A manual counter for recording multiple behavior.

Phillips (1968) built a five-button hand counter. Each button clicks a separate tally wheel. One shared lever resets all five wheels to zero.

The device cost under ten dollars in 1968 money. It runs without batteries or software. You can hold it in one hand and watch a client with the other.

The paper gives a parts list and a photo. No data were collected. The goal was to share a cheap, sturdy tool for multi-behavior recording.

Shabani et al. (2006) later showed that 10-minute, time-sampled counts of tics match longer home logs. Their method works because a portable five-channel counter lets you track several tic topographies quickly.

Peters et al. (2013) validated a 5-minute alone probe to screen for automatic reinforcement. Observers used simple clickers to record multiple behaviors during the probe. The 1968 counter offers the same function in one pocket-sized unit.

Suhrheinrich et al. (2020) proved that a 3-point fidelity checklist saves time without losing accuracy. Community staff still need to count key behaviors. The 1968 hardware gives them a low-cost way to do it when phones or tablets are not allowed.

You can still buy the same counter today for about thirty dollars. Keep one in your bag for quick functional analyses, preference assessments, or treatment fidelity checks. No charging, no app updates, no privacy forms. Just click, click, click, and you have five clean frequency counts ready for your session notes.