How is duration defined in continuous measurement?

Duration, in the context of continuous measurement, specifically refers to the total amount of time a behavior occurs. This is a critical definition within applied behavior analysis as it allows practitioners to understand not only how often a behavior happens but also the extent or length of time that the behavior persists.

Measuring duration provides insight into the intensity or severity of the behavior, revealing patterns that may indicate when it is most likely to occur or under what circumstances it lasts longer. This information can be vital for developing effective intervention strategies, as it enables practitioners to set appropriate goals and modify environments or conditions based on how long certain behaviors are observed.

The other response options, while relevant to different aspects of behavioral measurement, do not accurately define duration. Counting occurrences relates to frequency, the time to initiate behavior pertains to latency, and sampling across intervals refers to momentary time sampling, which is a distinct observational method rather than a direct measure of duration.