ABA Exam Coach

E.7: Identify types of and risks associated with multiple relationships, and how to mitigate those risks when they are unavoidable.

Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.

Which of the following best defines a multiple relationship?
  1. A. A behavior analyst who works on a client's case with several other disciplines
    Incorrect. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a professional role, not a multiple relationship.
  2. B. A behavior analyst who works with several clients at once
    Incorrect. Having a caseload of several clients is not a multiple relationship.
  3. C. A behavior analyst who has a professional role with someone and also has another role (such as personal, familial, or financial) with that person or someone closely connected to them
    Correct. A multiple relationship mixes the professional role with another kind of role involving the same person or someone closely tied to them.
  4. D. A behavior analyst who supervises more than one RBT
    Incorrect. Supervising several people is about supervisory volume, not multiple relationships.
At the end of the school year, a client's parent gives the BCBA a $50 restaurant gift card as a thank-you. What is the most appropriate response?
  1. A. Accept it but leave it out of the client's records
    Incorrect. Hiding the gift adds an integrity problem on top of the gift violation.
  2. B. Accept it and give it to the RBT who works with the client
    Incorrect. Passing the gift to a supervisee doesn't make accepting it appropriate, and the RBT can't accept it either.
  3. C. Decline the gift card politely, explain the gift guidelines, and accept a gesture of appreciation that is within limits, such as a card or a gift of $10 or less
    Correct. Under Code 1.12, behavior analysts do not accept gifts worth more than $10 USD. An infrequent gift within that limit is acceptable as an expression of gratitude, and the guideline should be explained tactfully.
  4. D. Accept it, since refusing would hurt the relationship
    Incorrect. A $50 gift is over the Code's $10 limit, no matter how well meant.
A BCBA works in a small rural town with one ABA provider. She finds out that a new client's father is her son's soccer coach. No other provider is reasonably available. What is the best course of action?
  1. A. Take the case and treat the relationships as unrelated, since they are in different settings
    Incorrect. Ignoring the overlap misses real risks to objectivity and confidentiality.
  2. B. Take her son off the soccer team
    Incorrect. This is an extreme personal step that doesn't directly address the professional risks.
  3. C. Refuse the case, because every multiple relationship is prohibited
    Incorrect. When a multiple relationship can't be avoided, behavior analysts may proceed with safeguards. Refusing could leave the client without services.
  4. D. Talk with the family about the potential conflict, set clear boundaries, document the steps taken to reduce risk, and seek consultation as needed
    Correct. For unavoidable multiple relationships, behavior analysts disclose, set boundaries, document, and take active steps to mitigate risk.

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