A baseline condition demonstrates a predictable pattern that can be compared with the intervention. Which term fits the blank?

• A. Control
• B. Baseline
• C. Treatment
• D. Experimental

Answer: (B)

The main idea is establishing a reference point before any treatment is applied. A baseline condition shows the stable, predictable pattern of the target behavior without the intervention, providing a standard against which any changes due to the intervention can be measured. This helps determine whether the intervention truly alters the behavior beyond natural fluctuations.

If you’re thinking about the other terms: the intervention itself is the treatment, not the pre-intervention pattern. The experimental label refers to the overall study design rather than a specific phase. The term control implies a comparison condition used to isolate effects, but the description specifically points to the pre-treatment pattern, which is the baseline.