ABA Exam Coach

H.5: Plan for and attempt to mitigate possible relapse of the target behavior.

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

FCT has reduced a client's attention-maintained head hitting to near zero. Staff note that when they are busy and don't respond to the client's requests, head hitting quickly comes back. What is the best plan to reduce this relapse?
  1. A. Introduce clear signals for when attention is and isn't available (a multiple schedule), thin gradually, and teach additional appropriate responses
    Correct. Signaled availability and gradual thinning help maintain the request and reduce resurgence. A broader repertoire of alternatives also reduces the likelihood of resurgence.
  2. B. Abruptly reinforce only 10% of requests so the client learns to tolerate waiting
    An abrupt drop to 10% reinforcement leaves most requests unreinforced. That is functionally close to putting the request on extinction, which is a known trigger for resurgence of head hitting.
  3. C. Occasionally attend to head hitting so the client doesn't become frustrated
    Intermittently reinforcing head hitting makes it stronger and more resistant to extinction.
  4. D. Discontinue FCT and put head hitting on extinction alone
    Removing the functional replacement increases the risk of extinction bursts and relapse.
A child's attention-maintained whining reached zero after several weeks of extinction. On Monday morning, the whining briefly reappears even though it still doesn't produce attention. What is this called, and what should the plan say?
  1. A. Extinction burst; stop extinction and return to baseline
    An extinction burst is the increase at the start of extinction, not a reappearance after the behavior reached zero. Returning to baseline would also reinforce whining.
  2. B. Renewal; move all treatment to a new setting
    Renewal involves a change of context. This is the same setting after a break.
  3. C. Spontaneous recovery; continue extinction consistently, because the reappearance is usually brief if the behavior is not reinforced
    Correct. A behavior briefly reappearing after a break in extinction is spontaneous recovery. Keeping extinction consistent prevents it from being re-strengthened.
  4. D. Resurgence; add punishment for whining
    Resurgence requires an alternative response to have been put on extinction, which didn't happen here, and punishment isn't indicated.
A child's property destruction stays near zero across 3 months of clinic-based treatment. Within a week of discharge, the parents report high rates at home. Which plan would most likely have reduced this relapse?
  1. A. Thinning the reinforcement schedule within the clinic only
    Thinning in one setting may support maintenance there but doesn't address the change in context.
  2. B. Implementing the intervention with caregivers in the home and other natural settings before discharge, with follow-up probes
    Correct. Behavior often returns when the context changes (renewal). Training in natural settings with the people who will maintain the contingencies supports generalization and maintenance.
  3. C. Extending clinic sessions from 2 to 4 hours per day
    More clinic exposure doesn't help the effect transfer to the home context.
  4. D. Waiting at home for the behavior to extinguish on its own
    Without a planned intervention, home contingencies may keep reinforcing the behavior.

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