Data Collection Tools 

Frequency Recordings

What Are They?
Records the number of occurrences of a target behavior. 
Easy for the teacher to utilize while teaching - IF only a few students are utilizing this style of data collection

Why Do We Use Them?

• To establish a target behavior 

• Establish how significant a behavior is?  (Is the a significant behavior within in the educational setting)

• Establish a baseline for progress monitoring 

• As a way to measure one specific behavior 

Types of Behavior Used With

• Yelling out in class

• Leaving seat

• Physical contact with peers (number of times a student hits)

• Throwing materials on the floor.

When to Use It

• When the behavior can be easily counted, but not at a high rate

• Clear beginning and ending of the behavior 

• Behavior is a short duration 

• Behavior occurs a number of times during a specific period of time.  

Rate Recording 

What Are They?
Records of the number of occurrences of a target behavior in a specific amount of time. 
Easy for the teacher to utilize while teacher - This is easier than frequency recording if several students are on frequency recording in a single classroom.  

Why Do We Use Them?

• To establish a target behavior 

• Establish how significant a behavior is?  (Is the a significant behavior within in the educational setting)

• Establish a baseline for progress monitoring 

• As a way to measure one specific behavior 

Types of Behavior Used With

• Yelling out in class

• Leaving seat

• Physical contact with peers (number of times a student hits)

• Throwing materials on the floor.

When to Use It
When the observation time varies, but you want to get an accurate frequency count.