Practice question
Experimental Design

Defining features of single-case experimental designs: Single-case design selection.

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

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Question

Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: experimental design critique.

A BCBA is evaluating whether an intervention changed dropping to the floor when demands are presented. A second program change began during the same week. Which concern best reflects defining features of single-case experimental designs? The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 3 settings.

A
Select the single-case design that can demonstrate control without creating impractical or unsafe conditions in relation to child's dropping to the floor when demands are presented

Correct answer

B
Rely on parent's report alone and stop collecting direct evidence
C
Change the intervention immediately based on the concern alone
D
Continue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information

Explanation

Answer A

The clue is the combination of caregiver notes plus one direct observation, dropping to the floor when demands are presented, and the required task: Defining features of single-case experimental designs. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 3 settings. Select the single-case design that can demonstrate control without creating impractical or unsafe conditions in relation to child's dropping to the floor when demands are presented is best because it answers that clue through single-case design selection 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 caregiver notes plus one direct observation, dropping to the floor when demands are presented, and the required task: Defining features of single-case experimental designs. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 3 settings.

Trap
Common trap

Stakeholder input matters, but direct data, context, and integrity checks are still needed for a defensible answer.

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

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Why the other choices are weaker

B
Choice B

Stakeholder input matters, but direct data, context, and integrity checks are still needed for a defensible answer.

C
Choice C

This is weaker because it skips the assessment, integrity, or decision rule needed before changing procedures.

D
Choice D

Ignoring relevant data or context prevents a defensible behavior-analytic decision.

Study tags

Single-case design selectionDefining features of single-case experimental designsreversal designmultiple baseline

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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 Experimental Design. It also includes study tags for Single-case design selection, Defining features of single-case experimental designs, reversal design, multiple 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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