Functional analysis methods have become standard practice for determining t
he maintaining variables of problem behavior. The analysis of within-sessio
n response patterns has been proposed as a useful adjunct to the functional
analysis. Many within-session analyses have been conducted on data obtaine
d from interval scoring methods. However, interval methods only provide an
estimate of within-session data. The authors briefly describe a real-time r
ecording method and provide a rationale for its use. The authors then provi
de descriptions of several research studies from their lab in which real-ti
me data were crucial in determining behavioral function from experimental a
nalyses.