Which term refers to the observed behavior that is the focus of a behavioral assessment?

• A. Interval recording
• B. Genogram
• C. Target behavior
• D. Narrative recording

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is identifying the specific action that is being measured and targeted for change in a behavioral assessment. This is the target behavior—the observable action you want to increase, decrease, or modify, defined in clear, measurable terms so it can be reliably counted or timed. Other terms refer to different concepts: interval recording is a method of data collection that checks whether the behavior occurs within each time interval; a genogram is a family history diagram; narrative recording is a descriptive log of events. Because the target behavior is precisely the behavior of interest to be observed and measured, it is the best fit. For example, if a student talks out of turn, the target behavior would be that specific talking out, measured by frequency, duration, or other metrics.