Direct behavioral observation in school settings: Bringing science to practice

Schools provide a useful, controlled setting for evaluating child behavior problems, yet direct observational coding procedures evaluated by child researchers have not been widely incorporated by practicing clinicians. This article provides a summary of procedures useful to clinicians performing direct behavioral observation in school settings. We describe the need for and usefulness of comprehensive school observations; provide a primer on the identification, definition, and assessment of target behaviors; and outline and discuss specific clinical procedures, including formulating primary referral questions, interviewing teachers, describing the classroom context, and conducting the observation. We also provide practical advice for synthesizing the obtained information into a report that guides clinical intervention. A sample of school observation coding forms and guidelines for report writing are also included to facilitate the use of these techniques by clinicians and teachers involved with the child.