Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: applied scenario.
Technician follows the written plan accurately during observation but misses key steps when the supervisor is absent. Across 6 sessions in service week 11, one observer recorded 20 minutes of observation in the early intervention clinic. The supervisor should:
ASend the protocol again and wait until next month to see whether performance improves.
BGive general encouragement without observing the staff member's implementation.
CUse clear performance goals, direct observation, data, and feedback tied to the staff behavior.Correct answer
DMake a supervision decision from impressions rather than consistent performance criteria.
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 CThe decision point is: Does the answer use direct observation, training, performance feedback, and integrity data to improve staff behavior? This item specifically tests Function-based approach to supervisee behavior through a data-review-scenario format. The key clue is in the stem facts: Technician follows the written plan accurately during observation but misses key steps when the supervisor is absent. Across 6 sessions in service week 11, one observer recorded 20 minutes of observation in the early intervention clinic. The supervisor should: Answer C is strongest because it follows this rule: Use clear performance goals, direct observation, data, and feedback tied to the staff behavior. 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 is too indirect for a performance or implementation problem. Supervision questions usually require observation, feedback, rehearsal, or integrity checks. 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 clueTechnician follows the written plan accurately during observation but misses key steps when the supervisor is absent. Across 6 sessions in service week 11, one observer recorded 20 minutes of observation in the early intervention clinic. The supervisor should:
TrapCommon trapThis choice is too indirect for a performance or implementation problem. Supervision questions usually require observation, feedback, rehearsal, or integrity checks.
NextIf you missed it, review Performance management and supervisory systemsThen 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.
RuleFunction-based approach to supervisee behavior: Performance management and supervisory systemsDoes the answer use direct observation, training, performance feedback, and integrity data to improve staff behavior?
ClueWhat the stem gives youTechnician follows the written plan accurately during observation but misses key steps when the supervisor is absent. Across 6 sessions in service week 11, one observer recorded 20 minutes of observation in the early intervention clinic. The supervisor should:
TrapCommon trapGive vague feedback. This often shows up as treating supervision as advice giving..
FixIf you missed this itemRewrite the miss as a rule: "When I see Performance management and supervisory systems, I must identify the relevant evidence before choosing the action." Then answer two related I domain questions without reading explanations first.
NextNext drillPractice 3 more questions tagged to Performance management and supervisory systems, 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, src-bacb-supervision-training, src-bacb-bcba-handbook 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 is too indirect for a performance or implementation problem. Supervision questions usually require observation, feedback, rehearsal, or integrity checks.
BChoice BThis choice is too indirect for a performance or implementation problem. Supervision questions usually require observation, feedback, rehearsal, or integrity checks.
DChoice DThis choice is too indirect for a performance or implementation problem. Supervision questions usually require observation, feedback, rehearsal, or integrity checks.
Study tags
Performance management and supervisory systemsFunction-based approach to supervisee behaviorperformance managementsupervision goals
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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.