BCAT Data Collection & Analysis 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A technician uses a stopwatch to record how long it takes a child to begin a task after the instruction is given. This is an example of:
- Duration recording
- Latency recording (Correct answer)
- Inter-response time recording
- Momentary time sampling
Correct answer: Latency recording
Latency recording measures the time from the delivery of an instruction or SD to the initiation of the behavior.
Question 2: Which of the following would result in an OVERESTIMATE of behavior occurrence?
- Whole interval recording
- Momentary time sampling
- Partial interval recording (Correct answer)
- Frequency count
Correct answer: Partial interval recording
Partial interval recording scores an interval if the behavior occurs at all, even briefly, which tends to overestimate actual behavior occurrence.
Question 3: A client's goal is to reduce self-stimulatory behavior to fewer than 5 occurrences per session. After three consecutive sessions with 3, 4, and 2 occurrences, the goal would be considered:
- Not yet mastered — more data points are needed
- Mastered based on the last session alone
- Met based on the three consecutive sessions meeting the criterion (Correct answer)
- Inconclusive because the data varies
Correct answer: Met based on the three consecutive sessions meeting the criterion
Three consecutive sessions meeting a defined criterion is a common mastery standard in ABA, and all three sessions here fall below the threshold of 5.
Question 4: Inter-response time (IRT) measures:
- The number of responses per unit of time
- The time between the end of one response and the beginning of the next (Correct answer)
- The length of a single behavior episode
- The time from a cue to the start of a response
Correct answer: The time between the end of one response and the beginning of the next
IRT is the elapsed time between the end of one behavior and the start of the next occurrence of the same behavior.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes a stable baseline in behavior data?
- Data points showing a consistent upward or downward trend
- Data points with minimal variability and no clear trend (Correct answer)
- Data with frequent peaks and valleys across sessions
- Data collected only on alternating days
Correct answer: Data points with minimal variability and no clear trend
A stable baseline shows consistent, low-variability data that allows a clear comparison to be made once intervention begins.
Question 6: A technician records that a client exhibited aggression 3 times in session 1, 5 times in session 2, and 4 times in session 3. What is the mean rate of aggression across these sessions?
- 3 per session
- 4 per session (Correct answer)
- 5 per session
- 12 per session
Correct answer: 4 per session
The mean is calculated by adding all occurrences (3+5+4=12) and dividing by the number of sessions (3), yielding 4 per session.
Question 7: When should a technician STOP a data collection procedure and consult the BCBA?
- When the client earns all available reinforcers in a session
- When the client's behavior changes so significantly it may pose a safety risk (Correct answer)
- When the client asks to take a break during a session
- When a data sheet is accidentally left at home
Correct answer: When the client's behavior changes so significantly it may pose a safety risk
A dramatic and unexpected change in behavior — especially one involving safety concerns — requires immediate BCBA consultation before continuing data collection.
BCAT Data Collection & Analysis 5
A technician uses a stopwatch to record how long it takes a child to begin a task after the instruction is given.
This is an example of: