Learning outcomes

This course is aimed to:
a) provide students with theoretical and instrumental knowledge about observational methods and techniques that can be profitably used in both research and educational practice;
b) foster the familiarization with the main techniques for observing children’s behavior during interaction with adults and peers in different educational settings (family, day-care, kindergartner, primary school).

Program

The course is organized in three parts. The first one, focused on theories, includes an introduction to observation either as a research method or as a technique to collect data, a discussion on basic epistemological issues related to observation, and the outline of the main theoretical approaches that use observation to study developmental processes.
The second, larger part focused on techniques, includes the presentation and the exemplifying application of the main observational techniques (narrative report, check-list, coding system, rating scale, Q-sort) included “indirect observation” techniques (questionnaires for parents and teachers, sociometric techniques), and an introduction to data analysis.
Finally, the third part focuses on lab activities.

Didactic Methods
Lessons will be structured in theoretical presentations, discussions, exercises, and video observation and analysis aimed to apply observational techniques. Some lessons will be devoted to lab activities.

Exam texts
The preparation for the exam includes the study of an Handbook of observational methods (n.1), a book on techniques and tools to be used in educational contexts (n.2), a little book on descriptive data analysis (n.3), and a research article based on an observational method (n.4):
1) Camaioni, L., Aureli, T., e Perucchini, P. (2004). Osservare e valutare il comportamento infantile. Bologna: Il Mulino.
2) Elia, L., e Cassibba, R. (2009). Valutare le competenze sociali. Strumenti e tecniche per l’età prescolare. Roma: Carocci.
3) Rossi, G. (2010, II reprint). Statistica descrittiva per psicologi. Roma: Carocci (Le Bussole).
4) A research article based on an observational method, selected according to personal interest among articles published either in Developmental Psychology or Child Development (both available in Frinzi library).
Finally, not attending students are also recommended to practise by using the following book of exercises: Cassibba, R., e Salerni, N. (2004). Osservare i bambini: Tecniche ed esercizi. Roma: Carocci (Le Bussole).

Exam texts for the previous course (only 4 credits)
The preparation for the exam includes the study of an Handbook of observational methods (n.1), and a short book on techniques and tools to be used in educational contexts for toddlers and preschoolers (n.2):
1) Camaioni, L., Aureli, T., e Perucchini, P. (2004). Osservare e valutare il comportamento infantile. Bologna: Il Mulino.
2) D'Odorico, L., e Cassibba, R. (2001). Osservare per educare. Roma: Carocci (Le Bussole).
Finally, not attending students are also recommended to practise by using the following book of exercises: Cassibba, R., e Salerni, N. (2004). Osservare i bambini: Tecniche ed esercizi. Roma: Carocci (Le Bussole).

Examination Methods

Oral exam, integrated with a written exercise.