Time sampling

• Observe what happens in a given period of time
• Record the frequency of certain behaviour occurrence over time
• Behaviour must be overt and frequent (at least every 15 minutes)
• Observe specified behaviour of an individual or a group
• Record presence or absence of behaviour
• Can record whom children interact with
• Can record what experience they engaged with
• Can record experience of routine time
• Must prepare ahead of time (the specific behaviour, time interval, how to record)
• Duration recording, simply record “1″(behaviour occur) or “0″(does not occur)
• Event recording, shows the frequency of the behaviour event

Concurrent time-sampling technique

• Single time unit stipulates how long the observer observes and records before moving on to next subject
• Observation and recording done at the same time

Delayed time-sampling technique

• Two separate time units, one for observation and another for coding

Advantages:

• Less time and effort compare to narrative recording
• Objective and controlled
• Record one child or more child at one time
• Useful information on intervals and frequencies of behaviour
• Qualitative result

Disadvantages:

• Not an open method, may miss important behaviour
• Does not describe the behaviour
• Does not keep units of behaviour intact
• Might be biased
• Limited to observable behaviours that occur frequently
• Focuses on one type of behaviour

Event Sampling

• Wait and record specific preselect behaviour
• Study condition under which particular behaviour occur
• Learn what triggers a particular behaviour
• How man time a certain behaviour occurs
• When behaviour occurs at odd times or infrequently
• Analysis of cause and effect
• Must define the event
• Determine setting
• Takes most advantageous position to observe the behaviour, wait for it to occur

ABC analysis event sampling

• Causes and result
• What precedes and what follows
• A = antecedent event
• B = behaviour
• C = consequent event

Tally event sampling / frequency count / frequency event sampling

• Similar to ABC analysis event sampling
• Determine how often a specific event or behaviour occurs
• Record a tally or tick every time the behaviour occurs
• Qualitative data
• Useful for research
• Wide range of topics

Advantages:

• Event or behaviour intact, allows easy analysis
• More objective as it’s defined ahead of time
• Useful in examine infrequent or rarely occur behaviours

Disadvantages:

• Take the event out of context
• Closed method
• Misses the richness of detail