The metaphysical assumptions undergirding conventional (positivist) approaches to research in the social sciences provide a warrant both for deceptive research and for objectifying human research participants. The present status of ethical guidelines for inquiry are reviewed. Special ethical problems typical of naturalistic inquiry are outlined.…

Examines the correlations among measures of social cognition, social competence, and naturalistic social behaviors of 23 kindergartners. Negative or aggressive comments were significantly related to performance on the test of social cognition. Rating scales completed by the teacher emerged as the most accurate gauges of observed social behaviors.…

In effort to reduce disruptive classroom behavior, five students attending school for behavior-disordered youth were shown videotapes depicting themselves or peer appropriately engaged in classroom activities. Effects were idiosyncratic across students, the most significant effects occurring for the self-observation procedure. (Author)

Observations of children ages birth to five years were collected in seven states before and after implementation of legislation requiring use of passenger safety devices. Among results were observed increases in safe seating for children ages one-five in four of the five states implementing legislation during this study. (JW)

The study assessed the efficacy of a method of quantifying observations of blind clients made by orientation and mobility instructors. Client problems were observed for street crossings, bumps, stumbles, orientation, and drop-offs. (DB)

Described are features and functions of the Behavioral Observation System--Computerized (BOSCO), which was developed for TRS-80 laptop computers to integrate data collection and analysis functions and allow continuous recording of behavioral data during observation sessions. Applications are illustrated through brief descriptions of several…

This article describes a seven-session workshop to train cooperating teachers. Workshop activities include a review of recent research, reflection upon and composition of a lesson observation guide, and a simulated supervision episode. In addition, a series of idea exchanges were interspersed throughout the workshop. (IAH)

Presents a characterization of instructional practices in terms of cultural beliefs pertaining to mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning in Chinese and Western cultures. Results show striking differences in practice related to differences in attitudes and beliefs. Three appendixes of data are included. Contains 35 references.…

Preservice vocational teachers (n=18) wrote case reports about students with disabilities based on observations and interviews. Analysis indicated that many were surprised that adolescents with disabilities looked "normal," a perception influenced by student interaction with nondisabled peers. (SK)

Uses videotaped lectures and interviews to understand lectures in a physics course for prospective elementary teachers. Reports that the professor staged Aristotle, natural philosophy, and students' observations and intuitive knowledge in opposition to Galileo, controlled experiments, and mathematical inscriptions. Concludes that this form of…

Examines linguistic encoding of curricular knowledge in classroom testing events. Argues that dominant epistemological orientation of testing events is positivist and values a discrete, bounded form of knowledge. Compares the language of testing events and earlier lesson presentations of the same curricular information, suggesting that testing…

Sixty-four undergraduates rated the videotaped parenting behavior of two intrusive, abusive mothers and two control mothers, on rating scales matching an observational coding system developed by L. Oldershaw and others. Observers' ratings provided evidence of construct validity of the scales. (Author/JDD)

Examines the ANCHOR (Addressing the Needs of Children through Observation and Response) parent involvement project developed at the University of British Columbia. The project centers around parent and educator observation and discussion of videotaped sequences of preschool children's activities and interactions. Parents and teachers act as…

Contains three demonstrations to help students develop an adequate understanding of the nature of science. Two use the inquiry method to show students the importance of evidence in formulating explanations, and the third uses the history of science to show that science is tentative as well as based on evidence. (LZ)

Observations, supervisor reports, and self-reports were compared as measures of the use of hearing protection by blue-collar workers. Results with samples ranging from 48 to 318 workers support self-report as an appropriate method that may be the best choice when time and money restrict measurement. (SLD)