In contrast to Bogdan's approach (outlined in a preceding article), which considers fieldwork to be a research method, this author views ethnographic fieldwork as a paradigm. His graduate course in fieldwork concentrates on interpretation and stresses the quality, quantity, and intimacy of human relationships between observers and their subjects.…

This paper discusses problems associated with the application of experimental methods to program evaluation, proposes an alternative approach (program-attribute scaling), and reports the procedure and results of a trial application of the alternative approach. (Author)

Behaviors observed in 47 families interacting at home were recorded in terms of interactions between a target child and other family members. The types of behaviors emitted by a target child to parents versus siblings were analyzed as were the types of responses that parents versus siblings gave to the target child's behavior. (Author/RH)

The production and discrimination of eight basic facial expressions were investigated among 34 preschool children three to five years of age. Children's productions were elicited and videotaped under four different prompting conditions. Children's discrimination of drawings depicting facial expressions, sociometric ratings, and spontaneous…

In time-on-task observations, the effects of variations in methodological characteristics on the importance of time-on-task for student achievement were examined. Substantive conclusions were affected by variations in five areas with the greatest differences due to changes in the duration and number of days of observation. (CM)

The appropriateness of several generalizability coefficients based on observational ratings of a number of subjects, each rated by the same observers over a number of motor performance trials, was examined. The extent to which observational designs can impair the computation of some coefficients and/or alter their value was also investigated.…

Interviews with 105 teachers and 14 administrators, supplemented by observation, provide data for a focused ethnography of the school as a workplace, specifically, of organizational characteristics conducive to continued "learning on the job." Findings suggest critical social organization variables that lend themselves to quantitative…

Discusses the direct instruction pattern, which is based on teacher-centered classroom organization, as a workable teaching style, especially among children of the lower class. Describes teacher behaviors involved in implementing this teaching style, and suggests the use of an observation instrument to monitor direct instruction behaviors.…

Based on data from over 1,000 elementary-secondary classrooms reported in "A Study of Schooling," the author finds little variety in teaching practices across schools. The majority of class time is spent in teachers lecturing to the class or in students working on written assignments. (Author/SK)

Examines elementary school teachers' perceptions of the nature and function of learning activities. Three specific questions were investigated: (1) What do teachers perceive as successful or unsuccessful learning activities? (2) What reasons do teachers give concerning why a learning activity is successful or unsuccessful? and (3) To what extent…

An observation code was found to discriminate reliably between correct and incorrect behavior modification skills of 12 parents of developmentally disabled children (two to six years old). Parents were more proficient teachers after a training program focusing on behavior change principles and language acquisition. (CL)

To determine the auditory acuity levels and responsiveness of seven deaf blind multihandicapped young children, the authors developed systematic observation procedures that can be used by parents, teachers, and teacher aides. The advantages of this approach and suggestions for further work are described. A case study is reported. (Author)

The antecedents of the methods and concerns of the Centre for Applied Research in Education (CARE) are found in the social observation tradition. A naturalistic method of research concentrates on the accurate reflection of events by an unobtrusive team. (JN)