BACB Behavior Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which preference assessment method presents items one at a time and measures the client's approach response to each item?
- Paired stimulus (forced choice) assessment
- Multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO)
- Single stimulus assessment (Correct answer)
- Free operant observation
Correct answer: Single stimulus assessment
The single stimulus (single item) preference assessment presents one item at a time and measures whether the client approaches or engages with it.
Question 2: In a paired stimulus (PS) preference assessment, a hierarchy is determined by calculating the:
- Average duration of engagement with each item
- Percentage of trials in which each item was selected (Correct answer)
- Number of times each item was approached in 10 minutes
- Latency to select each item across all trials
Correct answer: Percentage of trials in which each item was selected
In a PS assessment, each item's preference rank is determined by the percentage of trials in which it was chosen when presented against other items.
Question 3: A free operant observation preference assessment is conducted by:
- Presenting pairs of items and recording which is chosen each trial
- Allowing the client access to multiple items and recording time spent with each (Correct answer)
- Presenting items one at a time and recording approach behavior
- Asking caregivers to rank the client's preferred items
Correct answer: Allowing the client access to multiple items and recording time spent with each
Free operant observations allow the client unrestricted access to an array of items and use duration of engagement as the index of preference.
Question 4: The primary advantage of the Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO) assessment over the paired stimulus assessment is that it:
- Is more accurate at identifying high-preference items
- Requires fewer trials to complete the preference hierarchy (Correct answer)
- Can be used with clients who have severe motor impairments
- Identifies the function of escape-maintained behavior
Correct answer: Requires fewer trials to complete the preference hierarchy
The MSWO requires fewer trials than the paired stimulus assessment because items are removed after selection, reducing the total number of comparisons needed.
Question 5: Preference assessments are conducted primarily to:
- Determine the function of a problem behavior
- Identify stimuli that may serve as effective reinforcers (Correct answer)
- Assess a client's adaptive behavior skills
- Evaluate the topography of target behaviors
Correct answer: Identify stimuli that may serve as effective reinforcers
Preference assessments identify stimuli the individual is likely to prefer, which are then evaluated in reinforcer assessments to confirm their effectiveness as reinforcers.
Question 6: A reinforcer assessment differs from a preference assessment in that a reinforcer assessment:
- Identifies items the client approaches or engages with most
- Tests whether identified preferred items actually increase behavior (Correct answer)
- Uses structured interviews with caregivers to rank stimuli
- Presents items in a forced-choice format across multiple trials
Correct answer: Tests whether identified preferred items actually increase behavior
A reinforcer assessment empirically tests whether a stimulus increases the future frequency of the behavior it follows, confirming its function as a reinforcer.
Question 7: Which of the following is a limitation of using caregiver interviews to identify preferred stimuli?
- Interviews cannot be completed quickly in applied settings
- Caregiver reports may not accurately reflect the client's current preferences (Correct answer)
- Interviews require direct observation of the client for at least 30 minutes
- Caregiver interviews can only identify tangible reinforcers
Correct answer: Caregiver reports may not accurately reflect the client's current preferences
Caregiver interviews are an indirect method that relies on the caregiver's perception, which may be outdated or inaccurate regarding the client's current preferences.
BACB Behavior Assessment 2
Which preference assessment method presents items one at a time and measures the client's approach response to each item?