What does total duration IOA measure?

Total duration IOA (Interobserver Agreement) specifically measures the extent to which two or more observers agree on the amount of time a specific behavior occurs. This method is particularly useful for behaviors that are continuous or that can occur over different lengths of time.

The formula used for total duration IOA involves calculating the ratio of the shorter duration of time recorded by each observer to the longer duration of time, and then multiplying this ratio by 100 to express it as a percentage. This approach gives a clear picture of how closely observers match in their timing of the behavior's occurrence.

To clarify the context of the other choices, while the number of occurrences over time and total occurrences of a behavior in an interval refer to quantifying instances of behavior, they do not specifically address duration. The option that talks about the sum of all intervals not occurring relates more to calculating non-occurrences rather than the specific measure of duration. Total duration IOA focuses on the agreement in the measured lengths of time that the behavior is observed, making the formula presented the correct choice in describing what total duration IOA evaluates.