ABA Exam Coach

G.8: Design and implement procedures to fade stimulus and response prompts (e.g., prompt delay, stimulus fading).

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

For the first 20 trials, a therapist gives the instruction and the controlling prompt at the same time. After that, she gives the instruction, waits 4 seconds, and prompts only if no response occurs. Which fading procedure is this?
  1. A. Graduated guidance
    Graduated guidance adjusts physical prompts moment to moment. It does not use timed delays.
  2. B. Least-to-most prompting
    Least-to-most uses a hierarchy of increasing prompts, not a set delay before one controlling prompt.
  3. C. Constant time delay
    Correct. Constant time delay uses 0-second trials and then a single fixed delay that does not change.
  4. D. Progressive time delay
    In progressive time delay, the delay increases gradually, for example 1 s, 2 s, 3 s.
A child traces letters over a dark-gray outline. Across sessions, the outline is gradually lightened until it is no longer visible, and the child writes the letters independently. Which procedure was used, and what risk is most important to monitor?
  1. A. Stimulus fading; the risk is that fading too slowly or too fast causes prompt dependence or errors
    Correct. Gradually changing the intensity of a stimulus feature is stimulus fading. The rate of fading has to be tuned to avoid errors (too fast) or prompt dependence (too slow).
  2. B. Response prompt fading; the risk is response generalization
    The outline is part of the stimulus, so this is not a response prompt.
  3. C. Graduated guidance; the risk is prompt dependence on physical touch
    No physical guidance was used.
  4. D. Stimulus shaping; the risk is that the topography of the response changes
    Stimulus shaping changes the shape or configuration of the stimulus. Here, only its intensity changed.
A therapist is teaching a 5-year-old to point to body parts. In the first session, she prompts right after giving the instruction. In later sessions, she waits 1 second, then 2 seconds, then 3 seconds before prompting, until the child responds before the prompt. Which prompt-fading procedure is this?
  1. A. Stimulus fading
    Stimulus fading gradually changes a feature of the stimulus, such as size or color. This procedure changes when the response prompt is given.
  2. B. Constant time delay
    Constant time delay moves from 0-second trials to one fixed delay (e.g., 4 seconds) that stays the same. Here the delay keeps growing.
  3. C. Most-to-least prompting
    Most-to-least prompting moves from more intrusive to less intrusive prompt types. Here the type of prompt stays the same, and only its timing changes.
  4. D. Progressive time delay
    Correct. Progressive time delay starts with a 0-second delay and then gradually lengthens the time between the instruction and the prompt. This transfers stimulus control from the prompt to the instruction.

Take the free diagnostic