Education Commons^™

An Assessment Of Selected Public School Teachers And Pre-Service Teachers Knowledge And Opinions About Aids And Aids Education, Grace Louise Powell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a rapidly growing public health concern which has led to national and state legislation recommending education as the most effective means of combating the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of this original 1989 study at the University of Northern Iowa was to identify, by questionnaire, the similarities and differences between the knowledge and opinions concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS education policies of teachers in practice in Northeast Iowa and teachers in training at the University of Northern Iowa. Questionnaire responses and scores were analyzed using Chi Square and test …

Personality Style And Newly Amplified Hearing-Impaired Adults, Teresa A. Walker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There were two purposes of this research. First, the personality characteristics of the newly amplified hearing-impaired adult were examined. Second, the effect of the combination of the individual's knowledge of their personality type and their use of the hearing aid on their perception of hearing handicap was investigated. The need for an individualized approach to aural rehabilitation has been repeatedly stressed (Alpiner, 1982a; McCarthy & Alpiner, 1982). The understanding of individual personality types would be a step in the development of remedial programs that are adapted to the individual. There is little information that describes the newly amplified hearing impaired …

Roles And Role Perceptions Of The School Psychologist And Elementary School Counselor, Thora Gene Fisko

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study was designed to survey the school psychologists' perception of their own role and the role of the elementary,school counselor. The study was also designed to survey the elementary school counselors' perception of their own role and the role of the school psychologist. In the exploratory process of the present study, data regarding areas of potential conflicts and/or collaboration between school psychologists and elementary school counselors were studied. Twenty-eight school psychologists and 28 elementary school counselors were identified as working together within the public school systems served by three north central Iowa Area Education Agencies. The subjects were …

The Parallel Forms Reliability Of Curriculum Based Written Expression Measurement For First And Fifth Grade Students, Tamara J. Beener

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the parallel forms reliability of curriculum based written expression measurement for first and fifth grade students. Additionally, this study examined which of the following three scores: (a) total words written, (b) words spelled correctly, or (c) letters in correct sequence has the highest reliability coefficients as well as determining the overlap between the three scores. The subjects for this study were 89 first grade and 103 fifth grade students, selected from two Cedar Falls, Iowa, elementary schools. Permission was granted by Cedar Falls administrators to conduct the study. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation to …

Teacher Beliefs And Attitudes Toward Students At Risk, Marlyce K. Holbach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This descriptive study identified elementary, middle level, and high school teachers' beliefs and attitudes toward at risk students. The sample was drawn from three public schools that reflect the cultural and geographic diversity of school districts in a Midwestern state. All 84 regular classroom teachers from the selected schools participated in the investigation. Subjects completed a 100-question survey, developed by Phi Delta Kappa International, which assessed their beliefs and attitudes toward specific learning factors and behaviors of students, specific problems students confront outside of school, student abilities, and teaching strategies. Treatment included descriptive statistics, correlational analysis, and oneway analysis of …

The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Learner Self-Concept: A Construct Validity Study, Tracy A. Randall

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Researchers tend to agree that self-concept has an influence on the total development of the child (Briggs, 1970). Stanton (1982) suggests that educators should find ways to encourage internality in students' control orientations. Extensive research has been conducted on the constructs of locus of control and self-concept. Some research studies report interesting results concerning a dimension of self-concept--academic self-concept or self-concept as a learner--(Purkey, Raheim, & Cage, 1983; Purkey, 1970; Benner, Frey, & Gilberts, 1983).

The purpose of this study was to explore the construct independence between locus of control and learner self-concept in students at the tenth grade level. …

The Relationship Between Language Development And Self-Concept In Selected Junior High School Students, Iwona Gradzka

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The study was designed to examine and define the relationship between language development and self-concept in junior high school students. Thirty students were selected on the basis of age. To measure language development and self-concept, the following instruments were employed: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revised, Verbal subtests (WISC-R, V); Verbal IQ; Draw-a-Person (D-A-P) Test; a teacher questionnaire; and observations of students. Correlations relied upon a simple and multiple regression. The statistical analysis was composed of two parts. The first part included simple regression to obtain a correlation coefficient between self-concept and verbal IQ. The second part included the Pearson …

A Description And Explanation Of Teacher-Talk During Kindergarten Sharing Time, Debra Louise Semm Elliott

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Teacher-talk during kindergarten Sharing Time was described and explained through a qualitative study of 3 kindergarten teachers. Transcripts of 12 teacher interviews and six Sharing Time observations formed the basis of the study. Results showed that there appears to be a mismatch between teachers' stated goals and actual practice. Teacher-talk dominated much of Sharing Time and occurred in a short discourse style. Categories of teacher-talk were developed through constant comparative analysis. Two broad categories of questions and comments were further divided. Questions fell into four categories: information-seeking, clarification, management, and off-topic. Information-seeking questions were further classified as low-level literal, high-level …

Teacher-Initiated Whole Language Reading Instruction In A Skills-Based School District: A Self-Report Case Study, Vicky Mashek-Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study presents an insider's view of change as one teacher, the author of this report, attempted to implement reading instruction based on a whole language philosophy in a skills-based school district. Reform critics have made a substantial call for the improvement of students' literacy skills and for teachers to take charge of change efforts. This study is an attempt to describe what happened when one teacher attempted to implement these recommended reforms.

