What measure records the total time the target behavior is engaged during an observation?

• A. Duration
• B. Frequency
• C. Latency
• D. Enter data and update graphs

Answer: (A)

Duration is the measure that records the total time the target behavior is engaged during an observation. It adds up the length of every instance from start to finish, giving the overall amount of time the behavior occurred within the observation period. For example, if the behavior happens for two intervals lasting 10 seconds each, the total duration is 20 seconds. This is different from frequency, which counts how many times the behavior occurs regardless of how long each instance lasts. Latency looks at how long after a cue the behavior begins, not how long it lasts. Entering data and updating graphs is an admin step and not the measurement itself.