DSP Positive Behavioral Supports 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person you support begins throwing items when transitioning between activities. Which PBS strategy should you implement first?
- Physically redirect the person immediately
- Identify antecedents and modify the transition routine (Correct answer)
- Remove all objects from the environment
- Increase the number of transitions to build tolerance
Correct answer: Identify antecedents and modify the transition routine
PBS prioritizes identifying antecedents (triggers) and modifying the environment or routine before using reactive strategies.
Question 2: What does the 'B' represent in the ABC model of behavioral analysis?
- Background
- Behavior (Correct answer)
- Belief
- Baseline
Correct answer: Behavior
ABC stands for Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence — the three components used to analyze and understand behavior.
Question 3: A DSP notices a person becomes agitated whenever the environment is too loud. This is an example of a:
- Setting event
- Motivating operation
- Antecedent trigger (Correct answer)
- Challenging behavior
Correct answer: Antecedent trigger
An antecedent trigger is a specific stimulus immediately preceding a behavior, such as loud noise causing agitation.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'replacement behavior' in PBS?
- A punishment used to stop unwanted actions
- A skill that serves the same function as the challenging behavior (Correct answer)
- A medical intervention for behavioral disorders
- An activity added to distract from problem behavior
Correct answer: A skill that serves the same function as the challenging behavior
A replacement behavior serves the same communicative or functional purpose as the challenging behavior but in a more appropriate way.
Question 5: When conducting a functional behavioral assessment (FBA), a DSP should primarily focus on:
- Diagnosing a mental health condition
- Understanding the purpose or function of the behavior (Correct answer)
- Documenting how often the behavior occurs per hour
- Selecting the least restrictive physical restraint
Correct answer: Understanding the purpose or function of the behavior
An FBA aims to identify the function (purpose) of a behavior — such as escape, attention, or sensory needs — to inform effective intervention.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a 'proactive' PBS strategy?
- Applying a consequence after a behavior occurs
- Writing an incident report following an outburst
- Rearranging the environment to prevent triggers (Correct answer)
- Using a token economy as a punishment system
Correct answer: Rearranging the environment to prevent triggers
Proactive strategies are implemented before behaviors occur, such as modifying the environment to eliminate known triggers.
Question 7: A person communicates their need for a break by engaging in self-injurious behavior. The BEST PBS response is to:
- Ignore the behavior until it stops
- Teach the person an appropriate way to request a break (Correct answer)
- Eliminate all break opportunities to reduce the behavior
- Immediately provide physical support and restraint
Correct answer: Teach the person an appropriate way to request a break
Teaching a functional communication skill (requesting a break) addresses the root cause of the self-injurious behavior.
DSP Positive Behavioral Supports 2
A person you support begins throwing items when transitioning between activities.
Which PBS strategy should you implement first?