ABA Exam Coach

F.4: Design and evaluate preference assessments.

Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.

An RBT has only 10 minutes before each session to find a ranked preference hierarchy among 7 items, and the client can pick from an array of several items. Which method is the most efficient choice?
  1. A. A three-condition reinforcer assessment on a progressive-ratio schedule
    A progressive-ratio reinforcer assessment measures reinforcer strength. It takes too long for a quick pre-session hierarchy.
  2. B. A paired-stimulus (forced-choice) assessment that presents every possible pair
    Paired-stimulus gives a hierarchy, but with 7 items it takes many trials (21 pairs) and much more time.
  3. C. A single-stimulus assessment with each item presented on its own
    Single-stimulus presentations often fail to separate items clearly because the client may approach everything.
  4. D. A multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) assessment
    Correct. MSWO produces a ranked hierarchy in far fewer trials than paired-stimulus, so it fits short time limits.
During a paired-stimulus preference assessment, a client chooses whichever item is on her right side on almost every trial, no matter which item it is. What should the BCBA do?
  1. A. Counterbalance or rotate item positions across trials, and check for a position bias
    Correct. Systematically varying positions controls for side bias, so the selections reflect the stimuli themselves.
  2. B. Present only one item per trial from now on
    Switching to single-stimulus presentation gives up the chance to see relative preference before trying to correct the bias.
  3. C. Stop using preference assessments with this client
    A procedural problem can be fixed, so it is not a reason to stop preference assessments altogether.
  4. D. Treat the right-side items as the most preferred
    The choices follow position, not the items, so these results do not show real preference.
An MSWO assessment ranked a tablet as a client's top item. When the tablet is delivered for completing sorting tasks, the client's rate of task completion does not go up compared with baseline. What is the best interpretation?
  1. A. The MSWO was done incorrectly, because a top-ranked item is always a reinforcer
    A correctly run preference assessment can still identify an item that does not reinforce a particular response.
  2. B. The client does not respond to positive reinforcement
    One ineffective stimulus does not show that positive reinforcement does not work for this client.
  3. C. Sorting tasks are automatically reinforcing, so no outside reinforcer is needed
    Task completion did not go up, so nothing suggests the task itself is automatically reinforcing.
  4. D. Preference shows relative selection, which does not guarantee the item works as a reinforcer for this response. A reinforcer assessment is needed
    Correct. Preference and reinforcer effectiveness are different, and only a reinforcer assessment shows whether the item strengthens the target behavior.

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