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Variability In Word Learning: Phonological Sensitivity And Phonological Memory, Marnie E. Arkenberg

Student Work

Presently, investigators believe that variability in children’s word learning results from individual differences in one of two separate processes thought to underlie word learning: phonological sensitivity or phonological memory. Traditionally, researchers have viewed differences in children’s vocabularies as being the result of differences in either phonological memory or phonological sensitivity. However, there is reason to believe that a different type of relation exists among phonological sensitivity, phonological memory, and vocabulaiy. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the nature of these relations in preschoolers. Three hypotheses were presented: either phonological memory or phonological sensitivity plays a larger role in …

Barrier To Utilization Of Primary Healthcare Resources In Children Two Years Of Age And Under, Ruth A. Waibel

Health Services Research Dissertations

This is a retrospective longitudinal study of health service utilization using the Immunization Practice Data Set obtained from the Center for Pediatric Research, Norfolk, Virginia. Cluster sampling was used to identify a cohort of children (n = 271), aged 0 to 24 months, from the city of Norfolk, Virginia. A two-year abstraction of medical records was used to determine utilization practice patterns for three categories of health: well-baby, acute and chronic care. The purpose of this study was to identify socio-demographic, need, and health system factors associated with under-utilization of primary care services using Aday's model. The proportion of children …

A Review Of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Interventions Used With School-Aged Children And Adolescents, Christopher Laypath

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) techniques have been used since the early

twentieth century as a means of inducing relaxation and decreasing muscle tension.

However, only in the last twenty five years have systematic studies of these techniques to

treat children and adolescents appeared with any regularity in the research literature.

The last major review of the literature was published in 1989. The purpose of this

paper was to examine studies published since the last review of the literature. A special

emphasis was placed on studies set in schools or that were relevant to mental health

professionals in those settings. The …

Establishing Reinforcing Properties In Neutral Stimuli Through Observational Learning With Children, Andrew Waine Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to observe and analyze the factors that lead to a child's increase in responding to a previously neutral stimulus after observing another child's behavior and consequences in the same setting. The effects of five video presentations on rate of button-pressing responses were observed across four students. Rates of button-pressing behavior on an FR3 schedule of reinforcement were collected for each student using a computer and a metal apparatus with two flat push buttons. Each student completed two baseline phases to establish neutrality of stimuli, and viewed a total of five video presentations. Each video …

Teacher Referral Of Children With Internalizing Problems, Heather J. Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A survey addressing teacher referral of children with internalizing symptoms was developed and distributed to 883 first- through sixth-grade teachers in the state of Utah. The survey presented vignettes of children exhibiting symptoms of internalizing disorders. Respondents were asked if they would refer the child described in each vignette. The survey also asked respondents for information regarding the number of years they had been teaching, training they had received regarding children's mental health, the types of mental health services available within their schools, and their beliefs regarding types of services schools should provide. Four ANOVAs were calculated in analyzing the …

Internalizing Symptoms Of Children And Parenting Practices: An Exploratory Study, Kristi Lowe Stewart

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Parenting practices are known to be associated with childhood behavior difficulties. Past research has focused on the association between parenting practices and externalizing behavior problems in children. The relationship between internalizing behavioral problems and parenting practices has received less empirical attention. The current study explored the connection between internalizing symptomology in children and parenting practices. Sixty-six parents and children between the ages of 8 and 12 were surveyed regarding internalizing symptomology and parenting practices. Results indicated that parents of children with internalizing symptomology displayed statistically significantly poorer parenting behaviors than did parents of children who were free of internalizing symptoms. …

A Longitudinal Study Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms In Preschool-Age Children, Jessica Nicole Greenson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most common reasons for referral to children's mental health clinics, with an estimated prevalence of 3% to 5% in the general population of school-age children. Children who exhibit the requisite behaviors may obtain a diagnosis of ADHD at any age; however, symptom onset must occur before age 7 and persist for at least 6 months. Despite these temporal requirements for diagnosis, little empirical information about the manifestation and stability of ADHD symptoms in preschool children exists. This study provides information about the initial presence and stability over one academic year of ADHD behaviors …

The Effects Of Television On The Social Construction Of Body Images By Five- And Six-Year-Old Girls, Kristine M. Gruidl

Student Work

Television images influence individuals (Elliott and Slater, 1980). Cognitive learning theory suggests that during the first five to six years of life, children’s behavior patterns will be set (Donohue, 1975). Television has the potential to be a positive influence on learning. However, typical American media and television have been a negative influence on most children (Williams, 1981).

