ABA Clinical Supervision Models 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which BACB document outlines the specific tasks and content areas that BCaBAs and BCBAs must address during the supervised experience?
- BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance Code
- BACB Task List (6th Edition)
- Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline (Correct answer)
- BACB Experience Standards
Correct answer: Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline
The Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline specifies required content areas for supervision, complementing the Experience Standards.
Question 2: Individual supervision and group supervision are both permitted by the BACB. What is the primary limitation placed on group supervision?
- Group supervision cannot exceed one hour per session
- No more than 50% of total supervision hours may be in group format (Correct answer)
- Group supervision cannot be conducted via teleconference
- Group size is limited to exactly two supervisees
Correct answer: No more than 50% of total supervision hours may be in group format
The BACB allows up to 50% of required supervision hours to be accrued in group supervision, with the remaining 50% needing to be individual.
Question 3: In ABA supervision, the term 'dual relationship' refers to a situation where the supervisor:
- Supervises two supervisees simultaneously in the same session
- Holds both a professional and personal relationship with the supervisee (Correct answer)
- Provides supervision in both clinic and home settings
- Supervises across two different certification tracks at once
Correct answer: Holds both a professional and personal relationship with the supervisee
A dual relationship occurs when the supervisor has both a professional supervisory role and a personal relationship with the supervisee, creating potential conflicts of interest.
Question 4: A supervisor wants to assess whether a supervisee can independently conduct a preference assessment. Which evaluation method aligns MOST closely with the competency-based model?
- Ask the supervisee to describe the procedure verbally
- Have the supervisee complete a multiple-choice quiz on the topic
- Observe the supervisee conduct the preference assessment with a client and score each step (Correct answer)
- Review the supervisee's notes from a training workshop
Correct answer: Observe the supervisee conduct the preference assessment with a client and score each step
Direct observation of skill performance with a scoring rubric is the hallmark of competency-based evaluation in ABA supervision.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the role of a 'contracting' phase at the beginning of a supervisory relationship?
- It legally binds the supervisee to work for the supervisor's organization
- It establishes shared expectations, goals, and responsibilities between supervisor and supervisee (Correct answer)
- It replaces the need for ongoing feedback during the relationship
- It serves as the formal BACB registration for supervised experience
Correct answer: It establishes shared expectations, goals, and responsibilities between supervisor and supervisee
A supervision contract clarifies mutual expectations, learning goals, and the respective roles of supervisor and supervisee at the outset.
Question 6: When providing corrective feedback to a supervisee, research on effective supervision suggests the supervisor should:
- Wait until the end of the month to deliver all corrective feedback at once
- Deliver feedback immediately or as close to the behavior as possible (Correct answer)
- Only provide corrective feedback in written form to avoid discomfort
- Ensure corrective feedback always outnumbers positive feedback
Correct answer: Deliver feedback immediately or as close to the behavior as possible
Timely feedback maximizes its effectiveness by connecting the corrective information closely to the behavior being addressed.
Question 7: Under the BACB standards, which of the following scenarios represents an inappropriate supervisory arrangement?
- A BCBA supervising a BCaBA collecting data across three client sites
- A BCBA supervising their own spouse who is completing supervised fieldwork hours (Correct answer)
- A BCBA providing supervision via live video to a supervisee in a different state
- A BCBA with two years of post-certification experience taking on a new supervisee
Correct answer: A BCBA supervising their own spouse who is completing supervised fieldwork hours
Supervising a spouse constitutes a dual relationship that conflicts with the BACB Ethics Code's prohibitions against supervisory relationships that compromise objectivity.
ABA Clinical Supervision Models 3
Which BACB document outlines the specific tasks and content areas that BCaBAs and BCBAs must address during the supervised experience?