METHODS FOR RECORDING OBSERVATIONS

INTRODUCTION
Descriptions of some effective methods for observing childrens behaviour and development. Provide insights that are useful for planning strategies to meet childrens needs. Need a variety of methods to document our observations. Consider advantages and disadvantages of each method.

A REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

INTORDUCTION
Choose to focus on the development or behaviour of one child or the whole group. Eg: A childs ability to do a fine motor task ie completing a wooden puzzle. Write in a narrative form of reflections about certain developmental area of the child.

ADVANTAGES
You can write about your feelings and experiences, which are important part of the learning process. The actual writing does not need to be done on site. Notes can be written at other time. Helps to clarify what is happening in the classroom by synthesise the information and make choices what you put into writing.

DISADVANTAGE
Time consuming. It may not be useful for planning curriculum. It can be subjective.

GUIDELINES
Always write in the date & time of the observation. Decide ahead of time what aspects of development will be the focus of each eantry. In order to protect the identity of each child use initials. Write in your journal each time you observe.

AUDIO RECORDING

INTRODUCTION

If you want to study more about language skills and development, a tape recorder is useful to get sample of childrens verbal abilities.

ADVANTAGES
Easy to operate. Portable. Can be listened to repeatedly by different people in order to analyse the material collected. Children can listen to themselves and evaluate their own performances.

DISADVANTAGES
Some children are reluctant to talk in the presence of a tape recorder. Listening to and transcribing can be a difficult task if not done soon after the observartion.

VIDEOTAPING

INTRODUCTION
Most accurate to observe and record interaction/activity in the group or classroom. Can be set up on tripod and placed in unobtrusive spot. Parents/teachers also can view the video later on.

ADVANTAGES
Give visual and auditory record of what really happened. Can review the tape numerous times, often focusing on different aspects of the situations.

DISADVANTAGES
Expensive. Takes time to review and analyse the tapes.

ANECDOTAL RECORD

INTRODUCTION An anecdote is a brief account of an important developmental event. Anecdotes tell stories. Eg: A story of an individual child and how he or she tackles a task can reveal much about his or her intellectual function. Anecdotes have a beginning, a middle and an end.

ADVANTAGES
It is quick and easy to do- only require pen & paper. It can be used to focus on significant behaviours in different developmental domains. It can include information about the context of the behaviour and give a richer picture of a child than some other methods. Stories are most appealing to other readers. It can be done without separating self from ongoing classroom activities. It can focus on both typical and atypical behaviour.

DISADVANTAGES
Anecdotes are not a complete picture of a behaviour as it only focuses on a unique incident. Bias is possible in writing because the observer chooses what to record.

WHEN TO USE?

To record the context of situation in which a child does something usual and display ways of interacting different from his or her behaviour.

SOCIOMETRIC TECHNIQUES

INTRODUCTION
The technique has been developed to enable teachers to assess the social interactions of children in group setting. It can be employed by systematic observation of children in group setting to see who plays together and who plays alone. It can involve direct interview or survey by asking children to identify members of the group they prefer to play or prefer not to play with. It can also plan for lessons and interventions for children to help them acquire appropriate social skills.

ADVANTAGES
It helps the teacher to understand the dynamics of a particular group of children. Teachers can use the information to identify children who may need help learning appropriate social skills.

DISADVANTAGES Young childrens social preferences always change from time to time. Teacher interventions may need to be long-term before some children are fully accepted into the group. Children who are neglected or rejected often have well-established patterns of interacting and takes time to change them.

WHEN TO USE?
When the class is not working together. When some of the children in the group are being rejected or neglected.

EVENT SAMPLING

INTRODUCTION It is used to relook at recurring problems. It can be used to do a random sample of children or a specific child. Event sampling form may include: Targeted behaviour Causes of misbehaviour Behaviours to be encouraged Strategies to be used in intervening Follow up- later observation to see if the problem is solved.

ADVANTAGES
It can cover causes and effects of the behaviour. Results of observations can be used to plan appropriate interventions at individual childs developmental level.

DISADVANTAGES Results cannot be generalised to another child of group of children. It requires time and skill to code behaviours and record incidents. It is always not easy to establish the causes of behaviours.

