How frequency recording works
To use frequency recording, you define the target behavior clearly, choose an observation period, and tally each occurrence as it happens. A simple counter, tally marks, or a digital tool all work, as long as each instance is recorded the moment it occurs.
Because it produces a direct count of occurrences, frequency recording is easy to teach and easy to interpret, which makes it a good default for many countable behaviors.
When to use it
Frequency recording works best for discrete behaviors that have a clear start and end and occur at a moderate rate. Examples include raising a hand, completing a problem, hitting, or asking for an item.
- The behavior is countable, with each instance clearly distinguishable from the next.
- The behavior occurs at a moderate rate, not so fast that tallying becomes impossible.
- Each occurrence takes roughly the same amount of time, so a count meaningfully reflects the behavior.
Count vs. rate
A raw count is simply the number of times the behavior occurred. Count is useful when observation periods are always the same length.
Rate expresses count relative to time, usually as occurrences per minute or per hour. Rate is essential when observation periods vary in length, because it lets you compare across sessions fairly. For example, 10 occurrences in 20 minutes is a rate of 0.5 per minute, which can be compared directly to a session of a different length. Standard Celeration Charts are designed around rate, making them a natural fit for frequency data.
Limitations
Frequency recording is a poor fit for behaviors with no clear beginning or end, such as being out of seat, or for behaviors that occur at extremely high rates that are difficult to count accurately. In those cases, duration recording or an interval method is usually a better choice.