Collecting and Recording observational Data

1. Collecting and Recording observational Data • Narrative Recording (most popular) – Written descriptions of Children’s actions • Anecdotal Records • Brief narratives describing an incident of child behavior that is important to the observer (factual, objective, telling how it happened). The why is left for the commentary. Written by one who witnessed it informally after it happens ( brief but cumulative) • Advantages: • No special training required • Observation is open ended • Observer can catch an unexpected incident no matter when it occurs • The observer cat record what is important to his observation • Disadvantages: • Not a complete picture • Depends too much on the memory of the observer (witnesses are poor on details) • Incidences may be taken out of context • Difficult to code or analyze (not useful in scientific study)

2. Narratives Cont… • Running Records – a detailed narrative account of behavior recorded in a sequential manner as it happens (it includes all behavior) • Advantages: • It is rich, complete, and comprehensive • Open ended , not restricted to a particular behavior. • Tends to be more accurate because it is recorded when the behavior is happening • No special training • Disadvantages: • It is time consuming • Difficult to record everything without missing some details • Efficient for observing individuals but not groups • Hard for the teacher to stay apart fro the children for a long time

3. Insufficient Evidence “Jonathan walked into the room in this morning as if he were mad at the world. He would not look up at the teacher or respond to her greeting. He sort of slumped as he walked across the room and plunked himself down in a chair at one of the activity tables. Richie tried to join him but was pushed away. The teacher went over and asked him if he wanted to help mix play dough, but he shook his head no. • Not objective! The words as if he was mad at the world are a conclusion based on insufficient evidence • Better “Jonathan walked into the room with a frowning kind of look on his face. He lowered his head when the teacher greeted him, and did not respond. • This behavior was unusual for Jonathan, the staff knew. Later the teacher found out that he was not mad at the world, but sad because his pet cat was killed by a car the night before. OOPS!

4. Omitted Facts “ Jonathan walks in the classroom this morning. He does not look at the teacher but goes straight to his seat at the tables. The teacher wants him to help mix play dough but he refuses. Richie comes over to play but he pushes him away” • Facts omitted from the observation: • Has a frowning look on his face • Does not respond to teacher’s greeting • Walks across the room with shoulders slumped • Drops himself down into the a seat at the activity table • When teacher asks him to help mix playdough, he shakes his head no

5. Guidelines for Objective observation • Record only the facts • Record every detail without omitting anything • do not interpret as you observe and record • Do not record anything you do not see • Use words that describe but do not judge or interpret • Record the facts in the order they occur