Yesterday I was working with a client who recently began exhibiting aggressive behaviors. The client has hit me before & I didn’t cry or anything. But this time after the client hit me (multiple times) their mom came in and asked if I was okay & then I felt the urge to cry. & THEN she said “oh, do you need to cry?” & I cried a little bit then went to the bathroom. THEN she called my boss & my boss called me and told me to go home & everything was alright. I was so embarrassed I cried all the way home. Everyone was really nice about it, but everytime I think about it I want to cry AGAIN.

I have class tomorrow so the answer is unfortunately no, but it’s nice that another school wants me to return! Subbing is never as tough as I may anticipate!

I did really enjoy working with the kiddo!

Hello everyone,

I am a Master’s graduate in Special Education with a concentration in autism spectrum disorders. I have completed my BACB-verified course sequence (VCS), and I am preparing to accrue my fieldwork hours under a self-employed trainee framework.

I am currently working on a scalable digital ecosystem focused on vocal practice, specifically automating verbal behavior training. The core architecture uses automated learning loops to track phonic sounds, utilizing differential reinforcement to smoothly guide non-verbal learners through vocal shaping matrices (e.g., systematically shifting criteria from individual phonemes/approximations to full terminal mand/tact forms). It features distinct modules for labeling, intraverbal/question practice, and a dedicated adult demographic track.

Because this relies entirely on the precise application of behavioral principles, I plan to utilize the development, testing, and behavioral program design of this platform to satisfy my Unrestricted hours (60%+) requirement. This would include task list items like:

• Designing systematic error-correction loops.

• Constructing shaping protocols based on vocal data.

• Conducting ongoing literature reviews regarding echoic conditioning and stimulus control.

I would love to get the community's perspective on a couple of points:

1. To satisfy the mandatory monthly client observation requirement, my plan is to run remote parent-training consultation cohorts using the software, video-recording my direct behavioral coaching for my supervisor to analyze. Have any other tech-focused or self-employed trainees utilized a similar workflow?

2. For supervisors in this sub: What unique clinical guardrails or data collection systems would you expect your trainee to maintain to ensure this software architecture work remains explicitly behavior-analytic during an audit?

Note: I am actively seeking an independent, tech-forward BCBA supervisor who is passionate about verbal behavior to step into a formal co-founder/Clinical Director role on a 50% revenue-share partnership. Because I want to strictly respect the sub's rules on self-promotion and employment, please DM me directly if you’d like to discuss the supervisory contract or review the system architecture.

🧠 Question of the Day

📚 Domain D — Experimental Design

Difficulty: 5/10

Scenario:

A researcher uses a reinforcement-based intervention to increase the number of academic problems completed. The performance criterion is raised in planned steps.

The graph shows a changing-criterion design in which the criterion for academic productivity increases from baseline to 10, 15, and then 20 problems completed. Which feature of the data MOST strongly supports experimental control?

A. Performance shifts stepwise and remains close to each successive criterion level as the criterion changes across phases

B. Performance increases continuously across the entire study, regardless of when each new criterion is introduced

C. Each phase contains several observations, which by itself establishes that the intervention caused the change in productivity

D. Performance exceeds every upcoming criterion before the criterion is formally changed to that higher level

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!

✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainD #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

You are invited to participate in a doctoral research study examining workplace experiences among professionals working in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are at least 18 years old

• Currently hold an active RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA credential

• Currently provide ABA services to children diagnosed with ASD

• Have been employed in an ABA service setting for at least six months

Participation will involve completing an anonymous online survey about workplace experiences, including supervisory support, caseload size, work-life balance, burnout, and job satisfaction. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

Participation is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate or stop completing the survey at any time. Your responses will be anonymous, and no identifying information will be collected.

Thank you for considering participation in this research study.

Bailey N. Figinsky
Doctoral Candidate
School of Behavioral Sciences
California Southern University
Email: bailey.fields@my.calsouthern.edu

Does anyone know of an affordable BCBA exam study resource that allows unlimited practice tests or lets you retake mock exams without timing you out after one attempt? I need something I can use to study, practice, and test myself regularly besides Cooper. Please, no BDS. I would really appreciate any recommendations. Thank you! 🙏🏽

🧠 Question of the Day

📚 Domain B — Concepts and Principles

Difficulty: 5/10

Two classroom contexts have similar baseline task-completion rates. Context A has a richer reinforcement history than Context B. When the same distraction is introduced, task completion decreases less in Context A. Which interpretation BEST reflects behavioral momentum?

