Advantages of using differ observations Flashcards
(9 cards)
Advantages (4) of using Narrative observation?
Provides a full picture of a child’s actions within a specific setting and time.
Captures behaviour in real - life situations without interference or leading questions
Allows educators or professionals to track cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development over time.
Can be shared with parents, caregivers, or other professionals to support collaboration and transparency.
Advantages (5) of using Event sampling observation?
Focus on specific behaviours - as you’re only recording when specific events occur
Less subjective and easier to compare over time or across observers.
Repeated observations can reveal what precedes or follows a behaviour, helping with behaviour analysis and intervention planning.
Observers don’t need to watch continuously—only when the targeted behaviour occurs.
Especially helpful for capturing rare but important behaviours that wouldn’t be noticed in time-based observations.
Advantages (5) of using time sample observations?
Efficient and time efficient
Time sampling produces numerical data that can be easily analysed, compared, and graphed to identify patterns or trends.
Allows observers to track progress or changes over weeks or months without needing to record constantly
Practical for classrooms or group care environments where it’s difficult to focus on one child continuously
Observers can concentrate on specific behaviours of interest (e.g., aggression, cooperation, task engagement), making it ideal for targeted interventions.
Advantages (4) of using child tracker observation?
Helps identify which areas the child prefers or avoids and how they navigate the environment.
Useful for understanding how much time is spent in purposeful activity vs. wandering or inactivity.
Shows who the child interacts with and how frequently (or if they play alone), helping assess social development.
Can highlight if a child is being unintentionally excluded or not accessing certain areas or resources.
Advantages (5) of using an online learning journal observation?
Easy to organise and access
Educators can upload observations quickly
Parents can view them immediately - promoting better home–school communication.
Allows use of photos, videos, audio clips, and written notes to provide richer, more engaging records of learning.
Multiple educators (and sometimes parents) can contribute to the journal, creating a more complete picture of the child’s learning. -
Reduces the need for paper, printing, and physical storage space.
Advantages (4) of using a checklist observation?
Efficient and time saving
They provide a structured format that can be used across multiple children or over time, allowing for easy comparison and tracking of development.
Checklists allow for targeted observation of certain developmental areas (e.g., gross motor skills, social behaviours, academic skills) and can guide intervention plans.
Ensures observations are consistent across different observers, which is important for objectivity.
Advantages (4) of using a sociogram observation?
Provide a clear, visual representation of how children interact with one another = making it easier to identify patterns in relationships, such as cliques, friendships, or isolated individuals.
Can help identify children who may be socially isolated or excluded from peer groups, which is essential for addressing bullying or promoting inclusion.
Teachers or counsellors can develop more focused strategies to support children who are struggling socially, such as fostering relationships or facilitating group activities.
They help educators understand the quality and quantity of interactions between children, which is important for promoting healthy social and emotional development.
Advantages (7) of using jottings / sticky notes observations?
Quick and efficient
They enable you to record immediate behaviours or interactions that are happening in real time
Ensure that important moments are not missed.
These methods are more discreet than other types of observation, which can make children feel less aware that they are being observed = more natural.
Sticky notes are portable and easy to use on the go.
Don’t require any technology or large setups.
After the observation, these brief notes can be expanded upon later or used as the basis for more detailed documentation and analysis, helping educators to reflect on a child’s development over time.
Advantages (4) of using Photographic and video observations?
Captures detailed, non-verbal cues (e.g., body language, facial expressions) that may be missed in written notes.
Teachers, parents, and even children can review and reflect on the footage later, deepening understanding of learning.
Allows for repeated viewing and analysis, helping with long-term tracking of development and progress.
Helps spotlight children’s perspectives and experiences through what is captured in their natural play or work.
