The power and authority to choose one of two or more alternative behaviors is known as:

• A. Discretion
• B. Coercion
• C. Value analysis
• D. Duty

Answer: (A)

Discretion is the power and authority to choose one of two or more alternative behaviors. It reflects the professional judgment to decide the best course of action in a given situation while staying within laws, agency policies, and ethical standards. This fits the description because it emphasizes voluntary choice among options rather than being forced to act (coercion) or merely following an obligation (duty). It also isn’t about evaluating values in a formal sense (value analysis), which isn’t the defined capacity being described here.