Development and Assessment of Young Children

Developmental assessment of Young children 4 (1+3)

Lesson 7:Tools & Techniques of Assessment

Time Sampling

1. The purpose of time sampling is to record the frequency of behavior for a designated period of time. The observer decides ahead of time.
• What behaviors will be observed?
• What the time interval will be.
• How the behaviors will be recorded.
2. The observer observes these behaviors and records how many times they occur during pretest, uniform time periods.
3. Other behaviors that occur during the observations are ignored.
4. After a number of samplings have been completed the data are studied to determine when and why the behavior is occurring.
5. Time sampling may be used with young children because of their behaviors are brief.
6. The observer can gain more comprehensive information about the behavior.
7. After the time samples are studied, the teacher can determine what can be done to modify the behavior.
8. Time sampling is frequently used by teachers and other school staff members when a child is behaving inappropriately at school ,for example
• One who behaves aggressively with other children.
• One who does not cooperate in classroom routine at certain times.
9. The length of observation can be affected by
• The target behavior.
• The children’s familiarity with the observer.
• The nature of stimulation.
• Number of children to be observed.

Example: Sharing/cooperative behavior, Non sharing/uncooperative behavior

Time 9.05 am to 10.00 am

Total time: 1 hour

time	activity	sharing	Non-sharing
9.05am
9.10
9.15
9.20
9.25
9.30
9.35
9.40
9.45
9.50
9.55
10.00
Total

Comments:

% of intervals of sharing _________ & non sharing _____________.

Class room observations for selected children

Time 9.15am to 11.15am

Total time : 2hours

Time	Active play	Passive play	Non engagement
9.15am	Ram, Raju	Krishna, Kumar	Teja, Tarun, Tara
9.30	Ram	Kumar	Krishna
9.45	Kumar, Krishna	-	-
10.00	Tara	-	-
10.15	-	-	-
10.30	-	Krishna	-
10.45	Kumar, Teja	Raju, Tara	Krishna
11.00	Krishna, Tarun	Tara	Raju, Kumar
11.15	Krishna	Teja, Tarun, Tara	Kumar

The other types of observational methods will be discussed in the next chapter.