When getting ready to collect behavior data, which choice describes best practice?

• A. A cup of coffee is all anyone really needs - if anyone tells you elsewise, they're a liar or a tea-drinker.
• B. You need to know the client's name
• C. You can probably just wing it. You're pretty good at this, after all, and your memory is amazing.
• D. Before the session, identify the behaviors of interest and their response definitions, and collect any required data-collection tools you might need for your session, such as clickers / notepad & pen / etc.

Answer: (D)

Planning how you’ll measure before the session is essential. In practice, you identify the behaviors of interest and define them in observable, measurable terms (operational definitions), and you gather the data-collection tools you’ll need—like clickers, a notepad and pen, or timers—before the session begins. This upfront planning ensures the data you collect are accurate and reliable, reduces ambiguity about what counts as the target behavior, and supports consistent measurement across observers. Having clear definitions and the right tools also makes it easier to track progress and make data-based decisions about treatment.

Relying on memory or winging it isn’t reliable for data collection, and knowing the client’s name alone doesn’t establish what you will measure or how you’ll record it. So the best practice is to lay out the behavioral targets and response definitions and prepare your data-collection materials in advance.