The purpose of this study was exploration of the role shift from participant to observer in educational research and evaluation. Examples and counter-examples of graduate students who were experiencing the role shift were explored. Generalizations were made in order to abstract the data, and draw the conclusion that ethnographic approaches…

The first half of this paper concentrates on the need for the institution of evaluation methods which stress the systematic use of both quantitative techniques and qualitative, direct observation methods. In this way, a more comprehensive picture of the events under consideration may be presented, and changes in student learning and behavior may…

As a means of studying the present public catalogs and possible catalog format alternatives at the Iowa State University library, a 6-week queuing study was conducted. Objectives of the study were (1) to determine the correlation between other library statistics (e.g., door counts and circulation records) and use of the public catalogs; (2) to…

THIS IS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO PROCEDURES FOR TEACHING THE CONCEPTS IN THREE REQUIRED COURSES IN THE PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION OF TEACHERS. THE USE OF SPECIALLY PREPARED AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS WAS COMPARED WITH DIRECT OBSERVATION. STUDENTS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO TWO SECTIONS DESIGNATED AS VICARIOUS OBSERVATION GROUPS AND TWO…

This study tests the hypothesis that components of play such as immagination contribute to cognitive development. Twenty-four middle-class children attending a university-affiliated preschool were observed for 20 one-minute play observations during the Spring Semesters of 1978 and 1979. Play was coded using categories for both social (solitary,…

A test was made to determine the impact of positive or negative expectations on individuals conducting formal observation of teachers in the classroom for the purpose of evaluation. Two groups of graduate students who were receiving training in classroom observation viewed a video tape of a teacher instructing her class. Group one was given the…

Policy and guidelines for teacher and administrator evaluation in the Washington County schools, Maryland, are contained in this paper. Part 1 discusses observation and evaluation of tenured and nontenured teachers including discussions of when, who schedules, and who evaluates. Part 2 examines evaluation of supervisors and administrators. Several…

Concerned with the need to offer high school students organized practice in observing visual stimuli and writing about what they see, the author offers an annotated list of short films with little dialogue and narration that can conveniently be used in the classroom for teaching observation through the moving image. (LS)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the manner in which educational theorists incorporate the concept of observation into an inquiry framework for teaching, learning, and curriculum development. The analytical device used to initiate the examination was a series of questions. By investigating the various inquiry frameworks set forth by…

This paper indicates why the use of "Category Systems" provides a potential for making precise and valid cross-cultural comparisons of classroom behaviors not equaled by other techniques. The paper is presented to highlight a technique which seems especially suitable for use by comparative educators and other social scientists who wish to make…

Two observers who were using an electronic digital data acquisition system were spot checked for reliability at random times over a four month period. Between-and within-observer reliability was assessed for frequency, duration, and duration-per-event measures of four infant behaviors. The results confirmed the problem of observer drift--the…

Behaviors described by the instrument were grouped into categories related to developing text material, pre-lab, laboratory, and post-lab discussion. Judges' ratings were used to select behaviors which could be designated as (1) consistent with ESCP, (2) neutral, or (3) inconsistent with ESCP. Classroom observations based on the instrument were…

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the PLAN teacher training program in changing teacher classroom behavior. The program, to train teachers in skills specific to the use of the PLAN system of individualized education, included a 2-day spring 1969 session, a 3-day summer conference, a fall minicourse, and inservice consultant…

Scott's coefficient is an improved method for estimating observer reliability using any system which assigns events to mutually exclusive categories. The formula is the ratio of the actual difference between obtained and chance agreement to the maximum difference between obtained and chance agreement. A FORTRAN program for calculating this…

A new instrument for classroom observation called the Personal Record of School Experience (PROSE), has been developed at Educational Testing Service. While PROSE was invented for a specific project involving 2000 4-year-old ghetto children, its general applicability has already become apparent. PROSE represents a primitive method of classroom…