18 PSYC&200: Lifespan Psychology-Observation Report
Nomita Yadav
PSYC&200: Lifespan Psychology-Observation Report
Purpose
The objective of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to observe and reflect upon various aspects of human development specifically middle childhood through volunteering in a formal setting say, an elementary school.. Through this experience, students will gain insight into the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children in middle childhood within the context of their interactions and activities in a school setting.
Tasks
- Visit a local public elementary school and spend a minimum of two hours observing children. Note: Prior to visiting the school, ensure compliance with any school or district policies regarding visitor observation and obtain necessary permissions if required. Respect student privacy and confidentiality at all times during the observation.
- Take notes during your observation period, focusing on specific behaviors, interactions, and developmental milestones you observe.
Field notes
During your visit, fill out the following information
| Item No. | Criteria | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name of the location | |
| 2 | Age of the individual observed | |
| 3 | Developmental period of observed | |
| 4 | Identify the individuals who interact with the observed (teachers parents caregivers) | |
| 5 | Describe the interactions observed (both positive and negative) | |
| 6 | Describe the cognitive characteristics | |
| 7 | Describe the physical characteristics | |
| 8 | Describe the emotional characteristics | |
| 9 | Describe the social characteristics (should include DSJ) |
- Reflect on your observations and consider how they align with theories of lifespan development that you have learned in class.
- Write an observation report in APA format summarizing your observations and reflections. Your observation report should be structured as follows:
- Introduction: Briefly introduce the purpose of your observation and the school you visited.
- Description: Provide a detailed description of the setting, including the grade level observed, the activities taking place, and any notable interactions or behaviors (both positive and negative) you observed.
- Observation: Make connections with the physical, cognitive, emotional and social dimensions of the lifespan under study.
- Reflection: Reflect on the observations you made and analyze them in the context of lifespan development theories. Consider questions such as:
-
- How do the observed behaviors align with developmental milestones?
- What factors may influence the differences or similarities in behavior among children of same/different ages?
- How do environmental factors ( look at diversity) within the school setting impact children’s development?
-
- Conclusion: Summarize your key takeaways from the observation experience and discuss any insights gained about human development through this firsthand experience.
General Criteria for Success
- Field notes must be included.
- The observation report should be typed and double-spaced.
- The report entry should be approximately 500 words in length.
- Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are expected.
- Use APA style for any references or citations.
Sample Assignment
