Prediction of Performer Attentiveness Based on Rehearsal Activity and Teacher Behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine videotaped teacher and performer behavior during several high school ensemble rehearsals to determine the predictability of a dependent variable, frequency of off-task behavior, by the following carrier variables: performance time; nonperformance time; frequency of social and academic approvals and disapprovals, stops, complete and incomplete teaching units, errors, and teacher eye contact. Subjects were six high school ensemble teachers and randomly selected students from two mixed choruses, three bands, and one orchestra. Videotapes, using two cameras and a special effects generator for a split-screen effect, were made for ex post facto analysis. The predictability of off task behavior carrier variables was ex amined, using a multiple regression analysis. The variability of off-task behavior caused by individual teacher differences was accounted for in a repeated measures design. Results indicated a strong relationship between off-task behavior and individ ual teachers, nonperformance activity, and teacher eye contact. The carrier variables in this model accounted for 81.38% of the off-task variability.