Education Commons^™

Functional Behavioral Assessment : A New Model For Interviewing, Shelley K. Schafer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The factors which affect how children learn are as varied as the individual students within any given classroom. These factors can affect not only the academic resilience of the student, but their behavior as well. Problem behaviors that create substantial amounts of tension in the classroom can inhibit the academic success of an individual child, as well as the performance of his or her peers. Some students do not have the appropriate behavioral repertoires necessary to cope with the many academic and social expectations of attending school. The purpose of the current study is to develop and assess the effectiveness …

Managing And Analyzing Data : A Case Study Demonstrating The Use Of Computer Software To Improve A School’S Management And Analysis Of Intervention Data, John R. Bethke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis describes a case study that demonstrates how to improve data management and data analysis with the use of a computerized software program. In a literature review, information is provided on the subject of data management and data analysis. In addition, information is provided to the reader on using computer software to manage and analyze data. Results provide examples of using case study data to generate tables and graphs using a computer software program. A discussion provides suggestions from a classroom teacher.

Twins In The Kindergarten Classroom : What Factors Do Parents Consider When Deciding Whether To Place Their Same-Gendered Twins In Separate Or Joint Classrooms?, Tammy Marie Gehling

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this qualitative research project, the topic of kindergarten placement of same-gendered twins is investigated through interviews with three mothers of young twins in a medium-sized Midwestern city. Specifically, the issue of what parents believe is the "best" placement for same-gendered twins is discussed, along with factors that shaped this decision. Advantages of both separate and joint kindergarten placement are discussed, along with such issues as patterns of twinship, mandatory placement policies, and early-onset separation anxiety. Recommendations are provided for both parents and educators regarding this issue.

Addressing Diversity: A Case Study Of Teacher Educators' Views And Instructional Practices At A Midwestern University, Alina Slapac

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is well documented that while the student population is becoming more and more diverse, the teacher population remains mostly white, female, monolingual, and monocultural (Banks, 2001a; Darling-Hammond, 2002; Nieto, 2000a). Consequently, teacher education programs have the important role of addressing diversity throughout curriculum, field experiences and faculty recruitment.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to gain more understanding, from the teacher educators' perspectives, about the way diversity is being addressed at a Midwestern university by examining teacher educators' various methods of instruction, and their course materials, which focus on diversity issues and the needs of diverse learners. The …

Job Satisfaction Of Iowa Public School Principals, Boris Sodoma

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In recent decades, job satisfaction has been the theme of numerous studies in both public and private organizations. As some researchers report, the examinations into the job satisfaction of school administrators have been frequently overlooked. Little attention has been given to job satisfaction among public school principals serving at elementary and secondary levels.

On a daily basis a wide variety of demands are being placed on principals. The legislature and taxpayers demand more services, industry expects competent workers, parents insist that social issues ought to be addressed, and the public wants achievement scores to improve. As a result, principals are …

Family, Child, Teacher Perceptions Of What African American Adult Family Members Think And Do To Assist Their Elementary School-Aged Children To Become Better Readers, Shadrack Gabriel Msengi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this study, the perceptions were investigated of how African American adult family members, children, and teachers viewed the family members' roles in assisting their elementary school-aged children to become better readers. These perceptions were explored to provide a detailed account of ideas that can impact the home-school relationship. To conduct this study, the researcher examined how similar or different the perceptions were among the three subgroups regarding: (a) the child's reading level; (b) what families do to assist children in reading; and (c) the perceived barriers and opportunities in adult family members' decisions to assist their children to become …

Linking Interventions To Functional Behavior Assessment Results, Andrea Jo Duncan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A comprehensive review of the instructional, social, and physical dimensions and consequences of behavior that complete functional behavior assessments. Substantial explanation of each is accompanied with examples of research based interventions linking to each dimension. A new model of functional behavior assessment is described and piloted in a single subject case study design. Also included are the results of the case study.

Exploring The Relationship Between Mathematics Content Knowledge And Pedagogical Content Knowledge Among Pre-Service Teachers, Hsueh-I Martin Lo

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study replicates and extends a previous study (Nathan & Petrosino, 2003) that explored the relationship between the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of pre-service mathematics teachers.

