Gregory P. Hanley, Anthony P. Cammilleri, Jeffrey H. Tiger, & Einar T. Ingvarsson. (2007)
A method for describing preschoolers’ activity preferences.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
40, 603-618.
We designed a series of analyses to develop a measurement system
capable of simultaneously recording the free-play patterns of 20 children
in a preschool classroom. Study 1 determined the intermittency with which
the location and engagement of each child could be momentarily observed
before the accuracy of the measurement was compromised. Results showed
that intervals up to 120 s introduced less than 10% measurement error.
Study 2 determined the extent of agreement between two observers who
simultaneously collected data for 20 children using 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120-s
momentary time sampling (MTS) intervals. The three larger intervals resulted
in high levels of interobserver agreement (above 90%), whereas the 30-s
interval resulted in unacceptably low levels of agreement (less than 80%).
By allowing observers to select from among the different MTS intervals via
a datasheet array and then collect data with the chosen system, Study 3
determined observers’ preferences for the remaining MTS intervals. Both
data collectors preferred the 90-s MTS procedure. The sensitivity of the 90-s
MTS procedure, which was shown to be accurate, reliable, and preferred,
was then demonstrated by its use to describe activity preferences of a classroom
of children in Study 4. This system identified high- and low-preference
activities for individual children and revealed interesting patterns of response
allocation by the group.
DESCRIPTORS: choice, free play, measurement, momentary time sampling, preference assessment, preschoolers