Which observation method records exact words and actions as they occur, often with a running time?

• A. Time sampling
• B. Running record
• C. Anecdotal notes
• D. Event sampling

Answer: (B)

Capturing exact words and actions as they happen is done with a running record. This method involves a continuous narrative of what a child says and does, often including the exact timing of each event. Because it logs each utterance and action in sequence, you get a detailed picture of how interactions unfold and how behaviors develop over time. That level of detail is essential when you want to understand not just what occurred, but the order and context in which things happened—how a child responds to a request, then follows a sequence of actions, for example.

Other methods focus on different aspects. Time sampling checks whether certain behaviors occur at set intervals, providing a snapshot of behavior frequency rather than a full, moment-by-moment record. Anecdotal notes describe notable incidents in a narrative form but aren’t always verbatim or tied to precise times. Event sampling records every occurrence of a specific behavior, but it centers on that behavior alone rather than the full flow of words and actions surrounding it.