Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Practice Test

When an observer records everything a client says or does along with events before and after the behavior, what method are they using?

1. Continuous recording

2. Anecdotal recording

3. Event sampling

4. ABC recording

The correct answer is: ABC recording

The method being described is ABC recording, which stands for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence recording. This approach involves not only documenting the behavior itself but also capturing the events that occur immediately before (antecedents) and after (consequences) the behavior. This contextual information is crucial because it helps in understanding the factors that may influence the behavior, thereby identifying patterns that can inform interventions. ABC recording is particularly useful in the field of behavior analysis as it allows practitioners to analyze the conditions that trigger a specific behavior and the reinforcers that may be maintaining it. This comprehensive view can lead to more effective behavior management strategies tailored to the individual client’s needs. In contrast, while continuous recording tracks all occurrences of a behavior, it does not necessarily include context surrounding those behaviors. Anecdotal recording provides a descriptive narrative of behavior but may lack systematic structure. Event sampling focuses on specific events or behaviors but does not capture the full array of antecedent and consequence data. Thus, ABC recording stands out for its systematic approach to gathering context-sensitive data essential for analyzing behaviors in a meaningful way.