Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: applied scenario.
During teaching, an adult client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 6 sessions in service week 9, one observer recorded 52 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should:
AKeep the most intrusive prompt in place so errors stay low during teaching sessions.
BDeliver the same consequence for the target response and the replacement response.
CTrain only one example and wait to see whether transfer happens naturally.
DReinforce the alternative response while safely reducing reinforcement for the target response.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 Emotional and elicited effects of behavior-change procedures through a applied-client-service-scenario format. The key clue is in the stem facts: During teaching, an adult client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 6 sessions in service week 9, one observer recorded 52 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should: Answer D is strongest because it follows this rule: Reinforce the alternative response while safely reducing reinforcement for the target response. 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 moves too quickly toward a more intrusive response. The better answer checks function, risk, feasibility, and less intrusive options first. 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.
Turn this into a study plan
If this question felt difficult, take a short diagnostic or drill this domain now. Diagnostic results can turn your misses into a focused next-study signal.
Why this question is hard
ClueKey scenario clueDuring teaching, an adult client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 6 sessions in service week 9, one observer recorded 52 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should:
TrapCommon trapThis choice moves too quickly toward a more intrusive response. The better answer checks function, risk, feasibility, and less intrusive options first.
NextIf you missed it, review Differential reinforcement with extinction planningThen 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.
RuleEmotional and elicited effects of behavior-change procedures: Differential reinforcement with extinction planningDoes the answer match the teaching or behavior-change procedure to the function, skill, and stimulus-control problem?
ClueWhat the stem gives youDuring teaching, an adult client responds correctly with one example but errors increase with new materials and staff. Across 6 sessions in service week 9, one observer recorded 52 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should:
TrapCommon trapStop the plan immediately. This often shows up as any increase means the plan failed..
FixIf you missed this itemRewrite the miss as a rule: "When I see Differential reinforcement with extinction planning, 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 Differential reinforcement with extinction planning, 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 moves too quickly toward a more intrusive response. The better answer checks function, risk, feasibility, and less intrusive options first.
BChoice BThis choice treats a procedure or response form as enough. The scenario still requires matching the action to function, assessment results, or the decision rule.
CChoice CThis choice overgeneralizes from limited evidence. The stronger answer checks the controlling variables before assuming the same relation holds elsewhere.
Study tags
Differential reinforcement with extinction planningEmotional and elicited effects of behavior-change proceduresDRADRI
Related concept pages
Practice interactively
Try more BCBA scenario questions in the interactive practice mode, then use review tools to track missed domains and flagged items.
Editorial transparency
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.