What term refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs during some amount of time?

• A. Temporal extent
• B. Temporal locus
• C. Time sampling
• D. Stimulus control

Answer: (A)

Temporal extent describes how long a behavior lasts, the duration of each instance. In ABA, behaviors have temporal properties such as extent (duration) and locus (timing of onset). The statement that every instance occurs during some amount of time directly points to duration, making temporal extent the right term. For example, if a student taps a pencil for 2 seconds on one occasion and 3 seconds on another, each tap has a measurable duration—the temporal extent of that response. Temporal locus would concern when the behavior starts relative to a stimulus, not how long it lasts. Time sampling refers to methods for recording behavior over intervals and estimating duration, rather than measuring the exact duration of each instance. Stimulus control is about how antecedent stimuli influence the likelihood of a response. So, the concept captured here is temporal extent.