Education Commons^™

The Effect Of A Transition Class (Developmental Kindergarten) On Academic Parity, Douglas S. Mccall

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not those students who had participated in a developmental kindergarten program. Young Fives, had attained academic parity with their age mates who had not participated in the program.

The target population of this study was 245 students who were kindergarten age in 1988 and attended school in a rural school district in southwestern Michigan. The accessible population was 141 of the original 245 students.

The total battery grade equivalent test scores achieved on the California Achievement Test by the 141 students were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and …

A Comparative Study Of The Coping Ability Of Mobile And Nonmobile Elementary Pupils, Solomon Mokone Lebese

Dissertations

Frequent moves by parents of elementary-aged children can cause these children a considerable amount of stress, thus creating adjustment problems and straining their coping abilities to the limits. How do these children cope with such problems compared to those who do not move frequently?

The above question was the focus of investigation to determine whether or not there was a difference between the mobile (children whose parents have moved at least once in the past 3 years) and nonmobile (children whose parents have not moved from a particular school district in the past 3 years) elementary children in the way …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Barriers To Implementing Shared Decision-Making In Wisconsin Schools, Donald John Viegut

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate if differences exist in stakeholder perceptions of barriers to implementing shared decision-making (SDM), and (b) to investigate if differences exist in stakeholder perceptions across the following constructs of shared decision- making: empowerment, leadership, motivation, organizational culture, accountability, and learning organizations. Randomly selected members from the stakeholder categories of: parents, board of education members, superintendents, principals, and teachers, were the sample (N = 100). Stakeholder perception was compared on a composite score of the survey instrument. Perceptions were also compared across the six constructs of SDM for each of the stakeholder categories. …

Productivity And Perceived Work Environment Of Work Groups In Poland, Donald L. Gusfa

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relation between levels of productivity and perceptions of autonomy among similar work groups. The analysis of data obtained did not support a tendency for perceptions of high autonomy among workers to be directly related to high levels of productivity. Data were obtained from workers at six carbide tool manufacturing plants in Poland who were administered the Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R (Moos, 1981) to measure perception of autonomy. The data were collected in February 1991. Analysis of the WES data used the Kendall tau test to investigate the relation …

Adaptive Leadership Style And Sales Performance: A Test Of The Social Style Model, Frank M. Gambino

Dissertations

The Social Style Model served as the central theoretical framework of this study. The purpose of this study was twofold:

1. To assess whether performance evaluations of salespeople are related (a) to their social styles, (b) to the social styles of the sales managers who supervise their work, or (c) to the differences between their social styles and the styles of their sales supervisors.

2. To test the assumption that self-evaluations of social style are often significantly different from evaluations supplied by others who are familiar with a person’s behavior.

Two types of empirical data were collected: <1) measures of three social style variables—assertiveness, responsiveness, and versatility—for salespeople and sales supervisors, and (2) measures of salespeople’s overall job performance. Job performance was assessed using both self-ratings and supervisory ratings on five constructs of sales performance: (1) ability to meet sales objectives, (2) technical knowledge and application of that knowledge, (3) control of company expenses, (4) information processing, and (5) presentation skills. Social style was assessed using self-, peer and supervisory ratings.

Mail surveys were …

A Study Of The Thematic Integrated Curriculum (Tic) Of The Focus 2000 Program, Sherry Collins

Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to describe how a thematic integrated curriculum (TIC) enhances the quality of education by examining three outcomes of a TIC. These outcomes are: (1) the instruction of critical thinking skills, (2) the motivation of students to be self-directed and assume responsibility for their own learning, and (3) the empowerment of teachers to become educational leaders. The underlying assumption of the study was that the more the three outcomes are used in the learning process, the better will be the quality of education.

For this study, the process of "enhancing the quality of education" …

An Assessment Of Vocational Technical Education Students' Literacy Levels And Awareness Of Employer Expectations, Toni Woolfork

Dissertations

This is a correlational study designed to determine the readiness of high school students to pursue employment upon graduation. The study consisted of 137 subjects in grades 10-12, enrolled in 11 vocational education classes within the Kalamazoo Public School System in Kalamazoo County. Subjects were administered both a literacy instrument designed to measure literacy levels; and a self-awareness inventory, designed to obtain demographic information and to assess each subject’s knowledge or awareness of employer expectations as well as skills necessary for the workplace. Each teacher also complemented an inventory, which allowed the researcher to determine the similarities between subject’s and …

Using Technology For Dispensing Information, Ray Hoag

Dissertations

Technology that enhances communication through the use of digitized media abounds. Yet, there is a perception that education does not use technology's full potential to communicate with its audience. This dissertation demonstrates that a technological solution can communicate relevant educational information. Extensive documentation provides a high level departure point for subsequent technology enhanced communication projects.

The planning team for the Applied Technology Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wanted an application to express the center's name-implied mission. This opportunity was fulfilled by the development of a point-of-information kiosk application, the dissertation's focal point. Methodology included using project management software to identify …

A Status Study Of Formal Evaluation Procedures Employed By Michigan Philanthropic Foundations, John R. Seita

Dissertations

Little is known about the degree that philanthropic foundations use formal evaluation. This study investigated and described how Michigan based foundations of different sizes and types use formal evaluation for decision making regarding the (a) funding of grant proposals and (b) determining the performance of existing projects. Further, the study provides a description of current evaluation practice and capacity in foundations and plans that foundations have for increasing the evaluation capacity for themselves and of nonprofit grantees.

This study was conducted by mail questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher. A total of 134 questionnaires out of 226 mailed were …

Dyadic Similarity Of The Superintendent-Principal Interpersonal Relationship, Principal’S Job Satisfaction, And Subordinate’S Performance Evaluation, Richard William Drury

Dissertations

Due to mounting school improvement demands, the role of the principal has increasingly received pressure throughout the past decade. Although frequently referred to as the catalyst for effective school change, few empirical studies exist addressing organizational variables influencing this key administrative position. It has strongly been suggested that the interpersonal relationship principals share with their superintendent may affect the principal's job satisfaction and performance evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the situational effect of dyadic similarity on the superintendent-principal interpersonal relationship. Specifically, the study explored the relationship of managerial, dyadic similarity and subordinate outcomes. According to similarity …

The Importance Of Evaluation Questions In Human Resources Development: Audience Perspectives, Fahad Al-Ruwaished

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and explore how the perception and focus of human resources development (HRD) evaluation relates to different audiences and clients, and to make recommendations to individuals and organizations involved in designing, developing, and implementing HRD evaluation. The study used the CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) evaluation model to operationally define the kinds of evaluation questions as dependent variables. The study independent variable was the organizational role, operationally defined as simulated HRD audiences, i.e., CEOs, managers, trainers, and trainees.

The ' human resources evaluation questionnaire (HREQ) was developed by the researcher to measure …

The Effects Of Two Motivational Factors On Accuracy And Persistence For Second Graders, Jesse D. Baker

Dissertations

Promoting and maintaining motivation in elementary students is an ongoing problem. This study hypothesized that (a) feedback has a greater motivational effect on persistence and on accuracy for second graders than does no feedback, and (b) knowledge of results feedback has a greater motivational effect than does pleasant feeling tone feedback. Evidence from the study showed mixed support for the hypotheses.

The study compared two forms of feedback and the absence of feedback. One group received praise in the form of general, positive statements—classified as feeling tone—about their work while completing mathematics computational portions of the second grade 1989 Stanford …

Requisite Managerial Leadership Behaviors: A Diagnostic Role-Set Study Of Executives Within A Fortune 500 Corporation, Prudence Labeach Pollard

Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which executives' perceptions of their managerial leadership behaviors compare to their role-set's perceptions of the same behaviors. Additionally, the difference between the perceptions was related to the identified requisite executive skills and behaviors. Executives and their role-set were informed of the developmental purpose for which they were making the ratings. An executive's role-set is comprised of superior, peers, and subordinates, who spend significant amounts of time with the executive and are best able to observe the executive's behavior.

The Management Skills Profile (MSP) was used to investigate self and each role-set group's ratings of …

Preferred Motivators For Previously Incarcerated Criminals, Selma R. Massey

Dissertations

The issue of motivators has been studied by a number of researchers and practitioners in education, sociology, and psychology. Many of these studies have linked motivators to behavior (Coffey, 1987; Coleman, 1987; Gellerman, 1963; Gould & Sigall, 1977). Questions remain, however, as to which motivators are viewed by actors themselves as the most preferred influencers of behavior. The primary objective of the research was to compare the rank order of the most frequently cited motivators identified in research studies and the rank order of the most preferred motivators as perceived by previously incarcerated criminal respondents. A secondary objective was to …

The Identification And Validation Of Sociopsycholinguistic Strategies For Integrating Reading And Writing At The Postsecondary Level, Gail L. Landberg

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify a common set of strategies as determined by two panels of experts (practitioners and theorists), which reflected a sociopsycholinguistic teaching model integrating reading and writing processes on the postsecondary level.

At the present time approximately 30% of the students entering college have some type of skill need, and tertiary institutions have been compelled to admit this type of developmental student to survive financially. Higher education has responded to this crisis by providing developmental programs to assist students in improving their basic skills.

