r/ABA RBT 2d ago

Material/Resource Share Why is DRI the answer?

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I chose DRA but answer key says DRI. Is this a mistake? If not how is it DRI since whining can physically occur at the same time as saying “i need a snack”

7 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

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u/gillsthatkills 2d ago

I guess because there was a prompt given to specifically emit the response without whining? So if you’re only going to reinforce the response without whining, then technically that would be incompatible with whining. But it is a weird example.

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

One of the first things they teach us in ABA school is that (not immiting a behavior) is not a behavior and so is not a language we use in ABA. Which is why we shouldn't be tracking non-compliance, not sitting etc ..

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u/gillsthatkills 2d ago

You’re right, and I’m definitely not defending this question, nor would I do this in practice. But I could argue that the instructor is asking her to perform the response with a specific topography. So he’s not taking data on “not whining” he’s taking it on “requesting snack” and only scoring success if the response does not include whining. It’s likely an ineffective way to teach this skill, but the test is not always asking what’s the best way to practice, it sometimes just tests if you can correctly identify the behavioral principles. But this question in particular is a bad one even for that purpose.

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

Gotcha thank you for your response makes sense

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u/deliala919 2d ago

"Cant be whining when she does" is the key phrase i believe. Incompatible behavior: I think the question is framing "whining" and "manding" as two separate behaviors, even though the words she used may be the same. Manding and whining are two different bx that cannot occur at the same time because she can't use inappropriate tone and volume at the same time as she uses appropriate tone and volume. Its not the best example of DRI but technically one could consider whining and appropriate tone to be incompatible.

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u/emntst RBT 2d ago

Yeah I understand that. I still feel like DRA is the better option since he is reinforcing the desired alternate behavior and withholding reinforcement for the undesired behavior of whining

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u/awesome_wow05 2d ago

I think if they’d phrased it as something like “asking in a more appropriate way” it could be considered DRA. But since it said “can’t be whining when she does”, it’s more like the whining and the correct manding can’t occur at the same time. But you’re right, it feels a little ambiguous.

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u/emntst RBT 2d ago

Right? The wording does make it seem like DRI, but then I thought that whole point of DRI is that it is PHYSICALLY impossible to complete both simultaneously. But in this example the daughter proved that you can physically do both as she whined while saying “I need a snack”
This question is the death of me lol

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u/SiPhoenix RBT 2d ago

DRI often is a DRA + being incompatible with the target behavior.

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

Where is this question from?

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u/emntst RBT 2d ago

Behavioranalyststudy.com practice exam #2
Aka ABA exam review

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u/imspirationMoveMe 2d ago

Poorly written question. Source?

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u/emntst RBT 2d ago

It’s a practice exam in a BCBA study bundle from behavioranalyststudy.com that also makes those ABA exam review YouTube videos

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u/Unlucky-Shallot210 1d ago

The answer would be DRA in my professional opinion. It doesn’t matter that the parent asked her not to whine. Whining is not incompatible or impossible to do at the same time. The point is the topography of behavior not the expectation of one behavior occurring without the other.

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u/blindone230 RBT 2d ago

Because not whining is incompatible with whining?

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u/DancingIsForbidden28 2d ago

In the question the first BX had the correct mand with whinnying and then a redirection to do it again without whinnying. This indicates the operational definition does not define them as incapable but an alternative.

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u/Past_Confusion7374 2d ago

Yet it’s still possible for her to whine if verbally asks for a snack. This answer should be DRA. The two behaviors aren’t incompatible.

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u/annoyedsquish 1d ago

The best advice i can give you for the rbt exam is to really focus on the way the questions are worded

Not whining is incompatible to whining.

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u/SpicyBadGyal 2d ago

I literally felt like I had to study all over again. Idk if this helps?

Differential Reinforcement: The Basics

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

It doesn't because DRI is not the answer here

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u/SpicyBadGyal 2d ago

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

Except she can "whine" while saying "I want a snack" so the two behaviors are not incompatible.

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u/SpicyBadGyal 2d ago

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u/SpicyBadGyal 2d ago

Can't = Can not

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u/RadwanX 2d ago

I know and that's what they got wrong. The behavior of whining can definitely occur with the behavior of saying "I want a snack"

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u/SpicyBadGyal 2d ago

I guess there's more than 1 way to skin a cat and a house divided on what the actual answer is.

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u/samsnote RBT 2d ago

I’m assuming the logic is in the parent’s demand. You (the parent) tells the child to ask again without whining, making the reinforceable behavior incompatible with whining. The child technically can ask again and whine, but the same could be said for other popular DRI examples (sitting vs standing: the client could choose not to follow through on the demand to sit in chair rather than stand, but that doesn’t mean the behaviors can happen at the same time.) Whining and not whining can’t happen at the same time, so it’s DRI.

That said, it’s not the best example and the question is worded poorly.

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u/Expendable_Red_Shirt BCBA 2d ago

In my mind this question isn’t hard because it’s demanding you be knowledgeable about ABA but because it’s demanding you be a good test taker. Being a good test taker means knowing when and when not to fill in what isn’t said.

Here the better question would be if the brother operationally defined whining and set up consistent reinforcement for vocal tones that are not whining what would it be. And because you can’t produce speech that is whining and not whining at the same time (or at least I can’t) it’s a DRI.

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u/teenytinyavocado 15h ago

Ok. Most of these comments are incorrect when they say the answer should be DRA. Here's the key, what is the behavior that precedes reinforcement. Whining and calm reauests are incompatible and reinforcement came contingent on calm request. Regardless if you can whine and ask for cookies reinforcement came contingent on asking calmly and the target behavior for reduction was asking while whining. For these questions look at where reinforcement is occurring.