INTEROBSERVER AGREEMENT AND DISAGREEMENT IN CONTINUOUS RECORDING EXEMPLIFIED BY MEASUREMENT OF BEHAVIOR STATE

Continuous observational recording was used to measure behavior state of 3 adults with profound and multiple disabilities. Observations were made over 56.7 hours, including 21.9 hours with two observers recordi ng independently. Overall percentage agreement was satisfactory (i.e., exceeded 80%). Agreement on occurrence was, however, generally unsati sfactory at a mean of 63.5%, with 5 of 16 Subject x State Agreement In dites over 80%. Percentage disagreement on occurrence, a previously un reported measure, was computed to quantify sources of disagreement. Th e agreement data were superimposed on participants' behavior state pro files to demonstrate how conclusions can; be drawn from the data, desp ite their generally inadequate reliability. This approach to interobse rver agreement and presentation of data is suggested for researchers i nvestigating entities that are not directly amenable to observation.