I use interval recording for high rate behaviors.
These occur so often that they can be hard to count.
Instead of using frequency recording, where I tally every instance of the behavior, I use interval recording to indicate if the target behavior occurred at certain intervals during our observation.
This gives me a general estimate of how often the behavior may be happening.
There are three types of interval recording. Let's look at momentary time sampling first.
This type of data collection frees you from having to keep your eyes on a student the whole time during an observation and is useful for very frequent behaviors that last for longer periods of time. I'll use this technique with Deandre.
Deandre taps this pencil on his desk and books during class.
I'll set an observation period of fifteen minutes, and using a timer, I'll collect data at an interval of every thirty seconds.
Seconds. Every thirty seconds, I'll look to see if Deandre is tapping his pencil.
If at exactly thirty seconds he is tapping his pencil, I'll write a plus sign for that interval on the datasheet.
If he is not tapping his pencil at the thirty second mark, I'll write a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval. Let's practice.
How would you mark the datasheet at this interval?
Deandre was tapping his pencil at the thirty second mark, so I will put a plus sign on the datasheet for that interval.
Let's try the next interval.
How would you mark the datasheet at this interval?
Deandre was not tapping his pencil at the thirty second mark, so I will put a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval.
This process continues for fifteen minutes, the length of the observation period.
Whole interval recording notes whether a behavior occurs constantly throughout an entire interval and is useful for ongoing behaviors that may continue across intervals.
You must watch the student the entire time, which requires your undivided attention.
It's best to have a second person in the room whose sole purpose is collecting the data for the observation period. I'll use this technique with Melissa.
Melissa has been crying in class. I'll set an observation period of twenty minutes, and using a timer, I'll collect data in twenty one minute intervals.
For each of the one minute intervals, if Melissa cries for the entire interval, I'll write a plus sign for that interval on the data sheet.
If she is not crying for the whole interval, then I'll write a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval. Let's practice.
How would you mark the datasheet for this interval?
Melissa was not crying for the entire one minute interval, so I'll put a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval. Let's try the next interval.
How would you mark the datasheet for this interval?
Melissa was crying for the whole one minute interval, so I'll put a plus sign on the datasheet for that interval.
This process continues for twenty minutes, the length of the observation period.
With partial interval recording, you note whether a behavior occurs at any time during the interval and is useful for behaviors that happen so quickly they may be hard to catch.
Again, you'll watch the student the entire time, so you'll be able to catch if the behavior happened for even part of the time of each interval.
It's helpful to have a second person in the room so one of you focuses solely on collecting data during the observation period. I'll use this method with Josh.
Josh makes negative comments about work demands. These derogatory comments include I'm dumb, I can't do this, and this is too hard.
I'll set an observation period of fifteen minutes, and using a timer, I'll collect data in thirty second intervals for a total of thirty data points.
For each of these intervals, if Josh makes a negative comment about work demands at any time during the interval, I'll write a plus sign on the datasheet.
If he does not, then I'll write a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval. Let's practice.
I'm done. This is too hard. I can't do this.
How would you mark the datasheet for this interval?
Josh made negative comments about his work demands at various times within the thirty second interval. So I'll put a plus sign on the data sheet for that interval. Let's try the next interval.
How would you mark the datasheet for this interval?
Josh did not make negative comments about his work demands at any time within the thirty second interval, so I will put a minus sign on the datasheet for that interval.
This process continues for fifteen minutes, the length of the observation period. Remember that interval recording is only an estimate of how often behaviors are occurring, but this type of data collection is useful for high rate behaviors.
