Observational Tools
Dr. Ayers
HPER 448
Western Michigan University
Types
 Intuitive
Observation
 Anecdotal Records
 Rating Scales
 Event Recording
 Duration Recording
 Time Sampling
 Analytical Tools
Intuitive Observation
Is not systematic
 Does not identify
any specific aspect
of instruction
 Observer draws
conclusions w/o
collecting info
 Eyeballing

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Does not require training
 Can isolate glaring problems
 Is informal
 Weaknesses
 Unreliable
 Conclusions not based on recorded info
 Limited to observer’s experience

Anecdotal Records
Actual description
of events
 Teacher actions
 Student actions
 Relationship
between t-s actions
 Narrative record of
instructional setting

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Observation based on real events
 Useful detail
 Weaknesses
 Observer’s capacity to capture detail
 Requires a great deal of info
 Must be analyzed in great detail
 Requires observer training

Rating Scales
 Specific
variables
are defined
 Behaviors are
quantified based
on numeric scale
 Quality of
variable is
recorded
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Useful for qualitative analysis
 Can increase observer reliability
 Weaknesses
 Usually abused and over-used
 Variables are not always well defined
 Need to attach criteria to each rating level

Event Recording
Records the
presence or absence
of an event
 Assesses the
frequency of a
defined behavior in
an instructional
setting

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Systematic, valid and reliable
 Effective qualitative data can be gathered
 Weaknesses
 Requires training
 Capacity of the observer to distinguish
between behaviors as they occur
transiently

Duration Recording
Keeps track of when
an event starts and
ends
 Records the amount
of time that a
teacher or group of
students engage in a
defined behavior

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Little effort or training required
 Useful for events that occur over long
periods of time
 Weaknesses
 Capacity of the observer to distinguish
among behaviors as these occur in
instructional setting
 Capacity to record overall performance

Time Sampling
Observer records
what is happening
during specific time
period
 Spot checks for
specific behaviors
 Plachecks- Planned
Activity Checks

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
 Enables observer to collect useful info in
short period of time
 Can be used in conjunction with other tools
 Weaknesses
 Can only be used for behaviors that do not
change quickly
 Observer’s capacity to distinguish among
behaviors

Analytical Tools: ALT-PE
Measures that
portion of the lesson
that students are
engaged in motor
activity successfully
 Assesses the
physical activity
specified in lesson
plan objectives

ALT-PE Observation System

HOW DO TEACHERS SPEND THEIR TIME
DURING A CLASS SESSION?

HOW DO STUDENTS SPEND THEIR TIME
DURING A CLASS SESSION?
Student Variables
Motor Appropriate
 Motor Inappropriate
 Motor Supportive
 Non-Motor Engaged

 Interim
 Waiting
 Off-task
 On-task
 Cognitive
Student Variables-2
 Management
Organization
 Management Conduct
 Activity
 Instruction
 Off-task
Teacher Variables
 Instruction
 Management
 Observation
 Feedback
Other Instructional Variables
 Teacher
Movement
 Travel Pattern
 Instructional Set up
 Instructional Transitions
 Observation Patterns
General
Specific
ALT-PE Observation Techniques
 Interval
Recording
 Group Time sampling
 Duration Recording
Observational Analysis Tools
Reliability
 Extent to which two observers agree
 (Agreements /Agreements + Disagreements)
/ 100= Percent agreement
 80% is target
 Percentage
 Amount of time spent in a behavior divided
by total observation time
 Long term behaviors

Observational Analysis Tools
 Rate
Number
of times an event occurs
divided by total observation time
Short term behaviors
“Times per minute”
“Miles per hour”
WMU Observation System
 Content
Analysis
 Presentation Analysis
 Travel Pattern
 Event Recording- Rate
 Duration Recording- Percentage
 Strategies Based on Observed Data
 Self-Assessment- Predictions
 Reflective Analysis