Which method is classified as whole interval recording?

Whole interval recording is a specific method used in behavior observation where a behavior is noted as having occurred only if it happens throughout the entire duration of a designated time interval. This means that for the recording to be marked as a success, the target behavior must be continuously present for the duration of that interval, rather than just occurring at any point within it.

This method is particularly useful when the goal is to focus on consistent engagement or continuous behaviors rather than just their presence at specific moments. It provides insight into how sustained or stable a behavior is over time, rather than just measuring whether it happened at all during the observation period.

In contrast, the other options characterize different recording methods. For example, recording if the target response occurs during any part of the interval assesses behavior differently by simply noting its presence at any time within the timeframe. Recording only if the response is occurring at the moment the interval ends looks specifically for a behavior's presence at a singular moment, which diverges from the principle of whole interval recording. Lastly, recording occurrences based on a sample of moments suggests a more sporadic or snapshot approach to data collection, which is also not aligned with the continuous measurement characteristic of whole interval recording.