MOMENTARY TIME SAMPLING AS AN ESTIMATE OF PERCENTAGE TIME: A FIELD VALIDATION

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Abstract
This study examined the percentage time estimates of momentary time sampling against the real time obtained with handheld computers in a natural setting. Twenty‐two concurrent observations were conducted in elementary schools by one observer who used 15‐s momentary time sampling and a second who used a handheld computer. Results for the six behaviors showed a close correspondence between the momentary time sampling percentage observation intervals and the real time percentage observation time, although 15‐s momentary time sampling tended not to sample low‐frequency short‐duration behaviors. The results confirmed laboratory findings that short‐interval momentary time sampling estimates percentage time accurately for a wide range of behavior frequencies and durations, and suggested that observers using momentary time sampling in a natural setting are able to obtain accurate data.