Which data-collection method provides a real-time graphical representation of responding with a steadily increasing slope as rate increases?

Which data-collection method provides a real-time graphical representation of responding with a steadily increasing slope as rate increases?

• A. Cumulative Record
• B. Extinction Burst
• C. Maintaining Behavior
• D. Generalization

Answer: (A)

Cumulative records plot the running total of responses over time. Each response adds one to the total, and the line is drawn as time progresses, so the slope at any moment reflects the current rate of responding. When the rate increases, the line becomes steeper, producing a steadily increasing slope. If the rate stays constant, the slope remains steady; if the rate decreases, the slope flattens. This is why a cumulative record best fits a real-time graphic where the slope increases with rate. Extinction burst describes a temporary surge in responding after reinforcement is removed, not a data-collection method. Maintaining behavior refers to keeping behavior at a target level, and generalization is about behavior occurring in new contexts—neither describes a data-collection graph.

Cumulative records plot the running total of responses over time. Each response adds one to the total, and the line is drawn as time progresses, so the slope at any moment reflects the current rate of responding. When the rate increases, the line becomes steeper, producing a steadily increasing slope. If the rate stays constant, the slope remains steady; if the rate decreases, the slope flattens. This is why a cumulative record best fits a real-time graphic where the slope increases with rate. Extinction burst describes a temporary surge in responding after reinforcement is removed, not a data-collection method. Maintaining behavior refers to keeping behavior at a target level, and generalization is about behavior occurring in new contexts—neither describes a data-collection graph.