Practice question
Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation

Use IOA to evaluate measurement reliability.

Original BCBA scenario practice question with answer explanation and wrong-choice notes.

Question

Difficulty: medium. Skill: apply. Type: applied scenario.

Two observers collect frequency data on screaming during using a communication card in a home program. Observer 1 records 12 responses and Observer 2 records 9 responses for the same session. What should the BCBA do with this information? The caregiver asks for a rationale that can be written in the treatment note.

A
Average the numbers and ignore agreement
B
Use only the higher number because it is safer
C
Stop measuring the behavior
D
Calculate IOA and review observer training if agreement is low

Correct answer

Explanation

Answer D

IOA helps evaluate whether observers record behavior consistently; low agreement should lead to definition or observer-training review.

Why the other choices are weaker

A
Choice A

Averaging does not evaluate whether observers are measuring consistently.

B
Choice B

Choosing the higher count does not address measurement reliability.

C
Choice C

Measurement concerns call for training and reliability checks, not abandoning data.

Study tags

IOAMeasurementData Interpretation

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