Use three methods to assess concerns: questionnaire, open-ended statements, and informal conversation¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The paper describes three practical ways to determine individuals' or groups' concerns about an innovation. The most accurate is administering the 35-item SoC Questionnaire, which yields a graphic profile showing which stages are highest and lowest. A second method solicits written responses to the prompt "WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE INNOVATION, WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT?" with statements then analyzed against the seven stages. A third is informal conversation by a perceptive individual familiar with Stages of Concern, suited to counselors and others with non-threatening peer relationships with staff.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• For open-ended assessment, respondents are encouraged to provide at least three statements in complete sentences

Constraints¶

• The questionnaire is described as the most appropriate procedure for research and evaluation studies, implying the other methods suit practice settings

Target Learners¶

• teachers and staff being assessed for innovation-related concerns

Target Learning Goals¶

• identifying which Stages of Concern are most intense for individuals or groups

Affordances¶

• Stages Of Concern Seven Stage Taxonomy

Related Strategies¶

• Use sentence completion interviews to elicit learner concerns and generate group themes

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Hall, Gene E.; Rutherford, William L. (1983). Client Concerns: A Guide to Facilitating Institutional Change. Research and Development Center for Teacher Education, The University of Texas at Austin. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED251728