Effects of nonparticipant observation on teacher and pupil classroom behavior

Assessed the effects of nonparticipant observation on the behavior of the teacher (a 23-yr-old female) and 6 adult female 20-44 yr old mentally retarded pupils in a language development class. 30 days of classroom behavior were recorded on videotape. The 4 conditions were 10 days, O absent; 10 days, O present; 5 days, O absent; and 5 days, O present. Ss were "blind;" they believed they were being recorded only when the O was in the classroom. The videotapes were observed in random order by "blind" trained Os. Behavioral measures indicated that nonparticipant observation increased the frequency, but not the appropriateness, of teacher-pupil interactions and did not affect the appropriateness of student behaviors. (15 ref)