What measurement procedure captures behaviors only during a portion of an observation?

Discontinuous measurement is a procedure designed to capture behaviors during only specific segments of an observation period rather than throughout the entire time. This approach is particularly useful in settings where constant observation may not be feasible or necessary. Discontinuous measurement allows for the recording of behaviors at selected intervals or during designated parts of the observation, which can help in understanding the frequency or occurrence of behaviors without needing to monitor every single moment.

In contrast, continuous measurement requires ongoing observation throughout the entire time frame, tracking every instance of behavior consistently. Cumulative measurement typically involves aggregating counts of behavior over time, allowing for analysis of trends, but doesn't relate specifically to capturing behaviors during only parts of the observation. Frequency measurement specifically counts the number of times a behavior occurs, but like continuous measurement, it does so over the entire observation period, thereby not fitting the criteria of capturing behavior during only a portion of the observation. Thus, discontinuous measurement is the most suitable choice for this scenario.