What does latency refer to in behavior analysis?

Latency in behavior analysis specifically refers to the time interval between an antecedent, such as a stimulus or prompt, and the subsequent behavior it elicits. This measurement is important because it helps practitioners understand how quickly an individual responds to a given situation or instruction. For instance, if a teacher asks a student to complete a task, the latency would capture how long it takes for the student to start that task after the request is made.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of behavior measurement. The time taken to complete a task refers to the total duration for which the behavior occurs, which is not the same as latency. The duration of a behavior measures how long the behavior lasts once it has begun, while frequency tracks how often behaviors occur over a specific period. Each of these measurements provides valuable information in ABA but serves distinct purposes in behavior analysis.