Mixed Deck — All BCBA Topics Flashcards

The key distinction between a descriptive assessment and a functional analysis is that a descriptive assessment identifies _______, whereas a functional analysis identifies _______.

Answer: correlation; a functional relation

Descriptive assessments involve observing and recording behavior as it naturally occurs, which can reveal correlations between environmental events and the behavior. A functional analysis goes a step further by systematically manipulating variables to demonstrate a causal, or functional, relation between those variables and the behavior.

A contingency contract:

Answer: specifies how two people will behave toward each other

Explanation: A contingency contract is a formal agreement that outlines the expected behavior and responsibilities of two individuals towards each other. It sets clear expectations and consequences for both parties involved, ensuring that they understand their roles and obligations. This contract helps establish a structured and predictable environment, promoting accountability and cooperation between the individuals.

According to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, under which of the following conditions is it ethical to discontinue services?

Answer: The stakeholders are not complying with the intervention plan despite efforts to address barriers.

The BACB's 'Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts' (Code 3.15) explicitly states that services can be discontinued if 'relevant stakeholders are not complying with the behavior-change intervention despite appropriate efforts to address barriers.' The other options do not represent ethically permissible reasons for discontinuation. Slow progress may require a modification of the plan, not termination. Personal feelings or better job offers are not client-centered reasons for ending services.

A behavior analyst needs to quickly identify a hierarchy of preferred items for a student who can make choices from a large array of items but becomes frustrated when preferred items are removed. Which preference assessment method would be MOST appropriate for this situation?

Answer: Multiple Stimulus with Replacement (MSW)

The Multiple Stimulus with Replacement (MSW) assessment is most appropriate here. In an MSW, the learner chooses an item from an array, interacts with it briefly, and then that chosen item is returned to the array for the next trial. This method allows for the identification of a highly preferred item without repeatedly taking it away, which is ideal for a learner who exhibits problem behavior upon removal of preferred items. MSWO involves removing the item, which could trigger the problem behavior.

The ____________ design consists of an initial baseline phase followed by an intervention phase followed by a return to baseline.

Answer: All of the above

Explanation: This is because all three terms - A-B-A design, Reversal design, and Withdrawal design - refer to the same research design that involves an initial baseline phase, followed by an intervention phase, and then a return to baseline. These terms are used interchangeably to describe this type of experimental design.

A behavior analyst is interested in the total amount of time a student engages in stereotypy during a 30-minute observation. The behavior is continuous and varies in duration. Which measurement system would provide the most accurate data for this specific dimension of behavior?

Answer: Duration Recording

Duration recording is a continuous measurement procedure that tracks the total time a behavior occurs from its onset to its offset. Since the analyst is interested in the total amount of time, this is the most direct and accurate method. Frequency would only count the instances, while partial interval and momentary time sampling would only provide an estimate, not the exact total time.

A teacher can only record data for a student's on-task behavior for a brief moment at the end of a series of set intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes). Which discontinuous measurement procedure would be the most appropriate choice?

Answer: Momentary Time Sampling

Momentary time sampling involves recording whether a target behavior is occurring at the exact moment an interval ends. This method is well-suited for situations where an observer cannot continuously watch the learner, such as a teacher with a classroom of students.

Which of the following is the primary distinction between shaping and chaining?

Answer: Shaping reinforces successive approximations of a single behavior, while chaining links a sequence of existing behaviors.

The fundamental difference is that shaping focuses on developing a new behavior that is not yet in the learner's repertoire by reinforcing gradual approximations toward the final behavior. Chaining, on the other hand, involves teaching a sequence of individual behaviors that are already in the learner's repertoire to form a more complex skill.

Overcorrection is classified as which type of behavior-reduction procedure?

Answer: Positive punishment

Overcorrection (restitution and positive practice) is a positive punishment procedure because an aversive activity is added contingent on problem behavior.

Contingency contracting is best defined as:

Answer: A formal, written agreement specifying target behaviors and their consequences

Contingency contracting is a written or verbal agreement between parties that explicitly specifies the target behaviors required and the consequences (reinforcement or penalties) that will follow.

Why is intermittent reinforcement critical for the maintenance of behavior?

