BCAT Autism Spectrum Disorder Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the DSM-5, the two core, defining domains of Autism Spectrum Disorder are:
- Language delays and intellectual disability.
- Poor eye contact and difficulty with peer relationships.
- Deficits in social communication and social interaction; and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. (Correct answer)
- Sensory hypersensitivity and insistence on sameness.
Correct answer: Deficits in social communication and social interaction; and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder are organized into two primary domains: 1) Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, and 2) Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. While the other answer choices list common characteristics of ASD, they are considered symptoms or specifiers within these two core domains, not the domains themselves.
Question 2: A client has successfully learned to request a cookie by saying "cookie" when they are in the kitchen with their BCAT. To promote generalization of this skill, what is the most appropriate next step?
- Teach the client to request a cookie when they are in different rooms of the house and when they are with other people, like parents or siblings. (Correct answer)
- Continue to practice requesting a cookie only in the kitchen to ensure the skill is fully mastered in that specific environment first.
- Begin teaching the client to request a different food item, such as "juice," to expand their vocabulary.
- Provide a more powerful reinforcer for requesting the cookie, such as giving two cookies instead of one.
Correct answer: Teach the client to request a cookie when they are in different rooms of the house and when they are with other people, like parents or siblings.
Generalization is the process of applying a learned skill across different settings, people, and stimuli. To ensure the skill of requesting is functional, the client should practice it in various environments (e.g., different rooms, at the store) and with various people (e.g., parents, teachers, peers). The other options do not directly address the goal of generalization.
Question 3: Which of the following statements is the most objective and appropriate for inclusion in a BCAT's session note?
- The client was very angry and aggressive because he didn't want to do his work.
- The client had a great session and seemed much happier than yesterday.
- The client was uncooperative and defiant for most of the session.
- When presented with the math worksheet, the client dropped to the floor and screamed for 3 minutes. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When presented with the math worksheet, the client dropped to the floor and screamed for 3 minutes.
Session notes should be objective, meaning they describe observable and measurable behaviors without making assumptions about internal states (e.g., 'angry,' 'happy') or motivations (e.g., 'didn't want to'). The correct answer describes exactly what was seen and heard (dropped to the floor, screamed) and includes a measurable component (for 3 minutes), which is the standard for professional documentation in ABA.
Question 4: A BCAT is starting with a new client. For the first few sessions, the technician spends time playing with the client's preferred toys, showing enthusiasm for their interests, and placing no demands. The primary goal of this activity is to:
- Assess the client's current play skills to write new goals.
- Establish the technician as a reinforcer through a process called 'pairing'. (Correct answer)
- Determine the function of any problem behaviors that may occur.
- Teach the client how to share toys appropriately with an adult.
Correct answer: Establish the technician as a reinforcer through a process called 'pairing'.
This process is known as pairing. The goal of pairing is to associate the technician with access to reinforcement (fun activities, preferred items) so that the technician's presence becomes reinforcing to the client. This helps build rapport and makes the technician more effective when they later need to place demands and teach new skills.
Question 5: A client's parents are very pleased with the BCAT's work and offer them a $50 gift card. According to the BACB's ethical code, what is the most appropriate action for the BCAT to take?
- Politely decline, explaining that the ethics code prohibits accepting gifts to avoid potential conflicts of interest. (Correct answer)
- Accept the gift, but report it to the supervising BCBA immediately.
- Suggest they give the gift card to the entire clinical team to share.
- Accept the gift, as it is a small token of appreciation and would be rude to refuse.
Correct answer: Politely decline, explaining that the ethics code prohibits accepting gifts to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Ethics Code for RBTs (and by extension, similar professionals like BCATs) has strict guidelines against accepting gifts from clients to avoid creating multiple relationships and conflicts of interest. While the most recent code allows for occasional gifts of nominal value (under $10), a $50 gift card far exceeds this and should be politely declined with an explanation referencing professional guidelines.
Question 6: During a discrete trial, the BCAT gives the instruction, "Touch your nose." When the client does not respond, the technician gently uses their hand to guide the client's hand to their nose. This level of assistance is an example of which type of prompt?
- Gestural prompt
- Verbal prompt
- Modeling prompt
- Physical prompt (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Physical prompt
A physical prompt involves physically guiding the learner's body to complete the target response. In this scenario, the technician uses hand-over-hand guidance, which is a form of physical prompt. A gestural prompt would be pointing, a verbal prompt would be a spoken hint, and a modeling prompt would be the technician demonstrating the action first.
BCAT Autism Spectrum Disorder Questions and Answers
According to the DSM-5, the two core, defining domains of Autism Spectrum Disorder are: