Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

When a behavior analyst reports that "It took four attempts, but Johnny completed the puzzle," which measurement method is being used?

1. Whole interval

2. Frequency

3. Duration

4. Latency

The correct answer is: Whole interval

The statement "It took four attempts, but Johnny completed the puzzle" indicates that the behavior analyst is measuring the number of times Johnny attempted to complete the puzzle before succeeding. This aligns with the frequency method of measurement, which captures the number of occurrences of a specific behavior within a certain time frame. Frequency measurement focuses on how often a behavior occurs, making it suitable for evaluating discrete behaviors, such as attempts to complete a task. In this case, the emphasis is on the count of attempts rather than the time spent, the length of time the behavior occurs, or the delay before the behavior begins. Whole interval, on the other hand, requires the observer to note if the behavior occurred during the entire interval, which is not applicable here. Duration measures the total time the behavior occurs, and latency measures the time from a prompt to the initiation of the behavior—all of which are not reflected in the statement about Johnny's attempts.