Duration Recording: Measure How Long Behaviors Last
Duration recording captures the length of behaviors over time. Essential for behaviors where "how long" matters more than "how many times" — like tantrums, on-task time, and engagement.
Types of Duration Recording
There are three main ways to measure behavior duration, each suited to different purposes:
Total Duration
Sum of all behavior time during observation period.
Example:
"Student was off-task for 18 minutes total during the 45-minute class."
Best for: Overall impact, daily totals
Duration per Occurrence
Average length of each behavior episode.
Example:
"Average tantrum duration: 6.5 minutes (range: 2-15 minutes)"
Best for: Crisis episodes, intervention effectiveness
Percentage of Time
Proportion of observation spent in behavior.
Example:
"On-task behavior: 78% of observed time"
Best for: Engagement, on-task, IEP goals
When to Use Duration Recording
✓ Ideal for These Behaviors
- •Tantrums and emotional outbursts
- •On-task / off-task behavior
- •Time in designated area (seat, calm corner)
- •Self-injurious behavior episodes
- •Engagement and participation
- •Crying or emotional dysregulation
- •Out-of-area or elopement
- •Screaming or loud vocalizations
- •Social interaction duration
- •Independent work time
✗ Consider Other Methods For
- •Brief discrete behaviors → Use frequency
- •Hitting, kicking (quick acts) → Use frequency
- •Call-outs or verbal interruptions → Use frequency
- •Understanding triggers → Use ABC data
- •Sampling during busy times → Use interval recording
Pro Tip: If behaviors are both frequent AND variable in length, consider tracking both frequency AND duration for a complete picture.
How to Collect Duration Data
Define Start and End Points
Your operational definition must clearly specify when the behavior begins and ends.
Tantrum:
Start: Behavior begins when student exhibits 2+ of: screaming, crying, falling to floor, throwing objects
End: Behavior ends when student is calm (no crying/screaming) for 30 consecutive seconds
Choose Your Timing Tool
Select a practical method for your setting:
Stopwatch app
Best for: Multiple episodes, need lap times
Classroom Pulse
Best for: Automatic calculations, graphing
Wall clock + paper
Best for: Low-tech, always available
Smart watch
Best for: Discreet, hands-free
Record Each Episode
For each occurrence, record: start time, end time, and total duration. Note any relevant context.
For continuous behaviors (like on-task), you can time the "on" periods and subtract from total observation time, or vice versa.
Calculate Your Metrics
At the end of observation, calculate relevant measures:
Total Duration: Sum of all episode durations
Average per Episode: Total duration ÷ Number of episodes
Percentage: (Total duration ÷ Observation time) × 100
Sample Duration Data
Student: Alex P.
Target Behavior: On-task behavior
Observation: Independent work time (30 minutes)
| Date | On-Task Time | Obs. Period | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 12/2 | 18 min | 30 min | 60% |
| Tue 12/3 | 21 min | 30 min | 70% |
| Wed 12/4 | 19 min | 30 min | 63% |
| Thu 12/5 | 24 min | 30 min | 80% |
| Fri 12/6 | 22 min | 30 min | 73% |
| Week Average | 20.8 min | 30 min | 69% |
Analysis:
- • Baseline: ~69% on-task during independent work
- • IEP Goal: Could target 80% on-task time
- • Pattern: Thursday shows improvement — investigate what was different
- • Progress: Upward trend suggests current supports may be working
Frequently Asked Questions
What is duration recording in behavior tracking?▼
Duration recording measures how long a behavior lasts. You start timing when the behavior begins and stop when it ends. Results can be reported as total duration (e.g., "45 minutes off-task"), average duration per episode (e.g., "tantrums average 8 minutes"), or percentage of time (e.g., "on-task 72% of observed time").
When should I use duration recording instead of frequency?▼
Use duration recording when: how long the behavior lasts is more important than how often it occurs, the behavior varies significantly in length, you're tracking on-task or engagement behavior, or the behavior is continuous rather than discrete. For example, a 45-minute tantrum is very different from a 2-minute tantrum, even though both count as "1" in frequency recording.
How do I calculate percentage of time for a behavior?▼
Percentage = (Total duration of behavior ÷ Total observation time) × 100. For example, if a student was on-task for 36 minutes during a 45-minute observation, that's (36 ÷ 45) × 100 = 80% on-task time. This is useful for behaviors like engagement, participation, or time in designated areas.
What's the difference between total duration and duration per occurrence?▼
Total duration is the sum of all behavior episodes in an observation period (e.g., "20 minutes total tantrum time today"). Duration per occurrence is the average length of each episode (e.g., "average tantrum lasts 5 minutes"). Both are useful: total shows overall impact, while per-occurrence shows episode intensity.
How can I time behaviors while teaching?▼
Practical timing methods include: stopwatch apps with lap functions, smartwatch timers, Classroom Pulse with start/stop buttons, wall clock with notebook to record start/end times, or having a paraprofessional assist with timing. For approximate data, you can use time sampling instead of continuous timing.
Time Behaviors Effortlessly
Classroom Pulse includes built-in timers with automatic duration calculations and percentage tracking.