Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

Which type of graph is best suited for showing trends over time?

1. Bar graph

2. Line graph

3. Histogram

4. Scatter plot

The correct answer is: Line graph

A line graph is best suited for showing trends over time because it visually represents data points connected by straight lines, allowing for clear observation of changes and patterns as time progresses. This visual format efficiently illustrates both the direction and magnitude of changes, making it easy to identify trends, fluctuations, and overall performance across time intervals. In contrast, while a bar graph can be effective for comparing discrete categories, it does not effectively communicate the continuous nature of time-based data and may obscure the underlying trends. A histogram, which displays the distribution of numerical data through bins, is more focused on frequency distribution rather than change over time. Lastly, a scatter plot is useful for examining the relationship between two variables, but it does not inherently convey patterns over time in a way that a line graph does. All of these other options serve valuable purposes in data analysis, yet they do not facilitate the clear representation of temporal trends as effectively as a line graph.