Revising and Expanding the Method of Observation in Kuno Beller’s Developmental Chart

The project Revising and Expanding the Method of Observation in Kuno Beller’s Developmental Chart has successfully updated and expanded the method to include the tenth year of childhood. The project is now undertaking an empirical evaluation of the revised method of observation.
Completion of the First Phase in September 2016
The revision and expansion of the edition from the year 2000 had the goal of bringing the method of observation in line with current research and best practices. It was completed in 2016. Based on international research in developmental psychology, the revision focused on:

• A review of the correlation between the individual items and age-group norms
  We sought to list items in the phase in which a majority of children (75-85%) currently exhibit the corresponding skills or behaviors. This was done on the basis of international studies in developmental psychology. The criterion was that two independent studies had to report that a skill or behavior is learned in the same age range and that the skill be observable in everyday situations. Items were checked to see whether they were up to date and were, if necessary, altered or replaced by new items.

• New items, revision of items, and examples
  An important aspect of the revision was the selection of examples and items that correlate with the life world and experiences of children today. The aim was to clearly formulate each item with illustrative examples.

• Including a relatively equal number of items for each phase

We sought to include a roughly equal number of items for each phase in each area of development.

Finally, using the same methods and criteria, the developmental chart was expanded to include the tenth year of childhood. This involved adding four additional phases to the chart.

The revised and expanded edition was released on December 1, 2016 as Kuno Beller’s Entwicklungstabelle 0-9, and an English translation (Kuno Beller’s Developmental Chart 0-9) was published on December 1, 2017. Beyond the addition of four phases, the revised edition includes more extensive information on the method of observation and a detailed description of how it should be used, complete with illustrative, real-life examples.

Current Project Phase: Evaluation of the Method of Observation  

Empirical evaluation of the revised German edition of Kuno Beller's Developmental Chart began in September 2016. The evaluation involves the analysis of first and second developmental profiles of children made by certified teachers in various pre-schools, nurseries and daycares in Germany. 
In November 2017, we began preparing for the systematic collection of data in pre-schools, nurseries and daycares in order to test the quality, reliability and validity of the revised and expanded edition. The systematic collection of data was started in February 2018 and ended because of the corona pandemic in February 2020. The sample should include at least 960 boys and girls from between one and seven years of age. The statistical analysis will test the correlation between phases and chronological age, the relation between first and second assessments (re-test reliability), and the correlation of results between independent observers. A further goal is to test at which age ceiling effects begin to set in.

Analysis and findings on the 2000 edition of Kuno Bellers Entwicklungstabelle

In the past, we have conducted statistical analyses using data from the 2000 edition and older editions of the chart. If you are interested in seeing the findings of these analyses on the reliability and validity of the method, please send me an e-mail.

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