Free BCABA Intervention Development and Monitoring Practice Questions

The Intervention Development and Monitoring domain represents 13% of the BCABA exam and covers intervention selection, treatment integrity, progress monitoring, decision rules, and social validity. Review each answer and explanation as you practice.

The BCABA exam format is 175 questions in 240 minutes; this page is a focused domain sample.

BCABA Intervention Development and Monitoring Sample Questions with Answers

Sample Question 1 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

Which goal is stated in observable and measurable terms?

  1. A. Given the instruction "wash hands," the client will complete all 6 steps in 4 of 5 opportunities (Correct answer)
  2. B. The client will develop a better understanding of why good hygiene matters at home and school
  3. C. The client will become much more independent in the bathroom over the next several months
  4. D. The client will feel more confident and comfortable about washing hands before every meal

Correct answer: A

Explanation: A is correct because this goal specifies the condition, an observable behavior, and a measurable criterion. B describes an internal state ("understanding") that cannot be directly observed or measured. C is vague about what behavior is expected and how independence will be measured. D describes feelings rather than observable behavior with a measurable criterion.

Sample Question 2 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

Which set of components is typically included in a well-written behavioral objective?

  1. A. The client's diagnosis, age, and the name of the funding source that pays for services
  2. B. The client's feelings about the goal, the family's hopes, and the therapist's opinion
  3. C. The condition, the observable behavior, and the criterion for success (Correct answer)
  4. D. The name of the intervention, the session length, and the number of weeks it will run

Correct answer: C

Explanation: C is correct because a complete objective states the conditions under which the behavior occurs, the behavior itself, and the performance criterion. A provides background information but does not specify the behavior or how success is measured. B focuses on subjective views rather than observable behavior and criteria. D describes service logistics rather than the target behavior and criterion.

Sample Question 3 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

A draft goal reads, "The student will be less aggressive." Which revision is BEST?

  1. A. The student will hit peers 2 or fewer times per school day for 5 consecutive school days (Correct answer)
  2. B. The student will learn to manage anger in better ways during recess and other free periods
  3. C. The student will show more respect and self-control when interacting with peers in class
  4. D. The student will stop being so aggressive toward peers and teachers throughout the school day

Correct answer: A

Explanation: A is correct because the revision names a specific, observable behavior (hitting peers) and a measurable criterion. B describes an internal process rather than an observable behavior with a criterion. C describes internal qualities that are not directly observable or measurable. D still relies on the vague term "aggressive" without defining behavior or a criterion.

Sample Question 4 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

An objective reads, "The client will independently request a break using a picture card in 80% of opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions." Which component should be added to make the objective complete?

  1. A. The condition, such as when presented with a nonpreferred task (Correct answer)
  2. B. The criterion, such as the percentage of opportunities required for mastery
  3. C. The client's diagnosis, so the team understands why the goal was selected
  4. D. The observable behavior, such as what the client does with the picture card

Correct answer: A

Explanation: A is correct because the objective includes the behavior and criterion but does not specify the conditions under which the request should occur. B is already included (80% of opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions). C is not a component of a behavioral objective. D is already included (requesting a break using a picture card).

Sample Question 5 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

Which target behavior fails the "dead man's test" and should be rewritten?

  1. A. The client will not hit peers during recess (Correct answer)
  2. B. The client will say "my turn" to request a turn with a peer's toy
  3. C. The client will take turns on the slide by waiting in line during recess
  4. D. The client will ask peers to play during recess using a full sentence

Correct answer: A

Explanation: A is correct because a behavior that a dead person could "perform" (not hitting) is not an active behavior; the goal should specify what the client will do instead. B describes an active verbal behavior rather than the absence of behavior. C describes active behaviors (waiting in line, taking turns) rather than the absence of behavior. D describes an active, observable behavior that a dead person could not perform.

