Which type of measurement procedures captures only a sample of behavior during an observation period?

The correct choice is the option that refers to discontinuous measurement procedures. Discontinuous measurement procedures capture only a sample of behavior during a specified observation period rather than tracking the entire duration of the occurrence of the target behavior. This approach is beneficial in situations where it's impractical to measure every instance of a behavior, or when the goal is to get a snapshot of behavior across a designated time frame.

In contrast, continuous measurement procedures involve tracking every instance of a behavior throughout an observation period, providing a complete record that reflects not just when the behavior occurs, but also its frequency and duration.

Whole interval recording is a specific type of discontinuous measurement where the observer records whether the behavior occurred during the entire interval, not just at any point during it. This method also fails to capture every instance, as it only considers the behavior to have occurred if it was present for the whole interval.

Event recording entails continuous measurement where instances of a specific behavior are counted each time they occur. This method gives a precise count of occurrences but does not represent a sample; instead, it seeks to provide a full account of every event.

In summary, discontinuous measurement procedures are ideal for capturing samples of behavior, making them a practical choice in many behavioral observation scenarios.