BCAT Behavior Reduction Strategies Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A technician is implementing an extinction procedure for a client's attention-seeking screaming. For the first three days, the screaming decreases. On the fourth day, the client's screaming becomes louder and more frequent than it was at baseline. This temporary increase in the problem behavior is most likely an example of:
- Spontaneous recovery
- An extinction burst (Correct answer)
- Resurgence
- Negative reinforcement
Correct answer: An extinction burst
An extinction burst is a predictable, temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavior when reinforcement is first removed. It often indicates that the extinction procedure is beginning to work. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a behavior after it has been extinguished for some time, resurgence is the reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior when another behavior is put on extinction, and negative reinforcement involves removing a stimulus to increase a behavior.
Question 2: A supervising BCBA has designed a plan to reduce a client's out-of-seat behavior during class. The plan instructs the BCAT to provide a token to the client for every 5-minute interval that they remain in their seat. If the client gets out of their seat, the timer is reset. Which differential reinforcement procedure is this?
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
- Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
- Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) (Correct answer)
- Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior (DRL)
Correct answer: Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) involves delivering reinforcement contingent on the problem behavior not occurring for a specified period. In this scenario, the reinforcement (token) is given for the absence of the target behavior (out-of-seat) during the time interval.
Question 3: Which of the following interventions is considered an antecedent strategy for behavior reduction?
- Extinction
- Positive punishment
- Response cost
- Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR)
Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) is an antecedent intervention where reinforcement is delivered on a fixed-time or variable-time schedule, independent of the client's behavior. This strategy aims to reduce the motivation for problem behavior by providing regular access to the reinforcer. Extinction, positive punishment, and response cost are all consequence-based interventions.
Question 4: A client frequently engages in hand-flapping. The treatment plan has the technician reinforce the client for squeezing a stress ball, as it is physically impossible for the client to flap their hands while squeezing the ball. This is an example of which procedure?
- Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) (Correct answer)
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
- Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
- Extinction
Correct answer: Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) is a procedure where reinforcement is provided for a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior. Squeezing a stress ball is incompatible with hand-flapping.
Question 5: A client has a history of throwing materials to escape difficult tasks. The BCBA has instructed the technician to implement a Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) procedure. Which of the following would be the BEST example of the technician implementing DRA?
- Providing praise every 2 minutes the client does not throw materials.
- Blocking the client from throwing an item.
- Reinforcing the client for verbally requesting a break from the task. (Correct answer)
- Removing a token each time the client throws an item.
Correct answer: Reinforcing the client for verbally requesting a break from the task.
Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) involves reinforcing a specific, appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior. Verbally requesting a break is a functional alternative to throwing items to escape a task. The other options describe DRO, response blocking, and response cost, respectively.
Question 6: A behavior plan aims to reduce the frequency of a student calling out answers in class without raising their hand. The plan states that the student will earn a star if they call out two or fewer times during a 30-minute period. This strategy is best described as:
- Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
- Extinction
- Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior (DRL) (Correct answer)
- Response Interruption and Redirection (RIRD)
Correct answer: Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior (DRL)
Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior (DRL) is used to reduce the frequency of a behavior that is acceptable at lower rates. Reinforcement is delivered if the behavior occurs at or below a specified criterion. The goal is not to eliminate the behavior entirely but to reduce it to an appropriate level.
BCAT Behavior Reduction Strategies Questions and Answers
A technician is implementing an extinction procedure for a client's attention-seeking screaming.
For the first three days, the screaming decreases.
On the fourth day, the client's screaming becomes louder and more frequent than it was at baseline.
This temporary increase in the problem behavior is most likely an example of: