What method involves recording the amount of time a client exhibits a specific behavior?

Duration recording is a method used in behavioral observations that focuses specifically on the length of time a client engages in a particular behavior. This approach is particularly useful for understanding behaviors that vary in length and frequency. By measuring how long a behavior occurs, practitioners can gain insights into the intensity and persistence of that behavior.

Duration recording is valuable in settings such as therapeutic environments, where tracking the time spent on a specific activity can help assess progress toward goals. For example, if a client is working on reducing tantrums or increasing participation in activities, duration recording provides concrete data that can inform treatment plans and interventions.

In contrast, other methods may serve different purposes; for instance, interval recording divides observation time into segments and notes whether the behavior occurs in each, while naturalistic observation captures behaviors in real-life settings without manipulation. Anecdotal records collect descriptive accounts of behavior as they occur, which can be useful for context but do not focus specifically on the duration. Therefore, duration recording is the appropriate choice for measuring the time spent on a specific behavior.