ABA Parent & Caregiver Collaboration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A parent disagrees with the BCBA's recommendation to use extinction for their child's tantrums, stating they find it too difficult. The BCBA should:
- Implement extinction without the parent's agreement since it is evidence-based
- Explore the parent's concerns, discuss alternatives, and collaboratively decide on a feasible plan (Correct answer)
- Discontinue services immediately
- Defer all decision-making to the parent without clinical input
Correct answer: Explore the parent's concerns, discuss alternatives, and collaboratively decide on a feasible plan
Collaboration requires exploring caregiver concerns, discussing alternatives, and developing a plan that balances evidence-based practice with family feasibility.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of training caregivers to collect data on target behaviors?
- To replace the need for a BCBA to collect data
- To allow caregivers to make independent clinical decisions
- To extend data collection to natural environments and support decision-making (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance documentation requirements
Correct answer: To extend data collection to natural environments and support decision-making
Caregiver data collection extends monitoring to home and community settings, providing a more complete picture of behavior across environments.
Question 3: A father reports he rarely implements strategies because he works long hours. Which approach best supports his involvement?
- Exclude him from the behavior plan entirely
- Identify brief, natural opportunities during his existing routine where strategies can be embedded (Correct answer)
- Require his attendance at all therapy sessions
- Lower intervention expectations only for him
Correct answer: Identify brief, natural opportunities during his existing routine where strategies can be embedded
Embedding strategies within existing routines increases feasibility and generalization without requiring major schedule changes.
Question 4: When should a BCBA provide a caregiver with written instructions for an intervention?
- Written instructions should never replace direct training
- As the sole training method for experienced parents
- As a supplement to active training such as modeling and rehearsal (Correct answer)
- Only when modeling and rehearsal are not feasible
Correct answer: As a supplement to active training such as modeling and rehearsal
Written instructions are most effective as a supplement to active training methods like modeling and practice, not as a standalone tool.
Question 5: A BCBA observes that a caregiver's implementation fidelity drops significantly one week after training. This MOST likely indicates:
- The caregiver is unmotivated and should be replaced
- Booster training and ongoing performance feedback are needed (Correct answer)
- The intervention is too complex and should be abandoned
- The behavior plan needs a complete revision
Correct answer: Booster training and ongoing performance feedback are needed
Fidelity decay after initial training is common and typically requires booster sessions and ongoing feedback to maintain performance.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a naturalistic teaching opportunity a caregiver can use during mealtime?
- Conducting a structured discrete trial session at the dinner table
- Withholding food until the child completes a full therapy protocol
- Prompting the child to request preferred foods using functional communication (Correct answer)
- Only allowing preferred foods as tangible reinforcers during DTT
Correct answer: Prompting the child to request preferred foods using functional communication
Prompting functional communication during naturally occurring mealtime routines is an evidence-based naturalistic teaching strategy.
Question 7: A BCBA shares progress graphs with a parent during a monthly meeting. The MOST important purpose of this activity is to:
- Demonstrate the BCBA's technical expertise
- Satisfy documentation requirements only
- Promote shared understanding of progress and support collaborative decision-making (Correct answer)
- Convince the parent to continue funding services
Correct answer: Promote shared understanding of progress and support collaborative decision-making
Sharing data with caregivers promotes transparency, shared understanding, and collaborative decision-making about the treatment plan.
ABA Parent & Caregiver Collaboration 3
A parent disagrees with the BCBA's recommendation to use extinction for their child's tantrums, stating they find it too difficult.
The BCBA should: