What term describes the number of responses that occur in a given time interval?

What term describes the number of responses that occur in a given time interval?

• A. Latency
• B. Rate of Response
• C. Interresponse Time
• D. Response Topography

Answer: (B)

Measuring how often a behavior occurs within a specific period is about rate—the density of responses per unit of time. Rate of response captures how many responses happen per time, so it directly describes the number of responses in a given interval (for example, 8 presses in 40 seconds equals 0.2 responses per second, or 12 per minute). Latency is the time from a stimulus to the first response, interresponse time is the interval between successive responses, and response topography is the form of the response. Those other terms describe timing or physical characteristics, not the overall frequency of responding across a time interval.

Measuring how often a behavior occurs within a specific period is about rate—the density of responses per unit of time. Rate of response captures how many responses happen per time, so it directly describes the number of responses in a given interval (for example, 8 presses in 40 seconds equals 0.2 responses per second, or 12 per minute). Latency is the time from a stimulus to the first response, interresponse time is the interval between successive responses, and response topography is the form of the response. Those other terms describe timing or physical characteristics, not the overall frequency of responding across a time interval.