Which types of measurement procedures only capture a sample of the behavior?

Discontinuous measures are specifically designed to capture only portions or samples of behavior rather than recording every instance of the behavior. This is typically achieved through various sampling techniques, such as interval recording or momentary time sampling, which measure behavior at specific points in time rather than continuously.

By focusing on intervals or moments, discontinuous measures can be practical when recording every instance of behavior is impractical or unnecessary, providing a representative snapshot of the behavior while saving time and reducing the potential for observer fatigue. This method allows practitioners to gather data without needing to capture every occurrence, which can provide useful insights while managing resource constraints.

In contrast, continuous measures encompass all instances of a behavior during a given observation period, making them comprehensive but sometimes more challenging to implement. Other concepts, such as behavior sampling or random sampling, might also involve selecting specific instances but do not capture the same systematic approach to discontinuous measures.