Given "T" joint observations on "K" variables, it is frequently useful to consider the weighted average or scaled score. L-scaling is introduced as a technique for determining the weights. The technique is so named because of its resemblance to the Leontief matrix of mathematical economics. L-scaling is compared to two…

R. V. Hopkins (1982) has criticized the use of means as the unit of analysis in situations where intact groups, such as classes, rather than individuals have been randomly assigned to various treatment conditions. Instead, Hopkins advocated the use of certain analysis of variance (ANOVA) models that, as far as test for treatment effects are…

This brief document profiles Maryland's Early Learning Support Network. The Network includes a group of early childhood centers in public schools in the state. The centers serve as training and observation sites for persons interested in improving the quality of their early learning programs. Two types of centers are involved: observation centers…

Although college faculty may hesitate to evaluate each others' teaching, it is a sensible alternative to evaluation by students or by administrators. Peer evaluations are not only useful for improving teaching, but also affect promotion and tenure decisions. When faculty are rated by observation, repeated visits and rater training are required in…

The increasingly popular view of the counseling process from an interactional perspective necessitates the development of new measurement instruments which are suitable to the study of the reciprocal interaction between people. The validity of the Relational Communication Coding System, an instrument which operationalizes the constructs of…

To determine the extent to which toddlers are aware of their friends' qualities, mothers of two groups of toddler preschoolers were interviewed about which of her child's classmates is talked about at home and what her child typically says about his or her peers. The children had been observed for several months prior to the interviews to identify…

Personal effects felt by participant-observers as a result of their research and the impact of such effects on researcher self-concept are analyzed. Quotes from participant-observers who have studied various social phenomena indicate that they experienced transition and conflict between their observer and participant roles. At times they were…

The Service Delivery Assessment (SDA) model is a human services evaluation tool which offers a viable alternative to more traditional approaches and is appropriate for small local evaluations as well as large national studies. There are five phases to an SDA study: assignment, pre-assessment, design, analysis, and communication of the findings.…

Preschoolers' expression of various emotions and overall social-emotional competency may be related to mothers' emotional responsivemness to children's emotions. This research investigated, through extended naturalistic observation, (1) how maternal emotion displays differ according to antecedent child emotion (happy, sad, angry, or afraid) and…

The perspectives of researchers, teachers, and students in a research project attempting to implement wait time in high school classrooms were examined. This study investigates, via participant observation, the inner workings of a highly successful research group. Observation, interviews, and surveys were used to study the workings of the research…

Decision making about an observational recording system for family interaction research is crucial. Alternative coding-recording methods and combinations thereof are discussed, including: (1) paper-and-pencil on-site method; (2) video-tapes; (3) paper-and-pencil and mechanical coding devices; (4) transcripts; and (5) transcripts combined with…

A 6-month, qualitative study of the nature of literate behavior in the pretend play episodes of eight preschool children resulted in a taxonomy of their pretend play activity. Data were gathered in a setting where teachers implemented a cognitively oriented curriculum that encouraged language development and problem solving through play.…

The Quality Assurance Program for Learning Resources Specialists is part of the Houston, Texas, Plan for Excellence and addresses the renewal and professional growth opportunities for the specialists. The program is administered by a bi- or tri-dimensional assessment team that may consist of the principal, an instructional supervisor, and the…

Social participation behavior of 33 2- and 3-year-old children was observed during free-play in order to identify differences between age groups as well as differences between contemporary outcomes and Parten's 1932 findings. Trained observers recorded the frequencies of play behaviors, utilizing a time sampling procedure and Parten's categories…

Naturally occurring interactions recorded during participant observation in two preschools were analyzed in order to develop a distinctively sociological theory of gender identity acquisition. Attention was focused on the use of sex-categorical terms and the "grammar" of sex categorization practices underlying this usage. The analysis…