A 1996 study reported thirty-nine-point-one percent of first graders do not like their appearance and would change their looks, given the opportunity. It has been suggested the mass media are responsible and have taught children fat is bad and thin is good (Flannery-Schroeder …

Precipitating And Prophylactic Factors Contributing To Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology In Maltreated Children, Lisa Marie Linning

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study examined mediating factors that lead to, or buffer against, development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after child maltreatment. Fifty-five children aged 8--17 years voluntarily completed self-report questionnaires and a structured diagnostic interview. It was hypothesized that (1) chronicity and severity of abuse amplify PTSD risk when a child has limited support networks, ineffective coping, external locus of control, affect dysregulation, and a dysfunctional family; (2) key family and victim characteristics would help to ameliorate effects of traumatic abuse; (3) the combination of precipitating and prophylactic factors would determine the effectiveness of managing traumatic maltreatment. Results suggest that dysthymia, …

Parental Perceptions Of Childhood Weight Status In Preschool Children, Alison Faye Martodam

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe parental perceptions of their preschool child's weight status. Pender's Revised Health Promotion Model was used to guide this study. A convenience sample of 275 parents, who had a child between the age of 2--5 years, was obtained from Women, Infant's and Children (WIC) clinics in a Southwestern city, after informed consent was obtained. The sample had a high number of Hispanics (80%) compared to non-Hispanics (20%). It was found that overall parents perceive their child's weight accurately. No significance was found between the ethnicity, education or age of the parents and …

The Effects Of Motor Practice On Coarticulatory Interactions In The Speech Of Children And Adults, Kimberly Marie Wieberg

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The current study was designed to elucidate the role of practice on speech production. Specifically, this investigation examined the effects of a distributed practice schedule on speech productions in young children and adults. Unlike the practice period used in previous studies, the practice session utilized in this investigation was spread out over one week (distributed over time), in which participants were required to practice on three different occasions before being retested. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to examine the notion of a developmental trend of coarticulation in children by verifying whether or not speech production strategies as exhibited …

The Use Of Teacher Facilitation During Computer Activities To Improve The Social Interaction Of Preschool Children In Inclusive Classrooms, Cynthia Lau

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Social competence is a major focus in early childhood education and there is a need for effective teaching methods to increase social skills for both children with and without disabilities. Even though technology is used as a tool for teaching young children, there is limited research on the use of structured teaching coupled with assistive technology to facilitate social skill development in young children; This study investigated the impact of teacher facilitation during computer activities on the social skill development and concurrent interactions of young children. The study compared dyads comprised of children with and without disabilities who received teacher …

Coping Strategies And Stress Levels Of Parents Of Children With Autism, Tammy L Neil

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess stress levels and coping strategies of parents with children with autism. The goal is to identify the resources and support systems which parents use for coping with their stress and to assess whether the support systems differ between mothers and fathers. This study will also investigate differences in coping strategies used by parents of children with autism and parents of typically developing children; Subjects in this study included thirty parents of children with autism, and thirty parents of typically developing children. All participants were recruited from the Eastern, Midwest, and Western part …

Aboriginal Parental Involvement In Early Childhood Education, Rosalyn M. Frecker

Theses : Honours

Aboriginal parent and community participation in the education process has been identified as a priority for educators of Aboriginal children in Western Australia. The priority is one strategy aimed at addressing the inequity of student outcomes for Aboriginal children. This study set out to investigate the opinions of school staff and Aboriginal parents regarding the opportunity for, and value of Aboriginal parental involvement in the education process. Also, similarities and differences of opinion between school staff and parents were identified and discussed. The study employed qualitative methodology and included triangulation for internal validity. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect …

The Role Of Children's Talk In Writing Development, Belinda Nelson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study is a 'snap shot' into the interactions and utterances of developing writers. It provides insight into the usefulness of talk, the need to model and encourage talk in the composing processes of children and also into the factors that impact on such talk making it more or less effective for young writers. The study observed six middle primary school students during the writing of two texts and recorded the accompanying talk. Classroom observations provided insight into the pedagogical and cultural influences within the writing contexts. Writing samples enabled each student's writing development to be analysed and became a …

Teacher Perceptions Of Student Speech, Yvonne G. Haig

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Although language variation is widespread and natural,it is subject to judgement. Where a standard language has developed, other varieties tend to be judged against its "standards". While a number of overseas studies have found that this type of linguistic bias occurs in education and negatively impacts on dialect speakers, there has been little research in Australia. The research reported in this thesis investigates how teachers perceive the speech of school-aged students and whether the socio-economic status or level of schooling of the students influence these perceptions. Further, it examines the relationships between the teachers' background, the way they define Standard …

Number Sense In Urban Aboriginal Primary Students, Kathryn J. Lyon

Theses : Honours

This paper examines the number sense of urban Aboriginal primary students attending school in Perth. The subjects were asked to complete a test designed to assess their number sense, which has been defined as "[a] propensity for and an ability to use numbers and quantitative methods as a means of communicating, processing and interpreting information" (McIntosh, Reys, Reys, Bana & Farrell, 1997, p. 61). It involves an intuitive understanding about numbers and how to use them in practical ways. Some subjects were also interviewed, so that a greater understanding of their number sens8 could be gained. It was found that …