How is percent occurrence calculated?

Percent occurrence is an important measurement used to assess behaviors and skills in a variety of settings, particularly in applied behavior analysis. It quantifies how often a particular behavior occurs relative to the total number of opportunities for that behavior to occur.

The correct calculation involves dividing the number of times the target behavior occurs by the total number of opportunities for that behavior to occur. This is essential because it provides a clear understanding of how frequently the specified behavior is exhibited in relation to the potential instances in which it could occur.

For instance, if a child has the opportunity to engage in a behavior 10 times and they actually perform the behavior 7 times, the percent occurrence would be calculated as 7 divided by 10, which provides a more insightful view of their behavior than merely counting the total number of responses. This method effectively captures the ratio of actual occurrences to opportunities, highlighting the effectiveness of learning strategies or interventions.