Free diagnostic

40 questions

1. A coffee-shop cashier is trained to say "Welcome back!" only to customers holding a loyalty card, and his manager praises him when he does. After training, he says "Welcome back!" to card holders but not to other customers. This pattern shows: A. Response generalization B. Stimulus generalization C. A motivating operation D. Stimulus discrimination

2. With daily feedback, an RBT's integrity reached 95%. The supervisor stopped feedback completely, and within two weeks integrity fell to 65%. Based on these data, what should the supervisor do? A. Bring feedback back and then thin it gradually (for example, from daily to weekly to biweekly), while continuing to monitor integrity so the gains are maintained. B. Conclude that the RBT cannot keep the skill and reassign her. C. Repeat the initial training, because the skill has been lost. D. Go back to daily feedback permanently.

3. A BCBA wants treatment integrity data that will show exactly which parts of a classroom plan a teacher needs help with. Which method best meets this goal? A. Reviewing the student's outcome data alone B. Having the teacher rate her own implementation on a 1–5 scale at the end of each week C. Counting the number of days the plan was in effect D. Direct observation with a component checklist that scores each step of the plan per opportunity

4. An RBT in a clinic sets a vibrating timer for every 2 minutes. When it vibrates, she looks at a 4-year-old and records whether he is engaged with toys at that moment. Why is this procedure classified as discontinuous measurement? A. Because the RBT uses a timer instead of a stopwatch to time each episode B. Because behavior is sampled only at certain moments, so not every instance is detected C. Because the data are reported as a percentage of observations instead of a count D. Because the session length is too short to provide a representative sample of engagement

5. A middle school teacher often reprimands a student loudly in front of the class for off-task behavior. Off-task behavior in that class decreases, but the student starts arriving late and asking to see the nurse during that period. These new behaviors are best explained as: A. Spontaneous recovery of the punished off-task behavior B. Response generalization of the punished off-task behavior C. Escape and avoidance, an undesirable side effect of punishment D. Behavioral contrast caused by punishment in another setting

6. A school district contracts with a BCBA to supervise paraprofessionals' use of behavior plans. The paraprofessionals' annual job evaluations are done by the building principal. What should the BCBA do FIRST to set up an effective supervisory relationship? A. Start observing in classrooms and give feedback as problems come up B. Ask the principal to let the BCBA conduct the job evaluations instead C. Clarify everyone's roles, the BCBA's authority, and communication in writing D. Give feedback only to the principal, who can pass it on to the staff

7. An RBT implements a prompt-fading procedure with 100% accuracy whenever her supervisor asks her to show it. During ordinary sessions, observed covertly through a one-way mirror, her accuracy is around 40%. Which intervention is the BEST match for this pattern? A. Give her a more detailed written protocol. B. Look at the consequences and competing contingencies in ordinary sessions, and arrange reinforcement for correct implementation (for example, frequent feedback tied to integrity data). C. Repeat the full behavioral skills training for prompt fading. D. Assign her a different client.

8. In a clinic, a child sorts silverware. For a few minutes, every fifth correct sort earns a token (FR 5). For the next few minutes, sorting earns nothing. These periods alternate throughout the session, and nothing in the room signals which one is in effect. This arrangement is a: A. Mixed schedule B. Multiple schedule C. Chained schedule D. Concurrent schedule

9. A teacher reports that a 9-year-old kicks peers several times a day. Each time the BCBA observes in the classroom, the student shows almost no kicking. What should the BCBA do to get more accurate descriptive data? A. Conclude that kicking is rare and close the referral as unconfirmed B. Ask the teacher to give harder work during visits so kicking is more likely C. Move straight to a functional analysis, since observation has not produced data D. Use video or teacher-collected ABC data after a period of getting used to the observer

10. A research team video-records a 20-minute session of a child's vocal stereotypy and scores it four ways. Continuous duration recording shows stereotypy for 40% of the session. Partial-interval recording shows 70%, whole-interval recording shows 15%, and momentary time sampling shows 38%. Which statement best explains these results? A. Discontinuous methods yield estimates with known biases: partial-interval tends to overestimate and whole-interval tends to underestimate B. Partial-interval recording was scored wrong, since a discontinuous method cannot produce a value higher than the true duration C. Momentary time sampling is a continuous method, which is why its value was closest to the true duration D. The continuous duration data should be thrown out, since three discontinuous methods all disagree with it