This investigation followed qualitative research guidelines for a self-report case study, similar to those used by McPherson (1972) in Small Town Teacher. The setting was a fourth-grade …

The Status Of Field Implementation Of Clinical Supervision, Kathleen Sullivan Mulholland

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which clinical supervision is practiced in American public schools. The investigator gathered data on the form of the practice, central office support for it, principal training in clinical supervision, the purposes for which clinical supervision was used, and principal's valuing of the process for improving practice. The sample of building administrators used for this study was drawn from a list of schools recognized as effective by the U.S. Department of Education from 1982-83 through 1985-86. The population consisted of 778 principals, the sample, 311; 218 principals responded to a …

Recruitment Practices Influencing Enrollment Of Four-Year Undergraduate Students Who Specialize In Graphic Arts, Joseph George Gindele

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify recruitment practices and other selected factors that could be utilized to increase undergraduate student enrollment in three types of graphic arts programs: education, technology, and management. The study involved graphic arts faculty and students in 76 colleges and universities in the United States.

Six instruments were used to secure data. These included two preliminary devices, three faculty opinionnaires, and one student opinionnaire. Each faculty opinionnaire focused on one of three graphic arts programs and contained a list of 32 recruitment practices. The student opinionnaire consisted of a similar list, an additional listing …

An Analysis Of The Importance Of Selected Applied Physics Concepts As Prerequisites To Training In Automotive Technology, Patrick Michael Mccleskey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study has been to develop information that may be useful in the preparation of curriculums and materials dedicated to the remediation of applied physics knowledge and skill deficits demonstrated by entering automotive technology students. The problem was to identify and rank-order the importance of applied physics concepts within the mechanical, fluidal, electrical/electronic, thermal, and chemical domains that are foundational to training in automotive technology.

A questionnaire containing 77 concept statements with a corresponding graphic rating scale was administered via mailed correspondence to all 196 of California's full-time community college automotive instructors. Of these, 130 (66.33%) were …

Competencies Required Of Baccalaureate Degree Graduates From Graphic Communications Programs, Eldon B. Swanson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem of this study was to identify and validate a list of competencies that may be used by graphic communications educators as the basis for curricula development that meets the needs of the contemporary graphic communications industry. The purpose of this study was to provide the graphic communications educator with a comprehensive, prioritized, and logically clustered list of competencies required of baccalaureate degree graduates from graphic communications programs as perceived by representatives from the graphic communications industry and graphic communications educators.

The survey instrument used for this study is based on a seven point graphic rating scale on which …

The Impact Of A Model Inservice Program On The Components Of Comprehensive School Health Education, Susan J. Koch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Inservice education has been utilized for both professional growth and school improvement in all educational disciplines for more than a century. As the focus of school health education has extended to include the concept of the wellness lifestyle and health promotion, school health educators have employed inservice education as a vehicle for improving the three components of comprehensive school health education: curriculum and instruction, school health services, and the healthful school environment.

One response to the need for professional training of school employees in wellness has been the Seaside inservice model. Initiated in Oregon in 1977, the model is based …

Factors Influencing Minority Enrollment In Postsecondary Vocational-Technical Education Programs In The State Of Iowa, Samuel Chukuemeka Obi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A study involving minority students was undertaken to ascertain and validate pertinent variables that influenced their enrollment in the postsecondary vocational-technical education programs in the state of Iowa. The study was also used to determine: (a) whether there were significant differences in the perceptions of postsecondary vocational-technical education minority students and vocational-technical-minded minority high school seniors on the one hand, and college-minded, vocational-technical-minded, and non-college/non-vocational-technical-minded minority high school seniors on the other; (b) whether the identified variables had comparable influences on postsecondary minority students to what the students thought; (c) the sources from which minority students learned the most about …

The Relationship Among Principal Power Tactic Usage, Leadership Style And School Climate In Selected Iowa Elementary Schools, Steven R. Decker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

One purpose of this study was to determine primary principal power tactic usage in Iowa elementary schools. The study also investigated the associations among principal power tactic usage, leadership style, and organizational climate.

The study utilized the Leadership Effectiveness Adaptability Description (LEAD-Self) survey to determine primary leadership style. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ-RE) was utilized to identify teachers' perceptions of school climate. The Perception of Principal Power Tactics Survey (PPPTS) was utilized to assess teachers' perceptions of principal power tactic usage.

A total of 573 surveys were included in this study. Completed survey instruments were received from 80 principals …

An Analysis Of Selected Initial Phase Iii Plans Developed From Iowa's Educational Excellence Program H.F. 499, Randall B. Clegg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Phase III of Iowa's Educational Excellence Program has provided Iowa school districts with the unique opportunity to improve and enhance the quality and effectiveness of Iowa teachers through the development of performance-based and supplemental pay plans. With 50 million dollars in state funding Iowa school districts were in a unique position to develop and implement their own prescription for achieving educational excellence.

The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of initial performance-based supplemental pay plans developed by Iowa school districts. As a result of the analysis this study described the reform efforts initiated by local school districts …

The Effectiveness Of Response Interruption, Differential Reinforcement Of Other Behavior, And A Visual Cue, In The Treatment Of Self-Injurious Stereotypic Behavior, Clark Gunnell Porter

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The present study investigated the effectiveness of a combined procedure involving response interruption and DRO in the treatment of self-injurious stereotypy. A visual cue was utilized to assist in generalization and the subject's behavior was monitored outside of the treatment setting. The subject was a ten year old mentally deficient female who engaged in a self-injurious stereotypy involving the picking of skin from her fingers and hands. An ABAC single-subject design was utilized and the subject's behavior was monitored in her classroom on mornings following treatment. The treatment procedure was unsuccessful in reducing the frequency of the behavior and no …