Partial interval recording (PIR) is defined as observer records a response as having occurred if it occurred at any time during the recording interval. Which term describes this procedure?

Partial interval recording (PIR) is defined as observer records a response as having occurred if it occurred at any time during the recording interval. Which term describes this procedure?

• A. Partial interval recording (PIR)
• B. Whole interval recording (WIR)
• C. Latency
• D. Percent correct

Answer: (A)

In this approach, you’re using a time-sampling method that looks at whether a behavior occurred at least once during each predefined interval. You split the observation period into equal intervals and, for each interval, mark a “yes” if the behavior happened at any moment inside that interval. The overall data then reflect the percentage of intervals that contained at least one instance. This tends to overestimate the actual amount of time the behavior occurs because a brief burst anywhere within an interval counts for the whole interval. It’s different from whole interval recording, where you only count an interval if the behavior happened for the entire interval. It’s not about how long to first occurrence (latency) or about counting correct responses (percent correct). The term for this procedure is partial interval recording.

In this approach, you’re using a time-sampling method that looks at whether a behavior occurred at least once during each predefined interval. You split the observation period into equal intervals and, for each interval, mark a “yes” if the behavior happened at any moment inside that interval. The overall data then reflect the percentage of intervals that contained at least one instance.

This tends to overestimate the actual amount of time the behavior occurs because a brief burst anywhere within an interval counts for the whole interval. It’s different from whole interval recording, where you only count an interval if the behavior happened for the entire interval. It’s not about how long to first occurrence (latency) or about counting correct responses (percent correct). The term for this procedure is partial interval recording.