WHEN TO USE?
To explore causes and effects of behaviours. When a child shows repeated inappropriate behaviour. When a schedule seems inappropriate for the children, event sampling can help to identify the problem.

RUNNING RECORD

INTRODUCTION A quick way to study the behaviour of one or two children. A sequential record over a given time, recorded while the behaviour is occuring to document what children are doing in the particular situation. Duration of time can within 5-7 minutes.

ADVANTAGES Can observe behaviours in natural setting. Can serve as a basis for further assessment. Can be fairly objective. Can document small changes in behaviour. Can be used to develop learning experiences for particular children.

DISADVANTAGES It takes time and training to do. When engaged with running record, observer cannot interact with each other. Observers can overestimate the frequency of occurrence of certain behaviour based on a small sample of time.

WHEN TO USE?

When teachers are corcerned about the behaviour of a particular child or small group of children.

RATING SCALE

INTRODUCTION
There are several designs of rating scales. A scale which requires an observer to determine whwre a childs behaviour fit on 3-7 point scale. A likert scale has a continuum from almost always to always never

ADVANTAGES
It is easy to use and requires less time than most other methods. It can be used to compare the behaviours of several children. Students and teachers can use them to assess many different programs or behaviors at one time.

DISADVANTAGES It can be biased because the rater is asked to make judgment. It is very accurate. Sometimes none of the categories fit the behaviors observed. There is a need to carefully define what different ratings mean to maintain consistency among raters.

WHEN TO USE?
When teachers want to know, in general, how well, or how often a behavior takes place. When assessing many different aspects of a program or several child, rating scales are appropriate. When making overall assessments for dianosing individual needs. When teachers want to chart a childs growth over time.

CHECK LIST

INTRODUCTION It can be completed in a natural context without putting the child in a testing situation. Eg. It would be fairly simple to observe a small group of 4 years old and check which on the list were able to cut along a straight line with scissors.

ADVANTAGES Easy to use. Helpful in planning for individual needs. The teacher can tell at a glance who does or does not have a certain skill or has had a speciific experience. Can record more than one child at a time. Can often be done without the child being aware that he or she is being observed. Teachers can make their own check list to fit their assessment.

DISADVANTAGE Teachers may use check list which are appropriate for the developmental level of children. Teachers may follow a checklist too rigidly. The check list may dictate the curriculum. Teachers who want children to do well may teach according to check list, but some children may not yet be ready.

WHEN TO USE?
When the teacher wants to know who has or has not completed a certain task or skill. To identify children who need remedation to master specific skill/task.

CASE STUDY

INTRODUCTION
An in-depth look at an individual child. It is often based on both observations and interviews with the child. Ideally more than one observation is made while the child is engaged in various activities to provide a comprehensive view of the childs development. It is often summarised in written form to identify the childs strength, needs and recommendations for continued development.

ADVANTAGES It focuses on the strengths and needs of one child. Case studies use a variety of methods, and settings. A case study produces a multifaceted picture of one child. A case study is useful in planning a comprehensive intervention program for a particular child. Case studies may need the requirements for special educational services.

DISADVANTAGES

Results are individual and do not apply to other children.

WHEN TO USE?
Case studies are longitudinal and detailed study of one child. They can be helpful in examining the long term care and education for any child, but especially for children with diabilities.

PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIOS
Portfolios provide a basis for discussion at parent-teacher conference. Teachers select work samples such as drawing, photos, tape recordings of the child reading or telling a story or writing samples to include. Test scores, check list, recorded observations can also be included. Children can choose their own samples of work to present to their parents. Teachers need to write a summary basedon the samples gathered in the portfolio to give an overview of development.

ADVANTAGE It gives a comprehensive picture of the childs abilities in many different areas of the curriculum. Children can be involved in selecting materials to be included. Useful for sharing info with parents.

DISADVANTAGES Requires much advanced planning and organisation. May tend to focus only on paper-and pencil accomplishments. Musical and athletic abilities, for example, may be difficult to document.

WHEN TO USE?

As an evidence that parents and teachers can respond to with regard to the childs development and achievement.