Anecdotal Records
The simplest form of direct observation is a brief narrative account of a specific incident called an anecdotal record. Often an anecdotal record is used to develop an understanding of a child’s behavior.
Anecdotal records do not require charts or special settings. They can be recorded in any setting and require no special training.
All you need is paper and a writing tool to record what happened in a factual, objective manner. The observation is open-ended, continuing until everything is witnessed. It is like a short story in that it has a beginning, middle, and end.
The process of recording the incident requires a careful eye and quick pencil to capture all of the details. You will need to note who was involved, what happened, when it happened, and where it occurred. It needs to be done promptly and accurately. Figure 3-5 shows the contents of an anecdotal record.
When you use the narrative form of observation, your eyes and ears act like a video camera. You will be recording pictures of children playing, learning, and interacting.
During your observations, you will record how children communicate, both verbally and nonverbally. You will record how they look and what they do. Physical gestures and movements should be noted. You will also detail children’s interactions with people and materials. Record as many details as possible.
Anecdotal Records Must Be Objective
During the observation process, it is important to record only objective statements.
To be objective, a statement must pass two tests. First, it must describe only observable actions. Thus, generalizations about the motives, attitudes, and feelings of the
Anecdotal records shoul

children are not included. Secondly, the recorded information must be nonevaluative.
It should not include an interpretation of