A longitudinal study investigated whether or not discussion in the mathematical classroom was an aid to understanding. This preliminary analysis showed that evidence to support the hypothesis has been limited. A method of classification of mathematical talk is described. (Author/YP)

Conducted two studies with Nigerian and Canadian undergraduates participating as observers of videotaped Hausa and Ibo actors, cast in their ethnic schema-consistent and schema-inconsistent roles. Nigerian group modestly supported hypothesis that the phenomenon of ingroup favoritism/outgroup discrimination should be limited to schema-consistent…

Reports the findings of a naturalistic study of stigmatization processes in the peer interactions of a kindergarten class. Discusses the social construction of deviance, and the implications of labeling. (FMW)

Advocates a quantitative sociological approach to measuring curriculum differentiation and its effects. Research should combine survey with observational methods to examine measures of track organization and instructional activities that are sensitive to organizational and instructional conditions that differ across schools. (Author/BJV)

Describes procedures used to measure aspects of a classroom environment in which the development of prosocial characteristics is emphasized. Explains observation procedures, a teacher questionnaire, a child interview, and a child questionnaire. Finds observation to be the most useful means of assessment, with the other three procedures…

Naturalistic observation was used to investigate the occurrence of behaviors reflecting social competence and information processing in problem solving within educational computing environments. Forty-eight first and third graders were observed working in pairs on the computer. Findings indicate that a LOGO programing environment is superior to…

Synthesized are the results of five qualitative investigations of high school science classrooms in Western Australia and in the state of Georgia. Gender differences were observed in each study and teachers were not aware of their occurrence. (Author/YP)

Investigates student engagement patterns in high school science classes. Finds that three to five students, known as target students, monopolized classroom interactions in most classes and they tended to be high-achieving students. Most target students were male and tended to be persistent. Provides a student involvement questionnaire in the…

Describes a collaborative qualitative evaluation of a school-based curriculum project in an Australian elementary school that combined ethnographic, illuminative, and naturalistic methods. Examines the political processes that facilitated and impeded the evaluation process. (FMW)

Observations and interviews with (n=16) undergraduate mathematics and mathematics education majors learning to do formal mathematical proofs found three major sources of students' difficulties: concept understanding, mathematical language and notation, and getting started on a proof. (25 references) (MKR)

Describes observations, written samples, and interviews of (n=24) high school teachers learning concepts of group, subgroup, coset, normality, and quotient group in an Abstract Algebra course. General observations are made about the role of errors and misconceptions in light of an action-process-schema framework. (32 references) (MKR)

A longitudinal case study examined the writing development of two children who learned to write in "process writing" classrooms in Australia. Results of participant observation in K-3 classrooms suggest that choices made in language are not free but are constrained by social and cultural contexts, including the ideology of gender in the…

Describes a study of 120 second-grade and fourth-grade students that explored a self-regulatory approach to problem solving by providing pairs of students with the IDEA model to identify, define, explore, and assess progress in solving computer problems. The use of student journals, classroom debriefings, and observations are discussed. (LRW)

Twenty special education and 20 general education teachers viewed a videotape of a reading comprehension lesson with a small group of third graders, 1 of whom had a learning disability. Analysis of teacher responses suggested that general and special teacher groups may possess different professional knowledge structures on which they interpret…

Provides an overview of the importance of user-based evaluations of networked information services; reviews data collection techniques that provide a user perspective when assessing networked information services, including focus groups, user logs, interviews, observation, and surveys; and offers practical suggestions and guidelines for using such…