SPCE 630 PRACTICE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ advantages of visual analysis. Answer: -can be used to evaluate data
of individuals or small groups depending on the unit of analysis
specified in the research question.
-data are collected repeatedly, graphed as they are collected, and
analyzed frequently
-focuses on analysis of individual data patterns
-discovery of potentially interesting findings that may not be directly
related to the original research question or program objective.
-graphic presentation of data permits independent analysis and
interpretation of results
◉ formative visual analysis. Answer: conducted within and across
conditions to identify behavior change during the course of a study.
◉ behavior change. Answer: occurs when data patterns in one condition
are different from data patterns in the subsequent, adjacent condition for
the same variable(s).
◉ summative visual analysis. Answer: conducted following study
completion, across multiple opportunities to demonstrate behavior
,change to determine whether a functional relation exists between the
independent variable and the dependent variable.
◉ adjacent conditions. Answer: in SCD research, data patterns are
examined within and across adjacent conditions; when data in one
condition differ from what is predicted based on the preceding condition,
behavior change is demonstrated.
◉ formative analysis is conducted in two steps. Answer: 1. within and
across adjacent condition analyses
2. systematic examination of specific data characteristics
◉ within condition visual analyses. Answer: are conducted to discern
patterns within a single condition during a study. within condition visual
analyses of level, trend, and variability/stability are critical for
determining when to change conditions, deciding whether adaptations
need to be made, and providing information related to answering
research questions.
beginning with the initial condition, typically baseline, you should look
for stability of data across a minimum of at least three to five sessions
prior to changing conditions.
◉ condition change criteria. Answer: should be made a priori based on
hypothesized data patterns. these criteria will guide both formative and
summative decisions about experimental control.
,◉ level. Answer: refers to the amount of behavior that occurs, as
indicated by the ordinate scale value. the characteristic of highest
interest for behavior change, and is generally described as low,
moderate, or high.
◉ trend. Answer: the slope and direction of a data series or the direction
data are moving over time. three characteristics can be described: trend
directions, trend magnitude, and trend stability.
◉ trend direction. Answer: referred to as accelerating, decelerating, or
zero celebrating. trend can further be characterized by magnitude, and is
often described as steep or gradual and paired with direction. also
describe whether the direction of a trend is improving (therapeutic) or
deteriorating (contra-therapeutic).
◉ contra therapeutic trend. Answer: represents a common data pattern in
SCD data that might occur within a condition and particularly prior to
the introduction of the independent variable. this refers to trends that are
in the opposite direction of the hypothesized direction of improvement
and can establish need for the intervention.
◉ variability. Answer: fluctuation from one data point to the next and is
the opposite of stability; in data with no trend, this can be summarized as
the range of data values within a condition or as the percentage of data
points falling within a given stability envelope
, ◉ stability. Answer: is predictability and consistency of data values
within a condition. perceptions of this can be influenced by scales and
ranges of y axes.
◉ between condition visual analysis. Answer: the objective of this is to
identify if behavior change has occurred. in SCD research a particular
condition (B) is introduced and re-introduced to one (eg. A-B-A-B) or
more than one (multiple baseline design) data series to evaluate whether
there is a functional relation between independent and dependent
variables.
◉ functional relations. Answer: are unequivocal demonstrations that an
independent variable produced reliable and consistent change in a
dependent variable. the purpose of SCD research is to determine if
behavior change occurs when the intervention is introduced, and
whether the behavior change can vive reliably replicated.
◉ analysis of data across adjacent conditions entails determining:
Answer: a) changes in data patterns (level, trend, variability) b)
immediacy of change c) amount of overlapping data across adjacent
conditions d) consistency of data patterns across similar conditions
◉ immediacy of change. Answer: across adjacent conditions is the
degree to which behavior change occurs as soon as the intervention is
introduced. when a large change in level occurs immediately after
introduction of a new condition, it is referred to as an abrupt change in
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ advantages of visual analysis. Answer: -can be used to evaluate data
of individuals or small groups depending on the unit of analysis
specified in the research question.
