<p>This article describes the process in which college students were trained to use scientific observation in a study in which an observational instrument was developed, validated, and implemented to record daily observations of school violence. The type, content, and duration of their training, including reliability results, will be described, as well as how they put into practice what they learned while conducting the project. Their involvement in this participatory study contributed to the successful completion of the research for the benefit of the participating school communities, but was also deemed by the students as an important step for their development as researchers.   </p>