Describes air observation activity in which human fingerprints are investigated. Includes diagrams of various fingerprint types and the characteristics of various fingerprint ridge types. (SL)

This naturalistic field study of child-rearing patterns compared observational and developmental data for 60 home-based and 60 day care center-based Swedish toddlers. (Author/JMB)

Mothers of about 100 toddlers completed the Toddler Temperament Scale when their children were 12, 18, and 24 months old. Other data sets were available for: (a) factors representing laboratory observations; (b) measures of mothers' temperament by mothers and by social workers; and (c) measures of the home and family environment by social workers.…

A teacher evaluation system used at a special school for the gifted promotes teacher involvement through self study, peer observation, team critique, and administrator observation and critique. Four teacher types as defined by level of commitment and abstraction ability have different supervisory needs. (Author/DB)

Firstborn children's reaction to sibling birth assessed in 41 families via family interviews at 1 month prepartum and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum. Familial interaction patterns were observed in semistructured play sessions. Time since the birth of the sibling and sibling gender had significant effects on firstborn children's adjustment.…

The article describes Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD), a screening procedure for identifying elementary students at risk for serious behavior disorders. Teacher judgment is the primary information source for the first two screening stages and direct behavioral observations for the third. Results of a year-long SSBD study are…

In contrast to traditional practices in reading and writing assessment which focus on fragmented, isolated skills, a holistic approach to assessment is recommended. Children's reading and writing are seen as communicative behaviors which are effectively evaluated through systematic observation as they occur in natural settings. (JW)

In investigating communication competencies needed by beginning automotive mechanics, an attempt was made to compare the effectiveness of three occupational analysis techniques: (1) developing a curriculum (DACUM), (2) observation, and (3) extended information search. Extended information search produced a comprehensive, valid list of competencies…

This collection of seven short articles discusses the role of naturalistic observation in program evaluation. There are criteria that evaluators explicitly or implicitly use to reach conclusions. These papers discuss these criteria and try to determine what constitutes legitimate evaluation knowledge. (RB)

In a study of sex differences in young children's drawings, 18- month-old children scribbled on sheets of paper with a preprinted circle in the middle. A computer-based analysis of 100 randomly-selected drawings revealed: (1) boys developed an apparent stronger graphic activity; and (2) girls concentrated and adjusted their movements to the…

The purposes of evaluation design are stated. A description of experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, and naturalistic designs is presented. Emphasis is placed upon the identification of sources of invalidity in these designs that may compromise the accuracy of inferences regarding program effectiveness. (Author/JAZ)

Describes a program that brought teacher researchers together to discuss their work and learn about each other's teaching techniques. Reflects on the purpose of the project, which was to provide professional development and a way for teachers to share information and enhance their own teaching. (SRT)

A study used the naturalistic method of inquiry in order to investigate the CAI (Computer Assisted Instruction) contribution to students' performance in arithmetic and to identify possible problems. The study was aimed at understanding the holistic environment of students' individualized drill in arithmetic with the computer. (BS)

The author visited an elementary school in the Netherlands and found that enthusiasm for learning, patience with children's progress, spontaneity in response to children's interest, and the use of drama are recurring patterns in the classrooms of preschoolers. (Author/LHW)

This longitudinal study examined the effectiveness of two different assessment methodologies, low structured observation and structured elicitation tasks, to obtain communicative intents from 35 normal children at the sensorimotor stage of development (9-24 months). The two approaches appeared to vary depending on the age of the child and the…