Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

Interresponse time (IRT) is best defined as:

1. The total duration of a behavior

2. The frequency of behavior occurrences

3. The time between two successive behavior responses

4. The intensity of a given response

The correct answer is: The time between two successive behavior responses

Interresponse time (IRT) refers specifically to the amount of time that elapses between the end of one behavior or response and the beginning of the next occurrence of that same behavior. This measurement is crucial in understanding the pacing or tempo of a particular behavior, as it provides insight into the delays or speeds at which an individual engages in that behavior. Understanding IRT can help practitioners to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions by examining how quickly an individual responds after an initial behavior has occurred, which can reflect learning, motivation, or the effects of reinforcement strategies. For instance, shorter IRTs may indicate an increase in behavior frequency prompted by reinforcement, while longer IRTs may suggest competing behaviors or a decrease in motivation. In contrast, options that discuss the total duration, frequency, or intensity of responses do not capture the essence of IRT since they focus on different aspects of behavior measurement rather than the timing between responses. Each of these other characteristics provides valuable data but does not specify the time interval between successive responses, which is the defining feature of interresponse time.