Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: experimental design critique.
The team wants stronger evidence before scaling a plan for following a visual schedule. Which design decision best fits dependent and independent variables? The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 3 settings.
ARely on teacher's report alone and stop collecting direct evidence
BIdentify the competing explanation and strengthen experimental control before claiming an intervention effect in relation to student's calling out during independent workCorrect answer
CChange the intervention immediately based on the concern alone
DContinue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information
Explanation
Answer BThe clue is the combination of frequency data that vary from 3 to 11 responses per session, calling out during independent work, and the required task: Dependent and independent variables. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 3 settings. Identify the competing explanation and strengthen experimental control before claiming an intervention effect in relation to student's calling out during independent work is best because it answers that clue through internal validity and confounds 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 frequency data that vary from 3 to 11 responses per session, calling out during independent work, and the required task: Dependent and independent variables. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 4 implementers, and 3 settings.
TrapCommon trapStakeholder input matters, but direct data, context, and integrity checks are still needed for a defensible answer.
NextIf you missed it, review Internal validity and confoundsThen answer a few related scenarios before moving back to broad practice.
Why the other choices are weaker
AChoice AStakeholder input matters, but direct data, context, and integrity checks are still needed for a defensible answer.
CChoice CThis is weaker because it skips the assessment, integrity, or decision rule needed before changing procedures.
DChoice DIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
Study tags
Internal validity and confoundsDependent and independent variablesconfounding variablesexperimental control
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