Videotaping Children and Staff in Natural Environments: Gathering Footage for Research and Teaching.

With increasing accessibility to quality video recording technology, researchers and trainers can create data sets that are rich in content and application. Practical and ethical aspects of videotaping children and staff for research and teaching purposes are critical to successful use of videotaping. Taping and equipment strategies for achieving high-quality footage of children and teachers are shared, and ethical practices are described. Videotape data of child behaviors and child-staff interactions provide comprehensive observations for researchers, and real-life vignettes for developing instructional materials for human services professionals. Collection of video data is successful when equipment, videographers, and the environment are well organized and prepared for data collection. Selecting quality equipment, ensuring that videographers understand the target, and partnering with staff in the videotaping setting, all work together to assure success.