Introduction: one-paragraph. Include pertinent information about the child, such as age, gender, family structure, immigration/language learning status, special needs, etc, but do NOT specifically identify the child by their real name. You may also want to include a description of the circumstances of the observation – time, place, other individuals present, etc. Again, take care not to mention any specific people, schools, or other details that would make it possible to identify the child.
General Impressions: about one paragraph. Describe some of the child’s behavior or patterns of behaviors that were interesting to you, and analyze their significance to child development. Use this space to place the child within a particular developmental stage, supporting your observations with information on age-related milestones from the text. Select what you choose to include in this paragraph to show you reader how old your subject is, and how you can tell.
Specific Behaviors: 4-8 paragraphs, depending on how you organize it. For approximately four behaviors the child exhibited during the first or second hours:
Describe the behavior, in good observational detail.
Identify the concept from class the behavior illustrated.
Explain why this behavior illustrates the concept.
Discuss whether the child’s display of this particular behavior is typical for his or her age.
Discuss the significance of these behaviors for the child, and for child development in general.
Wrap-Up: about 1 paragraph. Summarize your conclusions about this child and his or her current stage of lifespan development. Include any factors that you think may have impacted on the behavior of the child.
Scientific Methodology Implications: Mention faults, strengths, and limitations of observation technique as a scientific methodology for studying children. Using this particular procedure, how effectively do you think you were able to learn about this child?
Make sure to cite your sources (textbook, class materials, etc.) for any developmental psychology information you select to include.
