FREE BCAT Behavior Reduction Treatment Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client frequently screams to get attention from their technician. The behavior plan states that the technician should provide reinforcement (e.g., praise, a token) every 5 minutes that the client does not scream. Which differential reinforcement procedure is being used?

Accepted Answer

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)

Answer

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) involves delivering reinforcement for the absence of the problem behavior for a specified period. In this scenario, reinforcement is given as long as the screaming (the problem behavior) does not occur within the 5-minute interval.

Question 2

When implementing an extinction procedure for an attention-maintained behavior, the technician should anticipate a temporary increase in the frequency or intensity of the behavior. What is this predictable phenomenon called?

Accepted Answer

Extinction burst

Answer

An extinction burst is a common and temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavior when the reinforcement that was previously maintaining it is withheld. It often indicates that the intervention is beginning to work.

Question 3

A BCAT is working with a child who often grabs toys from peers. The supervising BCBA has designed a plan where the technician provides praise and a high-five each time the child says, "My turn, please?" instead of grabbing. This is an example of which behavior reduction strategy?

Accepted Answer

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

Answer

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) involves reinforcing a specific, appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior, while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior. Here, asking politely is the alternative to grabbing, and both serve the function of getting access to a toy.

Question 4

Which of the following is the PRIMARY reason for identifying the function of a problem behavior before creating a behavior reduction plan?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the intervention addresses the client's underlying need or motivation for the behavior.

Answer

Understanding the function (the 'why') of a behavior—whether it's for attention, escape, access to tangibles, or automatic reinforcement—is crucial for developing an effective intervention. A function-based treatment addresses the client's motivation, making behavior change more meaningful and lasting.

Question 5

A client has a habit of hand-flapping. The behavior plan instructs the technician to provide reinforcement whenever the client is engaging in an activity that makes hand-flapping impossible, such as squeezing therapy putty or holding onto a push-toy. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)

Answer

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. In this case, squeezing putty or holding a toy is physically incompatible with hand-flapping.

(BCAT) Board Certified Autism Technician Practice Test

(BCAT) Board Certified Autism Technician Practice Test

FREE BCAT Behavior Reduction Treatment Questions and Answers