Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

In a scenario where a teacher states that if everyone scores 100% on a spelling test, she will perform cartwheels, what type of group contingency is this?

1. Dependent group contingency

2. Interdependent group contingency

3. Independent group contingency

4. Random group contingency

The correct answer is: Interdependent group contingency

In this scenario, the type of group contingency being used is an interdependent group contingency. This arrangement requires that the entire group achieves the specified criterion—in this case, all students scoring 100% on the spelling test—before the reward (the teacher performing cartwheels) is provided. The essence of interdependent group contingencies is that the outcome hinges on the collective performance of the group rather than on individuals, promoting teamwork and shared responsibility. If everyone in the class meets the requirement, the reward is given to the entire group, thereby encouraging collaboration among the students to help one another succeed. This is fundamentally different from scenarios like dependent or independent group contingencies where the criteria for reward are based either on one individual’s performance (dependent) or on each individual’s performance independent of their peers (independent). In the context of this scenario, since the activity and the reward are contingent upon the entire group's performance together, it is classified as an interdependent group contingency.