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Measurement error in direct observations: a comparison of common recording methods

Murphy, Glynis H., Goodall,, Elizabeth (1980) Measurement error in direct observations: a comparison of common recording methods. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 18 (2). pp. 147-150. ISSN 0005-7967. (doi:10.1016/0005-7967(80)90109-6) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:32113)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(80)90109-6

Abstract

Abstract

Videotapes of three brief duration, three medium duration and three long duration types of stereotyped behaviour (of eight severely retarded children) were analysed to provide a criterion record of the true percentage duration of the behaviour. The criterion record was compared with the records produced by four time-sampling methods: a whole-interval method, two partial-interval methods and a momentary time-sampling method. As predicted, the whole-interval method grossly underestimated and the partial-interval methods grossly overestimated the true percentage duration of the behaviour, except when the duration of individual responses was much longer than the observation interval. Momentary time-sampling was not an errorless method but was consistently superior to the other methods.

The implications of these findings for the detection of treatment effects by direct observations are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/0005-7967(80)90109-6
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV1568 Disability studies
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Jo Ruffels
Date Deposited: 07 Nov 2012 10:32 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:09 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/32113 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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