Duration recording
Last updated
Duration recording measures how long a behavior lasts, from the moment it starts to the moment it ends.
Topic: Measurement and data collection
In plain terms
Duration is the right measure when the length of a behavior matters more than how often it happens: time spent on task, length of a tantrum, minutes of cooperative play, or time to complete a routine. The observer starts a timer when the behavior begins and stops it when it ends. Data can be reported as total duration or as the average length of each episode.
How it shows up in an IEP
Duration goals need a clear definition of when the behavior starts and stops. They are often paired with a direction: increasing time engaged in independent work, or decreasing the length of escalations.
Example
A teacher times a student's independent reading each day. Baseline episodes average 3 minutes before the student leaves the seat; the goal is 12 minutes of continuous reading.
Related terms
- Latency recordingLatency recording measures the time between a cue, such as a direction, and the moment the student begins to respond.
- Operational definitionAn operational definition describes a behavior in observable, measurable terms, so different people would agree on whether it happened.
- Interval recordingInterval recording divides an observation into short, equal intervals and records whether a behavior occurred during each one.
- Target behaviorA target behavior is the specific behavior chosen to measure and change, defined clearly enough that anyone could count it.
- Data sheetA data sheet is a form for recording a student's performance on an IEP goal in a consistent way each session.
On IEP Atlas
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