BarkingDogs.net

The Eight-Hour Data Gathering Form

Below you will find an approximation of the eight-hour form all filled out so you can see how it is supposed to look after it has been completed.

Note that the form is divided into 96 sections, with each section representing an interval of five minutes.

You will need to use a stopwatch or a digital, kitchen timer, the kind that counts up from zero, as opposed to the usual function of a timer, which is to count down. With the timepiece sitting out in front of you, use it to keep track of which five-minute interval you are in at any given moment. Each time the dog barks, you simply place a mark on the page to show that he sounded off at that point in time.

At the end of the exercise, you will have a graphic representation of every time the dog barked throughout the eight-hour period.

We know that there are 96 intervals on the chart. If you count up the total number of intervals during which the dog barked once or more, you can then use those two numbers to calculate the percentage of the time that the animal was disruptive. Perhaps the easiest way to do that is to Go to Math.Com, a website where you will find a device that will automatically calculate the percentage of the time your neighbor's dog was barking.

Click here to access a blank copy of the eight-hour form that you can print out and use to gather data on the barking behavior of your neighbor's dog. (Patience please - this form loads slowly)

Find Below a Filled-Out Example of the Eight-Hour Data-Gathering Form

Location	127 Mythical St	Observer	Dave Smith
Observed	Phoenix, AZ	Date	March 14, 2004

TIME	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	TIME ELAPSED	SUB- TOTAL
8:00	////		//	/		//////	30 Minutes	15
8:30		///			////		One Hour	7
9:00							1 Hours & 30 Min	0
9:30		///	//////	///			Two Hours	13
10:00	////			////			2 Hours & 30 Min	8
10:30				/////	///		Three Hours	9
11:00	//						3 Hours & 30 Min	2
11:30					//////		Four Hours	7
12:00		//	//	////			4 Hours & 30 Min	9
12:30	//////			///	///		Five Hours	13
1:00		////					5 Hours & 30 Min	5
1:30	//////						Six Hours	7
2:00	//				////		6 Hours & 30 Min	6
2:30			////				Seven Hours	5
3:00				////		//	7 Hours & 30 Min	6
3:30	////		///	////			Eight Hours	13
TIME	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Five Minutes	Total number of barks =	125
							PERCENTAGE=	32%

This page is part of Section Six:
the More Information section of barkingdogs.net