A study concerning the possible use of videotape for developing interpersonal skills in a teacher training program

Abstract

Psychologists, in studying the effectiveness of psychotherapy, isolated a “core” of variables which they considered relevant for all human relationships. They, in addition, were successful in designing programs to train individuals to discriminate and communicate at higher levels of interpersonal functioning. Educators, adopting and modifying these techniques and methods, have also demonstrated that teacher trainees could be trained to interpersonally function effectively with themselves and with their students. The present study set out to examine (via videotapes) the relationship between teacher training exposure to and brief discussion of certain interpersonal variables (Carkhuff and Berenson, 1967), and their subsequent interpersonal functioning in the classroom. Lessons taught by trainees were videotaped, and ratings were made of the interpersonal functioning of the teacher trainees. Part of the group of trainees participated in an interpersonal training program based on videotape analysis. T-tests were used to discern any differences between the post-training scores of the groups on both initiative and responsiveness. Results of both t-tests yielded non-significant results. Reasons for the study’s failure were discussed and recommendations and suggestions were presented for future research in the area examined in this study.