ABA Behavioral Evaluation & Data Collection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BCBA wants to measure the duration of a client's tantrum behavior. Which data collection method is most appropriate?
- Frequency recording
- Duration recording (Correct answer)
- Latency recording
- Interval recording
Correct answer: Duration recording
Duration recording measures the total time a behavior occurs from onset to offset, making it ideal for tantrum behavior.
Question 2: When conducting a structured ABC observation, which component represents the antecedent?
- The behavior displayed by the client
- The event or stimulus that precedes the behavior (Correct answer)
- The consequence that follows the behavior
- The setting in which behavior occurs
Correct answer: The event or stimulus that precedes the behavior
The antecedent is the environmental event or stimulus that occurs immediately before the target behavior.
Question 3: Which reliability measure is most appropriate when evaluating interobserver agreement for duration data?
- Point-by-point agreement
- Trial-by-trial agreement
- Duration IOA (smaller/larger ratio) (Correct answer)
- Occurrence IOA
Correct answer: Duration IOA (smaller/larger ratio)
Duration IOA calculates agreement by dividing the smaller duration by the larger duration for each observation period.
Question 4: A behavior analyst uses 10-second partial interval recording. Which of the following is true about this method?
- It records behavior only if it occurs throughout the entire interval
- It tends to overestimate the true frequency of behavior (Correct answer)
- It scores an interval only if the behavior persists for its full duration
- It is best used for high-frequency, brief behaviors only
Correct answer: It tends to overestimate the true frequency of behavior
Partial interval recording scores an interval as positive if the behavior occurs at any point, which tends to overestimate the actual prevalence.
Question 5: A clinician tracks how long it takes a child to begin a task after an instruction is given. This measurement is called:
- Duration
- Latency (Correct answer)
- Inter-response time
- Celeration
Correct answer: Latency
Latency measures the time elapsed between the onset of a stimulus (instruction) and the initiation of the target behavior.
Question 6: Which type of assessment involves presenting items or activities and observing a learner's approach, interaction, and avoidance to identify potential reinforcers?
- Functional analysis
- Stimulus preference assessment (Correct answer)
- Curriculum-based assessment
- Ecological inventory
Correct answer: Stimulus preference assessment
A stimulus preference assessment systematically evaluates an individual's preference for various stimuli to identify potential reinforcers.
Question 7: During a functional behavior assessment, the BCBA reviews school records, interviews teachers, and observes the student in class without manipulation. This approach is known as:
- Experimental functional analysis
- Descriptive assessment (Correct answer)
- Structural analysis
- Analogue assessment
Correct answer: Descriptive assessment
Descriptive assessment collects information through indirect methods (records, interviews) and direct naturalistic observation without experimental manipulation.
ABA Behavioral Evaluation & Data Collection 2
A BCBA wants to measure the duration of a client's tantrum behavior.
Which data collection method is most appropriate?