Ecological foundations of early intervention: Planned activities and strategic sampling

The purpose of this article was to present strategies for establishing meaningful and coherent goals for early intervention. First, from ecological theory, the natural and empirical bases of intervention design are reviewed, and the concept of fundamental units of analysis is explicated. Second, the idea of planned activities, which serve as natural units for intervention decisions, is presented. Third, aspects of sampling relevant for ecological interventions are discussed. Fourth, recommendations are made for using planned activities as a basis for sampling and intervention design. Being guided by planned activities may help resolve some controversial assessment questions and lead to stronger intervention plans, due to the emphasis on fundamental natural units of analysis.