Recording a sample of instances according to a predetermined schedule (such as momentary time sampling, partial interval, and whole interval) falls under which measurement category?

• A. Discontinuous measurement procedures
• B. Continuous measurement procedures
• C. Permanent product recording procedures
• D. Latency

Answer: (A)

Recording a sample of instances according to a predetermined schedule is a form of discontinuous measurement. With these methods, you don’t track every single occurrence of the behavior. Instead, you observe at specific times or over fixed intervals and record what happens, which means some instances may be missed or estimated rather than counted exactly. Examples like momentary time sampling, partial interval, and whole interval all fit this approach because they rely on sampling at set moments or within intervals rather than continuous observation. In contrast, continuous measurement procedures capture every instance or continuous aspect of the behavior (such as frequency, duration, latency, or inter-response time), providing a complete record of occurrences. Permanent product recording, while related to measurement, focuses on the outcome produced by the behavior rather than the behavior itself.