Question
Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: applied scenario.
Before selecting a goal for client, the BCBA needs information related to cultural variables in assessment. What should happen next? The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 4 settings.
ARely on caregiver's report alone and stop collecting direct evidence
BChange the intervention immediately based on the concern alone
CContinue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information
DIdentify the competing explanation and strengthen experimental control before claiming an intervention effect in relation to client's repeating questions after instructionsCorrect answer
Explanation
Answer DThe clue is the combination of parent report that conflicts with recent session data, repeating questions after instructions, and the required task: Cultural variables in assessment. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 4 settings. Identify the competing explanation and strengthen experimental control before claiming an intervention effect in relation to client's repeating questions after instructions 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 parent report that conflicts with recent session data, repeating questions after instructions, and the required task: Cultural variables in assessment. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 4 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.
BChoice BThis is weaker because it skips the assessment, integrity, or decision rule needed before changing procedures.
CChoice CIgnoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.
Study tags
Internal validity and confoundsCultural variables in assessmentconfounding variablesexperimental control
Related concept pages
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