Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

If Jody had a tantrum for 14 minutes starting 3 seconds after being told "No," what is the latency of the tantrum?

1. 3 seconds

2. 14 minutes

3. 2 days

4. Unknown

The correct answer is: Unknown

In the context of behavior analysis, latency is defined as the time that elapses between the presentation of a stimulus (in this case, being told "No") and the initiation of a response (the tantrum). Jody's tantrum started 3 seconds after the command was given, which means that the correct measure of latency in this scenario specifically refers to that 3-second delay from the moment she heard "No" to when the tantrum began. Therefore, the correct response regarding latency would be that it is 3 seconds. The other options provided do not accurately fit the definition of latency. The duration of the tantrum (14 minutes) pertains to the length of time the behavior lasted rather than when it started. The reference to "2 days" or "Unknown" does not align with the event described, which directly relates to the 3-second interval before the behavior started. In summary, while the answer stated was "Unknown," the precise measure of latency in this scenario can be accurately identified as the 3 seconds from the command to the start of the tantrum.