-data are collected repeatedly, graphed as they are collected, and
analyzed frequently
-focuses on analysis of individual data patterns
-discovery of potentially interesting findings that may not be directly
related to the original research question or program objective.
-graphic presentation of data permits independent analysis and
interpretation of results
◉ formative visual analysis. Answer: conducted within and across
conditions to identify behavior change during the course of a study.
◉ behavior change. Answer: occurs when data patterns in one condition
are different from data patterns in the subsequent, adjacent condition for
the same variable(s).
◉ summative visual analysis. Answer: conducted following study
completion, across multiple opportunities to demonstrate behavior
,change to determine whether a functional relation exists between the
independent variable and the dependent variable.
◉ adjacent conditions. Answer: in SCD research, data patterns are
examined within and across adjacent conditions; when data in one
condition differ from what is predicted based on the preceding condition,
behavior change is demonstrated.
◉ formative analysis is conducted in two steps. Answer: 1. within and
across adjacent condition analyses
2. systematic examination of specific data characteristics
◉ within condition visual analyses. Answer: are conducted to discern
patterns within a single condition during a study. within condition visual
analyses of level, trend, and variability/stability are critical for
determining when to change conditions, deciding whether adaptations
need to be made, and providing information related to answering
research questions.
beginning with the initial condition, typically baseline, you should look
for stability of data across a minimum of at least three to five sessions
prior to changing conditions.
◉ condition change criteria. Answer: should be made a priori based on
hypothesized data patterns. these criteria will guide both formative and
summative decisions about experimental control.
,◉ level. Answer: refers to the amount of behavior that occurs, as
indicated by the ordinate scale value. the characteristic of highest
interest for behavior change, and is generally described as low,
moderate, or high.
◉ trend. Answer: the slope and direction of a data series or the direction
data are moving over time. three characteristics can be described: trend
directions, trend magnitude, and trend stability.
◉ trend direction. Answer: referred to as accelerating, decelerating, or
zero celebrating. trend can further be characterized by magnitude, and is
often described as steep or gradual and paired with direction. also
describe whether the direction of a trend is improving (therapeutic) or
deteriorating (contra-therapeutic).
◉ contra therapeutic trend. Answer: represents a common data pattern in
SCD data that might occur within a condition and particularly prior to
the introduction of the independent variable. this refers to trends that are
in the opposite direction of the hypothesized direction of improvement
and can establish need for the intervention.
◉ variability. Answer: fluctuation from one data point to the next and is
the opposite of stability; in data with no trend, this can be summarized as
the range of data values within a condition or as the percentage of data
points falling within a given stability envelope
, ◉ stability. Answer: is predictability and consistency of data values
within a condition. perceptions of this can be influenced by scales and
ranges of y axes.
◉ between condition visual analysis. Answer: the objective of this is to
identify if behavior change has occurred. in SCD research a particular
condition (B) is introduced and re-introduced to one (eg. A-B-A-B) or
more than one (multiple baseline design) data series to evaluate whether
there is a functional relation between independent and dependent
variables.
◉ functional relations. Answer: are unequivocal demonstrations that an
independent variable produced reliable and consistent change in a
dependent variable. the purpose of SCD research is to determine if
behavior change occurs when the intervention is introduced, and
whether the behavior change can vive reliably replicated.
◉ analysis of data across adjacent conditions entails determining:
Answer: a) changes in data patterns (level, trend, variability) b)
immediacy of change c) amount of overlapping data across adjacent
conditions d) consistency of data patterns across similar conditions
◉ immediacy of change. Answer: across adjacent conditions is the
degree to which behavior change occurs as soon as the intervention is
introduced. when a large change in level occurs immediately after
introduction of a new condition, it is referred to as an abrupt change in
