2 Duration and Latency Measurement Free Online FlashCards

What does duration measure?

Duration is the elapsed time from the onset of a behavior to its offset.

What does latency measure?

Latency is the elapsed time between a defined antecedent and the beginning of the specified behavior.

When do you start and stop a duration timer?

For duration, start timing at the defined behavior onset and stop at its defined offset.

When do you start and stop a latency timer?

For latency, start at a consistent point in the antecedent, such as the end of a direction, and stop at the first observable action that meets the behavior definition.

Why define timing points before measuring behavior?

Define observable start and end points in advance, then apply the same rules each time so measurements are repeatable.

When is mean duration per observation useful for comparison?

Divide total duration across observations by the number of observations. Use this comparison when the observations are the same length.

What should accompany a reported average?

Report both the unit and what was averaged, such as seconds per episode or seconds per direction.

How should you record duration when the behavior never occurs?

If the behavior does not occur during an observation, record zero duration.

What does a shorter latency indicate?

A shorter latency means the behavior began sooner after the antecedent; a longer latency means more time elapsed before it began.

How do you calculate total duration?

Total duration is the sum of all episode durations during an observation.

How can duration be expressed as a percentage of observation time?

Divide total duration by observation time, then multiply by $100$: $\frac{\text{total duration}}{\text{observation time}} \times 100$. Use this only when the observation period and timing rules are defined consistently.

What does mean latency across opportunities represent?

Divide the sum of the measured latencies by the number of opportunities. The mean represents the average elapsed time from the defined antecedent point to behavior onset across those opportunities.