CBC CBC Data Collection & Measurement 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which data collection method involves recording whether a behavior occurred at least once during a specified time interval?
- Partial interval recording (Correct answer)
- Whole interval recording
- Momentary time sampling
- Event recording
Correct answer: Partial interval recording
Partial interval recording marks an interval as positive if the behavior occurs at any point within it, which tends to overestimate behavior frequency.
Question 2: A behavior consultant calculates interobserver agreement (IOA) by dividing the number of agreements by the total number of agreements plus disagreements and multiplying by 100. What is the minimum acceptable IOA percentage in most applied behavior analysis research?
- 60%
- 70%
- 80% (Correct answer)
- 90%
Correct answer: 80%
An IOA of 80% or above is the generally accepted standard in ABA research to demonstrate reliable data collection.
Question 3: Which measurement dimension captures the elapsed time between a discriminative stimulus and the onset of a behavior?
- Duration
- Latency (Correct answer)
- Inter-response time
- Magnitude
Correct answer: Latency
Latency measures the time from the presentation of a cue or instruction to when the behavior begins.
Question 4: A consultant uses a cumulative graph to display behavior data. What does the slope of a cumulative record represent?
- The absolute frequency of the behavior
- The rate of responding (Correct answer)
- The duration of each response
- The interobserver agreement level
Correct answer: The rate of responding
On a cumulative graph, a steeper slope indicates a higher rate of responding, while a flat line indicates no responding.
Question 5: Which data sheet format is most appropriate for measuring the percentage of steps completed correctly in a task analysis?
- Frequency tally sheet
- Trial-by-trial data sheet (Correct answer)
- ABC narrative recording form
- Scatterplot grid
Correct answer: Trial-by-trial data sheet
A trial-by-trial data sheet records performance on each individual step, allowing calculation of percentage correct across the task analysis.
Question 6: A scatterplot assessment is used in behavior analysis primarily to identify what?
- The topography of a behavior
- The temporal distribution of behavior across time periods (Correct answer)
- The magnitude of self-injurious behavior
- The number of antecedents present per day
Correct answer: The temporal distribution of behavior across time periods
Scatterplots reveal patterns showing which times of day or activities are associated with higher or lower rates of behavior.
CBC CBC Data Collection & Measurement 1
Which data collection method involves recording whether a behavior occurred at least once during a specified time interval?