Exercise 1

OBSERVATION OR EVALUATION?

To determine your proficiency at discerning between observations and evaluations, complete the following exercise. Circle the number in front of each statement that is an observation only, with no evaluation mixed in.

  1. “John was angry with me yesterday for no reason.”
  2. “Yesterday evening Nancy bit her fingernails while watching television.”
  3. “Sam didn’t ask for my opinion during the meeting.”
  4. “My father is a good man.”
  5. “Janice works too much.”
  6. “Henry is aggressive.”
  7. “Pam was first in line every day this week.”
  8. “My son often doesn’t brush his teeth.”
  9. “Luke told me I didn’t look good in yellow.”
  10. “My aunt complains when I talk with her.”

Here are my responses for Exercise 1:

  1. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “for no reason” to be an evaluation. Furthermore, I consider it an evaluation to infer that John was angry. He might have been feeling hurt, scared, sad, or something else. Examples of observations without evaluation might be: “John told me he was angry,” or “John pounded his fist on the table.”
  2. If you circled this number, we’re in agreement that an observation was expressed without being mixed together with an evaluation.
  3. If you circled this number, we’re in agreement that an observation was expressed without being mixed together with an evaluation.
  4. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “good man” to be an evaluation. An observation without evaluation might be: “For the last twenty-five years, my father has given one-tenth of his salary to charity.”
  5. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “too much” to be an evaluation. An observation without evaluation might be: “Janice spent more than sixty hours at the office this week.”
  6. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “aggressive” to be an evaluation. An observation without evaluation might be: “Henry hit his sister when she switched the television channel.”
  7. If you circled this number, we’re in agreement that an observation was expressed without being mixed together with an evaluation.
  8. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “often” to be an evaluation. An observation without evaluation might be: “Twice this week my son didn’t brush his teeth before going to bed.”
  9. If you circled this number, we’re in agreement that an observation was expressed without being mixed together with an evaluation.
  10. If you circled this number, we’re not in agreement. I consider “complains” to be an evaluation. An observation without evaluation might be: “My aunt called me three times this week, and each time talked about people who treated her in ways she didn’t like.”