Describes the development of a project designed to build a positive role for peer observation in a language program, reports the reactions of the participants, and gives guidelines for the use of peer observation in a language program. (seven references) (GLR)

By examining the structures and activities common to six case studies of clinical teacher supervision, this article identifies five conditions that facilitate changes in teacher thinking and behavior: development of a supportive, collegial relationship; teacher control over supervision products; continuity over time; focused, descriptive records…

An efficient search procedure is presented for determining the optimal number of observations of facets in a design that maximize generalizability when resource constraints are imposed. The procedure is illustrated for three-facet and four-facet designs, with extensions for other configurations. (Author/SLD)

Presents a nontraditional, naturalistic study of writing apprehension in the form of a dialogue between the subject of the case study and her teacher. Describes how the subject overcame a writing block (involving an undergraduate honors thesis) by writing about the block. Presents a sense of an individual writer and the social construction of her…

Described two types of naturalistic research from different theoretical traditions: new paradigm research and ecological psychology. Applications are suggested for research in college student development and for professional practice in college student affairs. Includes examples of naturalistic research and discusses criteria for scientific…

Teacher-observation forms should focus on observable teacher-preparation behaviors and teaching techniques appropriate to a particular lesson. The form presented in this article includes both considerations and is most useful for middle and secondary levels. The form helps focus a preobservation conference on factors establishing pertinent teacher…

Assails Joseph Milner for presenting erroneous information concerning the North Carolina Teacher Performance Appraisal Instrument in his February 1991 "Kappan" article. Milner's technique for observing suppositional teaching does not reflect sound research methodology. Milner mistakenly claims that teachers are required to follow…

A brief ethnographic study of a metropolitan airport revealed that a relatively small number of people had taken up residence there, prizing the airport mainly for its survival utility and amenities. Policies and attitudes regarding the homeless and a critique of the pathological explanation for homelessness are explored. (CJS)

An observational study in a British nursery school examined effects of direct and indirect strategies in increasing interactions of four developmentally delayed young children with their peers. (DB)

This study investigated the educational process used in tumor boards (cancer case conferences) and whether the process varied based on type of board, frequency of meetings, and presence or absence of residency training programs in the hospital. These data were collected through observation of 715 board sessions of 37 hospitals and 43 tumor boards.…

Study 1 identified proximal processes in home environments of 78 children aged 6-9: maturity facilitation, use of stimulating materials, and parent-child relationship. Study 2 tested the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment instrument for consistency and construct and criterion-related validity with samples of 307, 171, and 73,…

Examined factors associated with young children's aggression. Observed 104 toddlers during free play with same-sex peer, with both mothers present. Found that early out-of-home care was not related to aggression. Boys were more aggressive than girls. Observed aggression and mother-reported externalizing problems were associated significantly with…

Paradox arising from the coincidence of observing and being observed has epistemological implications. Traditional science attempted to eschew the observer and avoid self-reference; modern physics finds this problematic. Educational administration theories must reflect the self-reference of an educational social system's identity and must practice…

Describes a course on communication skills in psychology that includes learning library research skills, writing research reports and term papers, making behavioral observation notes, and giving oral presentations. Shows that student performance in tests on knowledge of American Psychological Association principles improved during the course.…

Used naturalistic observation to study 242 first- to third- graders playing two games that varied in physicality and competitiveness. As predicted, children interacted more often with same-sex peers. Findings support the necessity of investigating social context as an influence on children's own-sex favoritism. (SLD)