Continuous measurement is primarily designed to:

Continuous measurement is primarily designed to measure all instances of target behavior. This approach ensures that every occurrence of the behavior being studied is recorded, providing a comprehensive dataset for analysis. By using continuous measurement, practitioners can gather detailed information about how often a behavior occurs, its duration, and its intensity, which is crucial for understanding the overall behavior patterns of an individual.

For instance, if a behavior analyst is tracking a child's engagement in a classroom setting, continuous measurement would allow them to note every instance of the child raising their hand to participate in discussions. This level of detail is essential in behavior intervention planning because it provides an accurate representation of the behavior in its natural environment, facilitating better-informed decisions about necessary interventions.

In contrast, the other options focus on aspects that are not the primary aim of continuous measurement. While identifying trends and patterns is important (as indicated in the second option), it is a by-product of having a complete record of behaviors rather than the main goal. Capturing unobservable behaviors and assessing cognitive interventions also diverge from the focus of continuous measurement, which is distinctly aimed at quantifying observable actions reliably.