11. Using a matrix, a speech-language team teaches a child to say "push car" and "roll ball." During probes, the child correctly says "push ball" and "roll car," which were never taught. This generative performance is best described as: A. Response maintenance B. Recombinative generalization C. Echoic responding D. Stimulus overselectivity

12. After being taught to greet peers by saying "Hi," a student starts greeting peers with "Hey there" and a wave, which were never trained. This outcome is best described as: A. Stimulus generalization B. Response maintenance C. Recombinative generalization from matrix training D. Response generalization

13. After a long hike on a hot day, which consequence would most likely function as an unconditioned reinforcer for a 10-year-old camper? A. A gold star on the camp chart B. A drink of cold water C. A ticket for the camp store D. Praise from the camp counselor

14. On every trial, a picture of a car and a picture of a shoe are on the table, and their positions are randomized. When the therapist says "car," the child touches the car. When the therapist says "shoe," the child touches the shoe. This performance is best described as: A. A conditional discrimination, because which picture is correct depends on the spoken word B. A simple discrimination, because each picture always occasions the same touching response C. Stimulus generalization, because the child responds similarly to both of the pictures D. An echoic relation, because the child's response is controlled by a vocal stimulus

15. RBTs rarely enter session data into the electronic system on the same day. All of them can use the software fluently, but the only computer with the software is in an office across the building. Which intervention reflects manipulating response effort? A. Give the RBTs tablets so they can enter data at the session table. B. Send daily reminder emails about the data-entry deadline. C. Post a leaderboard of on-time data entry. D. Retrain all RBTs on how the software works.

16. In an adult day program, a BCBA wants to measure how well a 34-year-old client replies when peers and staff greet him. The number of greetings he receives varies a lot, from about 5 to 30 per day. Which measure best represents his replying? A. Percentage of greetings followed by a reply B. Number of replies per hour of program time C. Total count of replies each day D. Duration of each conversational reply

17. A BCBA is using a changing-criterion design to increase the minutes a client exercises on a stationary bike. Which plan would most strengthen experimental control? A. Vary the length of the phases and the size of the criterion changes, and include a temporary return to an earlier (lower) criterion B. Set the final goal from the first session, so the client knows the target C. Change the criterion only when the client asks for a new goal D. Raise the criterion by exactly 5 minutes every 3 sessions, so the phases are uniform

18. A 14-year-old picks at the skin on his arms during high school lectures. Assessment suggests the behavior is maintained by automatic reinforcement. Which alternative behavior is most socially valid to establish? A. Sitting on his hands for the whole lecture so that he cannot reach his arms B. Handling a textured object under his desk, which keeps his hands busy and gives tactile input C. Asking the teacher to check on him whenever he notices the urge to pick D. Leaving the classroom to spend time in the sensory room until the lecture ends

19. A BCBA wants to find out whether delivering adult attention on a fixed-time 2-minute schedule reduces the number of head hits per session for a 7-year-old client. In this evaluation, what is the independent variable? A. The client's age and diagnosis B. The number of head hits per session C. The clinic room where sessions occur D. The fixed-time 2-minute attention schedule

20. A 7-year-old leaves his classroom and runs to the playground, where he swings until staff arrive. In a functional analysis, elopement occurs at high rates in the demand condition (reading tasks), even when the swings have been removed. It rarely occurs in the attention, alone, or play conditions. Which contingency most likely maintains elopement? A. Negative reinforcement by escape from reading tasks B. Automatic positive reinforcement from running C. Positive reinforcement by access to swinging D. Positive reinforcement by staff attention during retrieval

21. A BCBA reviews a definition a supervisee wrote for a 9-year-old: 'Aggression: hitting, kicking, or pushing peers when Liam becomes frustrated during recess.' Observers often disagree about whether particular hits should be scored. What is the main problem with this definition? A. It lists more than one topography, so observers need a separate definition for each form. B. It limits recording to recess, so aggression at other times of the day goes unmeasured. C. It describes the form rather than the function, so it cannot guide treatment selection. D. It asks observers to infer an internal state, which cannot be seen, before scoring a hit.