In that study, Nathan and Petrosino (2003) examined and reported evidence supporting the counterintuitive hypothesis that, in some situations, having a high degree of content knowledge may be associated with the "expert blind spot" (symbol-precedence) in pedagogical content knowledge. Pre-service teachers with various levels of expertise in mathematics subject matter were given a series of mathematics problems and asked to rank order their difficulty. Nathan and Petrosino (2003) reported that, on the …

Need, Qualifications, Training, Responsibilities, And Supervision Of Paraprofessionals In Special Education : A Qualitative Case Study Approach, Heather L. Marolf

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The increasing number of one-on-one paraprofessionals has intensified interest in issues regarding their appropriate employment. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the perceptions of a paraprofessional assigned to provide one-on-one supports for a student with special needs regarding how the need for paraprofessional assistance was determined, who participated in the selection process, necessary qualifications for employment, assigned roles and responsibilities, training opportunities, and supervision practices. Data was collected through three semi-structured interviews with a one-on-one paraprofessional. Additional themes identified through data analysis included barriers to job performance, job satisfaction, negatives of being a one-on-one paraprofessional, and …

A Qualitative Study: Does Anger Elicit Gender Normative Aggressive Reactions?, Austin Beer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Previous research indicates that males primarily use physical aggression and females use relational aggression when angered. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether males are really primarily physically aggressive and if females are primarily relationally aggressive when angered, through qualitative methodology. One group of males and one group of females participated in an online chat room discussion. Groups and individuals discussed situations that angered them and how they responded to being angered. Dialogue was evaluated to answer the question: Do males and females tend to aggress in gender normative manners? Four themes emerged from discussion indicating that these …

Speech Recognition: The Interpretation Of Training And Using Speech Recognition Software From The Perspectives Of Postsecondary Students With Learning Challenges, Delann Soenksen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the utilization of speech recognition programs by five college students with learning difficulties. A qualitative approach was implemented over the course of two semesters, Fall 2003 and Spring 2004, to: (a) ascertain students' perspectives on speech recognition, and (b) understand how students used speech recognition programs as a tool to meet the academic demands of postsecondary education. Data collection for this study included interviews, participant observations, field notes, videotape, and course assignments. This study provided qualitative data regarding an assistive technology tool that has traditionally been studied within a quantitative paradigm. Environment, individual characteristics, and life demands …

The Relationship Of The Co-Curriculum With Student Faith Development: Challenge And Support At A College Of The Church, Eric Bradley Braun

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Luther College (Decorah, IA) is a liberal arts school of 2550 students that has been affiliated with the Evangelical Church in America since 1861. Its mission includes a higher calling to help students connect faith with learning, freedom with responsibility, and life's work with service. The college co-curriculum includes more than seventy campus organizations, seventeen intercollegiate sports, thirteen music ensembles, a comprehensive work-study program, and numerous community connections. Amidst these chaotic activities and events, relationships, and challenging learning environments, student faith is developing. Administrators at the college do not seem to understand the significant relationship of the co-curriculum with student …

Iep Team Decision-Making Process In The Reintegration Of Special Education Students: A Qualitative Analysis Of Exiting Decisions, Kenneth G. Hayes

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to take an in-depth look at the decision-making process that an IEP team goes through regarding the reintegration of special education students. In particular, this study looked at the exiting criteria used by an IEP team in determining whether or not a student should be exited back into the general education classroom prior to graduation. Furthermore, using Raven's (1992) Power/Interaction Model as the theoretical framework, this study also looked at the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of an IEP team that were adopted through the processes involved in exiting students from special education programs.

The …

Separation Anxiety Within The School Context: A Qualitative Study Of The Beliefs And Practices Of Parents And Teachers, Lauryn C. Muller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study. Data were collected from two sources close to a child/adolescent that was either diagnosed with SAD or was exhibiting the symptoms set forth by the DSM-IV-TR. The sources included the primary caregiver and the primary teacher during symptom presentation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both sources separately. Interviews focused on the following three research question areas: (a) Parent feelings, (b) parent involvement, and (c) desire for information/supports needed. These areas are described and discussed in detail and data are analyzed while comparing parents that work within the school system to parents …

There Are No Winners Here: Teacher Thinking And Student Underachievement In The 6th Grade, Sue L. Pettit

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The following ethnographic study was conducted with 6^th grade teachers in a middle school that has been stigmatized by the public as a failing school and cited by the government as a School in Need of Assistance according to the No Child Left Behind Act. The purpose of the study was to examine what teachers believe about persistent underachievement in order to shed light on whether teacher beliefs inform teachers' efforts to ameliorate underachievement. As my study progressed, my research data suggested that teachers use a faulty testing curriculum that guarantees poor student performance and only serves to confirm …

Exploring Intersectionality In Education: The Intersection Of Gender, Race, Disability, And Class, Amy J. Petersen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to explore the intersection of gender, race, disability, and class within education. Specifically, I examined the educational experiences of African American women labeled with a disability and from a disadvantaged socio-economic class. Employing qualitative methodology and methods, I interviewed four adult African American women from disadvantaged socio-economic groups to gain a deeper understanding of their lived educational experiences.

The story that emerged from this research was each participant's strength. Their stories revealed that each woman persistently and continually engaged in the world around them in order to negotiate, evade, and resist the dominant ideology …

School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports : An Evaluation Of An Elementary School Program, Lisa Andreasen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The outcomes of a school-wide positive behavior support program at a rural elementary school were evaluated to determine the effects of a school-wide program on the behavior of students. A program evaluation was conducted using student office referrals that were collected over a six year period. The results indicated that student office referrals significantly decreased from Year 1 to Year 6 and that specific behaviors of aggression and inappropriate language also decreased significantly from Year 1 to Year 6. Data were investigated to indicate trends in total office referrals by gender, grade, month, location, and problem behavior.

Trends In Family-Centered Early Intervention, Jody Lee Albertson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Family-centered early intervention services have been evolving for quite some time, and the role of the family in intervention for children with disabilities has changed drastically. Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandated the family-centeredness of early intervention services, which is evident in the services and supports a family receives, the Individualized Family Services Plan document, and service coordination activities. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) then conducts compliance monitoring to gauge whether states are in compliance with IDEA. State monitoring reports are available to the public online.

The purpose of this study was to …

United States American Students' Experience With And Orientation Toward International Diversity In A Midwestern Comprehensive University Setting, Olga V. Kostareva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The growing phenomenon of globalization has directly affected all levels of postsecondary institutions as evidenced by the strong emphasis colleges and universities place on internationalizing their campuses. Among the forthstanding efforts toward campus internationalization is attracting international students to American colleges and universities. Numbers of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities have indeed been very high, placing this country in the leading position for hosting students from abroad. Hhowever, the role international students play in the overall process of internationalization has rarely been addressed. While the presence of international students is believed to contribute significantly to the intellectual …

The Relationship Of Undergraduate Cognitive Development And Academic Advising Preference At Two Small, Private, Liberal Arts Colleges, Vicki Van Vark Edelnant

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Though developmental advising has been widely accepted for some time, some recent studies have questioned whether this approach to advising is universally appropriate. The primary purposes of this study were to determine what, if any, relationship exists between students' preference for academic advising approach and either their level of cognitive development or their gender.

One hundred seventy-three students at two small, private, liberal arts colleges completed the Academic Advising Inventory (AAI) to assess their advising preferences and the Measure of Epistemological Reflection (MER) to measure cognitive development levels. A correlation coefficient of scores on the AAI and the MER indicated …

Teacher Perceptions On Professional Study Groups As An Effective Means To Successful Guided Reading Implementation, Melissa Kay Reimer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined teachers' perceptions about the efficacy of study groups as a means to better prepare them for guided reading and incorporated comprehension strategy instruction. The questions this study addressed related to teacher perceptions about the effects of study group participation on teacher practice and student learning, as well as characteristics of effective study groups and obstacles hindering their effectiveness. The participants were eight elementary teachers who were voluntary members of a study group in their respective buildings, with the focus of guided reading and comprehension strategy instruction. Participant data was collected through individual and group interviews, self-assessments, study …

Alternative High Schools: What Types Of Programs Lead To The Greatest Level Of Effectiveness?, Timothy W. Gilson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Based on the writings and research of Mary Anne Raywid and Gary Wehlage, this study sought to identify characteristics of effective alternative high schools in Iowa. This effectiveness was identified as both student retention and graduate completion.

The researcher-developed survey instrument was distributed to seventy alternative school directors and/or instructors within the state of Iowa. The schools identified were those classified by the Iowa High School Athletic Association as class A through 3A. With sixty-one surveys completed and returned, this study proceeded with an 87% response rate.

The following conclusions were drawn based on the results of this study: (a) …

Iep Meetings: What Are The Strategies That Make An Iep Meeting Successful?, Maria T. Cashman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

All students who receive special education services have one thing in common. They each have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) designed specifically for him/her. The IEP is a valuable document that guides the special education services for a student. It is imperative that parents have a significant role in the development, implementation, and review of the IEP.

For this study, interviews were used to understand the strategies that assist parents in achieving active participation during their child's IEP conference. Six parents of sophomore, junior, and senior high students were interviewed. Three parents were identified as "involved", which means they were …

Students At A Chinese Radio And Television University: Reasons For Participation, And Perceptions Of Their Status As Students And The Quality Of Their Learning, Huiping Ding

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this case study was to investigate students' participation in distance education and perceptions of their status as students and the learning achieved within the context of a radio and television university in the North of China. This study focused on the students who had completed a two-year college program and been promoted to a four-year bachelor's degree program. Data was collected and analyzed from observations, interviews and document reviews.

Results of the study identified many reasons for students' participation at the radio and television university to pursue their higher education. The primary reason for most was their …

No Child Left Behind (2001) And High Stakes Tests : How They Affect Teachers' Experiences In The Classroom, Emily N. Olson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether No Child Left Behind (2001) and high-stakes tests affect teachers' experiences in the classroom, in areas such as instruction, attitude/anxiety, and job satisfaction. This study also investigates whether teachers in schools labeled "in need of improvement" are affected differently than teachers in schools that are not labeled. Thirty-eight teachers in four urban elementary schools in Iowa who work with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students responded to a 30-question survey that used a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as ANOVA to investigate a possible difference …