Discontinuous Measurement
Also called: sampling procedures, interval recording, time sampling
Definition
Recording whether the behavior occurred during, or at the end of, a series of intervals rather than recording every instance. Partial-interval, whole-interval and momentary time sampling are the standard forms. Each one estimates the behavior with a known bias, which is the price of being practical to use while teaching.
In plain language
Checking for the behavior at set times instead of counting every instance. Easier to do, but it gives an estimate rather than a true count.
Example
Every minute, the observer marks whether any talking-out happened during that minute.
Not discontinuous measurement
Counting every hand raise in a lesson. That is continuous measurement.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- johnston-pennypacker-2020
Written from Johnston, Pennypacker and Green (2020). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.