RBT Plan

Data Collection and Graphing: practice questions

4 original questions · 0 editor-approved · every choice explained.

Practice this topic

Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

Start practice
Data Collection and GraphingDifficulty 2/5

During a 20-minute session an RBT records that a learner asks for help 8 times. Which measure has the RBT collected, and what is the rate?

  1. AFrequency; 0.4 responses per minute
  2. BLatency; 2.5 minutes
  3. CPartial-interval; 40% of intervals
  4. DDuration; 8 minutes
Show answer and rationale

Correct: A. Counting every instance is frequency (a continuous measure). Rate converts the count to a standard time unit: 8 ÷ 20 minutes = 0.4 per minute, which lets sessions of different lengths be compared.

  • D — Duration measures how long each response lasts, not how many occurred.
  • B — Latency is the time from the instruction to the start of the response.
  • C — No intervals were used; the RBT counted each instance.
Data Collection and GraphingDifficulty 3/5

A plan specifies 10-second whole-interval recording for on-task behavior. In one interval the learner is on task for 7 seconds, looks away for 2 seconds, then returns. How should the interval be scored?

  1. AOccurred, because on-task behavior was present for most of the interval
  2. BDid not occur, because the behavior was not present for the entire interval
  3. COccurred, because the learner was on task at the end of the interval
  4. DHalf occurred, recorded as 0.5
Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. Whole-interval recording scores an interval only if the behavior occurred throughout the entire interval. A 2-second break means it did not, so the interval is scored as not occurring. This is why whole-interval tends to underestimate behavior.

  • A — Majority of the interval is not the whole-interval rule.
  • C — Scoring at the end of the interval is momentary time sampling.
  • D — Interval recording is binary; there is no partial credit.
Data Collection and GraphingDifficulty 2/5

Which of the following is written in observable and measurable terms?

  1. AStudent becomes frustrated during math
  2. BStudent is defiant toward staff
  3. CStudent pushes the worksheet off the desk with one or both hands
  4. DStudent does not want to participate
Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. An operational definition describes what can be seen and counted by any observer. Pushing the worksheet off the desk is observable; frustration, defiance and wanting are inferences about private states.

  • A — 'Frustrated' is an inferred emotional state, not an observable action.
  • B — 'Defiant' is a label that different observers would score differently.
  • D — 'Does not want to' describes a motive, not a behavior.
Data Collection and GraphingDifficulty 3/5

An RBT runs a reinforcement procedure but often delivers the reinforcer 30–60 seconds late. The data show no improvement. What is the most accurate conclusion?

  1. AThe learner needs a punishment procedure instead
  2. BThe reinforcer is not preferred, so the supervisor should select a different one
  3. CThe procedure is ineffective and the supervisor should discontinue it immediately
  4. DThe data cannot show whether the procedure works; it was not run as written
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. Delayed delivery is a procedural-fidelity failure. When the procedure is not run as designed, the data reflect the flawed implementation, not the procedure's effectiveness. The correct step is to report the fidelity problem and correct implementation before drawing conclusions.

  • B — Preference cannot be judged when the reinforcer was delivered late.
  • C — You cannot evaluate a procedure that was not actually implemented.
  • A — Changing procedures is the supervisor's decision and is not supported by these data.

Primary references

  1. RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.), effective January 1, 2026 — Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21