Observing children in their natural worlds

by Anthony D. Pellegrini

This book is about ways in which to conduct observations. Observational methods are a set of research tools useful in describing and then explaining behaviors and interactions. The methods presented here are drawn from various disciplines: anthropology, psychology, sociology, and education. They can be used to describe people's behavior and interactions in settings as varied as schools, bus queues, and dinner-time conversations. Further, the author draws extensively on the ethological literature that provides thorough and careful methods for observing animals in their natural habitats. Although the author refers to procedures used in various disciplines, his primary focus is on children and adults in school and family settings.