Interval Recording

Question 1

• Provides and estimate of the number of occurrences and the duration of the behavior (numerical and temporal)
• Not as precise as event recording
• Presence or absence of a behavior within specified time intervals, or at the end of interval
• Most useful with continuous and high rates of behavior
• Interval length should provide observer with sufficient time to reliably record behavior- usually 6-15 seconds

Answer 1

Interval recording

Question 2

Was the behavior present at ANY time (regardless of frequency) during the interval?
- Score occurrence/ non occurrence of the behavior

Answer 2

Partial Interval Recording

Question 3

• Was the behavior present throughout the ENTIRE interval

Answer 3

Whole interval Recording

Question 4

-longer observation intervals and brief behaviors will underestimate the actual occurrence of the behavior
-continuous observation
-rarely used by researchers
-cueing device needed
-calculate the percentage of intervals in which behavior occurred- yields estimate of total duration
-underestimate of behavior

Answer 4

Disadvantages of whole interval recording

Question 5

• Need cueing device to signal start/end of the interval
• Often overestimates with larger interval
• May underestimate rates of behavior of high frequency

Answer 5

Disadvantages of partial interval recording

Question 6

• Presence or absence of the target behavior immediately following the END of a time interval

Answer 6

Momentary time sampling

Question 7

-cueing device needed
-under or overestimate depending on event frequency and length of wait and record components
-much behavior will be missed

Answer 7

Disadvantages of momentary time sampling