Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

What can be deduced if there is high variability in a response graph?

1. Responses are consistent and predictable

2. Additional factors may be influencing student performance

3. The intervention was not effective

4. Students are equally likely to perform at all levels

The correct answer is: Additional factors may be influencing student performance

High variability in a response graph indicates that the data points show a wide range of responses rather than clustering closely together. This suggests that there are fluctuating performance levels, which can imply that additional factors may indeed be influencing student performance. For instance, external circumstances such as the environment, emotional state, or other variables not controlled for can impact how a student responds during different instances of data collection. Moreover, high variability often signals a lack of stability in the behavior being measured, highlighting that it might not be solely the intervention causing the changes in performance. Instead, it can point to the influence of other variables. Thus, seeing high variability can prompt further investigation into these potential influences before drawing definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of an intervention. This understanding is essential for a behavior analyst in tailoring strategies that maximize student success by addressing those external factors.