Practice question
Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation

Discontinuous measurement design and use: Measurement system selection.

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

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Question

Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: data interpretation.

A BCBA reviews ABC data from three outings for grabbing preferred items. The next decision depends on discontinuous measurement design and use. What should the BCBA do? The case file includes 3 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 1 setting.

A
Use a familiar protocol even though it does not address measurement system selection
B
Rely on care team's report alone and stop collecting direct evidence
C
Choose the measurement system that matches the behavior dimension and decision question in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred items

Correct answer

D
Change the intervention immediately based on the concern alone

Explanation

Answer C

The clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Discontinuous measurement design and use. The case file includes 3 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 1 setting. Choose the measurement system that matches the behavior dimension and decision question in relation to adolescent's grabbing preferred items is best because it answers that clue through measurement system selection 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: Discontinuous measurement design and use. The case file includes 3 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 1 setting.

Trap
Common trap

A familiar protocol is not enough unless it matches the assessed variables and the current decision question.

Next
If you missed it, review Measurement system selection

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

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

A familiar protocol is not enough unless it matches the assessed variables and the current decision question.

B
Choice B

Stakeholder input matters, but direct data, context, and integrity checks are still needed for a defensible answer.

D
Choice D

This is weaker because it skips the assessment, integrity, or decision rule needed before changing procedures.

Study tags

Measurement system selectionDiscontinuous measurement design and usefrequencyrate

Turn this into a study plan

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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 Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation. It also includes study tags for Measurement system selection, Discontinuous measurement design and use, frequency, rate.

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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