DSP Positive Behavioral Supports 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In PBS, a 'setting event' differs from an antecedent because it:
- Occurs immediately before the behavior
- Is always a physical environmental factor
- Increases the likelihood of a behavior without directly triggering it (Correct answer)
- Is documented only after the behavior occurs
Correct answer: Increases the likelihood of a behavior without directly triggering it
A setting event (e.g., poor sleep, illness) increases vulnerability to triggers but does not directly cause the behavior the way an antecedent does.
Question 2: Which function of behavior involves a person engaging in a behavior to gain access to a preferred item or activity?
- Escape/avoidance
- Sensory stimulation
- Tangible reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Attention seeking
Correct answer: Tangible reinforcement
Behaviors motivated by tangible reinforcement occur when a person wants to obtain a specific object, food, or preferred activity.
Question 3: A DSP observes that a person's challenging behaviors increase on days following poor sleep. The poor sleep is best described as:
- An antecedent
- A consequence
- A setting event (Correct answer)
- A reinforcer
Correct answer: A setting event
Poor sleep is a setting event — a background condition that makes the person more sensitive to triggers later in the day.
Question 4: Which of the following is the LEAST restrictive behavioral intervention?
- Physical restraint
- Environmental modification (Correct answer)
- Medication adjustment
- Seclusion
Correct answer: Environmental modification
Environmental modification is the least restrictive approach, as it adjusts surroundings to prevent problem behavior without imposing on the individual.
Question 5: A behavior support plan should be developed:
- By the DSP alone based on daily observations
- By a multidisciplinary team including the person supported (Correct answer)
- Only after three or more incidents have been documented
- Exclusively by a behavior specialist without family input
Correct answer: By a multidisciplinary team including the person supported
Behavior support plans are developed collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team that includes the person supported, family, and professionals.
Question 6: When a DSP provides a preferred snack after a person completes a task, this is an example of:
- Negative reinforcement
- Positive reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Extinction
- Punishment
Correct answer: Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus (snack) following a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior recurring.
Question 7: The primary goal of Positive Behavioral Supports is to:
- Eliminate all challenging behaviors through consequences
- Improve quality of life by teaching skills and modifying environments (Correct answer)
- Diagnose behavioral disorders for medical treatment
- Reduce staffing needs by making individuals more compliant
Correct answer: Improve quality of life by teaching skills and modifying environments
PBS focuses on improving overall quality of life by building skills, changing environments, and addressing underlying needs rather than just suppressing behaviors.
DSP Positive Behavioral Supports 3
In PBS, a 'setting event' differs from an antecedent because it: