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6.4.3: Labeling vs. Describing Behaviors

  • Page ID
    321778
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    The Words we Use

    The practice of labeling behaviors versus describing what is observed is another practice that can create subjective observations. Understanding the difference between these two terms can be difficult. We often provide personality or even temperament traits when we fall into quickly labeling instead of describing observed behavior. An objective observation does not give one-word labels such as strong-willed, aggressive, temperamental, sweet, friendly, or bad. Instead, we describe the directly observed behaviors that led to the (often biased) label—describing the behaviors yields richer and more helpful information for later assessment or curriculum development.

    Definition: Labeling

    Providing personality or temperament traits instead of observed behavior


    This page titled 6.4.3: Labeling vs. Describing Behaviors is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Amanda Taintor (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .