Employed contextual analysis to examine the meaning of touches reported in daily interaction. Found 18 categories of meanings of touch such as support, appreciation, inclusion, greeting, departure, attention-getting, etc. Discusses results in terms of the nature of tactile communication, comparing results with past research. (PD)

Reports on a study in which an observation technique used to show differences in the communicative orientation of second language classroom interaction was pilot-tested in a variety of instructional settings. The technique was found to be sensitive to the differences in the communication orientations of the four types of classes observed. (SED)

Includes descriptions of a fact-finding exercise using classmates' wallets; a crossword puzzle to heighten language awareness; and a description of a program which teaches students to analyze current events and issues in light of history. (HTH)

Discusses instructional strategies that help students make and differentiate between observations and inferences, including the use of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation processes. Suggests that early activities focus on analytical procedures in such a way that they can be explained in terms of facts and principles that students will readily…

Occasionally situations arise in which a measurement does not lend itself to such traditional methods of reliability estimation as the test-retest, parallel-test, or internal consistency methods. This paper proposes basing reliability estimation in such situations on estimates of validity coefficients as lower bounds. (Author/LMO)

This study employed an ABA withdrawal design, replicated three times, with a control subject and a follow-up phase, to evaluate the effects of self-observation in reducing disruptive classroom behaviors. Results showed that the percentage of disruptive classroom behaviors were dramatically reduced as a consequence of treatment. (Author/LMO)

Investigated 96 third-grade boys' and girls' tutoring of 96 first-grade boys and girls in three reward conditions: performance contingent, noncontingent reward, and no reward. Findings indicated that neither the tutor's teaching style nor the tutee's posttest performance was adversely affected by the reward. (Author/CI)

Reviews current teacher evaluation practices with particular focus on the use of observation. Argues that direct observation is an inadequate evaluation technique because it assumes that stability and consistency are necessary for effective teaching. Presents data showing that flexibility is a more accurate characterization of elementary level…

Investigated the application of the empathic set effect to perceptions of domestic violence in college students (N=116). Results indicated that observers can be induced to make attributions about another's behavior that consider environmental factors as contributing to behavior and not attribute such behavior solely to internal or dispositional…

A transcript-narrative analysis technique was used to identify interpersonal negotiation strategies of two nine-year-old boys selected from a pool of children with socioemotional and interpersonal difficulties. Strategies were classified according to four developmental levels: impulsive/physical, unilateral/coercive, reciprocal/influential, and…

Assessed the adequacy of reporting the use of observers in counseling research. Each sampled article was classified according to the use made of the observer, the type and length of training given the observer, and the assessments made of the observers' reliability and validity. (Author/JAC)

Appendices provide examples of systematic observation of free play, written checklists of play preference items, a discussion of dichotomous choice items, and examples of toy preference ranking procedures. (RH)

A reading observation checklist is presented for principal use in classroom observation. (MD)

Suggests the utilization of more administrative team members in the role of classroom observers. This would include the principal, his assistants, and the department chairmen or supervisors. (Author/RK)

Article explains why personal evaluations by experienced observers may be more accurate assessment tools than standardized tests and statistical studies. A system of recording observations and impressions, through the use of grids, is presented. (RW)