Education Commons^™

School Administrator Perceptions And Actions Toward Reducing Mental Health Factors To Learning, Andrew Charles Teti

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Approximately one in five children have a mental health need that impacts their academic functioning (World Health Organization, 2004). This study investigated what actions school administrators who oversee kindergarten through eighth grade, and how their perceptions of mental health have impacted those decisions. Both a survey and an interview were conducted with current school administrators in three counties in Western Pennsylvania. Findings suggested that administrators take mental health factors to learning very seriously and place a significant amount of pressure on themselves to address this barrier. Additionally, school administrators utilize a team approach to focus on mental health in the …

Measuring The Self-Assessed Presence Of The Essential Features Of Pbis In West Virginia Schools, James Franklin Harris

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for the 19 schools participating in the West Virginia Department of Education’s (WVDE) PBIS Project. Specific attention was given to which critical elements are more or less likely to be put in place during the first year of implementation, and which variables related to the process and the schools seem to positively and negatively influence implementation. Schools showed a positive trend of implementation and based upon the literature this should have a positive impact on the students and staff at these schools. There …

Mental Health Treatment Effects In An Alternative Middle Schools, Beth Devilla

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an alternative school in West Virginia. The school enrolled sixth to eighth grade students who had been suspended, expelled, or were facing expulsion. Using archived data, the academic performance of students who were in a mental health treatment program was compared to the performance of students who were in the alternative school but were not enrolled in the mental health program. All archival data was de-identified by the Psychologists on staff at the agencies so there were no identifiable human subjects. The research staff was provided access to existing …

A Comparison Of The Wj-Iii Test Of Cognitive Abilities And The Wais-Iii, Brittany Leigh Metz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Since the birth of the intelligence test in the early 20th century, these instruments have gone through tremendous alterations. The revision of such instruments creates an obligation of those who utilize these tests to provide empirical evidence that supports concurrent validity with additional cognitive measures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities, Third Edition and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test, Third Edition. Both instruments were administered to 30 college students attending a Midwest university. The previously collected data was analyzed using a Pearson Product Moment Correlation as well as a …

Differences In Self-Esteem Between Genders: A Look At Middle School, Beth S. Michael

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Most theorists suggest that the developement of self-esteem is found through interactions and experiences. However, these experiences may greatly differ between males and females in early adolescence because of developmental differences between the genders. Socialization may also play an important role in the self-esteem differences between genders. Overall, males and females have different developmental levels at the middle school age. Early or late development may impact the adolescent's self-esteem. This study will examine the differences in self-esteem between genders in middle school adolescents.

The Relationship Between Attention And Memory And School Readiness In West Virginia Preschoolers, Brenda Carol Parker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study investigated the relationship between memory and attention and academic readiness in children between the ages of 2 ½ and 5. Forty-two preschool children were involved in the study and were selected from childcare centers participating in the Educare project in West Virginia. All subjects were tested with the Bracken and the Carolina Curriculum. The Bracken measured the academic readiness and the Carolina Curriculum measured memory and attention levels of the children. The results indicated a positive correlation between memory and attention and academic readiness. The findings supported the position that there is a positive correlation between mastery …

The Relationship Between Receptive Language Skills And School Readiness, Patricia Slack Hines

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between language and academic readiness. The current study included 56 preschool children. Specifically, 9 two year olds participated, 18 three year olds participated, 21 four year olds, and 8 five year olds participated. Twenty- three were female and twenty-three were male. Each child was administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT III), followed by both the School Readiness Composite (SRC) of the Bracken Basic Concept Scale – Revised or BBCS-R. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the relationship between the standard scores of the PPVT III, and the …

The Relationship Between Student-Teacher Ratio And Academic Readiness In West Virginia Preschool Programs, Michael A. Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study investigated the relationship between student-teacher ratio and academic readiness in West Virginia preschool programs. Data from 47 preschoolers enrolled in 14 Educare programs in West Virginia was examined. Scores from the School Readiness Composite (SRC) of the Bracken Basic Concepts Scale-Revised (BBCS-R) were compared with observed student-teacher ratios. Data analysis yielded a statistically insignificant correlation coefficient of -.061. However, due to limitations inherent in the data set and the abundance of research contradicting these findings, it is unlikely that the data presented here offers an accurate picture of the general relationship between academic readiness and student-teacher ratio.

Program Evaluation Of A School-Violence Project In Wv Schools, Charley Bowen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Youth violence has been a major concern in every community in the United States. A group of educators, social service providers, law enforcement officials, mental health providers, and various interest groups in a small rural West Virginia County developed a plan to address the growing problem of violence among Lincoln County youth. In the fall of 1999, Lincoln County was awarded a three-year Federal Grant. The goal of the Lincoln Early Aggression Prevention Program was to develop and implement a program to increase the health and safety of Lincoln County Students. The county has also received a state grant (Drug …

The Relationship Between Parental Income And A Child's School Readiness Standard Composite Score As Measured By The Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised, Joy L. Black

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study was designed to determine if children from families with higher income levels would be better prepared to enter kindergarten than children from families with lower income levels. For this study, 54 children attending childcare centers funded by the West Virginia Educare Initiative were administered the standard School Readiness Composite (SRC) of the Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised (BBCS-R) and the parental questionnaire of the study protocol. It was determined that there was no significant relationship between parental income level and a child's SRC score on the BBCS-R.

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Teachers When Humor And Profanity Are Present In Lectures, Jo Lynn Blankenship

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study examined the effects of the use of humor and/or profanity on students’ perception of a male or female Psychology instructor. Groups of subjects (N=389; 203=females, 186=males) in a classroom viewed a taped lecture and then completed a questionnaire assessing the instructor and lecture. Each subject viewed one of eight video-taped lecture conditions: (1) non-humorous, non-profane male, (2) non-humorous, profane male, (3) humorous, non-profane male, (4) humorous, profane male, (5) non-humorous, profane female, (6) non-humorous, profane female, (7) humorous, non-profane female or (8) humorous, profane female. It was found that the combination of humor and profanity was seen …

Critical Decision Making Skills Of Postgraduate Respiratory Care Personnel, Leisa Kay Bowden

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The researcher of the study became interested in critical decision making skills while working with Respiratory Care post graduates. The researcher of the study noticed through observation a deficiency in critical thinking skills, reasoning abilities and decision making skills of recent post graduate Respiratory personnel. These weaknesses impacted a deterioration in interdepartmental communications and most importantly a deterioration in the quality of patient care. The problem of this study is to determine the effects of critical decision making skills in the College of West Virginia’s 1995 Respiratory Care class as compared to the College of West Virginia’s 1994 Respiratory Care …

The Relationship Between School Principals' Self-Perceived Brain Hemispheric Processing Modes And Their Self-Perceived Leadership Styles, Barbara Mcswain Kean

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study was designed to examine the relationship between the self-perceived preferred brain hemispheric processing of West Virginia public school principals and their self-perceived leadership styles. Seventy-five respondents completed the Herrmann Brain Dominance Profile, the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire, and a demographics sheet. Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model of the Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS). Chi Square analyses at the 0.05 alpha level were used to test two directional hypotheses that guided this study. Both hypotheses were confirmed.

Public school principals in West Virginia who perceived themselves as preferring mental processes that are predominantly left train hemispheric perceived …