BCAT Behavioral Intervention Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BCAT is using video modeling to teach social skills. The learner watches a video of a peer correctly greeting others and then practices the skill. This technique relies primarily on:
- Classical conditioning
- Observational learning (Correct answer)
- Negative reinforcement
- Stimulus discrimination training
Correct answer: Observational learning
Video modeling leverages observational learning, where behavior is acquired by watching others perform the target skill.
Question 2: Generalization of a skill is best promoted by:
- Training in only one setting until mastery is achieved
- Using a single instructor throughout treatment
- Practicing the skill across multiple settings, people, and materials (Correct answer)
- Reducing the number of reinforcers to increase effort
Correct answer: Practicing the skill across multiple settings, people, and materials
Programming for generalization requires varying people, materials, settings, and cues during training.
Question 3: A technician delivers reinforcement every fifth correct response regardless of time elapsed. This is a:
- Variable-ratio 5 schedule
- Fixed-ratio 5 schedule (Correct answer)
- Fixed-interval 5 schedule
- Variable-interval 5 schedule
Correct answer: Fixed-ratio 5 schedule
A fixed-ratio 5 (FR5) schedule delivers reinforcement after every fifth response, consistently.
Question 4: Which of the following is the FIRST step when implementing a new behavior intervention plan?
- Begin extinction immediately
- Complete a functional behavior assessment to identify the function (Correct answer)
- Introduce a DRO schedule
- Increase demands to identify the learner's threshold
Correct answer: Complete a functional behavior assessment to identify the function
A functional behavior assessment (FBA) must be completed before designing an intervention so it targets the correct maintaining variable.
Question 5: When a child learns to tact (label) a 'dog' and then correctly labels all four-legged animals as 'dog,' this is an example of:
- Stimulus discrimination
- Overgeneralization (Correct answer)
- Response generalization
- Stimulus control
Correct answer: Overgeneralization
Overgeneralization occurs when a learned response is applied too broadly to stimuli that do not share the relevant features.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'behavior contract' as a behavioral intervention?
- A legal document signed by parents and the school district
- A written agreement specifying target behaviors, criteria, and reinforcers between the learner and interventionist (Correct answer)
- A prompting hierarchy written into the lesson plan
- A punishment protocol approved by a supervisor
Correct answer: A written agreement specifying target behaviors, criteria, and reinforcers between the learner and interventionist
A behavior contract is a written agreement that clarifies expectations, behavioral goals, and the reinforcers the learner will earn for meeting those goals.
Question 7: A BCAT wants to decrease the frequency of hand-flapping that appears to be automatically reinforced. Which intervention is most appropriate?
- Extinction by withholding social attention
- Noncontingent reinforcement with tangible items
- Sensory extinction or providing a competing sensory activity (Correct answer)
- Implementing a DRI with attention as the reinforcer
Correct answer: Sensory extinction or providing a competing sensory activity
Automatic behavior is best addressed through sensory extinction (blocking sensory feedback) or offering a competing sensory activity that provides similar stimulation.
BCAT Behavioral Intervention Techniques 5
A BCAT is using video modeling to teach social skills.
The learner watches a video of a peer correctly greeting others and then practices the skill.
This technique relies primarily on: