A Peek Behind the Fence: Naturalistic Observations of Aggressive Children With Remote Audiovisual Recording

This article describes a methodology that is uniquely suited to study peer interactions, particularly those of aggressive children. To date, researchers have used laboratory and naturalistic observations to investigate children's aggressive interactions. To overcome difficulties such as the con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental psychology 1995-07, Vol.31 (4), p.548-553
Main Authors: Pepler, Debra J, Craig, Wendy M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Aggressive Behavior
Aggressive young children
Aggressiveness
Audiotape Recordings
Audiotapes
Behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Child clinical studies
Child psychology
Childhood Play Behavior
Children
Elementary Education
Ethics
Human
Medical sciences
Naturalistic Observation
Observation Methods
Peer Relationship
Peer relationships
Playgrounds
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Research Methodology
Social behavior disorders
Studies
Video Recorders
Videotape recording
Videotape Recordings
Wireless Technologies
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Description
Summary:This article describes a methodology that is uniquely suited to study peer interactions, particularly those of aggressive children. To date, researchers have used laboratory and naturalistic observations to investigate children's aggressive interactions. To overcome difficulties such as the constraints of laboratory situations and reactivity to proximal observations, video cameras and wireless microphones were used in a study of the peer relations of aggressive and nonaggressive children. Details about the equipment and procedures are provided, along with logistical and ethical considerations. Remote audiovisual observations provide a unique opportunity to observe children's interactions that generally occur beyond adults' view. The primary strength of this observational methodology is its external validity. Children being observed are completely mobile on the school playground and are able to choose the activities and partners for their play. The effectiveness of this methodology is illustrated with results from our studies of children on school playgrounds.
ISSN:0012-1649
1939-0599
DOI:10.1037/0012-1649.31.4.548