Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: applied scenario.
Adolescent is learning waiting for access, but performance changes depending on prompts and consequences. Which procedure best fits positive and negative reinforcement procedures? The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 2 settings.
AContinue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information
BAdd a punishment procedure before clarifying function, risk, or feasibility
CClassify the consequence by whether behavior increases or decreases and whether a stimulus is added or removed in relation to adolescent's waiting for accessCorrect answer
DUse the descriptive label as the explanation and treatment target
Explanation
Answer CThe clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Positive and negative reinforcement procedures. The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 2 settings. Classify the consequence by whether behavior increases or decreases and whether a stimulus is added or removed in relation to adolescent's waiting for access is best because it answers that clue through reinforcement and punishment by behavior change 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: Positive and negative reinforcement procedures. The case file includes 6 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 2 settings.
TrapCommon trapIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
NextIf you missed it, review Reinforcement and punishment by behavior changeThen answer a few related scenarios before moving back to broad practice.
Why the other choices are weaker
AChoice AIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
BChoice BA 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
Reinforcement and punishment by behavior changePositive and negative reinforcement procedurespositive reinforcementnegative reinforcement
Related concept pages
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