Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

If a caregiver checks 30 minutes after asking a client to make the bed and records that the bed is made without direct observation, which method is used?

1. Whole-interval recording

2. Permanent product recording

3. Interval recording

4. Frequency count

The correct answer is: Permanent product recording

The method used in this scenario is permanent product recording. This approach involves measuring the outcome or product of a behavior rather than observing the behavior itself while it occurs. In this case, the caregiver is checking to see if the bed is made, which is the tangible result of the client's behavior of making the bed. This allows for easy verification of whether the desired behavior occurred without needing to directly observe the action as it was performed. Permanent product recording is particularly useful for behaviors that can be assessed through their outcomes over time, making it an effective method for tracking progress and ensuring accountability in various settings, especially in behavioral intervention.