What does percent of occurrence measure?

Percent of occurrence is a measure that quantifies the frequency of a specific behavior relative to the total opportunities or time assessed within a given observation period. This measurement is crucial in behavioral analysis, as it helps in understanding how often a particular behavior occurs compared to the total time available for that behavior to potentially happen.

By taking the number of times a behavior is observed and dividing it by the total observation time, this metric can provide a clear picture of behavior patterns. It allows practitioners to determine the prevalence and consistency of behaviors within specific contexts. This approach is particularly useful for assessing interventions and their effectiveness, as well as for making decisions regarding behavioral strategies.

Other choices focus on different aspects of observation but do not pertain directly to measuring occurrence. For example, the total observation duration refers to how long observations take place, the number of observers indicates the individuals collecting data, and the average duration of the behavior pertains to time spent engaged in the behavior rather than how frequently it occurs overall. Therefore, option C rightly identifies the essence of percent of occurrence by linking behavior frequency directly to observation time.