How is 'duration' defined in ABA data collection?

• A. The total amount of time the target behavior occurs during the observation.
• B. The total observation time regardless of behavior.
• C. The time between consecutive occurrences.
• D. The time from antecedent to the response.

Answer: (A)

Duration in ABA data collection refers to the total amount of time the target behavior occurs during the observation. It sums all the instances of the behavior, not the length of the session or the interval between occurrences, and not the time from the antecedent to the response. For example, if the behavior happens for 2 seconds in one instance and 3 seconds in another, the measured duration is 5 seconds. This helps capture how much time the behavior takes overall, rather than just how often it happens or how quickly it starts.