Development of an Observation Instrument to Assess Behavior

Abstract

The Vernon-Nay Category Instrument was developed as the result of an experimental project in an inner-city school. The effects of the reorganization of the administration of the school and the total staff participation in a workshop about human relations and communications were evaluated by the change of behavior of fifth-and sixth grade students in the classroom. The Flanders' Interaction Analysis (assesses teacher-student verbal behavior) would measure change that occurred; however, the Vernon teachers wanted an assessment instrument that could, also, be used in · the future, without professional assistance. The F.I.A. . The words classroom climate refer to generalized attitudes toward the teacher and the class that the pupils share in common in spite of individual diferences. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe development of these attitudes is an outgrowth of classroom social interaction .... These expectations color all aspects of classroom behavior, creating a social atmosphere or climate that appears to be fairly stable, once established. Thus~ the word 'climate' is merely shorthand reference to those qualities that consistently predominate in most student-teacher contacts and contacts between pupils in the presence or absense of the teacher .... increased openness and ease of interpersonal relations and increased willingness and skill in giving information about one's own behavior would certainly have a positive effect on classroom climate ...• A widened and shared perception of some new varieties of classroom organization would be a logical outcome of this type of two ·way communication .... Problem-solving skills would aid the student and the teacher in finding solutions using information ·from her e~pertise in classroom management and student feedback .... Therefore, if it can be shown that· an organizational development program in the public schools does produce a more open, indirect style of teaching, and its concurrent open inclusive classroom climate, this would be a measure of change in the classroom level activity and of the increased effectiveness of the project school.In general, these statements paralleled the intent of the Vernon School staff. However, further development of the evaluation procedure was necessary. II. NON-VERBAL BEHAVIOR OBSERVATIONSThe Flanders' Interaction Analysis instrument, described later in this thesis, has been found by many researchers to be highly reliable and has many well-established statistical procedures for the comparison of data and the recording of observations (Flanders, 1965, and Amidon, 1967). Bigelow (1970) The rating system did not seem to be one which could be learned quickly and without assistance. III. CONCLUSIONSIt was concluded that a new instrument would have to be designed that met the objectives of the Vernon staff.The instrument must be of little or no additional cost to the Erchool; the staff must be able to use the instrument and interpret the results without the assistance of a tra~n-ed researcher; little judgment must be required of the observ...