ABA graph criterion lines should display a sourced value, unit, rule, effective date, and version. Label whether the line represents a clinical goal, mastery rule, safety boundary, payer requirement, or editorial benchmark. Crossing a line shows that the plotted value met that threshold. Maintenance, generalization, independence, client preference, and clinical significance still require their own evidence.

Name the source and owner

Link the line to the current plan, decision record, payer source, or policy and its authorized role.

Write the complete rule

Include value, unit, number of sessions, setting, people, support level, and allowable missingness.

Version the criterion

Show when it changed and preserve the earlier rule for older data.

Separate other outcomes

Review maintenance, generalization, access, burden, assent, and meaningful use outside the line.

Turn the criterion into a complete specification

Record the target response, value, direction, unit, eligible denominator, required support level, setting, people, number and sequence of observations, missing-data rule, effective date, source, and decision owner. A horizontal line shows only the numeric portion. Put the complete rule in the caption or linked decision record.

Distinguish a clinical goal from a payer threshold, safety boundary, research benchmark, or operational target. A payer decision does not author the clinical recommendation, and a clinical goal does not guarantee authorization, coverage, claim acceptance, or payment. Use separate labels when more than one criterion appears.

Reconcile Priya's criterion contact

Priya has ten eligible opportunities in each of three sessions. The observed counts are 8 of 10, 9 of 10, and 8 of 10, which produce 80%, 90%, and 80%. All three meet the stated threshold of at least 80%, so the series satisfies the three-session numeric rule.

That result establishes criterion contact for the sampled sessions. Maintenance requires later observations under a defined schedule. Generalization requires relevant people, settings, materials, or response forms. Independence depends on the recorded support level, and meaningful benefit includes Priya's accessible report and daily-life context.

Version changes without rewriting history

When the responsible clinician changes a goal, end the prior criterion at its effective boundary and add the new line with a version label. Preserve earlier data under the rule that governed those sessions. A later payer limit or plan update should receive its own date and source.

If a session has fewer than ten eligible opportunities, apply the predeclared missingness rule. Do not count a percentage toward a criterion that explicitly requires ten opportunities unless the qualified decision owner formally revises the rule for future observations.

Review ABA graph criterion lines before release

The criterion-line specification for Priya identifies the clinical question, source record, unit, denominator, time basis, display rule, qualified decision owner, and next review before construction. Preserve the raw data and the exact graph version shown to reviewers.

Work the graph example for Priya

Priya's criterion is at least 80% across three sessions with ten eligible opportunities per session. The series reaches 80%, 90%, and 80%. The graph marks criterion contact but keeps maintenance and generalization pending because those observations have not matured.

Audit what the display leaves out for Priya

For Priya, record missing observations, invalid points, small or zero denominators, phase uncertainty, context changes, access conditions, and any series hidden by aggregation. A clean picture gains value only when those states remain available for review.

Protect access and client meaning for Priya

During Priya's qualified goal lines review, keep AAC, interpreters, mobility, food, water, bathroom use, prescribed care, health supports, rest, relationships, and emergency help available. Ask the person through accessible communication whether the outcome and display reflect something useful. Immediate safety action never waits for graph completion.

Use sources within their role for Priya

For Priya, the BACB ethics hub and CASP public summary provide professional context. The BCBA Test Content Outline includes graphing, visual analysis, and data-based decisions as examination content. The WWC handbook page and Version 5.0 handbook address research review, so routine care should avoid borrowing a causal claim without suitable design.

For the qualified goal lines question, Lobo and colleagues discuss single-case design and analysis, while Wolfe, Barton, and Meadan describe systematic visual-analysis protocols. McTiernan and colleagues show that linear and ratio scales can produce different visual impressions. Zonneveld and colleagues study graph-construction training. ASHA supports continuous access to AAC tools.

Close the graph review for Priya

Review the criterion-line specification with Priya and the responsible clinician. Record the display choice, source lineage, graph version, interpretation limits, decision, owner, next data requirement, and review date. Reopen the audit when the definition, measure, axis, condition, criterion, context, access, or software changes.

Before release, verify the line's source, effective dates, unit, denominator, observation rule, and owner. Check that criterion contact, mastery, maintenance, generalization, access, and client value remain separately documented.

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