Which term describes the amount of time from the onset to the offset of a behavior?

Duration is the correct term for describing the amount of time from the onset to the offset of a behavior. It refers specifically to how long a particular behavior occurs, capturing both the starting point (onset) and the endpoint (offset). This measurement is essential in applied behavior analysis as it helps clinicians understand the persistence and intensity of behaviors over time, allowing for more effective interventions in communication disorders.

In contrast, rate measures the number of occurrences of a behavior within a certain time period, which does not provide information on how long each instance lasts. Frequency simply counts how many times a behavior occurs in a given interval, while latency measures the time between a cue or prompt and the initiation of a behavior. None of these terms encapsulate the total duration of a behavior like duration does.