Practice question
Behavior-Change Procedures

Use differential reinforcement while planning for extinction effects.

Original BCBA scenario practice question with answer explanation and wrong-choice notes.

Question

Difficulty: hard. Skill: analyze. Type: concept discrimination.

A team begins withholding attention after minor attention-maintained disruption while reinforcing appropriate attention requests. Disruption briefly increases during the first sessions. What should the BCBA do?

A
Stop the plan immediately because any increase means harm
B
Review safety and integrity, then continue if the plan is being implemented correctly

Correct answer

C
Deliver attention for disruption so the learner calms down faster
D
Switch to punishment because reinforcement procedures failed

Explanation

Answer B

A temporary extinction burst can occur. The BCBA should verify safety, consent, and treatment integrity, and continue only if the plan remains appropriate and correctly implemented.

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

An increase requires review, but does not automatically mean the plan failed.

C
Choice C

Delivering attention for disruption can reinforce the target behavior.

D
Choice D

Escalating to punishment is not justified before evaluating integrity and the planned effect.

Study tags

Differential ReinforcementExtinctionSafety

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