A study examined conflict resolution strategies employed by a kindergarten teacher with her class of 22 students. Naturalistic observation was used to investigate the strategies in instances of four specific behaviors: being aggressive, blaming, bossing, and tattling. The investigation revealed that, after repeated exposure to and numerous…

Some aspects of fourth generation evaluation procedures that have been advocated by E. G. Guba and Y. S. Lincoln were examined empirically, with emphasis on areas where there have been discrepancies between theory and field-based experience. In fourth generation evaluation, the product of an evaluation is not a set of conclusions, recommendations,…

It was hypothesized that individual differences in observer attitudes might affect the way observers code teacher behavior. A questionnaire assessing educational attitudes was given to 22 subjects who were trained on 3 classroom observation systems: the Flanders Interaction Analysis, the Classroom Observation Scales, and the Classroom Observation…

This paper compares the decision-making strategies which have been incorporated in the Teacher Performance Assessment Instruments in Georgia and the Assessments of Performance in Teaching developed for use in South Carolina. Although both instruments are designed for use with beginning teachers, the decision-making structure of these two…

This paper focuses on the technique of role-switching as a workable field relationship tactic in the observer's work site. It describes the nature of subject use of the observer's dual status during the research activity, and conceptualizes the relationship between this type of researcher-role management and the premise of role reciprocity in…

A study was conducted to determine the frequency of three types of prosocial interactions--empathy, helping, and altruism--which nonhandicapped preschool children could exhibit toward their handicapped peers. Subjects were 32 nonhandicapped 4- to 5-year-olds and 13 developmentally disabled 3- to 5-year-olds attending a mainstreamed preschool…

This report is a pilot effort to understand how knowledge imformation is effectively imparted in a classroom. The work is built on a study of the cognitions of effective teaching. Expert teachers were identified by monitoring the gain scores of students in classrooms over a 5-year period. All teachers were interviewed, observed, and videotaped…

Sixty-one children, originally identified at the beginning of kindergarten on the basis of four distinct clusters of observable classroom behavior, were evaluated at completion of first grade. Children in the nonrisk cluster continued to do well, while children in the high-risk cluster were still doing poorly in some areas. (Author)

Research on the relationship between teaching strategies and student outcomes supports the use of inductive/indirect teaching strategies. Research shows that this can be achieved through the analysis of model lessons with a systematic observation instrument. (MLH)

Described is the Madison, Wisconsin public school Specialized Educational Services program and a Madison Title III teacher training project in the analysis of language interaction in academic subject areas. (DB)

A system for categorizing components of geometry class discussions is described. The unit of observation is the teacher question; responses are coded at four cognitive levels. The system is easier to use than many in the literature; use of it can help teachers develop questioning techniques. (SD)

This paper reiterates the utility of both standardized tests and direct observations of behavior, despite the problems related to each of these assessment procedures. An additional assessment technique is recommended which combines the "best of both worlds". Three examples of observations with norms are described. (Author)

A total of 36 normally developing children of 13-30 months of age were evenly divided into three age groups and observed while playing with their mothers. Their communicative behaviors were recorded according to intent and level. Intent was classified as comment, request, and reject; levels were nonverbal, verbal-contextual, and…