An investigation of some techniques for reporting student-teacher verbal interaction in selected junior high school general music classes

The purpose of this study was to investigate some techniques for reporting student-teacher verbal interaction in selected junior high school general music classes. Specific reporting devices which were compared are: (1) Flanders' System of Verbal Interaction Analysis, (2) a Q-Sort System, and a (3) descriptive analysis. Four general music teachers were observed in their classes by the writer, and twenty Ball State general music methods students.The data collected implies that the Flanders Concept of Interaction Analysis can be adapted to other methods for reporting observations. Specifically, the data shows that the Q-Sort method and Descriptive Analysis method can be used successfully to report pupil-teacher verbal interaction. Although research and refinement of these methods are needed, this study indicates that such aids may Provide educators excellent feedback concerning verbal interaction, would be relatively easy to learn, and would be inexpensive and easy to administer.