Which measurement approach uses a time-sampling method that records whether a behavior occurred at any time during each interval?

Which measurement approach uses a time-sampling method that records whether a behavior occurred at any time during each interval?

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

Answer: (C)

Partial interval recording uses a time-sampling approach: you divide the observation period into equal intervals and, inside each interval, you note whether the behavior occurred at any moment. If the behavior happens even briefly, that interval is marked as having occurred. At the end, you tally the number of intervals with occurrence and express it as a percentage of intervals. This is different from whole interval recording, which requires the behavior to occur for the entire interval, or from latency, which measures the time from a cue to the start of the behavior, and from percent duration, which tracks the total time the behavior actually occurred.

Partial interval recording uses a time-sampling approach: you divide the observation period into equal intervals and, inside each interval, you note whether the behavior occurred at any moment. If the behavior happens even briefly, that interval is marked as having occurred. At the end, you tally the number of intervals with occurrence and express it as a percentage of intervals. This is different from whole interval recording, which requires the behavior to occur for the entire interval, or from latency, which measures the time from a cue to the start of the behavior, and from percent duration, which tracks the total time the behavior actually occurred.