ABSTRACT
Both researchers and practitioners use systematic methods to collect information about children. Researchers investigate children’s typical and atypical development, the presence of variation and how particular characteristics of children and the environment contribute to different developmental trajectories, using a variety of methods. Research is often about how children and adolescents act in a particular situation, for example when they are exposed to adult anger and aggression. This requires some kind of observation and a registration of the activities and behavior of one or more individuals. The observer may for instance see, hear or record what children say and do when they are playing, talking, arguing, and so on. Interested families were recruited from two centers for preschool-aged children. The home visits started by informing families of their rights as a participant and obtaining their consent. Many factors can influence observations of children. The presence of an adult observer will always affect them.
