A.3 Permanent Product

By RBThub February 23, 2026

Imagine you are a detective entering a crime scene. You didn't see the crime happen, but you can look at the fingerprints, the broken glass, and the footprints to figure out exactly what took place.

This is Permanent Product Recording. In ABA, we don't always have to watch the client "do" the behavior. Sometimes, we can just come in later and measure the "evidence" they left behind. It is one of the most efficient ways to collect data.

Executive Summary

This video explores Permanent Product Recording, a method that measures the tangible outcomes of behavior rather than the behavior itself. It highlights how this method saves time, reduces observer influence, and allows for flexible data collection. You will learn examples like homework grading and fitness tracking, as well as the key limitations to watch out for.

⏱️ Video Timeline

00:00
Introduction
Defines permanent product recording: collecting data from the physical evidence a behavior leaves behind.
02:18
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths: Flexible timing, no direct observation needed.
Limitations: Cannot assess the "quality" or process; relies on the product being permanent.
04:07
Real-World Applications
Examples: Counting cleaned dishes, completed worksheets, and sent emails. Discusses modern tools like fitness trackers.

🔑 Key Insights

Efficiency: You don't need to be present when the behavior happens.
Tangibility: The behavior must leave a clear, countable physical change in the environment.
No Reactivity: Because you aren't watching them, the client acts naturally (no "observer effect").
Risk: You must ensure the client produced the product independently (no one else did their homework).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Permanent Product capture *how* a behavior is done?
A: No. It only captures the outcome. If a student solves a math problem correctly but uses the wrong formula, permanent product won't catch that.
Q: Is a video recording a permanent product?
A: Yes. If a behavior is recorded on video, that video is a tangible product you can watch and measure later.

1. What is Permanent Product?

The Official Definition: Measuring behavior after it has occurred by measuring the effects that the behavior produced on the environment.
The "Human" Translation: The "Forensic Science" method. You look at the "debris" or the "result" of the behavior. If the room is clean, the behavior of "cleaning" happened. If the worksheet is full, the behavior of "working" happened.
Clinical Example

A BCBA asks you to track "Room Cleaning." You do not stand in the room and watch the client clean. You walk in at 5:00 PM. If the bed is made and toys are in the box, you mark "Completed." The clean room is the permanent product.

2. When to Use It (And When NOT to)

This is the only data collection method where the RBT does not need to be present during the behavior.
✅ Use When:
- The behavior produces a tangible object.
- You don't have time to watch constantly.
- Watching the client makes them nervous (reactivity).
❌ Do NOT Use When:
- The behavior is transient (e.g., screaming, waving).
- The "process" matters (e.g., holding a pencil correctly).
- Someone else might have helped them.

📝 Knowledge Check

Can you beat the exam traps? Try these questions.

Q1: An RBT counts the number of cigarette butts in an ashtray to measure smoking behavior. What type of measurement is this?

Answer: Permanent Product.
The RBT is counting the physical result (butts) of the behavior, not watching the smoking itself.

Q2: Why is Permanent Product NOT good for measuring "Social Skills"?

Answer: No tangible product.
Social interactions (talking, smiling) do not leave a physical change in the environment that can be measured later.
▶

Data Collection Quiz

Mock Exam

Test your knowledge on measurement, graphs, and permanent products.

Start Practice Test

Comments