Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: concept discrimination.
During a community outing, the team explains adolescent's grabbing preferred items with a personality label. The BCBA wants the discussion to reflect applied behavior-analysis dimensions. What is the best next step? The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 1 setting.
ADefine the behavior in observable terms and assess relevant environmental variables before selecting intervention in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred itemsCorrect answer
BContinue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information
CAdd a punishment procedure before clarifying function, risk, or feasibility
DUse the descriptive label as the explanation and treatment target
Explanation
Answer AThe clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Applied behavior-analysis dimensions. The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 1 setting. Define the behavior in observable terms and assess relevant environmental variables before selecting intervention in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred items is best because it answers that clue through observable behavior and environmental explanations instead of treating the scenario as a generic behavior problem. On exam items like this, name the decision point first, then eliminate options that rely on one report, a label, a familiar protocol, or an action that skips the relevant data check.
Why this question is hard
ClueKey scenario clueThe clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Applied behavior-analysis dimensions. The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 1 setting.
TrapCommon trapIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
NextIf you missed it, review Observable behavior and environmental explanationsThen answer a few related scenarios before moving back to broad practice.
Why the other choices are weaker
BChoice BIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
CChoice CA punishment-first response is weaker when less intrusive, function-based, or assessment steps have not been addressed.
DChoice DA label is not enough; the decision should be based on observable behavior and relevant variables.
Study tags
Observable behavior and environmental explanationsApplied behavior-analysis dimensionsmentalismoperational explanations
Related concept pages
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