What is the purpose of a line graph in ABA data?

• A. Display data across sessions and visualize level, trend, and variability
• B. Show only the mean
• C. Display raw qualitative notes
• D. Determine statistical significance

Answer: (A)

In ABA data, a line graph is used to visualize behavior over time, showing how the level (average height of data points), the trend (direction over time), and variability (how much points fluctuate) change across sessions. Plotting each session in order and connecting the points lets you see patterns when an intervention starts or ends, making it easier to judge whether the behavior improved, stayed the same, or fluctuated.

It’s not about displaying only the mean, since a line graph presents all data points and the overall pattern, not just a single average. It doesn’t display raw qualitative notes, which are narrative descriptions rather than quantitative time-series data. And while it helps you see changes, it doesn’t determine statistical significance by itself; ABA typically relies on visual analysis of level, trend, and variability rather than formal statistical tests.