Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

What measure is used when a behavior analyst states, 'It took four attempts, but Johnny completed the puzzle'?

1. Trials to criterion

2. Response rate

3. Inter-response time

4. Percentage of correct responses

The correct answer is: Trials to criterion

The measure referred to in the statement, "It took four attempts, but Johnny completed the puzzle," is known as trials to criterion. This measure specifically assesses the number of attempts or trials required for an individual to achieve a predefined level of performance or to meet a specified goal. In this context, the goal was for Johnny to complete the puzzle, and it took him four attempts to do so. Trials to criterion provides valuable insights into learning or skill acquisition over time, as it can indicate the efficiency of a teaching method or the learner's progress. If a learner consistently needs many trials to achieve a criterion, it might suggest the need for modified instruction or additional support. In contrast, other measures such as response rate focus on the frequency of a behavior within a certain timeframe, inter-response time looks at the duration between successive responses, and percentage of correct responses evaluates the correctness of the responses made. While these measures have their own importance, they do not capture the concept of the total number of attempts required to achieve a specific performance criterion, which is central to understanding trials to criterion.