Sample Question 6 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

A goal states, "The client will sit quietly during circle time 100% of the time." Which revision BEST improves the goal?

  1. A. The client will be calm and pay close attention to the teacher throughout the entire circle time each day
  2. B. The client will not get up, talk, or move around during circle time on any day of the school week at all
  3. C. During 15-minute circle time, the client will stay seated on the carpet and answer at least 3 questions on 4 of 5 days (Correct answer)
  4. D. The client will sit quietly during circle time 100% of the time, as measured by the teacher's overall impression

Correct answer: C

Explanation: C is correct because the revision defines the condition and observable behaviors, adds active participation, and sets a realistic, measurable criterion. A replaces one vague description with others ("calm," "pay attention") and keeps an unrealistic criterion. B defines the goal only by the absence of behavior and sets an unrealistic criterion. D keeps the vague behavior and unrealistic criterion while adding subjective measurement.

Sample Question 7 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

Why should interventions be selected based on assessment results?

  1. A. Assessment results determine how many service hours the funding source will authorize
  2. B. Assessment results replace the need to monitor data once the intervention has started
  3. C. Assessment results show which interventions the family is most likely to enjoy using at home
  4. D. Interventions matched to the function of behavior are more likely to be effective (Correct answer)

Correct answer: D

Explanation: D is correct because assessment identifies the variables maintaining behavior, and interventions that address those variables are more likely to succeed. A is an administrative consideration rather than the clinical reason for function-based selection. B is wrong because ongoing data collection is still needed to evaluate effects. C confuses assessment of function with preference for interventions.

Sample Question 8 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

A functional analysis shows that a client's aggression during tasks is maintained by escape. Which intervention is MOST clearly function-based?

  1. A. Give a preferred toy for each 5-minute interval without aggression
  2. B. Teach a break request, honor it at first, then gradually require more work (Correct answer)
  3. C. Use time-out from the classroom each time aggression occurs during tasks
  4. D. Provide attention on a fixed-time schedule throughout all task periods

Correct answer: B

Explanation: B is correct because teaching an appropriate way to escape tasks, combined with gradual demand fading, addresses the escape function. A does not address the escape function and may not compete with escape from tasks. C removes the client from tasks, which could reinforce escape-maintained aggression. D addresses an attention function rather than the identified escape function.

Sample Question 9 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

A functional analysis shows that a client's screaming is maintained by adult attention. Which intervention BEST matches this function?

  1. A. Teach an appropriate way to get attention, provide attention for it, and withhold attention for screaming (Correct answer)
  2. B. Deliver a verbal reprimand after each scream so the client learns that screaming is not acceptable
  3. C. Remove task demands whenever screaming occurs so that the client stays calm during the session
  4. D. Give the client a preferred tangible item each time screaming stops for at least one minute

Correct answer: A

Explanation: A is correct because teaching and reinforcing an appropriate response that produces attention, while withholding attention for screaming, directly addresses the function. B provides attention after screaming, which could reinforce the behavior. C addresses escape rather than attention and could reinforce screaming if demands are involved. D does not address the attention function that maintains the behavior.

Sample Question 10 — Intervention Development and Monitoring

Which source provides the strongest scientific evidence for selecting an intervention?

  1. A. Procedures that staff at the organization have always used with other clients in the past
  2. B. Testimonials from families who say that the intervention helped their children at home
  3. C. A popular book that describes the intervention and recommends it for all children with autism
  4. D. Peer-reviewed studies using experimental designs that show effects with similar clients (Correct answer)

Correct answer: D

Explanation: D is correct because experimental research published after peer review, with participants similar to the client, provides the strongest evidence for intervention selection. A reflects habit rather than scientific evidence of effectiveness. B provides anecdotal reports that do not demonstrate a functional relation. C may not be based on controlled research and may overstate the intervention's effects.

Keep Practicing

Take the 10-question BCABA quick-start test across all nine domains, or return to the BCABA practice-test hub.