This paper is concerned with observation as a method of gathering information about the behaviour of school administrators. The paper first considers relevant literature on the methodology of observation in terms of the process of observation, recording and coding, and the role of the observer. The paper next turns its attention to two observational studies recently conducted in Australia — one of three secondary school principals in the State of Victoria, the other of five primary school principals in the State of New South Wales. The observations are described with regard to the establishment of each project, the recording of principals' actions, and the application of a decision-making overlay.
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