Question
Difficulty: hard. Skill: analyze. Type: applied scenario.
During teaching, a client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 7 sessions in service week 9, 3 observers recorded 48 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should:
ATrain only one example and wait to see whether transfer happens naturally.
BKeep the most intrusive prompt in place so errors stay low during teaching sessions.
CDeliver the same consequence for the target response and the replacement response.
DSelect shaping, chaining, or a group contingency based on whether the goal is a new form, a sequence, or group performance.Correct answer
Content quality status
machine gate passedOrigOriginal study itemThis question was created for BCBA Scenario Tutor. It is not an official, leaked, or copied BACB exam question.
ChkAutomated validation passedThe item includes an answer key, explanation, wrong-choice notes, domain label, concept tags, and source notes. Automated checks cover structure, coverage, and consistency only. No named, credential-verifiable BCBA external review has occurred, and this is not a clinical or exam-validity certification.
DateLast machine check: 2026-07-05Source note: Original v2 item upgraded from internal task/concept map; not copied from official or commercial question banks.
Explanation
Answer DThe decision point is: Does the answer match the teaching or behavior-change procedure to the function, skill, and stimulus-control problem? This item specifically tests Group contingencies through a applied-client-service-scenario format. The key clue is in the stem facts: During teaching, a client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 7 sessions in service week 9, 3 observers recorded 48 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should: Answer D is strongest because it follows this rule: Select shaping, chaining, or a group contingency based on whether the goal is a new form, a sequence, or group performance. It fits the source-backed rule without announcing that rule in the stem. The tempting mistake is to choose a shortcut before the scenario's prerequisite is satisfied. This choice overgeneralizes from limited evidence. The stronger answer checks the controlling variables before assuming the same relation holds elsewhere. Exam move: name the missing prerequisite first, then eliminate answers that jump to a label, a familiar procedure, a single data point, or an undocumented action.
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Why this question is hard
ClueKey scenario clueDuring teaching, a client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 7 sessions in service week 9, 3 observers recorded 48 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should:
TrapCommon trapThis choice overgeneralizes from limited evidence. The stronger answer checks the controlling variables before assuming the same relation holds elsewhere.
NextIf you missed it, review Shaping, chaining, and group contingenciesThen answer a few related scenarios before moving back to broad practice.
Exam-style review notes
Structured study guidance maintained by Bifang Studio's internal editors and automated quality checks.
RuleGroup contingencies: Shaping, chaining, and group contingenciesDoes the answer match the teaching or behavior-change procedure to the function, skill, and stimulus-control problem?
ClueWhat the stem gives youDuring teaching, a client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 7 sessions in service week 9, 3 observers recorded 48 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should:
TrapCommon trapExtinguish all approximations. This often shows up as requiring terminal behavior before reinforcement..
FixIf you missed this itemRewrite the miss as a rule: "When I see Shaping, chaining, and group contingencies, I must identify the relevant evidence before choosing the action." Then answer two related G domain questions without reading explanations first.
NextNext drillPractice 3 more questions tagged to Shaping, chaining, and group contingencies, then explain why each wrong answer is weaker before moving back to mixed practice.
Source-aware internal editorial maintenance using src-bacb-bcba-tco-6ed for study organization; not an official BACB item and not externally reviewed by a named, verifiable BCBA.
Why the other choices are weaker
AChoice AThis choice overgeneralizes from limited evidence. The stronger answer checks the controlling variables before assuming the same relation holds elsewhere.
BChoice BThis choice moves too quickly toward a more intrusive response. The better answer checks function, risk, feasibility, and less intrusive options first.
CChoice CThis choice treats a procedure or response form as enough. The scenario still requires matching the action to function, assessment results, or the decision rule.
Study tags
Shaping, chaining, and group contingenciesGroup contingenciesshapingchaining
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Machine quality gatePublished by Bifang Studio. Content is maintained by internal editors with automated structure, coverage, and consistency checks. No content has been externally reviewed by a named, credential-verifiable BCBA; these checks do not certify clinical quality or exam validity.