Practice question
Selecting and Implementing Interventions

Observable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.

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

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Question

Difficulty: hard. Skill: analyze. Type: applied scenario.

A plan for following a visual schedule works in sessions but is difficult for teacher to use. Which decision best fits observable and measurable intervention goals? The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 4 settings.

A
Use the descriptive label as the explanation and treatment target
B
Operationally define the behavior and collect assessment data before choosing intervention in relation to student's calling out during independent work

Correct answer

C
Send the written protocol again without observing performance
D
Proceed informally because the team believes the action will help

Explanation

Answer B

The 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: Observable and measurable intervention goals. The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 4 settings. Operationally define the behavior and collect assessment data before choosing intervention in relation to student's calling out during independent work is best because it answers that clue through functional assessment before intervention 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 frequency data that vary from 3 to 11 responses per session, calling out during independent work, and the required task: Observable and measurable intervention goals. The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 3 implementers, and 4 settings.

Trap
Common trap

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

Next
If you missed it, review Single-case design selection

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

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

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

C
Choice C

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

D
Choice D

Good intent does not replace consent, documentation, competence, or other safeguards.

Study tags

Functional assessment before interventionObservable and measurable intervention goalsFBAbaseline

Turn this into a study plan

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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.

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Question FAQ

What BCBA domain does this question cover?

This practice question is tagged to Selecting and Implementing Interventions. It also includes study tags for Functional assessment before intervention, Observable and measurable intervention goals, FBA, baseline.

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.

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