Measurement and Data Collection Flashcards

Which data display feature describes the overall direction that data are moving over time (upward, downward, or flat)?

Answer: Trend

Trend refers to the systematic direction of data over successive data points, indicating whether behavior is generally increasing, decreasing, or staying the same.

A behavior analyst records the number of intervals in which a behavior occurred out of the total intervals observed and converts to a percentage. What is this called?

Answer: Percent occurrence

Percent occurrence divides the number of intervals (or trials) in which a behavior occurred by the total number of intervals observed and multiplies by 100.

What is the term for the average value of data within a phase, used to summarize overall performance level?

Answer: Mean (mean level)

The mean (mean level) is the arithmetic average of data points within a phase and serves as a summary statistic of the typical performance level during that phase.

Which scatter plot variant used in ABA identifies the times of day or conditions most associated with high rates of problem behavior?

Answer: Scatter plot (time-based)

A scatter plot in ABA is a grid organized by time of day and session/day that is filled in when the target behavior occurs, revealing temporal patterns.

In data analysis, what does 'variability' refer to?

Answer: The spread or inconsistency of data points around a central value

Variability refers to how much individual data points deviate from each other or from a measure of central tendency within or across phases.

Which recording procedure is most appropriate for measuring a behavior that has a clear beginning and end and does not occur at very high rates?

Answer: Event (frequency) recording

Event (frequency) recording is most suitable for discrete behaviors with clear onsets and offsets occurring at manageable rates, as each instance is counted individually.