Anecdotal record: what it is and how it is used in psychology and education.

A useful tool for monitoring actions that are of interest to study.

Throughout the day, each and every one of us performs hundreds of different behaviors and actions. Not only us, but also the rest of humanity and even the rest of the animals do it. And many of these behaviors and actions may be of great scientific interestand it may be necessary to record them in some way.

In this sense there are many instruments and methods of evaluation, both objective and subjective. One of the simplest and yet most common is direct observation, through which one can experience and record the occurrence of different events over the time when (or after) the observation is carried out.

And within the registers that we can use, an example can be found in the anecdotal recordwhich we are going to talk about in this article.

The anecdotal record: what is it?

An anecdotal record is known as a type of instrument or methodology for recording behavioral information, in which the way in which which describes as objectively as possible a set of facts, situations or phenomena that have taken place in a period of time in which information has been carried out.

As a general rule, the anecdotal record takes the form of a report that gives an account of the conduct or behavior, interests, actions and procedures carried out by a subject or group, when these occur spontaneously, surprisingly and unexpectedly.

It is the product of direct observationThe anecdote, which begins at the moment when an unexpected event occurs and must be recorded. In other words, as its name suggests, it is the recording of an anecdote.

In contrast to other types of recording, anecdotal recording is characterized by the fact that it is carried out in an unplanned and unprepared manner, but arises when something has occurred that makes it necessary, whether this event is spontaneous or more continuous. The observations are transcribed in an unstructured mannerIn addition, the record is usually generated a posteriori, as it is not something planned.

One of the most relevant characteristics of the anecdotal record is the fact that the data collected in it should be as objective as possible: it should be a description of the situation or phenomenon described, without including subjective elements or interpretations of the acts. This is important, since if the data are objective they will not be biased by the observer's own beliefs and expectations and can be analyzed by third parties. At least not in the description itself, although a later section can be made with the interpretation given.

The description of the situation must be accurate and include especially the unforeseen situation, but it must also include contextual information. must also include contextual information. This includes the time, the place or the presence or absence of other people, among others.

What is it useful for?

The anecdotal record can have many uses and in many different areas. But one of the contexts in which they are most commonly used is in the educational field, where teachers and professionals can record events, situations or attitudes that are relevant or striking..

In this sector, teachers and professionals can record the presence of events, situations or attitudes that are relevant or striking, and that may merit a record for some kind of subsequent action or intervention. And not only the teachers, but also the students themselves can make a record if necessary.

In addition to this, it can also be used as a basis for a more systematized study of attitude or even behavioral traits. on the attitude or even the personality traits and psychosocial development of the subject. Other sectors in which it can be of use is in the study of the behavior of a group, or it can even be used in sectors such as the penitentiary.

Main points to have Although it does not necessarily have a fixed structure, in general we should bear in mind that an anecdotal record should incorporate a series of main elements.

Among the different elements to be highlighted should be basic data such as time and date, place, name of the subject, type of activity or situation and the context in which it takes place. This should be followed by (and this is the main point) an objective description, clear and without any kind of interpretation or ambiguity..

Optionally, and especially if there are already several observations that allow us to see a pattern or different perspectives of the same reality, an interpretation section can be included. Finally, recommendations based on the interpretations can also be included.

What are the advantages of this type of record?

The anecdotal record has a number of advantages over other types of records. First of all it is a fairly simple and natural type of recording to do, as long as the person is able to be objective in his description and separate his perspective and opinion from the data he is reflecting.It is also advantageous in that it allows data to be taken from events, behaviors and phenomena in the first person and from the hands of a witness to the situation.

It is also advantageous in that it allows data on events, behaviors and phenomena to be taken in the first person and from a witness to the situation, and even if subsequent observations are made, it allows for continuity in the observations. it allows for continuity in the annotations, in such a way that it can so that a systematized observation can be generated a posteriori.

Moreover, the fact that the recording is carried out a posteriori means that the person carrying it out does not have to be interrupting the activity at the same moment to record the data, although this may reduce the number of details that we remember about the situation.

The fact that it requires a certain objectivity makes it easily interpretable by people outside the observation, so that if it is well done, other experts can draw their own conclusions or even report and record possible subsequent events. All this makes anecdotal records simple, straightforward and very useful instruments.

Bibliographical references:

• Casanova, M. (1998), Evaluación educativa. Mexico, SEP/Muralla (Biblioteca para la actualización del maestro).
• Secretaria de Educación Pública (2013). Assessment strategies and instruments from the formative approach. Herramientas para la evaluación en educación básica. Mexico. [Online]. Available at: https://www.educacionespecial.sep.gob.mx/pdf/doctos/2Academicos/h_4_Estrategias_instrumentos_evaluacion.pdf.