%0 Thesis %A Christensen, Claire G. %D 2015 %T Teacher Observations of Preschoolers’ Social-Emotional Behavior: A Formative Evaluation %U https://indigo.uic.edu/articles/thesis/Teacher_Observations_of_Preschoolers_Social-Emotional_Behavior_A_Formative_Evaluation/10817027 %2 https://indigo.uic.edu/ndownloader/files/19326755 %K Social Emotional Learning %K Early Childhood Education %K Measurement %K Observation %K Rater Training %K Formative Evaluation %X Social-emotional competencies—skills for managing one’s emotions and relationships—are integral to children’s academic and social success. Early-childhood educators need quality measures to track and support these competencies. One such measure is the Minnesota Preschool Affect Checklist-Teacher (MPAC-T), a new teacher observation tool. This paper describes a formative evaluation of a rater training program for teachers learning to use the MPAC-T.Twenty-two early-childhood educators participated in a pretest; a laboratory visit including MPAC-T training, a post-test, and focus groups; and a one-week follow-up. Teachers rated videos more accurately at post-test than at pre-test. Teachers’ post-test ratings were moderately accurate and consistent over time. Multi-facet Rasch measurement analyses revealed specific items and videos that were rated least accurately. Focus group responses highlighted specific ways the MPAC-T training program can be revised to improve the accuracy of teachers’ ratings. %I University of Illinois at Chicago