BCBA Plan

Behavior-Change Procedures: practice questions

3 original questions · 3 editor-approved · every choice explained.

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Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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Behavior-Change ProceduresDifficulty 3/5

A plan reinforces a learner for completing work while no hand-flapping occurs, and hand-flapping cannot occur while the learner is writing. Which procedure is in place?

  1. ADRA
  2. BDRI
  3. CDRL
  4. DDRO
Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior reinforces a response that is physically incompatible with the target behavior. DRA reinforces an alternative that need not be incompatible; DRO reinforces the absence of behavior; DRL reinforces reduced rates.

  • D — DRO reinforces the absence of the behavior, not a specific incompatible response.
  • A — DRA does not require incompatibility.
  • C — DRL reinforces a lower rate of the target behavior itself.
Behavior-Change ProceduresDifficulty 2/5

During attention extinction, a behavior briefly increases in intensity and new response topographies appear. What is happening?

  1. APunishment-induced aggression produced by the aversive properties of the procedure
  2. BThe procedure has failed and a different consequence procedure should replace it
  3. CAn extinction burst with response variability, both expected side effects
  4. DSpontaneous recovery of a previously extinguished response after a delay
Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. Extinction bursts and increased response variability are documented side effects that occur early in extinction. They are not evidence of failure; discontinuing at this point would intermittently reinforce the escalated behavior.

  • B — Stopping now would strengthen the escalated form.
  • D — Spontaneous recovery is a later reappearance after responding has decreased.
  • A — No punishment procedure is in place.
Behavior-Change ProceduresDifficulty 3/5

An entire class earns extra recess if one randomly selected student's homework meets criterion. Which arrangement is this?

  1. AToken economy
  2. BIndependent group contingency
  3. CInterdependent group contingency
  4. DDependent group contingency
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. In a dependent group contingency the group's access to reinforcement depends on the performance of one individual or a small subset. Independent arrangements deliver reinforcement per individual performance, and interdependent arrangements require the whole group to meet a criterion.

  • B — Independent contingencies reinforce each student on their own performance.
  • C — Interdependent contingencies require the group as a whole to meet a criterion.
  • A — A token economy is a reinforcement system, not a group arrangement.

Primary references

  1. BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.), in effect since 2025 — Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22