H.4: Plan for and attempt to mitigate possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.
Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.
A BCBA plans to put attention-maintained screaming on extinction at home. What is the best way to plan for possible unwanted effects?
- A. Use extinction only on days when parents feel able to ignore screaming, and give attention on other daysApplying extinction inconsistently creates intermittent reinforcement, which makes screaming more resistant to extinction.
- B. Tell the parents to stop extinction if screaming gets worse, since that means the procedure has failedA temporary increase (extinction burst) is expected. Stopping during the burst teaches the child that more intense screaming produces attention.
- C. Pair extinction with reinforcement for an appropriate attention request, warn the parents about a likely extinction burst, and set up a safety plan for escalationCorrect. Adding a reinforced alternative reduces the burst and extinction-induced aggression, and preparing caregivers and planning for safety reduces risk.
- D. Avoid telling the parents about extinction bursts so they don't worryCaregivers should be told about foreseeable side effects before implementation, and preparing them makes it more likely they will stick with the plan.
After a punishment procedure (contingent overcorrection) is added to a client's plan, the data show that the client now runs away when the staff member who implements it approaches. What modification best reduces this unwanted effect?
- A. Remove all reinforcement from the plan so the client doesn't receive mixed signalsRemoving reinforcement makes the environment more aversive and removes the alternative behavior's support.
- B. Rotate a different staff member in to implement overcorrection each day without collecting further dataRotating staff could spread the avoidance to more people, and dropping data collection prevents data-based decisions.
- C. Have the implementing staff member also deliver frequent reinforcement for appropriate behavior, and track approach/avoidance data to judge whether punishment should be faded or removedCorrect. Escape and avoidance of the punishing agent is a known side effect. Pairing that person with rich reinforcement and monitoring data addresses it and supports a less intrusive plan.
- D. Make the overcorrection more intense so it suppresses running away tooMore intense punishment is likely to increase escape, avoidance, and emotional responding.
A response-cost procedure greatly reduces a student's swearing in a classroom where it is used. Over the same period, the parents report a sharp increase in swearing at home, where no procedure is in place. Which phenomenon should the BCBA consider and plan for?
- A. ResurgenceResurgence is an earlier behavior returning when an alternative behavior is put on extinction.
- B. Behavioral contrastCorrect. Behavioral contrast is a decrease in one setting under punishment accompanied by an increase where the contingency is absent. Planning might include coordinated procedures across settings.
- C. SatiationSatiation is reduced reinforcer effectiveness from repeated access. It doesn't explain an increase at home.
- D. Spontaneous recoverySpontaneous recovery is a behavior reappearing after extinction when a new session starts. It isn't a rise in another setting during punishment.