Practice question
Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation

Direct, indirect, and product measures: Measurement system selection.

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

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Question

Difficulty: hard. Skill: analyze. Type: data interpretation.

A BCBA reviews caregiver notes plus one direct observation for dropping to the floor when demands are presented. The next decision depends on direct, indirect, and product measures. What should the BCBA do? The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 4 settings.

A
Rely on parent's report alone and stop collecting direct evidence
B
Change the intervention immediately based on the concern alone
C
Choose the measurement system that matches the behavior dimension and decision question in relation to child's dropping to the floor when demands are presented

Correct answer

D
Continue unchanged and ignore the new contextual information

Explanation

Answer C

The clue is the combination of caregiver notes plus one direct observation, dropping to the floor when demands are presented, and the required task: Direct, indirect, and product measures. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 4 settings. Choose the measurement system that matches the behavior dimension and decision question in relation to child's dropping to the floor when demands are presented is best because it answers that clue through measurement system 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: Direct, indirect, and product measures. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 2 implementers, and 4 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 Measurement system selection

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

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

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

B
Choice B

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

Measurement system selectionDirect, indirect, and product measuresfrequencyrate

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 Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation. It also includes study tags for Measurement system selection, Direct, indirect, and product measures, frequency, rate.

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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