West Visayas State University College of Education GRADUATE SCHOOL

SPD 504 Construction and Application of Assessment Tool

Prof. Sherbeth Consebit Reporter: Mary Christine Cuevas M.Ed. Sped Assessing Behavior through Observation Goals Understands the general conditions of conducting the conditions of observation, defining conditions to be observed, behavioral topographies, and functions and measurable characteristics of behavior Understand that observation require careful sampling of context, times and behaviors. Understand that conducting systematic observations require careful preparation, precise data gathering , procedures for summarizing data and criteria for evaluating the observed performances. General Considerations in Conducting observation Teachers should constantly monitor themselves and their students. Teachers notice behavior or situations that seem important and require their attention. Often the result of general monitoring, teachers look for a specific behavior to observe . Systematic observations are also used to inform placement and instructional decisions. 2 Basic Approaches to Observation Qualitative Observation usually occur without predetermining the behaviors to be observed or the time and contexts to be observe. The observer monitor and memorizes observation through narrative. Quantitative Observation

5 steps that occur before the observation The behavior is defined precisely and objectively The characteristics of the behavior are specified Procedures for recording are developed The times and places for observation are selected and specified Procedures are developed to assess interobserver agreement Live or Aided Observation Quantitative analysis of behavior can occur in real time or after the behavior has occurred by means of devices such as video or audio recorders that can replay, slow down or speed up records of observation . Observation can be enhanced with equipment or it can only occur with the observers unaided senses. Obtrusive vs. Unobtrusive Observation Observation are called obtrusive when it is obvious to the person being observed that he or she is being observed . When observation are unobtrusive the people being observed do not realize that they are being watched Contrived vs. Naturalistic Observation Contrived observation occur when a set up is introduced into it. Naturalistic Observation occur in settings that are not contrive. Defining Behavior Behavior is defined in its topography , its function and its characteristics. The function that the behavior serves in the environment is not directly observable, whereas the characteristics and topography of behavior can be measured directly.
The measurement of behavior, whether an individual behavior or category of behavior is based on four characteristics: 1. Duration the length of time a behavior lasts. The behavior is standardized in two ways: average duration or total duration 2. Latency refers to the length of time between a signal to perform and the beginning of the behavior. 3. Frequency how often they occur. Frequency how often they occur. 4. Amplitude refers to the intensity of the behavior