Free Interval Recording Sheet
A free printable interval recording sheet for partial, whole, or momentary time sampling. Mark each interval plus or minus, or type into the fillable PDF, then export to Excel to compute the percent of intervals.
- Interval Recording
- Default criterion: 80% accuracy in 4 of 5 sessions
- Free printable PDF
- Fillable in browser
An interval recording sheet samples a behavior across timed blocks instead of catching every single occurrence, which makes it practical for behaviors that happen too often or too continuously to count one by one. Split the observation into equal intervals, then mark each one plus or minus for whether the behavior occurred. This interval recording sheet leaves a wide notes column so context sits right next to the score.
The three common methods change what a plus means. In partial interval you score a plus if the behavior happened at any point in the interval, which tends to overestimate. In whole interval it counts only if the behavior lasted the entire block, which tends to underestimate. Momentary time sampling scores only what is happening at the instant the interval ends. Pick one method, write it on the sheet, and stick with it.
Because the result is a percent of intervals rather than a true count, interval data estimates how much of the time a behavior occurs. Add up the plus marks, divide by the number of intervals, and you have a percent for the session. The default criterion here is 80 percent across four of five sessions, and the team adjusts it. Export to Excel to compute the percent and track it over days.
When to use it
Use interval recording for high-rate or continuous behaviors like stereotypy, on-task behavior, or fidgeting, where counting each instance is impractical. It suits classroom staff and BCBAs who need a workable estimate and want to sample behavior while still teaching.
Customization tips
- Choose partial, whole, or momentary before you start and note it in the interval-length field.
- Keep intervals short enough to be meaningful but long enough that one observer can manage them.
- Use the fillable PDF when staff prefer typing, and the plus-minus column stays the same.
- Export to Excel to divide the plus marks by total intervals and chart the percent.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an interval recording sheet?
- It is a sheet that samples a behavior across equal time blocks rather than counting every occurrence. You mark each interval for whether the behavior happened, then convert the marks to a percent of intervals. It suits behaviors that are too frequent to tally.
- What is the difference between partial and whole interval?
- Partial interval scores a plus if the behavior occurred at any point in the block, so it tends to overestimate. Whole interval scores a plus only if the behavior lasted the entire block, so it tends to underestimate. Choose one and use it consistently.
- What is momentary time sampling?
- Momentary time sampling scores the behavior only at the instant each interval ends, ignoring the rest of the block. It is the least demanding method for one observer because you glance up only at set moments, which makes it popular for classroom use.
- How long should each interval be?
- It depends on the behavior and how much attention the observer can spare. Common intervals run from ten seconds to a few minutes. Shorter intervals give a finer picture but demand more from the observer, so pick a length you can actually sustain.
- Is interval data a true count?
- No. Interval recording estimates the proportion of intervals in which a behavior occurred, not the exact number of times it happened. That is a fair trade for behaviors that are impractical to count, as long as everyone reads the result as an estimate.