sampling methods

• event sampling

  Counting each time a particular behaviour is observed.
• strength of event sampling

  Useful when the target behaviour or event happens infrequently and could be missed if time sampling was used.
• limitation of event sampling

  If the situation is too busy and there is lots of target behaviour occuring the researcher could not record it all.
• time sampling

  Recording behaviour at timed intervals.
• strength of time sampling


  The observer has time to record what they have seen.
• limitation of time sampling

  Some behaviours will be missed outside the intervals - observations may not be representative.