What does Interval by Interval IOA assess?

Interval by Interval Interobserver Agreement (IOA) assesses the level of agreement between observers for each interval of the observation period. This means that it specifically looks at whether both observers report the same behavior occurring within each designated time interval. This method is valuable for ensuring reliable data collection and can help identify discrepancies in observations, enhancing the accuracy of functional assessments or analyses.

In this approach, each interval is evaluated independently, and agreement is calculated based on the number of intervals in which both observers noted the occurrence or non-occurrence of the target behavior. This focus on every recorded interval offers a more detailed view of observer alignment and helps ensure that the data reflects an accurate representation of the behavior being studied.