A comparison of frequency, interval, and time-sampling methods of data collection

J Appl Behav Anal. 1976;9(4):501-8. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1976.9-501.

Abstract

Data representing high, medium, and low response rates in constant and nonconstant patterns were generated by electromechanical equipment to determine whether the same data collected by time-sampling, interval recording, and frequency recording would be represented similarly by each method. Results indicated: (1) that time-sampling provided an extremely inaccurate estimate of responding, and (2) that interval recording accurately represented responding of low and medium rates, but grossly underestimated high-rate responding.