RBT Exam Practice - Section 1 (Domain A: Data Collection and Graphing)

Includes Content outlined in the RBT test outline

Continuous Measurement

When every instance of a target behavior is recorded throughout the observation period.

What are the 4 types of continuous measurement?

Frequency, Duration, Inter-Response Time (IRT), and Latency.

Continuous Measurement: Frequency

The exact amount of times a target behavior occurs during an observation period (Client eloped 5 times)

Continuous Measurement: Duration

How long a behavior lasts from start to finish ( Client engaged in tantrum for 4 minutes, 37 seconds).

Continuous Measurement: Latency

The elapsed time between the instruction and the onset of the target behavior (Client responded “dog” 7 minutes, 24 seconds after given the directive “What is this?”)

Continuous Measurement: Inter-Response Time (IRT)

Amount of time between two consecutive instances of the same behavior (3 minutes elapsed between client eating two bites of food)

Discontinuous Measurement

Records some, but not all instances of behavior; It allows efficient data collection when continuous measurement procedures are not practical.

Discontinuous Measurement: Partial Interval Recording

Records whether the behavior occurred at any point during a specified Interval, tends to overestimate occurrence of behavior, useful for high frequency behavior targeted for reduction ( Client flapped his hands during a 1-minute interval)

Discontinuous Measurement: Whole Interval Recording

Records whether the behavior occurred throughout the entirety of a specified interval, tends to underestimate occurrence of behavior, useful when increasing behavior to be sustained (Client rolled toy cars throughout the entirety of a 1-minute interval)

Discontinuous Measurement: Momentary Time Sampling

Records whether behavior occurred at the precise moment an interval ends, provides most accurate estimate when short intervals are used, practical for group settings (Client flapped his hands at the end of a 1-minute interval)

Permanent Product Recording

measures the lasting effect or result of a behavior. Data is collected after the behavior occurs using the physical or digital product left behind.

Permanent Product

Something that can be counted, reviewed, or evaluated after the behavior occurs (i.e., completed assignments, written answers, art projects, clean dishes, assembled items)

X-Axis

Representation of time (session number, calendar date) (Horizontal axis)

Y-Axis

Measure of behavior being tracked (count, rate, duration, percentage) (Vertical Line)

Condition Change Line

A solid vertical line indicating a change in the overall treatment condition

Phase Change Line

A dashed vertical line indicating change within a single condition

Data Point

Symbol that represents a specific measurement of behavior during a particular time

Data Path

The line that connects successive data points within a condition, illustrates trajectory of behavior over time

Immediacy of Change

How quickly behavior shifts after a condition change

Behavior

Anything a person says or does that can be observed, repeated, or measured

Stimulus

Any event in the environment that can be experienced through the senses

Operational Definition

A specific and objective description of a behavior, written so that two trained observers can agree on occurrences of the behavior.

Onset

The moment a defined behavior begins.

Offset

The moment a defined behavior ends

Environment

Anything that we perceive through the senses.

Topography

The physical form or shape of a behavior (what it looks or sounds like)

Measurability

The quantifiable aspect of a behavior, whether it be duration, latency, or intensity

Clarity

The behavior is defined in unambiguous, specific terms

Response Class

A group of different behaviors that share the same function.

Count

refers to the number of times a behavior occurs. It is a direct measure with no calculations

Rate

The number of times a specific behavior or event occurs divided by the length of the observation period (time). Rate = Count / Time

Total Duration

Total length of time a behavior occurred. Total = instance + instance

Mean Duration

Average length of time a behavior occurred. Mean = Total Duration / Instances

Percent Correct

A summary measure used when behavior is recorded across defined opportunities (trials). Percent correct = (Number Correct / Total Trials) x 100

Trials to Criterian

How many learning opportunities or trials it takes for a learner to reach a specific performance goal.

Mastery Criterion

A specific rule that defines when a skill is considered learned, usually stated as a certain level of performance across sessions.

Level

General position of data on the y-axis, gauges overall magnitude of behavior during a condition

High Level

Behavior occurs frequently or at high intensity

Low Level

Behavior occurs less often or at low intensity

Trend

Overall direction of data across time, reflects direction in which behavior is moving

Ascending trend

Behavior is increasing

Descending Trend

Behavior is decreasing

Stability

Behavior is not changing or minimally changed

Variability

Degree of data fluctuation within a condition, evaluated alongside level and trend

High Variability

difficult to interpret behavior change as result of intervention, environment, or natural fluctuation

Low Variability

stronger evidence that changes in level or trend are meaningful

Immediacy of change

How quickly a behavior shifts after a condition change

Immediate Shift

Stronger evidence of treatment effect

Deloayed/Gradual Shift

Weaker evidence of treatment effect

Procedural Fidelity (Integrity)

Implementing every step/phase of a treatment plan exactly as written, without altering, omitting, or adding elements

Treatment drift

Gradual shift away from treatment procedure, may include skipping steps, prompting errors, reinforcement errors, and/or incorrect error correction

Reliability

Collecting data accurately, timely, and/or objectively with clear standards