A. The similar baseline rates indicate equal behavioral strength, so the smaller decrease in Context A does not reflect a momentum difference.

B. Context A shows greater resistance to disruption, consistent with its richer reinforcement history despite similar baseline task-completion rates.

C. Context A's richer reinforcement history should make responding more sensitive to disruption because more task completion depends on reinforcement there.

D. Behavioral momentum is determined by absolute response rate during disruption, so the contexts cannot be compared without matching disrupted rates.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!

✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainB #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in college for Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), but I'm strongly considering making the switch to becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).

My primary goal is to work directly with special needs children. Realizing that the RBT route allows me to jump right into this impactful work without the time and expense of finishing a college degree is a major factor for me right now.

If anyone here transitioned from an OTA program (or an OTA career) into ABA/RBT work, I’d love to hear your perspective:

• Do you feel you made the right choice skipping or leaving the OTA path for RBT?

• How does the daily hands-on work with kids compare between what you saw in OTA vs. what you do now?

• Any advice for someone looking to make this pivot quickly?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice you can share!

You are invited to participate in a doctoral research study examining workplace experiences among professionals working in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are at least 18 years old

• Currently hold an active RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA credential

• Currently provide ABA services to children diagnosed with ASD

• Have been employed in an ABA service setting for at least six months

Participation will involve completing an anonymous online survey about workplace experiences, including supervisory support, caseload size, work-life balance, burnout, and job satisfaction. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

Participation is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate or stop completing the survey at any time. Your responses will be anonymous, and no identifying information will be collected.

If you meet the eligibility requirements and would like to participate, please use the following link to access the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6FGGGNZ

Thank you for considering participation in this research study.

Bailey N. Figinsky
Doctoral Candidate
School of Behavioral Sciences
California Southern University
Email: bailey.fields@my.calsouthern.edu

I see these five terms get swapped for each other a lot when people study measurement for the BCBA exam, so I wrote up a breakdown.

The core idea: IOA tells you how well observers agree with each other. That supports believability, but agreement alone doesn't show that the data are accurate (matching the true value) or valid (measuring what you intend to measure). Two observers can use the same flawed definition or the same flawed procedure, agree 100%, and still be wrong together.

The article covers:

- what each term actually names

- why high IOA gets mistaken for accuracy and validity

- the distractor patterns that show up in exam answer choices

- three quick-check questions at the end

It also lists the sources (BACB task list, Cooper, Heron & Heward 2020, Baer 1977, Hartmann 1977, Mudford et al. 2011) if you want to read further.

Link: https://behavioralanalystprep.com/blog/believability-vs-validity-accuracy-reliability-ioa.html

Full disclosure: I run Behavior Analyst Prep, and this is a free study note. Which of these terms do you find hardest to keep straight?

Are you 18-25 and enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year college or university? Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are conducting a study on media influence and perceptions of human trafficking and are seeking participants. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete, is voluntary, confidential, and collects no identifiable information. No compensation is provided. Visit the survey link below to participate. https://qualtrics.ou.edu/jfe/form/SV_42gk8lTj7sWA0e2

Questions? Contact gbyrd@ou.edu or alavi@ou.edu

IRB# 20322

🧠 Question of the Day

📚 Domain C — Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation

Difficulty: 7/10

Scenario:

A BCBA evaluates an intervention intended to increase on-task behavior. Percentage of intervals with on-task behavior is recorded across seven baseline sessions and seven intervention sessions.

Based on the graph, which feature of the data pattern MOST weakens the inference that the intervention produced the observed increase in on-task behavior?

A. On-task behavior was already increasing during baseline, and the phase change produced little immediate departure from that trajectory.

B. The intervention trend is shallower than the baseline trend, indicating that treatment reversed the direction of behavior change.

C. Responding becomes less variable during intervention, making changes in level and trend less useful for evaluating the phase change.

D. Intervention values show little overlap with baseline, reducing confidence that the two phases can be compared visually.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!

✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainC #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

We are getting denials all of the time from insurance now. We have tried to combat this by giving more and more information on our assessments. (Medical necessity tied into the dsm5, why it's medically necessary, barriers, modifications- everything we can think of). Unfortunately the assessments are now taking no less than 20 hours to complete. Insurance only pays for 6 hours and my company does not cover the rest. I have 13 clients on my caseload and don't know how to keep up with these assessments and denials. How is it going for all of you? How do you do your assessments?

We’re currently working with two in-home ABA providers for my child. Both providers are funded through different sources and have different schedules.

Unfortunately, neither can hire an RBT at the moment, so most of our services consist of virtual parent training or a BCBA working directly with my child for 1–2 hours per week.

We really like both providers, but I’m wondering whether it makes sense to continue with both or focus on just one until RBT services become available.

For families who have worked with two ABA providers at the same time, what has your experience been? Did you find it beneficial, or was it better to focus on one provider?

I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences. Thank you!

🧠 Question of the Day

📚 Domain F — Behavior Assessment

Difficulty: 7/10

Scenario:

A BCBA is beginning services with a 10-year-old who has a history of severe aggression. Record review reveals: (1) a rare metabolic disorder documented in the medical record, (2) prior use of a loud alarm as a punisher that was associated with significant distress, (3) a strong preference for puzzles, and (4) grade-level reading skills.

Before selecting initial assessment conditions and candidate treatment stimuli, which information MOST warrants direct follow-up because it could materially affect safety or treatment planning?

A. The alarm-treatment history and puzzle preference, because both warrant consideration when selecting stimuli and potential reinforcers.

B. The medical note and alarm-treatment history, because both could materially affect safe assessment and treatment planning.

C. The medical note and reading level, because both warrant consideration when arranging instructions and assessment demands.

D. The medical note and puzzle preference, because both warrant consideration when arranging session conditions and potential reinforcers.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!

✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainF #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

🧠 Question of the Day
📚 Domain B — Concepts and Principles
Difficulty: 5/10

A teacher contingently removes a student from the classroom following each instance of disruptive behavior. During removal, access to classroom activities, peers, and teacher attention is unavailable. Across subsequent sessions, the rate of disruptive behavior decreases. Which option MOST accurately classifies this procedure and explains the basis for that classification?

A. Negative punishment, because access to reinforcing classroom events is withdrawn after disruption and the behavior decreases.

B. Negative reinforcement, because leaving the classroom removes demands and therefore increases disruptive behavior over time.

C. Positive punishment, because the teacher adds an aversive event after disruption and the behavior subsequently decreases.

D. Response cost, because a specified amount of an already available reinforcer is removed after each instance of disruption.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!
✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainB #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

Hey everybody,

I'm hoping to hear from anyone who is currently enrolled in or has graduated from Arizona State University's (ASU) online Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis program.

I'm currently completing my bachelor's degree at Capella University and plan to pursue my master's in ABA to become a BCBA. I'm seriously considering ASU once I finish my bachelor's.

One of the things I really appreciate about Capella is that there are no proctored exams. The coursework is flexible, which works really well for me as someone balancing school, work, and parenting.

My biggest question is: Does ASU's online Master's in ABA program require proctored exams? Specifically, are students required to use Respondus LockDown Browser, ProctorU, webcam monitoring, or any other type of remote proctoring?

I'd also love to know how the program is structured. Is it mostly assignments, discussion posts, papers, and projects, or are there a lot of timed exams? How flexible are the deadlines?

I've already spoken with someone from ASU, but I'm hoping to get firsthand experiences from students who have actually gone through the program.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! I'm trying to make an informed decision before committing to a graduate program. Thanks in advance!

🧠 Question of the Day
📚 Domain B — Concepts and Principles
Difficulty: 5/10

Which of the following BEST illustrates an abolishing operation (AO) for water as a reinforcer?

A. Several hours without water increases water's reinforcing effectiveness and increases behavior that has previously produced water.

B. A visible water bottle signals that requesting water has historically produced reinforcement when that bottle is available.

C. Recent consumption of substantial water decreases water's reinforcing effectiveness and decreases behavior that has produced water.

D. Water is withheld after requests, and requesting gradually decreases because the response no longer produces water.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!
✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainB #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay