In planning, what does the 'What' dimension refer to?

• A. The Target Behavior
• B. The Time Of Day
• C. The Observer's Schedule
• D. The Client's Mood

Answer: (A)

The What dimension focuses on defining the exact target behavior to be changed or observed. In planning, you must specify a clear, observable action that you can measure reliably, which sets the focus of the intervention and guides data collection and evaluation. For example, instead of a vague goal like “be more cooperative,” you would specify actions such as “raises hand before speaking,” “follows classroom rules for five consecutive minutes,” or “completes the math worksheet with no more than two prompts.” By naming the behavior in observable terms, you can track progress and determine whether the plan is working.

The other aspects—when the behavior should occur, who observes or records it, or the client’s internal mood—relate to timing, data collection logistics, or internal state, not the behavior itself.