22. A BCBA is reviewing intake data for four children. Which finding most clearly shows a need for behavior-analytic services? A. A 3-year-old has a brief tantrum about once a week when told it is bedtime B. A 6-year-old runs toward the street several times a day and parent strategies have failed C. A 4-year-old prefers playing alone at the park but joins peers when invited D. A 5-year-old sometimes refuses to try new vegetables at dinner

23. A BCBA uses an ABAB design. Off-task behavior drops each time she starts teacher praise for on-task work and rises each time she removes the praise. Across the phases, the change in behavior is reliable and can be replicated. Which goal of behavior analysis has she achieved? A. Description B. Control C. Prediction D. Interpretation

24. A BCBA takes over the case of a 16-year-old in a new group home. Records include a functional behavior assessment completed three years ago at his family home, which concluded that his aggression was escape-maintained. Since then, he has moved placements twice and lost regular contact with his family. How should the BCBA use the earlier assessment? A. Adopt the escape function and restart the earlier treatment plan right away B. Set the old assessment aside completely because it is more than a year old C. Treat the old finding as a hypothesis and confirm it through current assessment D. Base the new plan only on interviews with the current group home staff

25. A teacher tells the class: "If the class average on Friday's spelling quiz is 85% or higher, everyone gets 15 minutes of extra recess." Which type of group contingency is this? A. Independent group contingency B. Dependent group contingency C. Individual contingency contract D. Interdependent group contingency

26. At a warehouse, an incentive plan pays packers a $5 bonus for every 20 boxes packed and labeled correctly. Which simple schedule of reinforcement describes this plan? A. Variable ratio 20 (VR 20) B. Fixed interval 20 (FI 20) C. Variable interval 20 (VI 20) D. Fixed ratio 20 (FR 20)

27. A state agency wants to know whether, on average, students in 200 schools that adopt a new classroom-management program have fewer office referrals than students in comparable schools that do not. Which approach best fits this question? A. A group comparison design, because the question concerns average effects across a large population B. A multielement design with each school, because it rapidly compares conditions C. An A-B-A-B design with one student, because it gives the strongest demonstration of control D. A changing-criterion design, because referrals should decrease in steps

28. A 14-year-old receiving home-based services has met all of his treatment goals. Maintenance data have been stable for 3 months, and the family reports no new concerns. What should the BCBA do? A. Keep providing services at the same intensity indefinitely in case some skills start to regress B. Work with the family on a discharge plan that includes maintenance tips and resources, then end services C. Add new goals that do not reflect the family's concerns so the insurance authorization can continue D. End services at the next session without advance notice, because the goals have already been met

29. A BCBA consults for an assisted living facility about a 78-year-old resident whose agitation, yelling, and confusion began suddenly five days ago. She has also had two falls. Before this week she had no history of problem behavior, and ABC data show no consistent antecedents or consequences. What is the most appropriate recommendation? A. Schedule more frequent staff attention to reduce the yelling B. Continue descriptive assessment for two more weeks and then begin DRA C. Run a functional analysis now to rule out social functions first D. Refer for prompt medical evaluation before designing any behavioral intervention

30. A newly certified BCBA is the only behavior analyst in a rural school district, and no BCBA colleagues work nearby. What is the best way for her to keep and build her competence? A. Set up regular remote consultation with an experienced BCBA mentor, sharing only the de-identified information needed B. Complete only the minimum required continuing education and handle all cases on her own C. Rely on the district's special education director, who is not a behavior analyst, for clinical feedback D. Post de-identified case details in a public social media group to get advice from other analysts

31. A BCBA reviews a behavior plan that lists only behaviors to decrease. She tells the team that for every behavior they plan to decrease, they should also identify an appropriate behavior to increase. What is this guideline called? A. The dead man's test B. The fair pair rule C. The Premack principle D. The matching law

