Practice question
Concepts and Principles

Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.

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

Test this weak areaPractice this domainDomain study hub

Question

Difficulty: easy. Skill: recognize. Type: concept discrimination.

In a clinic session, learner's leaving the instructional area changes after a specific antecedent and consequence arrangement. Which analysis best matches rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior? The case file includes 7 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 3 settings.

A
Add a punishment procedure before clarifying function, risk, or feasibility
B
Use the descriptive label as the explanation and treatment target
C
Determine whether behavior is controlled by a stated rule, direct contingencies, or a modeled response in relation to learner's leaving the instructional area

Correct answer

D
Send the written protocol again without observing performance

Explanation

Answer C

The clue is the combination of four sessions of stable baseline data followed by two overlapping intervention points, leaving the instructional area, and the required task: Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior. The case file includes 7 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 3 settings. Determine whether behavior is controlled by a stated rule, direct contingencies, or a modeled response in relation to learner's leaving the instructional area is best because it answers that clue through rule-governed behavior and observational learning 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 four sessions of stable baseline data followed by two overlapping intervention points, leaving the instructional area, and the required task: Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior. The case file includes 7 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 3 settings.

Trap
Common trap

A punishment-first response is weaker when less intrusive, function-based, or assessment steps have not been addressed.

Next
If you missed it, review Rule-governed behavior and observational learning

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

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

A punishment-first response is weaker when less intrusive, function-based, or assessment steps have not been addressed.

B
Choice B

A label is not enough; the decision should be based on observable behavior and relevant variables.

D
Choice D

Written directions alone do not verify performance or correct implementation errors.

Study tags

Rule-governed behavior and observational learningRule-governed versus contingency-shaped behaviorrule-governed behaviorcontingency-shaped behavior

Turn this into a study plan

If this question felt difficult, practice a short drill from Concepts and Principles and use the review page to turn missed items into a weak-area plan.

Test this weak areaStart B domain drillReview missed questionsExplain my own question

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.

Try 5 similar questions

bcba-023Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior, rule-governed behaviorbcba-029Imitation and observational learning: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Imitation and observational learning, rule-governed behaviorbcba-133Imitation and observational learning: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Imitation and observational learning, rule-governed behaviorbcba-232Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior, rule-governed behaviorbcba-238Imitation and observational learning: Rule-governed behavior and observational learning.Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Imitation and observational learning, rule-governed behavior

Question FAQ

What BCBA domain does this question cover?

This practice question is tagged to Concepts and Principles. It also includes study tags for Rule-governed behavior and observational learning, Rule-governed versus contingency-shaped behavior, rule-governed behavior, contingency-shaped behavior.

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.

Practice interactively

Try more BCBA scenario questions in the interactive practice mode, then use review tools to track missed domains and flagged items.

Start diagnosticQuestion directoryMore free questions