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An empirical method for determining an appropriate interval length for recording behavior

R W Sanson-Fisher, A D Poole, J Dunn

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

|January 1, 1980

Summary

Varying interval length in modified frequency time sampling (MFTS) minimally impacts total duration but significantly affects event counts and durations. Empirical determination of interval length is recommended for accurate behavioral data representation.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral science
Psychiatric research
Data analysis methodology

Background:

Modified Frequency Time Sampling (MFTS) is a common behavioral observation method.
The choice of interval length in MFTS can influence data interpretation.
Previous research has not definitively established optimal interval lengths for psychiatric inpatient behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of varying interval lengths on data collected using MFTS.
To assess the stability of duration and event measures across different interval lengths.
To provide empirical guidance for selecting appropriate interval lengths in behavioral research.

Main Methods:

Utilized a 7-category observational scale to record behaviors of eight psychiatric inpatients.

Related Experiment Videos

Employed electronic real-time recording equipment for precise data capture.

Computer-analyzed data across a range of interval lengths, starting from 1.0 second.

Main Results:

Increasing interval length showed minimal effect on the percentage of total duration per behavioral category.
Percentage of total events per category demonstrated less stability with longer intervals.
Longer intervals led to a decrease in event counts but an increase in average event duration.

Conclusions:

The percentage of total duration is a relatively stable behavioral measure across varying interval lengths.
Event frequency and duration measures are sensitive to interval length choices.
Arbitrary selection of interval length in MFTS should be replaced by empirically determined values specific to the study.
This study presents a method for empirically determining optimal interval lengths for behavioral observation scales.