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Impulsivity In Science: Students' Beliefs In Their Science Abilities With And Without Adhd Symptomology, Deza'rae M. Collins, Lisa Marriott

University Honors Theses

Impulsivity has been negatively associated with students’ beliefs in their abilities in science (e.g., science self-efficacy). Impulsivity and risk tasking are known to be characteristics of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but it is unknown whether science self-efficacy is altered in students exhibiting ADHD symptomology. STEM beliefs (i.e. science, technology, engineering, and math) were hypothesized to be more challenging for impulsive and risky students who exhibited symptoms of ADHD, since that the fields require the practice of repetitive tasks and coordinated attention to task performance. Impulsivity, ADHD symptomology, and risk taking behavior were assessed in a cross-sectional sample of 612 …

Examining The Development And Classroom Dynamics Of Student Disaffection Over Multiple Time Periods: Short-Term Episodes And Long-Term Trajectories, Emily Anne Saxton

Dissertations and Theses

Student disaffection, a pervasive problem in middle school classrooms, is costly not only for disaffected students themselves (e.g., declines in GPA, high school drop out) but also for their teachers (e.g., stress-related health outcomes). Despite its importance, however, open questions remain regarding both the development of disaffection during early adolescence and the classroom dynamics that underlie changes in disaffection. This dissertation includes two free-standing manuscripts that explore these open questions regarding the development and classroom dynamics of disaffection. Each focuses on different developmental time scales and employs different methodological approaches to examine these important, but unanswered questions.

Drawing from a …

Simultaneous Bilingual Middle School Students Becoming Biliterate: What Do Students Think About Their Biliteracy As Taught Through The "Bridge" Strategy In A Humanities Dual Language/Immersion Class?, Alma Lucinda Diaz-Philipp

Dissertations and Theses

In response to the increasing number of United States school students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds at all grade levels, often called "simultaneous bilinguals," the U.S. school districts are opening schools that offer bilingual instruction. One instructional strategy that seems promising is the "Bridge," where students contrast and connect the literacy skills learned in one language to the literacy skills in their other language. An underlying component of learning a language is student attitude and motivation to learn. Research also seems to indicate that student attitude and motivation toward biliteracy can affect their achievement. There seems to be a …