Data Collection Basics

Thinking of all the factors can be difficult.  Often you may go through several different data sheets before you find one that gets everything you want.  Here are some factors to consider when considering data sheets:
  • Where is it occurring?
  • When is it occurring?
  • How many times?
  • What activities are the most challenging?
  • When is it feasible to take data?
  • Who will take the data?
  • Intensity range?
  • Who is present when behavior occurs?
  • Duration of behavior episode?
  • ​How much support do they need during specific activities of the day?
  • What are the target behaviors?

Data Sheet Examples

​ABC Data Sheets
  • Very effective at identifying what is going on before and after behaviors
  • Good at narrowing down possible functions of behavior
  • Can use for an extended amount of time, but if you think you know the function then you can change to a different data collection tool
  • Typically you can get a pretty good idea after 1 week of using ABC data collection
Quick ABC Data Form with Duration
File Size: 16 kb
File Type: docx
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abc_checklist_duration_intensity_data_gc_1.pdf
File Size: 67 kb
File Type: pdf
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Frequency Data Collection
​Methods of collecting:
  • Tallies on actual data sheet
  • Counter clickers
  • Apps that have frequency counts
  • Sitcky note
  • Switch beads or marbles from one pocket to the other (count and record at the end of the activity) 
Frequency Data Sheet
File Size: 966 kb
File Type: pdf
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behavior_freq_data[1].pdf
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: pdf
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daily_frequency-rate_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 11 kb
File Type: pdf
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30_minute__frequency-rate_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 11 kb
File Type: pdf
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activity_frequency-rate_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 11 kb
File Type: pdf
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Interval Recording Data Collection
15_minute_daily_interval_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 31 kb
File Type: pdf
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30_minute_daily_interval_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 29 kb
File Type: pdf
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activity_daily_interval_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 28 kb
File Type: pdf
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momentary_sample_blankrevised.pdf
File Size: 76 kb
File Type: pdf
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time_sampling_data_sheet_-_multiple_student.pdf
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: pdf
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Intensity Data Collection
Level of Support Data Sheet with Compliance & Respect
File Size: 17 kb
File Type: docx
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Duration Data Collection
duration_data_-_version_1.pdf
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: pdf
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duration_data_-_version_2.pdf
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: pdf
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Outside the Box Data Collection

Analyzing Data

Excel- 
Excel allows staff to continuously monitor student progress in targeted skills.  With the use of formulas you can quickly determine if interventions are are effective, not effective, or having no effect.  
  • Formulas
    • Frequency and Duration behaviors:
      • To add up the total number of times a behavior has occurred 
        • =SUM(A1:A5)
      • To determine the average number of times a behavior has occurred
        • =AVERAGE(A1:A5)
    • Behaviors that you are monitoring on if they occurred or not during a specified time:
      • Coding- When you put the data into Excel you will need to "code" the data.  This means that you put either a "1" or "0" for if it occurred or not.  If the behavior occurred then you would put "1", but if it did not occur put a "0"
        • Then put in the excel formulas for average to determine the percentage of time when the behavior occurred during that activity
          • =AVERAGE(A1:A5)
coding_example.xlsx
File Size: 10 kb
File Type: xlsx
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Student Example:
example_data_sheet.docx
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: docx
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coding_example_2.xlsx
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: xlsx
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Let's Practice:

excel_practice_data_sheet.pdf
File Size: 494 kb
File Type: pdf
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