Sneak Peek: RBT Competency #2

WHOLE INTERVAL - Recording yes (Y) or no (N) for each interval. If the behavior is occurring for the entire interval, mark it as a yes (Y) interval. If the behavior does not occur for the entire interval, mark it as a no (N) interval. Example: Recording if a child is spinning during a 10-minute observation. The 10-minute observation is made up of 10 (1-minute) intervals.

-The child was spinning for the entire 1-minute during intervals 3, 4, and 10. Therefore, intervals 3, 4, and 10 were all marked yes (Y). During intervals 1, 2 and 9 the child was spinning for about half of each interval (30 seconds). Therefore, intervals 1, 2, and 9 were marked no (N). During intervals 5, 6, 7, and 8 the child did not spin at all. Therefore, intervals 5, 6, 7, and 8 were marked no (N).
-The percentage of the spinning behavior is 30% (total number of yes intervals divided by the amount of intervals: 3/10=30%)
-Whole Interval Recording is an underestimate of the behavior because it is not recording every time the behavior occurs.

PARTIAL INTERVAL - Recording yes (Y) or no (N) for each interval. If the behavior is occurring at any point during an interval, mark it as a yes (Y) interval. If the behavior does not occur at any point during interval, mark it as a no (N) interval. Example: Recording if a child is spinning during a 10-minute observation. The 10-minute observation is made up of 10 (1-minute) intervals.

-The child was spinning for the entire 1-minute during intervals 3, 4, and 10. Therefore, intervals 3, 4, and 10 were all marked yes (Y). During intervals 1, 2 and 9 the child was spinning for about half of each interval (30 seconds). Therefore, intervals 1, 2, and 9 were marked yes (Y). During intervals 5, 6, 7, and 8 the child did not spin at all. Therefore, intervals 5, 6, 7, and 8 were marked no (N).
-The percentage of the spinning behavior is 60% (total number of yes intervals divided by the amount of intervals: 6/10=60%)
-Partial Interval Recording is an overestimate of the behavior because it is recording every time the behavior occurs, it doesn't matter how long the behavior lasts.

MOMENTARY TIME SAMPLING - Recording if a behavior is occurring at the end of each interval. Reported as percentage of intervals when behavior occurred. Example: Recording if a child is drawing during free time.

-There are 10 intervals that each last 1-minute. The RBT looked at the client end of each interval and saw that the client was drawing at the end of intervals 1, 3, 5, and 9. -The percentage of the drawing behavior is 40% (total number of yes intervals divided by the amount of intervals: 4/10=40%)