated'

Explanation

An operational definition must describe the behavior in observable, measurable terms so that independent observers can agree on occurrences. It should specify what the behavior looks like rather than infer internal states or causes. Explanations of causes and clinical labels are not part of a behavioral definition because they are not directly observable.

Question 37Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A learner's correct responding occurs with one teacher but not with others in the same setting. Which concept best accounts for this pattern?

  1. Stimulus control Correct answer.
  2. Stimulus generalization
  3. Motivating operation
  4. Response generalization

Explanation

Stimulus control exists when a behavior occurs more often in the presence of a specific antecedent stimulus because that stimulus has been correlated with reinforcement. Responding with one teacher but not others indicates narrow stimulus control by that teacher's features. Generalization would involve responding across the other teachers as well.

Question 38Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst wants to compare the effects of two interventions on the same behavior while minimizing carryover effects. Which design is best suited?

  1. Changing criterion design
  2. Alternating treatments design Correct answer.
  3. Multiple baseline across participants
  4. ABAB reversal design

Explanation

The alternating treatments design rapidly alternates two or more conditions within the same participant, which allows direct comparison while distributing sequence effects across conditions. Reversal designs require withdrawing treatment and do not compare two active treatments as efficiently. Multiple baseline and changing criterion designs address different experimental questions.

Question 39Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A response is reinforced only when it occurs at least 10 seconds after the previous response. Which schedule is in effect?

  1. Fixed interval
  2. Fixed ratio
  3. Differential reinforcement of paced responding Correct answer.
  4. Variable time

Explanation

Differential reinforcement of paced responding delivers reinforcement only when a response follows the previous one by a minimum interval, which spaces responses out. It is sometimes described as a spaced-responding schedule. Fixed interval schedules reinforce the first response after a set time from the last reinforcer, and fixed ratio schedules depend on response count.

Question 40Fundamentals and Core Concepts

A behavior analyst notes that a behavior persists even though the maintaining reinforcer has been withheld for many sessions. Which process best explains this persistence?

  1. Resurgence
  2. Respondent extinction
  3. Spontaneous recovery
  4. Reinforcement history and intermittent reinforcement Correct answer.

Explanation

Behaviors maintained on intermittent reinforcement schedules are highly resistant to extinction, and a long reinforcement history can sustain responding well after the contingency changes. This resistance is a well-documented phenomenon in the schedule literature. Resurgence and spontaneous recovery describe specific transient reappearances rather than sustained persistence.

Question 41Planning and Analysis

Which document formally authorizes a project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources to project activities?

  1. Business case
  2. Benefits management plan
  3. Work breakdown structure
  4. Project charter Correct answer.

Explanation

The project charter is the document issued by the sponsor that formally starts the project and grants the project manager authority over resources. The business case and benefits management plan are inputs used to justify and shape the project before chartering. The WBS is a planning output created after authorization.

Question 42Planning and Analysis

A project manager is defining the scope boundary of a new payroll system. Which tool best clarifies what is inside and outside the project by listing inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, and constraints?

  1. Stakeholder register
  2. Resource calendar
  3. Requirements traceability matrix
  4. Scope statement Correct answer.

Explanation

A scope statement documents the project scope, major deliverables, and explicit inclusions and exclusions, plus assumptions and constraints. The traceability matrix links requirements to deliverables rather than defining boundaries. The stakeholder register and resource calendar address people and availability, not scope boundaries.

Question 43Planning and Analysis

A team is estimating a task for the first time and has no historical data. They gather several experts who each submit estimates anonymously, then review the aggregated results and repeat until consensus emerges. Which technique is being used?

  1. Three-point estimating
  2. Delphi technique Correct answer.
  3. Analogous estimating
  4. Parametric estimating

Explanation

The Delphi technique collects anonymous expert judgments over multiple rounds, sharing aggregated feedback until consensus is reached. This reduces bias from dominant personalities. Analogous and parametric estimating rely on historical or statistical relationships, and three-point estimating uses optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely values.

Question 44Planning and Analysis

In a schedule network diagram, which relationship means the successor cannot finish until the predecessor has finished?

  1. Start-to-start
  2. Finish-to-start
  3. Finish-to-finish Correct answer.
  4. Start-to-finish

Explanation

A finish-to-finish relationship requires the successor activity to complete only after the predecessor completes. This is common when two activities must end together, such as testing finishing after documentation is finalized. The other relationships tie starts or a start to a finish instead.

Question 45Planning and Analysis

Which estimating approach uses a statistical relationship between historical data and other variables, such as cost per square meter, to calculate activity estimates?

  1. Reserve analysis
  2. Analogous estimating
  3. Parametric estimating Correct answer.
  4. Bottom-up estimating

Explanation

Parametric estimating multiplies a unit rate derived from historical data by a quantity to produce an estimate, such as cost per square meter times area. Bottom-up aggregates detailed component estimates, analogous uses whole-project comparison, and reserve analysis sets aside contingency rather than deriving an estimate.

Question 46Planning and Analysis

A project manager wants a single chart that displays scheduled start and finish dates for activities along a calendar timeline. Which tool should be used?

  1. Cause-and-effect diagram
  2. RACI matrix
  3. Gantt chart Correct answer.
  4. Resource histogram

Explanation

A Gantt chart plots activities as bars against a calendar timeline, showing planned start and finish dates and durations. A resource histogram shows resource usage over time, a RACI matrix assigns responsibilities, and a cause-and-effect diagram analyzes root causes.

Question 47Planning and Analysis

Which components together form the approved project baseline used to measure performance?

  1. Risk register, issue log, and change log
  2. Charter, business case, and benefits plan
  3. Quality metrics, checklists, and test plans
  4. Scope, schedule, and cost baselines Correct answer.

Explanation

The performance measurement baseline integrates the approved scope, schedule, and cost baselines, against which variances are tracked. The other groupings are supporting documents rather than the integrated baseline. Changes to any baseline require formal change control.

Question 48Planning and Analysis

A project manager is building a team responsibility grid that assigns one of four roles, including responsible and accountable, to each work package. Which tool is being created?

  1. Organizational breakdown structure
  2. Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
  3. Resource breakdown structure
  4. RACI matrix Correct answer.

Explanation

A RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment matrix that designates who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each work package or activity. The engagement assessment matrix tracks stakeholder support levels, while the resource and organizational breakdown structures categorize resources or reporting lines.

Question 49Planning and Analysis

During schedule development, a project manager adds two weeks of buffer before a critical deliverable to protect against known risks in a supplier's delivery. What is this buffer called?

  1. Contingency reserve Correct answer.
  2. Management reserve
  3. Cost of quality
  4. Funding limit reconciliation

Explanation

A contingency reserve is time or money set aside for identified risks with known probabilities, such as supplier delay. It is included in the baseline and released as risks are resolved. Management reserve covers unknown risks outside the baseline, funding limit reconciliation aligns spending with funding, and cost of quality covers quality investment.

Question 50Planning and Analysis

A project has an earned value of 40,000, a planned value of 50,000, and an actual cost of 45,000. What is the schedule performance index?

  1. 1.11
  2. 0.80 Correct answer.
  3. 0.89
  4. 1.25

Explanation

The schedule performance index equals earned value divided by planned value, so 40,000 divided by 50,000 equals 0.80. A value below 1.0 indicates the project is behind schedule. Actual cost is not used in SPI, which is why 0.89 is not the answer.