Measurement, Data, Interpretation Flashcards

A behavior analyst is interested in the total amount of time a student engages in stereotypy during a 30-minute observation. The behavior is continuous and varies in duration. Which measurement system would provide the most accurate data for this specific dimension of behavior?

Answer: Duration Recording

Duration recording is a continuous measurement procedure that tracks the total time a behavior occurs from its onset to its offset. Since the analyst is interested in the total amount of time, this is the most direct and accurate method. Frequency would only count the instances, while partial interval and momentary time sampling would only provide an estimate, not the exact total time.

A BCBA is reviewing a line graph that displays data from a functional analysis. The data path for the 'attention' condition shows a consistently high and stable level, while the data paths for all other conditions remain low and near zero. What is the most appropriate interpretation of these data?

Answer: The behavior is likely maintained by social positive reinforcement (attention).

Visual analysis of a functional analysis graph involves comparing the data paths across different conditions. A high and stable data path in one condition, while others remain low, suggests that the variable manipulated in that condition is the reinforcer for the behavior. In this case, the 'attention' condition shows the highest level of behavior, indicating it is maintained by attention, a form of social positive reinforcement.

To decrease a client's hitting behavior, a behavior analyst decides to use partial interval recording with 10-second intervals. Data show the behavior occurred in 80% of intervals during baseline. After intervention, the data show the behavior occurred in 20% of intervals. Why might this measurement system be a concern?

Answer: It likely overestimates the occurrence of the behavior.

Partial interval recording records an occurrence if the behavior happens at any point during the interval. This method is known to overestimate the overall duration or rate of a behavior because even a brief instance within an interval results in the entire interval being scored as an occurrence. This can be misleading, especially when trying to determine the true reduction of a behavior.

A behavior analyst is establishing a data collection system and wants to ensure that the measurement is consistently applied across observers. This refers to which quality of measurement?

Answer: Reliability

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement. High reliability means that different observers, or the same observer at different times, will record the same value for the same event. It is about the repeatability of the measurement procedure.

When analyzing a line graph of a student's performance on math problems, the BCBA observes that the data points in the intervention phase are all higher than the data points in the baseline phase, with no overlapping data points between phases. This demonstrates a change in which feature of the data?

Answer: Level

Level refers to the value on the vertical axis around which a set of data points converge. A distinct change in level between the baseline and intervention phases, where all data points in one phase are higher or lower than all points in the previous phase, indicates a clear and immediate effect of the intervention.

A teacher can only record data for a student's on-task behavior for a brief moment at the end of a series of set intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes). Which discontinuous measurement procedure would be the most appropriate choice?

Answer: Momentary Time Sampling

Momentary time sampling involves recording whether a target behavior is occurring at the exact moment an interval ends. This method is well-suited for situations where an observer cannot continuously watch the learner, such as a teacher with a classroom of students.