Behavior Scatterplot Data Sheet

A behavior scatterplot data sheet answers the question “when does this behavior happen?” It’s a simple grid: times of day down the side, days of the week across the top. You mark each box for whether the behavior happened in that time slot — and after a few days, the filled-in grid becomes a picture of your child’s day, with the hard times showing up as clusters of marks.

Who it’s for: parents, teachers, therapists  •  Great for: finding time-of-day patterns before or alongside an FBA  •  Time: one quick mark per time slot

⬇ Download the free Scatterplot Data Sheet (PDF)

How to use the scatterplot

1. Define the behavior clearly at the top.
2. For each time slot, mark the box: blank = didn’t happen, / = happened once or twice, X = happened a lot.
3. Keep it going for at least 3–5 days so a pattern can form.
4. Step back and look at the whole grid.

Reading the pattern

The grid is the graph. A row full of marks means a time of day that is consistently hard — often a transition, a wait, hunger, or tiredness. A column full of marks means a hard day; ask what was different about it. Behaviors frequently cluster around unstructured or transition times, so a small change right before the peak — a warning, a visual schedule, a snack, a short movement break — often helps the most.

Tips

• Use 30- or 60-minute slots — whatever you can keep up with reliably.
• Once you spot the peak time, pair it with an ABC Data Sheet during that window to learn why.
• Share the grid with your child’s team; a clear picture speeds up good decisions.

This sheet helps you record and organize behavior. It is not a diagnostic tool; review findings with a qualified professional.

Related data sheets

• ABC Data Sheet — understand why a behavior happens.
• Frequency & Rate Data Sheet — how often it happens.
• Duration Data Sheet — how long it lasts.