Name Sam Facciolo Period 3 Date 4/30/19

Observation
Rating Scale

Objectives:
After completing this observation, you will be able to

● Use a rating scale to record the degree to which quality or trait is present
● Evaluate the use of rating scales

Observe a child in a preschool setting for a minimum of 30 minutes. As you observe the child,
rate each category of social play as always, usually, sometimes, or never.

Name of Child Brendan Small Age 5

Observation:
Social Rating
Development
Always Usually Sometimes Never

Spends time Never

watching others
play

Plays with toys Sometimes

alone

Plays with toys Always

similar to others’

Makes contact and Always

plays with other
children

Likes to be Always
accepted by others

Gives and takes Always

while interacting
with peers
Engages with others Always
in a positive manner

Interacts in harmony Always

with peers

Sees things from Always

another child’s point
of view

Shares possessions Always

and toys with peers

Respects others’ Always

rights

Strives for Always

independence

Expresses anger Always

verbally rather than
physically

Resolves play Always

conflicts in a
positive manner

Review:

1. Use the information from the rating scale to explain and describe the child’s social
development. (Some questions to consider may be: How does this child relate with other
children? Does he/she seek out other children? Does he/she seek only specific children?
Does he/she avoid the other children or specific children? Does he/she wait until
someone seeks him/her out? How does he/she respond to another child’s invitation to
play? Does he/she spend a lot of time watching other children? Is he/she generally a
leader or a follower?)
1. What did you learn about social development by observing this child?
● By observing Brendan, I learned that he is very good at developing socially. He is
very friendly with the other little jags and loves to interact with them. He is always
playing on the playground with his friends and talking to everyone.

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages you see in the use of rating scales?
● The advantages of using rating scales is to show how well the child is developing
or not developing. It is good to see how often the little jags are doing something.
There is not a disadvantage to using rating scales.

1. Describe a situation where you would use a rating scale for the assessment and explain
why.
● A situation where using a rating scale for an assessment would be good is if a
little jag is not getting along with the other little jags. Brendan is a very
responsible kid, so he does not make poor decisions, but some little jags are
different than him.