In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching behaviors and to compare the qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluating clinical preceptors, we performed a study with questionnaires to survey students and preceptors who participated in preceptorship in our department of Family Medicine over 6 months from May, 1991 to September, 1991. Students reported humanistic orientation behaviors to be most contributing to their clinical medical education. However, preceptors favored student centered instructional strategies. An analysis and comparison of the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of preceptors suggest that qualitative approach identifies individual preceptor strengths and weaknesses more clearly than quantitative approach and may be more useful for providing feedback to stimulate and guide change.