Arguably one of the most valuable tools for investigating pupil behaviour in an educational environment is systematic classroom observation. Classroom observation is often cited as having the potential to enable research of the learning process in action. Low inference classroom observation instruments are designed to record a sequence of data…

The goal of this research is to analyze the instrumental behavior of the caregiver at the Emmi Pikler nursery school in Budapest while dressing children from two to three years old to go outdoors to play in the garden. In order to study this routine in its usual context, the observational methodology has been chosen, adopting an "ad hoc"…

Two years after participating in a replication of the Stallings Effective Use of Time (EUOT) Program, ten teachers were re-observed and interviewed to determine the extent to which they had maintained the measured changes in their behavior patterns. Subjects were selected for the follow-up from a 27 EUOT teacher sample based on having exhibited…

The findings of this study support the argument made by many learner autonomy scholars that the road to autonomy is a process conditioned by each individual's zone of proximal development (ZPD) and that there are different degrees of autonomy. The description of behavioural patterns found from the experiment supports this notion. The findings show…

The technique of macroanalysis has been developed to facilitate the process of examining patterns of behavior. In this technique, sequentially recorded observational data are computer-analyzed in units of three or more codes. Behavior patterns that have been identified from observational data are collected so that the sequence of individual…

A behavioral mapping observation procedure was employed in three classrooms with 19 autistic students (6-14 years old). Eight behaviors were observed in five typical classroom settings. The results indicated that within a classroom environment, particular settings were associated with or "wedded to" high rates of particular behavior and low rates…

The final report presents progress of a project investigating compliance and noncompliance among severely handicapped students. Details are reported for each of the project's three years: from initial conceptualization of compliance and noncompliance, to training on the Microprocessor Operated Recording Equipment (MORE), to studies on the effects…

Examines the behavioral patterns of high, average, and low achievers in first-, second-, and third-grade classrooms implementing an individualized instructional strategy. Time spent on independent work, interaction patterns/achievement level, and the implications of this research for teachers and instructional developers are discussed. (RAO)

The purpose of this research report was to improve the utilization of classroom observation systems in instruction and research by identifying (a) new and unique dimensions of teaching, and (b) the commonalities of several existing observation systems. The design of this study called for the coding of classroom behaviors by individuals highly…

Stereotypic behavior was examined in a group of five multiply handicapped children (4-10 years old) over a 2-year span. Observational data were collected at 6-month intervals in the form of 2-minute running descriptions of the child's behavior and the general setting, or condition, of the behavior (e.g., unattended, or stressed). Results revealed…

Results of a naturalistic, observational analysis of 43 self-contained classrooms serving severely handicapped students indicated that during designated instructional periods, slightly less than half of all student time was spent on-task. When students were on-task, almost two-thirds of their time involved nonfunctional instructional tasks.…

Momentary time samples (MTS) of 2, 4, and 6 minutes were compared to continuous recording samples of on-task behavior for three elementary-aged students with emotional/behavioral orders (EBD). Results indicated that the 2-minute, but not the 4- or 6-minute, interval MTS were consistent with the continuous measure. Implications for research and…

Observations were conducted to identify student behaviors that relate to students' functioning, defined first as social status within the group, and second as behavior problems perceived by the teacher. Fifty-four fifth grade boys and girls, from seven classrooms that were organized into two units, were observed over a 10-week period during both…

Differential effects of university supervisors and cooperating teachers as observers on the verbal behavior of student teachers were studied. The tape-recorded data showed remarkable stability over the three observer conditions--no live observer present in the classroom or either the university supervisor or the cooperating teacher present.…

Examines the effect of classroom environment on teaching and learning behaviors of children. Second-, third-, and fourth- grade elementary school classrooms were selected for this study. (MP)