Data Collection and Analysis Flashcards

A BT records whether a learner is on-task every 5 minutes by checking at exactly the moment the timer sounds. This is:

Answer: Momentary time sampling

Checking behavior only at the moment of a timed signal — not throughout the interval — is momentary time sampling.

A behavior analyst graphs data and observes a flat trend with high variability in the baseline phase. This means:

Answer: The behavior is unstable — something may be controlling the behavior that is not yet identified

High variability in baseline means the behavior is inconsistent, suggesting uncontrolled variables are influencing it — intervention should typically wait until a stable baseline is obtained.

For which type of behavior is frequency recording LEAST appropriate?

Answer: A behavior that occurs continuously for extended periods (e.g., on-task behavior that lasts 20 minutes)

Frequency recording is poorly suited for behaviors with highly variable or long durations because the count does not capture how long the behavior lasted.

Cumulative graphs in ABA display data so that:

Answer: Each data point adds to all previous data points, so the line never decreases

In a cumulative graph, each new data point is added to the cumulative total — the graph line can only move upward or remain flat, never decrease.

Which calculation gives the rate of behavior per minute during an observation session?

Answer: Total occurrences ÷ observation time in minutes

Rate (responses per minute) = total count divided by the total observation time in minutes, allowing comparison across sessions of different lengths.

Operational definitions of target behaviors in data collection should be:

Answer: Clear, objective, and complete — observable, measurable, and unambiguous

Operational definitions must be observable, measurable, and specific enough that multiple observers can reliably identify the behavior consistently.