CINEMAT : a field-based instrument for use in the evaluation of production qualities of films used for training public school administrators

Vita.The purpose of the study was to develop a system for evaluating the production qualities of films used for the training of educational administrators. By drawing an analogy between the interactions of elements within films and the intent of the Flanders Interaction Analysis Category system, a 10-category observation system was devised to select, observe, record and tabulate continuous elements of one second interval within film. So named for its display matrix, the CINEMAT allowed observers to infer quality discriminations between films based on their editing, camera work, acting and narration based on a framework of observations which recorded motion or a lack of motion. Using practicing and prospective administrators involved in the Administrative Staff Development Program of the Houston Independent School District, a pilot study and controlled experiment confirmed the possibility of training observers to reach a .85 level of inter-observer reliability using Scott's Correlation Coefficient. Analysis of variance results from the data derived from a film evaluation form statistically confirmed that trained observers would be more critical in their evaluation of films than would untrained observers, and that they would tend to be at least as critical or more critical than professional film makers