Midterm

Question 1

Event sampling definition:

Answer 1

The observer waits for and records a specific preselected behavior.

Question 2

What is ES used for?

Answer 2

to study the conditions under which behaviors occur OR the frequency of behaviors

Question 3

Advantages of ES:

Answer 3

1. Can be used to study infrequent behaviors
2. Notes behaviors each time they occur
3. Notes the preceding circumstances
4. Notes the consequences of the behavior

Question 4

Disadvantages of ES:

Answer 4

1. Focuses on only one or a few behaviors

2. Does not have as much detail as running record or anecdotal record

Question 5

Guidelines for ES:

Answer 5

1. Clearly identify and operationally define the behavior that you want to study.
2. Know enough about the behavior in general that you know where and when to observe
3. Determine what kind of information you want to record
4. Make your recording sheet as easy to use as possible

Question 6

Time Sampling definition:

Answer 6

To observe specified behavior of an individual or group, and record the presence or absence of this behavior during short time intervals of uniform length.

Question 7

Advantages of TS:

Answer 7

1) Takes less time than running record and anecdotal records
2) Can record data on many children at once

3) It provides useful information about the intervals or
frequency of behavior

4) Counts of behavior can be used for research purposes

Question 8

Disadvantages of TS:

Answer 8

1) May miss important behaviors
2) Context of behavior not noted: does not focus on the causes and consequences of the behavior
3) It is limited to behaviors that occur frequently and not rare behaviors that might also be important

Question 9

Developing a TS Schedule

Answer 9

Sampling of children’s behavior can be done in a number of ways:

1) Use a check to indicate whether a behavior occurred
2) Tally the number of times a behavior occurs

Question 10

Guidelines for TS:

Answer 10

1) It is appropriate only for behaviors that occur fairly frequently- once every fifteen minutes on the average
2) It should be used only for behaviors that are easily observable

Question 11

Operational Definition:

Answer 11

assigns meaning to a construct or a variable by specifying the activities or “operations” necessary to measure it

Question 12

Checklist:

Answer 12

List  of specific traits or behaviors arranged in logical order.

Question 13

What is a checklist useful for?

Answer 13

Types of behavior or traits that can be easily and clearly specified.

(Info from anecdotal and running records can be transferred to checklists to make interpretations)

Question 14

Advantages to checklists:

Answer 14

1) Used to condense info. from RR or Anecdotal
2) Helps to focus observation on many behaviors at once
3) Little Training Required
4) Easy to use

Question 15

Disadvantages to checklists:

Answer 15

1) Not very detailed
2) Little info. regarding context or sequence of events
3) May miss important information not on checklist
4) Notes if a behavior occurred, but not how often or duration

Question 16

Guidelines for checklists

Answer 16

1) The checklist is prepared before doing the observation
2) List the target behaviors separately on the checklist
3) It should be logically organized
4) Organization should meet all the stated purposes of the observation

Question 17

Rating Scale:

Answer 17

An observational tool that indicates the degree

to which a person possesses a certain trait or behavior

Question 18

Advantages of Rating Scale:

Answer 18

1) DEGREES of behavior are noted
(not just if they occur or not)

2) Used to condense info. from RR or Anecdotal
3) Helps to focus observation on many behaviors at once
4) Takes little time to complete
5) Easy to use

Question 19

Disadvantages of Rating Scale:

Answer 19

1) Not very detailed
2) Little info. regarding context or sequence of events
3) Ratings are subjective/raters bias’?
4) Response categories subject to personal interpretations (Views “often” as “sometimes”

Question 20

6 types of play

Answer 20

1) Solitary
2) Onlooker
3) Parallel
4) Simple social
5) Complementary reciprocal
6) Complex Pretend

Question 21

Solitary

Answer 21

Play alone

Question 22

Onlooker

Answer 22

Watch others

Question 23

Parallel

Answer 23

play with similar toys in similar

ways, but don’t interact

Question 24

Simple social

Answer 24

engage in play with social interaction

Question 25

Complementary reciprocal

Answer 25

engage in play with turn taking structure

Question 26

Complex pretend

Answer 26

Play with a script

Question 27

Observation

Answer 27

1) The most direct method of becoming familiar with the behavior, learning and development of children
2) Most everyday observation is largely unconscious and unsystematic
3) Research-related/oriented observation is systematic and skill-based

Question 28

Objective Observations

Answer 28

Factors or details others could readily agree on:
• The # of chairs, tables, windows . . etc
• The color of objects
• The size of objects relative to one another

Question 29

Characteristics of Good

Observation

Answer 29

1) Objectivity
- Seeing without judging, as though we are a camera lens

2) Directness
- Capture direct quotes whenever possible

3) Specificity
- Record specific details

4) Completeness
- Tell a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end

5) Mood
- Describe the social and emotional details
 without interpreting them

Question 30

Challenges to objectivity

Answer 30

1) Selectivity

2) The effects of observer’s presence