Observation report between school aged child or adolescent with his or her parent

Students should locate natural settings for these observations (e.g., friend or family homes, child
care settings, backyards, playgrounds, malls, senior centers, restaurants, etc.) in which there
exists a strong potential for interaction partners to be observed. You are free to use relatives
and/or friends! Students should observe each set of interaction partners for a
minimum of three
hours
(all at once or in multiple time frames), focusing on
verbal and nonverbal
communication
for each person for each assignment, and then complete a written summary.
Students must follow this format for each written summary of their observations:
I.
Introduction:
o
   This section must include a detailed description of what research and theory
explain are the typical interaction patterns, communication skills and abilities
and/or, language skills one would expect to see in the age groups of each
interaction partner. For example, if you are observing a child and an adult, you
must explain what the research/theory says are the typical interaction patterns,
communication skills and abilities of BOTH the adult AND the child. If you only

discuss one or the other, points will be deducted.
o
   This entire section must be grounded in
communication research and theory
using
only scholarly, academic sources – websites are NOT acceptable sources for any
assignment in this class. Each paper should have a minimum of 4 scholarly
sources.
o
   This section should be a minimum of approximately 2-3 pages in length
II.
Narrative:
o
   This section must contain rich, detailed descriptions of the specific behaviors and
interactions of BOTH partners that you observe during your time observing the
interaction partners.
o
   This section must accurately reflect the amount of time you spent observing the
interaction partners. Brief, cursory descriptions are not enough.
o
   This section must also include as many details as possible in order to accurately
describe the skills and abilities of each interaction partner exhibited during your
observations.
o
   This section should be a minimum of approximately 3-4 pages in length
III.
Assessment:
o
   This section must include your assessment of whether the interactive partners are
communicating the way research and theory says they should be communicating.
You must explain if both partners are interacting in ways research/theory say they
should be interacting.
o
   Your assessment must be based upon your observations in comparison with what
one would expect to see while watching the interactive partners communicate.
o
   Each statement of assessment must include evidence from your observations and
from the communication research and theory.
o
   This section is where you combine your introduction information and observation
information to “prove” your assessment is accurate. Yes, ideally you will be
repeating information from the introduction, narrative and including more outside
empirical evidence to fully support your assessment of the interactive partners.
o
   Again, this section must be ground in communication research and theory
combined with evidence from your observations.
o
   As stated previously, websites are NOT acceptable sources for any assignment in
this class.
o
   This section should be a minimum of approximately 3-4 pages in length

IV.
Complete APA-style Reference List
o
   All source materials must be listed and properly documented throughout each
assignment.

 All work must be: typed using a 12pt, Times New Roman font, with 1inch margins,
double-spaced.

 Bullet points/lists of any kind cannot be used in these assignments