Event and time sampling

• Event sampling counting the number of times a behaviour occurs
• Advantage of event sampling

  • Is useful when the target behaviour or event happens quite infrequently and could be missed if time sampling was used.
  • Event sampling can be conducted in natural environments, enhancing ecological validity while still maintaining a clear focus.
• Time sampling recording a behaviour is a pre-established time during a specific period
• Advantage of time sampling

  Reduces the number of observations needed to be made

  By sampling at regular intervals, researchers are more likely to obtain a balanced view of behavior over time, reducing the risk of focusing on atypical events.

  • Standardized time intervals provide consistency, making it simpler to compare data across different observations or participants.

  Disadvantage

  May miss behaviours in between times • May be unrepresentative
• Disadvantage of event sampling - By focusing only on pre-defined events, the findings may not represent the full range of behaviors or interactions within the study.

  By focusing only on pre-defined events, the findings may not represent the full range of behaviors or interactions within the study.

  - Constantly monitoring for specific events can be demanding, increasing the likelihood of errors or missed occurrences.

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