In behavioural observations, the target behaviour is...

In behavioural observations, the target behaviour is...

• A. Aimed to capture participants' internal states.
• B. Only described verbally by participants.
• C. Broken into observable and measurable behavioural categories.
• D. Recorded using only time sampling.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to define the behavior in observable, measurable terms. In behavioural observation you record what you can see and quantify, not what you think someone is feeling or thinking. To do this reliably, the target behavior is broken into concrete categories that are observable (e.g., actions like reaching, laughing, or fidgeting) and measurable (you can count how often, how long, or with what intensity). This operational definition enables clear coding, consistency between observers, and the ability to analyze data. The other statements don’t fit as well. Internal states aren’t directly observable in this method, so aiming to capture them goes beyond what behavioural observation records. Observers rely on observable actions rather than only participants’ verbal descriptions of their thoughts. And while time sampling can be a method used to record behavior, it doesn’t define what the target behavior is—the target remains the set of observable, codable actions.

The main idea is to define the behavior in observable, measurable terms. In behavioural observation you record what you can see and quantify, not what you think someone is feeling or thinking. To do this reliably, the target behavior is broken into concrete categories that are observable (e.g., actions like reaching, laughing, or fidgeting) and measurable (you can count how often, how long, or with what intensity). This operational definition enables clear coding, consistency between observers, and the ability to analyze data.

The other statements don’t fit as well. Internal states aren’t directly observable in this method, so aiming to capture them goes beyond what behavioural observation records. Observers rely on observable actions rather than only participants’ verbal descriptions of their thoughts. And while time sampling can be a method used to record behavior, it doesn’t define what the target behavior is—the target remains the set of observable, codable actions.