Types of sampling

• What is time sampling?

  A target individual / group established then researcher records behaviour in a fixed time frame, snap shot in time

  eg. Every 60 seconds
• what is event sampling?

  a target behaviour/ event is established then researcher records every time the event occurs
• what is behaviour sampling?

  When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and operationalised
• what are behavioural categories?

  operationalised descriptions of behaviours —> objective

  eg. aggression = punching, spitting, swearing
• what must behavioural categories be?

  explicit - require no inferences

  exclusive - not overlap

  measurable

  cover all possible behaviours - avoid ‘waste basket’
• what do behavioural categories do?

  turn data in to quantitative data
• What is a pilot study?

  small scale

  check if procedure works —> make edits before large sale study eg. Check behavioural categories