ANECDOTAL
RECORDS
Neha K J
40th bsc nursing
Rollno:47
Govt College of nursing
Kozhikode
Outline
• Definition
• Characteristics of anecdotal records
• Principles
• Purposes
• Guidelines for making anecdotal records
• Items in anecdotal records
• Cautions while writing anecdotal records
• Advantages of anecdotal records
• Disadvantages of anecdotal records
• Uses of anecdotal records
INTRODUCTION
An anecdotal record is an observation that is
written like a short story. They are descrip-
tions
of incidents or events that are important to
the
person observing. Anecdotal records are
short,
objective and as accurate as possible.
DEFINITION
Anecdot : A brief account of an important
developmental event.
Anecdoctal record : An anecdotal record is a
report of a significant episode in the life of a
student.
-Rath Louis
It is an objective description by the teacher
of a
significant episode in life of a student.
-Green
PRINCIPLES
• Concentrate on only one or two behavior.
• Record should be complete.
• They should be kept by all teachers and
not
only by the student teacher.
• Record the incident or action as soon as
possible after it has happened
• The teacher should have practice and
training in making observation and writing
anecdotal record.
• Name of the student, class and school,
date of observation.
• Recommendation concerning the behavior.
PURPOSE
• To substitute for vague generalizations
about students specific exact description
of behaviour.
• To stimulate teachers to look for informa-
tion i.e pertinent in helping each stu-
dent realize good self- adjustment.
• To understand individual's basic personal-
ity pattern and his reactions in different
situations.
• The teacher is able to understand her pupil
in a realistic manner.
• It provides an opportunity for healthy
pupil- teacher relationship.
• It can be maintained in the areas of behav-
iour that cannot be evaluated by other
systematic method.
• Helps the students to improve their behav-
ior, as it is a direct feedback of an entire
observed incident,the student can analyze
his behaviour better.
• Can be used by students for self-appraisal
and peer assessment.
GUIDELINES
• Keep a notebook handy to make brief
notes to. remind you of incidents you
wish to include in the record.
• Write the record as soon as possible after
the event.
• In your anecdotal record identify the
time,child, date and setting.
• Describe the actions and what was said.
• Include the responses of other people if
they relate to the action.
• Describe the event in the sequence that it
occurred.
• Record should be complete.
• They should be emphasized as an educa-
tional resource.
• The teacher should have practice and
training in making observations and writ-
ing records.
CAUTIONS
• Interpreting anecdotes teacher's personal
values, biases and expectations can
cause undesirable effect in assessment.
• Teachers are expected to keep unbiased
records of behaviours or traits mani-
fested by learners.
• Teachers are expected to observe child
objectively .
• Observations should be accurate, objective
and specific as well as authentic
• Observers should not make assumptions
or use subjective or ambiguous words
• Student's behaviour, whether it is
favourable, unfavourable or neither of the
two should be recorded
• The record should be regarded as confi-
dential. It should not fall into irresponsible
hands
ADVANTAGES
• Reasonably easy to do.
• Needs no specific training.
• Use of formative feedback.
• Supplements and validates of other
structured instruments.
• Direct the teacher's attention to a single
pupil.
• Economical and easy to develop.
• It provides evidence for evaluation of stu-
dent's performance.
• They provide specific and exact description
of personality, ability or skill and minimize
generalization.
DISADVANTAGES
• If carelessly recorded, the purpose will not
be fulfilled.
• Only records events of interest to the per-
son doing the observing.
• Quality of the record depends on the
memory of the person doing the observ-
ing.
• Incidents can be taken out of context.
• Subjectivity.
• Lack of standardization.
• Difficulty in scoring.
• Time consuming.
• May miss out on recording specific types
of behaviour.
• Limited application.
USES
• Initiative and skill in recognizing and meet-
ing patient's needs .
• Ability to make nursing assessment in the
clinical setup.
• Initiative in planning nursing care to the
patients.
• Accuracy and judgment in carrying out
medical prescriptions.
• Skill in meeting emergency situations.
• Skill in providing patients comfort.
• Team work.
• Organizational skill.
• Accuracy, pertinence and completeness in
recording.
ASSIGNMENT
Prepare an assignment on criteria for obser-
vation of student nurse and write an anec-
dotal record of your friend and submit it on
8th May.
REFERENCES
• B Shankaranarayan ,B Sindhu Learning
and Teaching nursing ,4th edition Jaypee
brothers medical publishers page no 196-
197
• Beena MR text book of nursing manage-
ment and service for Bsc Nursing,first edi-
tion,CBS publishers and distributers page
no 151-153
• Jaspreet Kaur Sodhi ,Comprehensive Text-
book of nursing education,second edition
page no: 221-224
