FREE BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst Measurement, Data, Interpretation Questions and Answers

Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

Duration Recording

Answer

Partial Interval Recording

Answer

Frequency

Answer

Momentary Time Sampling

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

The behavior is maintained by automatic reinforcement.

Answer

A clear function cannot be determined from the graph.

Answer

The behavior is likely maintained by access to tangible items.

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

It likely overestimates the occurrence of the behavior.

Answer

It likely underestimates the actual duration of the behavior.

Answer

It is too complex for staff to implement with fidelity.

Answer

It provides a direct measure of the behavior's frequency.

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

Reliability

Answer

Validity

Answer

Accuracy

Answer

Social Validity

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

Level

Answer

Trend

Answer

Variability

Answer

Latency

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

Momentary Time Sampling

Answer

Whole Interval Recording

Answer

Partial Interval Recording

Answer

Event Recording