Despite the fact that recent educational research on language acquisition …

Rating Intervention Strategies For Overcoming Impediments To Planned Change By Michigan Public School Administrators, Dale Kimball

Dissertations

In this study, Michigan public school principals reported their perceptions regarding differences in the degree to which nine intervention strategies helped to overcome 10 impediments to change that are often encountered by principals. The intervention strategies and impediments to change used in this study were chosen as a result of a content analysis of literature on change.

A two-part pilot study was conducted. In part one, principals were asked for comments regarding the effectiveness of the letter of introduction, clarity of instructions and questionnaire items, and ease and time of completion. In part two, information was gathered to determine whether …

Family Birth Order And Leadership Behavior Of Public School Principals In Michigan, Larry J. Corbett

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the leadership behavior patterns of principals of public schools in Michigan as related to family birth order. The 341 elementary, middle, and high school principals chosen in this study were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited responses from the principals to attempt to relate family birth order with concern for production and concern for people. Ninety percent of all potential subjects participated in the survey. The survey responses were applied to the Leadership Grid ® (Blake & McCanse, 1991) for comparison.

The t test for independent means was used to …

The Relationship Between Communication Skills Of First Line Nurse Managers And Stability, Sherry A. Blair

Dissertations

The relationship between communication styles of nurse managers and stability of the registered nurses in their respective departments was investigated. A random sample of first-line nurse managers (N = 83) in 10 hospitals in lower Michigan were surveyed. The communication style of the first-line nurse manager was determined by the Professional Communication Inventory (Pfaff & Busch, 1990). Stability was reported by participants through the use of an inventory designed by the researcher. Data analysis did not reveal any relationships between a managers' communication skills and the stability of registered nurses in their unit(s).

A Comparison Of Strategic Decision Task Variable Analysis Between School And Business Executives, Peter A. Behnke

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between school and business executives when making strategic decisions through a comparison of task variable analysis skills. The hypothesis for the study was: After reading a case study describing a strategic decision- making situation, business executives will have more correct responses than school executives on an author written evaluation instrument. The evaluation instrument was designed to measure the subjects' analysis skills of 10 different decision-making task variables.

Thirty Wisconsin school district superintendents and 30 business executives were randomly selected to participate in the study. The results indicated that the difference …

Comparison Study Of The Implementation Rate Of Eighteen Middle School Characteristics In Michigan And National Blue Ribbon Schools, Gregg G. Mowen

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the current amount of Implementation of the 18 middle school characteristics as reported by principals from randomly selected middle level schools In the state of Michigan and In middle level schools designated as Blue Ribbon schools (U.S. Department of Education, 1991). This study used a survey questionnaire that was initially designed by RIegle (1971) to measure the rate of Implementation of the middle school characteristics. The survey was mailed to Michigan and Blue Ribbon middle level school principals, selected randomly via a table of random numbers. The return rate for Michigan schools …

The Impact Of Test Sophistication On Tenth Grade Students’ Michigan Educational Assessment Program (Meap) Scores, Iris Williams

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether test sophistication training would result in more tenth grade students achieving performance levels on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) subtests in mathematics and reading which would entitle them to receive the state endorsed diploma.

Two groups of English II students (grade 10) from the same school participated in the study. One group received test sophistication instruction, and the other received no treatment. During the test sophistication training, students were instructed using the Ace That Test Preparation for Success Student Guide (Yarosz & Yarosz, 1991a) which was based on the …

An Analysis Of Collective Bargaining Based On The Win-Win Philosophy Of Conflict Resolution Used By Six Selected Chicago Suburban School Districts, Gaetana Lynn Calabrese Mollin

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Leadership Styles Of Selected Wisconsin Elementary School Principals, Paul Jeffrey Mack

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Historical Analysis Of The Racial, Community And Religious Forces In The Establishment And Development Of St. Monica's Parish Chicago, 1890-1930, Helen Kathryn Marie Rhodes

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Job Satisfaction, Occupational Stress, And Perceptions Of Principals Among Social Workers In Chicago Public Schools, Linda Orr Van Doren

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Selected Auditory Variables In Third And Eighth Grade Classrooms, Loren David May

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Productivity Among Professors And Schools Of Education In Four Selected Fields Of Education From 1971-1990, Joanne M. Frey

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Channing H. Tobias: An Educational Change Agent In Race Relations, O Joyce Smith

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

History Of The Chicago Parental School, 1902-1975, Cynthia Kay Barron

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Faculty Perceptions Of The Role Of Department Chairperson In Facilitating Tenure Acquisition, Frances Daly

Dissertations

No abstract provided.