Which type of measurement could be best utilized for a behavior that should happen continuously over a period?

Duration measurement is the most suitable choice for assessing a behavior that should occur continuously over a period. This type of measurement captures the total time that a behavior is engaged in during a specified observation period. By using duration measurement, practitioners can get a clear picture of how long the behavior persists and how it influences the overall context, particularly for behaviors that should ideally occur continuously.

For example, if the goal is to increase the amount of time a student remains on task during a class session, duration measurement would allow for tracking how many minutes they stay focused without interruptions. This provides useful data that can inform instruction and behavioral interventions.

In contrast, other measurement types are not as effective for tracking continuous behaviors. Discontinuous measurement does not capture all instances of a behavior, making it less effective for behaviors expected to occur continuously. Frequency measurement counts distinct instances of behavior but doesn’t account for how long those instances last. Partial interval measurement involves recording whether a behavior occurs at any point within an interval, which also fails to capture the behavior's duration effectively. Hence, duration measurement stands out as the best approach for continuous behaviors.