Answer: It produces behavior that is more resistant to extinction than continuously reinforced behavior

Intermittent reinforcement schedules produce behavior that is far more resistant to extinction than CRF because unpredictable reinforcement makes it difficult for the learner to detect when extinction has begun.

A BCBA is supervising a BCaBA who discloses that they are going through a difficult personal matter that is causing them significant distress. The BCBA has noticed a decline in the BCaBA's performance, including missed deadlines and data errors. What is the BCBA's primary ethical responsibility in this situation?

Answer: Address the performance issues with the BCaBA and explore solutions, which may include recommending they seek support for their personal problems and possibly modifying work responsibilities.

The BCBA's ethical obligation is to protect clients by addressing the supervisee's performance deficits. This must be done professionally and supportively. The best course of action involves discussing the performance problems, exploring ways to resolve them (e.g., modified duties, additional support), and recommending the supervisee seek help for personal issues that impact their professional competence, as outlined in the BACB Ethics Code regarding impairment and maintaining competence.

_________________is an experimental design in which two or more conditions are presented in rapidly alternating succession independent of the level of responding.

Answer: Alternating treatments design

Explanation: The alternating treatments design is an experimental design where two or more conditions are presented in rapidly alternating succession, regardless of the level of response. This design allows for the comparison of the effects of different conditions on the same individual or group, by quickly switching between the conditions. It is useful in situations where it is not feasible or ethical to withdraw the treatment and provides a more efficient way to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions or treatments.

Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) reduces problem behavior primarily by:

Answer: Abolishing the motivating operation maintaining problem behavior

NCR delivers the reinforcer on a time-based schedule independent of behavior, which serves as an abolishing operation that reduces the value of that reinforcer and the problem behavior it maintains.

Positive reinforcement is correctly defined as:

Answer: Adding a preferred stimulus following a behavior to increase its future frequency

Positive reinforcement is the contingent presentation of a stimulus following a behavior that increases the future frequency of that behavior.

When using an alternating treatments design, a potential confounding variable is that the effects of one treatment may carry over and influence the subject's behavior when the other treatment is presented. This is known as:

Answer: Multiple Treatment Interference

Multiple treatment interference is a potential threat to internal validity in designs where two or more treatments are alternated, such as the alternating treatments design. [2] It occurs when the effects of one treatment are influenced by the presence of the other treatments being used in the same study, making it difficult to isolate the independent effects of each intervention. [17, 22]

A BCBA with extensive experience in early intensive behavioral intervention for autism is asked by a friend to provide services for the friend's elderly parent, who has dementia and engages in aggressive behavior. The BCBA has never worked with geriatric populations. What is the most ethical course of action?

Answer: Decline to provide services directly and refer the friend to a behavior analyst with documented experience and competence in gerontology.

The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to practice only within their boundaries of competence, which is determined by their education, training, and supervised experience. Working with a new population, such as geriatric clients with dementia, is outside the BCBA's current scope of competence. The most ethical response is to decline the case and provide a referral to a qualified professional.

To decrease a client's hitting behavior, a behavior analyst decides to use partial interval recording with 10-second intervals. Data show the behavior occurred in 80% of intervals during baseline. After intervention, the data show the behavior occurred in 20% of intervals. Why might this measurement system be a concern?

Answer: It likely overestimates the occurrence of the behavior.

Partial interval recording records an occurrence if the behavior happens at any point during the interval. This method is known to overestimate the overall duration or rate of a behavior because even a brief instance within an interval results in the entire interval being scored as an occurrence. This can be misleading, especially when trying to determine the true reduction of a behavior.

A BCBA supervisor observes a supervisee consistently making errors during the implementation of a differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) procedure. The supervisor has already provided verbal instructions and a written protocol. According to performance management principles, what is the most appropriate next step for the supervisor?

Answer: Model the correct implementation of the DRA procedure and have the supervisee rehearse it.

This is correct because after providing instructions (which failed), the next logical steps in effective training and performance management are modeling the correct skill and providing opportunities for rehearsal with feedback. This is a core part of Behavior Skills Training (BST), a research-based method for training staff.

A behavior analyst recommends high-probability request sequences before asking a learner to complete a low-probability task. This is an example of:

Answer: Behavior momentum

Behavioral momentum uses a series of high-p requests reinforced before the low-p request to build compliance momentum and reduce problem behavior associated with transitions.