University of Central Florida (UCF) SPA3472 Behavioral Methods in Communication Disorders Final Practice Exam

The dimension that measures the time from a stimulus to the onset of a behavior is latency. Latency reflects the amount of time it takes for an individual to begin responding after a specific event or stimulus occurs. In behavior analysis, understanding latency is important as it can provide insight into the efficiency of a response. For example, a shorter latency may indicate that a behavior is well-established or that the individual is highly motivated, while a longer latency might suggest difficulties in initiating the behavior or a lack of motivation. This measure is particularly useful in settings such as communication disorders, where timely responses are crucial for effective interaction.

The other dimensions listed serve different purposes: frequency measures how often a behavior occurs, duration assesses how long a behavior lasts, and topography describes the physical form or shape of the behavior. Each dimension provides valuable information, but only latency specifically addresses the time between a stimulus and the response.