What does whole interval recording require in order to record the occurrence of a target behavior?

• A. Behavior occurs at any point during the interval
• B. Behavior occurs for the entire duration of the interval
• C. Behavior occurs only at the end of the interval
• D. Behavior occurs at the beginning of the interval

Answer: (B)

Whole interval recording is a data collection method where a specific behavior is recorded as having occurred only if it is present for the entire duration of the designated interval. This method is useful for measuring continuous behaviors that you want to track over time.

When using whole interval recording, the observer observes the target behavior over predefined intervals, typically lasting from seconds to several minutes. For the recording to indicate that the behavior has occurred, the behavior must be present throughout the entire interval. Therefore, if the behavior occurs at any point during the interval but not continuously, it will not be marked as occurring, thus emphasizing the importance of continuous engagement in the behavior being observed. This method helps identify both the consistency and duration of the target behavior.