Psychology/Behavior
Language:EnglishEspañolPortuguês (BR)
Behavior
Recording behaviour so that the record survives disagreement
Observation is the oldest instrument in behavioural science and still the most widely misused. Not for lack of attention — because the mind compresses what it sees into a conclusion before it has finished looking.
How behaviour is recorded
Operational definitions, the six recording methods compared, and how to turn raw records into numbers that genuinely compare.
Read
Antecedents, behaviour, consequences
The most informative and most abused form in observational work, and the three rules that keep it honest.
Read
Environment before person
Why the environment fields come first on every form, and why two settings are the minimum.
Read
The two-column discipline
A statement is observable if two people watching the same moment, from different sides of the room, with no discussion between them, would write approximately the same thing. A statement is inferred if it requires you to supply a reason, a motive, an emotion, a trait or a diagnosis that was not itself visible. Inference is not forbidden. It is a different category of information and it belongs in a different column, with your name on it.
| Inferred — belongs in interpretation | Observable — belongs in the record |
|---|---|
| Was aggressive. | Pushed the chair away with both hands; it fell over. |
| Was anxious about the test. | Tapped pen 20–30 times per minute; asked “how long left?” four times in 12 minutes. |
| Refused to participate. | Remained seated when the group stood; did not respond to two spoken invitations. |
| Melted down. | Cried for 4 minutes; covered both ears; moved under the table. |
| Is unmotivated. | Started 1 of 4 assigned tasks within the 30-minute period. |
| Was much better today. | Two recorded incidents today; the daily mean over the previous five days was seven. |
Words to strike from a record
aggressive · defiant · manipulative · attention-seeking · lazy · unmotivated · anxious · obsessive · non-compliant · meltdown · tantrum · disengaged · refused · deliberately · obviously · always · never.
Each one either supplies a motive you did not see, or a frequency you did not count.
PMA Quick Observation Card
The whole observation discipline on two pages — define before you watch, record the environment before the behaviour, keep description and interpretation apart — plus a printable tally sheet. (5 pages, PDF)
Free download
Educational scope. Everything published on PMA Science Psychology is provided for education, study and professional documentation. Nothing here is a diagnostic instrument, a psychometric test, or a substitute for assessment, treatment, supervision or emergency care by a qualified professional.
If you are at risk right now, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line immediately. Read our boundaries and safety statement.