Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Behavioral Observation and Screening Practice Exam

Running records are dynamic tools used in behavioral observation that allow practitioners to track and document specific behaviors as they occur in real-time. They are particularly beneficial because they provide a continuous narrative of a child’s actions, interactions, and responses, which can be focused on particular behaviors of interest.

When conducting a running record, observers can design their observation to target specific behaviors, such as social interactions, communication patterns, or emotional responses. This targeted approach ensures that the data collected is relevant and serves the purpose of the assessment, allowing for more effective intervention strategies to be developed based on the findings.

This ability to focus on certain behaviors is what distinguishes running records from other observational methods that may lack specificity or depth in the data collected. Thus, stating that running records can be specifically targeted to observe certain behaviors is true, as it aligns with their purpose and functionality in the assessment process.