The Classroom Ecobehavioral Assessment Instrument: A User-Friendly Method of Assessing Instructional/ Behavioral Relationships in the Classroom

Abstract

A large and growing body of research has identified specific environmental variables that are associated with effective instruction and positive student outcomes. As a result, it is possible to describe a technology for constructing effective learning environments. Traditional assessment methods, however, have not proven adequate for assessing those variables in applied settings in a way that optimal instructional environments can be tailored. An ecobehavioral approach to assessment has been widely cited as a promising alternative to traditional behavioral assessment strategies. Unfortunately, the complexity of the assessment methods and the unwieldy nature of the resulting large database make the application of an ecobehavioral approach impractical. A "user-friendly" Classroom Ecobehavioral Assessment Instrument (CEBAI) has been developed by collapsing and operationalizing effective teaching practices into discrete but broadly encompassing categories. Scripted steps for summarizing and analyzing data lead to prescriptions for altering assessment and/or intervention practices. The purpose of this paper is to describe the major features and steps of the CEBAI via case example. Results of initial validation studies are included.

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