Seeing Young Children A Guide to Observing and Recording Behavior

by Bentzen, Ph.D., Warren R.

• ISBN13: 9780766811027
• ISBN10: 0766811026
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-12
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Students, teachers, parents, and professional child care providers and educators turn to this expertly written guide when they need detailed information on observing, recording and interpreting behavior in children from birth through age eight. It offers a combination of theoretical and practical aspects of observation. Readers will learn general observation guidelines and the basic elements of observing and recording children's behavior. Six chapters address recording techniques and instruments in great detail, including the pluses and minuses of each. The author, an authority in the field, dedicates considerable space in the book to the interpretation of one's observations, implementation of findings, and ongoing evaluation. Readers can apply all they have learned by employing some of the many observation exercises presented in the five final chapters, each dedicated to a particular age group.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Part 1 Overview
Introduction	3	(14)
An Introduction to Growth and Development	17	(27)
General Guidelines for Observing Children	44	(33)
Part 2 The Elements of Observation
Methods, Behavior, Plans, and Contexts	77	(7)
An Introduction to Observation and Recording Methods	84	(7)
Narrative Descriptions	91	(7)
Time Sampling	98	(17)
Event Sampling	115	(6)
Diary Description	121	(5)
Anecdotal Records	126	(5)
Frequency Counts or Duration Records	131	(6)
Checklists and Rating Scales	137	(21)
Application: Recording Methods in Action	158	(6)
Interpretation of Observations, Implementation of Findings, and Ongoing Evaluation	164	(27)
Part 3 Observation Exercises
Introduction and Preparation	189	(2)
Observing the Newborn: Birth to One Month	191	(26)
Observing the Infant: One to Twenty-Four Months	217	(51)
The Young Child: Ages Two through Five	268	(55)
Part 4 Middle childhood---The School-Age Years
Introduction and Preparation	321	(2)
The School-Age Years: The Six-Year-Old Child	323	(40)
The School-Age Years: The Seven- and Eight-Year-Old Child	363	(28)
Appendices	391	(17)
Glossary	408	(11)
References	419	(6)
Annotated Bibliography	425	(4)
Index	429