This research identified easy-to-use maternal postpartum screening dimensions to predict two-month adjustment among 28 primipara adolescents. The results suggested several predictors: initial parenting attitudes, preparation for parenting, infant holding style, and aspects of social functioning. Postpartum risk screening may be a feasable way to…

Compared conversations of 101 two-hour meetings of long-term mothers' discussion groups, in informal and formal settings, regarding topics discussed and frequency of nonroutine conversation. Found discussion of parent and child topics decreased throughout the year in both settings, while conversations related to income, family, and self increased.…

A major source of confusion in educational research comes when qualitative research is regarded as if it were one approach. Qualitative research has many varieties that can be identified and understood by using the notion of research traditions. Six approaches from the social and behavioral sciences are compared. (VM)

Policy issues for early childhood special education programs in the areas of exit decision-making and follow-up procedures were generated through extensive naturalistic case studies of four early childhood education programs. Guidelines for exit decision-making and follow-up procedures conclude the report. (Author/DB)

Scientific inquiry used in special education research has limited effectiveness and applicability to practice. Three interrelated areas are discussed in the context of improving research methodology and utilization: alternative approaches to research in special education; the class distinction between teachers and researchers; and practical…

Analysis of teachers' questions, part of the ORACLE (Observation Research and Classroom Learning Evaluation) project research, is examined in detail. Scarth and Hammersley argue that the rules ORACLE uses for identifying different types of questions involve levels of ambiguity and inference that threaten reliability and validity of the study's…

The study examined the effects of observation alone and observation coupled with data collection on teachers' (N=40) ability to analyze trends in handicapped student academic performance, based on videotaped samples. Observation alone was adequate to accurately analyze upward trends, but data were required to accurately analyze level and downward…

Classroom variables associated with academic learning time (ALT)--instructional time, on-task behavior, and student success rate--are positively related to student achievement. Guidelines and forms are provided for teachers and supervisors to gather objective and usable information on these ALT components through direct classroom observation…

Through a description and comparison of standards for evaluation and criteria for judging naturalistic inquires some potential conflicts in using naturalistic methods are identified. Analysis of problems suggests that compromises in the use of evaluation standards and criteria for naturalistic procedures are usually necessary. (Author/JAZ)

The author argues that inherent in supervision is professional development, which can be divided into the related tasks of staff development, informal observations, rating, and individual development. (CH)

One approach to rebuilding public confidence in schools is to establish a visiting program for parents and patrons. This article describes a one-day "accreditation visit" program in Colorado that asks parents to observe classes, assess school climate, and make suggestions for school improvement. (MLH)

Describes two types of feedback (explicit and implicit) in the responses of four mothers to their two-year-old children and investigates whether these mothers respond differentiallly to their children's well-formed and ill-formed utterances with either type of feedback. Results demonstrate that a high proportion of maternal responses qualify as…

Music teachers are often evaluated solely in terms of classroom management skills and assembly programs. This article suggests observable, measurable ways for principals to assess elementary music teaching--contingent on children's demonstrable enjoyment and understanding of music. Paul Lehman adds eight reasons for music education, including…

Presents an in-class activity which uses videotaped television shows to teach time sampling, event sampling, and trait rating techniques. Students responded favorably to this activity, and many reported that it increased their understanding of the different observation techniques. (Author/JDH)

This paper critically reviews studies of administrator work activities which follow the work of Henry Mintzberg (1973), concentrating on these shortcomings of the method: (1) procedural difficulties in coding; (2) design limitations of classifying activities; (3) inadequate testing of Mintzberg's hypotheses; and (4) failure to explore antecedents…