Interval Recording/Time Sampling

Interval Recording (or Time Sampling) involves observing whether a behavior occurs or does not
occur during specified time periods. Once the length of an observation session is identified, the
time is broken down into smaller intervals that are all equal in length. A watch, stopwatch, or
other device is used to keep track of intervals. Observer calculates the % of intervals in which
the behavior occurred. There are 3 distinct types, defined below.

Advantages:
-Useful for high-rate behaviors that are difficult to count
-Useful for behaviors with no clear beginning or end
-Observations can be brief (10 mins+) or extend longer periods of time
-Translates to a percentage that can be easily plotted on a graph to visually inspect changes in
the behaviors

Disadvantages:
-Only provides an estimate of the behaviors
-Provides a sample, may not be representative
-Usually requires outside observer & undivided attention
-Requires a time keeping device

3 types of Interval Recording:

Momentary Time Sampling
- Mark if the behavior is exhibited at the precise moment of the end of the interval
- May underestimate behaviors
- Easiest to collect data on multiple behaviors
- May take peer data at the same time for comparison
- Useful for very frequent behaviors that last for longer periods of time

Whole Interval Recording

- When interval ends, mark if behavior exhibited for the entire interval
- Underestimates behaviors
- Requires undivided attention
- Useful for ongoing behaviors that will continue across intervals

Partial Interval Recording

- Mark if behavior exhibited at any time during the interval
- May overestimate behaviors
- Requires undivided attention
- Useful when behavior happens so quickly it’s hard to catch

Adapted from University of Kansas

http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=assessment/data_based_decision_making/teacher_tools/partial_interval_recording
 Peer Comparison Momentary Time Sampling Recording Form

Target Student: ________________________ School: ________________________ Grade: ______

Teacher: _____________________ Activity: ________________________
Observer: ____________________ Date: __________

Define observed behavior (specific & measurable ): ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Observation length: __________ Length of each interval: ___________

This form is set up for 30 intervals per observation. If the observation is 10 minutes, each interval would
be 20 seconds. If the observation is 30 minutes, each interval would be 1 minute.

Momentary Time Sampling provides an estimate of how often a student is engaging in the behavior.
It is used: - when the behavior does not have a clear beginning or ending
- when the behavior occurs at such a high rate that it is difficult to count

Have your stopwatch/timer ready. At the end of each interval, look to see if the target student is
engaging in the behavior at that moment. Mark + (yes) or – (no).

Taking peer comparison data:

Before starting, establish a plan for which peers will be observed and in what order. You may choose to observe
the whole class, same gender, table group, etc. Immediately after observing the target student, look at the first
peer and determine if he/she is engaging in the described behavior. Mark + (yes) or – (no). In the next interval,
observe the target student, then look at the next peer in the established order. Continue in this fashion, cycling
through the peer group as needed to reach the end of the observation. The % at the end provides an estimate of
the entire peer group behavior.

Calculate the % by adding the # of +s divided by the number of intervals (30) and multiplying by 100.

Date: Intervals: (Mark + or - )

Time: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Student
Peers

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Student
Peers

+s /30 % of
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Intervals
Student
Peers
 Time Sampling Recording Form
10 min intervals over entire school day

Student: ___________________________ School: ________________________ Grade: ______

Teacher: _____________________ Activity: ________________________
Observer: ____________________ Date: __________

Define observed behavior (specific & measurable): ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Type of Time Sampling (circle selected method)

Whole Interval Partial Interval Momentary
+ = behavior is continuous during + = behavior occurs even once + = record if behavior occurs at
the interval during the interval the end of the interval

  + or - Comment   + or - Comment   + or - Comment

8:00     11:00     2:0    
0
8:10     11:10     2:1    
0
8:20     11:20     2:2    
0
8:30     11:30     2:3    
0
8:40     11:40     2:4    
0
8:50     11:50     2:5    
0
9:00     12:00     3:0    
0
9:10     12:10     3:1    
0
9:20     12:20     3:2    
0
9:30     12:30     3:3    
0
9:40     12:40     3:4    
0
9:50     12:50     3:5    
0
10:0     1:00     4:0    
0 0
10:1     1:10     4:1    
0 0
10:2     1:20     4:2    
 0 0
10:3 4:3
0     1:30     0    
10:4
0     1:40          
10:5
0     1:50          

Number of +s: ________ out of _______ intervals = ____________% of intervals

Time Sampling Recording Form

30 min intervals over Month

Student: ___________________________ School: ________________________ Grade: ______

Teacher: _____________________ Activity: ________________________
Observer: ____________________ Date: __________

Define observed behavior (specific & measurable): ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Select 1 Type of Time Sampling

Whole Interval Partial Interval Momentary
+ = behavior is continuous during + = behavior occurs even once + = record if behavior occurs at
the interval during the interval the end of the interval
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
7:00                                                              
7:30                                                              
8:00                                                              
8:30                                                              
9:00                                                              
9:30                                                              
10:00                                                              
10:30                                                              
11:00                                                              
11:30                                                              
12:00                                                              
12:30                                                              
1:00                                                              
1:30                                                              
 2:00                                                              
2:30                                                              
3:00                                                              
3:30                                                              
4:00                                                              
4:30                                                              
Total
intervals
observed                                                              
%                                                              

Days of the month: X = Behavior did occur = Behavior did NOT occur