PSY 7713 WEEK 2 QUIZ:
MEASUREMENT AND DATA DISPLAY|
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |2026/2027
UPDATE | JUST RELEASED. CAPELLA
UNIVERSITY
1. Which of the following best defines ‘Rate’ in behavioral measurement?
A. The number of responses recorded during an observation period.
B. The ratio of count per observation period.
C. The amount of time between two consecutive responses.
D. The elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus to the initiation of a response.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Rate is a measure of frequency per unit of time, making it more
sensitive to changes in behavior compared to count alone when observation times vary.
2. A behavior analyst is measuring the time between when a teacher says ‘Start’ and when
the student picks up their pencil. This is an example of:
A. Duration
B. Inter-response Time (IRT)
C. Trials-to-Criterion
,D. Response Latency
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Latency measures the temporal relation between an antecedent
stimulus and the start of the behavior.
3. Which measurement method is most likely to overestimate the actual occurrence of a
behavior?
A. Partial-Interval Recording
B. Whole-Interval Recording
C. Momentary Time Sampling
D. Event Recording
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Partial-interval recording marks the behavior if it occurs at any
point during the interval, leading to an overestimation of the total duration and frequency.
4. Whole-interval recording is often used when the goal is to:
A. Decrease a behavior
B. Increase a behavior
C. Maintain a behavior
D. Eliminate a behavior
, Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Because whole-interval recording underestimates behavior, it is
a conservative measure for behaviors targeted for increase; if the data shows an increase,
you can be sure it actually occurred.
5. Measurement is _________ when it yields the same values across repeated measures of
the same event.
A. Valid
B. Direct
C. Reliable
D. Accurate
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Reliability refers to the consistency of measurement, or the
extent to which repeated applications of a measurement system yield the same result.
6. Which of the following is a drawback of using Percent of Occurrence?
A. It is only used for continuous behaviors.
B. It is difficult to calculate in the field.
C. It requires a minimum of 100 trials to be accurate.
D. It does not provide information about frequency or duration.
Answer: D
MEASUREMENT AND DATA DISPLAY|
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |2026/2027
UPDATE | JUST RELEASED. CAPELLA
UNIVERSITY
1. Which of the following best defines ‘Rate’ in behavioral measurement?
A. The number of responses recorded during an observation period.
B. The ratio of count per observation period.
C. The amount of time between two consecutive responses.
D. The elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus to the initiation of a response.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Rate is a measure of frequency per unit of time, making it more
sensitive to changes in behavior compared to count alone when observation times vary.
2. A behavior analyst is measuring the time between when a teacher says ‘Start’ and when
the student picks up their pencil. This is an example of:
A. Duration
B. Inter-response Time (IRT)
C. Trials-to-Criterion
,D. Response Latency
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Latency measures the temporal relation between an antecedent
stimulus and the start of the behavior.
3. Which measurement method is most likely to overestimate the actual occurrence of a
behavior?
A. Partial-Interval Recording
B. Whole-Interval Recording
C. Momentary Time Sampling
D. Event Recording
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Partial-interval recording marks the behavior if it occurs at any
point during the interval, leading to an overestimation of the total duration and frequency.
4. Whole-interval recording is often used when the goal is to:
A. Decrease a behavior
B. Increase a behavior
C. Maintain a behavior
D. Eliminate a behavior
, Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Because whole-interval recording underestimates behavior, it is
a conservative measure for behaviors targeted for increase; if the data shows an increase,
you can be sure it actually occurred.
5. Measurement is _________ when it yields the same values across repeated measures of
the same event.
A. Valid
B. Direct
C. Reliable
D. Accurate
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Reliability refers to the consistency of measurement, or the
extent to which repeated applications of a measurement system yield the same result.
6. Which of the following is a drawback of using Percent of Occurrence?
A. It is only used for continuous behaviors.
B. It is difficult to calculate in the field.
C. It requires a minimum of 100 trials to be accurate.
D. It does not provide information about frequency or duration.
Answer: D
