Indirect assessment methods gather information about a clients behavior without directly observing the behavior as it occurs in realtime This typically involves interviews questionnaires rating scales and checklists where individuals familiar with the client provide information from memory or their subjective interpretation Therefore conducting an interview distributing a behavior rating scale and administering a functional assessment checklist are all classic examples of indirect assessment A scatter plot however is a data collection method used to record the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a target behavior during specific intervals across different time periods eg hours of the day days of the week While the data from a scatter plot is often recorded by an observer who is directly observing the client it is categorized as a descriptive assessment method because it involves direct observation and recording of behavior in the natural environment to identify correlations between behavior and environmental events without manipulation of variables To accurately complete a scatter plot an observer must be present and actively observing the behavior to mark its occurrence within the specified time blocks Thus it involves direct observation of the client making it the least likely to be classified as a purely indirect assessment