32. A BCBA in an adult day program finds that a 34-year-old client reads and follows written lists accurately, but he often stops partway through multistep tasks when staff give spoken instructions. How should the BCBA use this assessment result when planning? A. Hold off on all vocational goals until he can follow multistep spoken instructions B. Use written checklists to support multistep tasks and also target listener skills C. Leave his reading skills out of the plan because they are not a deficit area D. Refer him to a speech-language pathologist and pause services until that evaluation is done

33. A client reliably completes vocational tasks with reinforcement after every task (CRF). The team wants the skill to persist when reinforcement becomes less frequent at a community job. What is the best next step? A. Gradually thin to an intermittent schedule (for example, VR 2, then VR 5) B. Switch to a fixed-time schedule C. Keep CRF indefinitely to make sure the skill is not lost D. Stop reinforcement immediately to test maintenance

34. A hospital hires a BCBA to improve hand-hygiene compliance on a nursing unit. Before designing an intervention, which step best builds a collaborative relationship with the nursing staff? A. Meet with nurses to learn the barriers they face and use their ideas in the design B. Present a finished feedback system at a staff meeting and assign start dates C. Observe covertly for several weeks so staff do not change their behavior D. Have the unit manager announce that low performers will be disciplined

35. An OBM consultant measures how well bank tellers follow a 5-step customer greeting script. On days when supervisors announce observations, adherence is 95%. Customer complaints suggest the script is often skipped on other days. Which change would best produce representative integrity data? A. Increase the number of announced observations each week B. Use observations tellers cannot predict, such as random mystery-shopper visits C. Have tellers self-record their adherence at the end of each day D. Replace observations with a monthly customer satisfaction survey

36. A BCBA plans a goal for an 8-year-old to sleep in his own bed. The mother says the family has always slept together and has no wish to change that. Their real concern is long tantrums at bedtime. What should the BCBA do? A. Explain that research favors children sleeping alone, and keep the goal of sleeping in his own bed B. Learn about the family's sleep practices and change the goal to reduce bedtime tantrums while they co-sleep C. Drop all sleep goals without further discussion, so the mother doesn't feel the BCBA is judging her D. Ask the child's grandmother to decide, since she spends the most time with the child at bedtime

37. Which statement best describes cultural humility? A. Matching clients with practitioners of the same cultural background B. A lifelong process of self-reflection and learning that recognizes the limits of one's own cultural perspective and treats clients as experts on their own culture C. Memorizing facts about the customs of different cultural groups until reaching mastery D. Treating all clients the same, without regard to culture

38. During staff training at a school, a new paraprofessional says, 'If behavior is determined, then students aren't responsible for anything and we can't really help them.' Which response best reflects how behavior analysts use the assumption of determinism? A. Determinism applies only to reflexive behavior, so operant behavior such as classroom work is freely chosen B. Behavior is lawfully related to environmental and biological variables, and that lawfulness is what makes change possible C. Determinism means behavior is fixed by genetics, so teachers should only build new skills around those limits D. Determinism is a working assumption for laboratory research only and does not apply to classroom practice

39. A functional analysis shows that a 34-year-old man's loud vocal disruptions in his group home are maintained by staff attention. During evening shifts, one staff member supports four residents, and staff turnover is high. Which recommendation shows the best contextual fit? A. A 30-second DRO in which staff watch him continuously and reset a timer after each disruption B. Extinction alone, with staff told never to respond to him while he is being disruptive C. A token economy with exchanges every 15 minutes and response cost for each disruption D. Fixed-time attention cued by a vibrating timer, plus a taught request for staff attention

40. A 40-year-old man at a supported job site has a predictable sequence of behavior: he paces, then mutters, then slams the table, then throws work materials. Staff currently step in only when he throws materials. Based on the principles of behavior chains, where should intervention focus? A. On throwing, because it is the most severe and clearly defined link B. On pacing, the earliest link, to keep the later links from being evoked C. On every link equally, with the same consequence for each one D. On slamming the table, because it reliably predicts the throwing