Practice question
Concepts and Principles

Imitation and observational learning: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.

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

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Question

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

In a community outing, adolescent's grabbing preferred items changes after a specific antecedent and consequence arrangement. Which analysis best matches imitation and observational learning? The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 1 setting.

A
Determine whether behavior is controlled by a stated rule, direct contingencies, or a modeled response in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred items

Correct answer

B
Use the descriptive label as the explanation and treatment target
C
Send the written protocol again without observing performance
D
Proceed informally because the team believes the action will help

Explanation

Answer A

The clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Imitation and observational learning. The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 1 setting. Determine whether behavior is controlled by a stated rule, direct contingencies, or a modeled response in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred items is best because it answers that clue through rule-governed behavior and observational learning 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

Clue
Key scenario clue

The clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Imitation and observational learning. The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 1 setting.

Trap
Common trap

A label is not enough; the decision should be based on observable behavior and relevant variables.

Next
If you missed it, review Rule-governed behavior and observational learning

Then answer a few related scenarios before moving back to broad practice.

Why the other choices are weaker

B
Choice B

A label is not enough; the decision should be based on observable behavior and relevant variables.

C
Choice C

Written directions alone do not verify performance or correct implementation errors.

D
Choice D

Good intent does not replace consent, documentation, competence, or other safeguards.

Study tags

Rule-governed behavior and observational learningImitation and observational learningrule-governed behaviorcontingency-shaped behavior

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Related study guides

GuideDistractor patternsUse this if the wrong answer sounded plausible.GuideMissed-question reviewUse this if you want to turn the miss into a study rule.GuideScore plateau guideUse this if similar mistakes keep repeating.

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Question FAQ

What BCBA domain does this question cover?

This practice question is tagged to Concepts and Principles. It also includes study tags for Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Imitation and observational learning, rule-governed behavior, contingency-shaped behavior.

How should I review this practice question?

Answer the scenario before reading the explanation, compare your reasoning with the correct answer, then review why the distractors are weaker.

Is this an official BACB exam question?

No. This is an original study question for BCBA Scenario Tutor and is not an official BACB exam item.

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