Review of An appraisal of anecdotal records

Abstract

Reviews the book, An appraisal of anecdotal records by Arthur E. Hamalainen (1943). Mr. Hamalainen has written one of the best analyses of anecdotal records yet published. He gives the facts with great scrupulousness and he gives his authorities so that the reader can make his own judgment of their reliability. A moderately complex experiment is reported in which statistical techniques are employed to advantage. Among the conclusions drawn is the following: "The anecdotes are often as much a reflection of the teacher's outlook as they are of the child's behavior." This supports the generally accepted dictum that no instrument for use in guidance has merit in its own right; its effectiveness is conditioned upon the skill of the operator. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)