Education Commons^™

An Investigation Of Selected At Risk Factors In Rural High Schools In The Midwest, Kevin M. Anderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated the use of selected at risk factors to predict student high school success. In addition, academic and social viewpoints of students in grades 9-11 who had been retained were investigated, as were the perceptions of their parents. The sample was drawn from two public school districts which were representative of rural schools in a Midwestern state. A total of 373 students in grades 9-11 from both districts participated. Data on 26 selected at risk factors were gathered from school records and personnel to determine predictors of school success. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, step-wise multiple regression, and …

An Analysis Of The Basic Assumptions About Psychology Of Teachers And School Psychologists, Timothy James Harmon

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The introduction of the Regular Education Initiative into the schools has caused a shift in roles for many school personnel. Perhaps most impacted are the regular classroom teachers who must begin to serve the needs of all children, including those traditionally served by special education. The resulting concerns these teachers voice center on psychoeducational issues such as assessment or developmentally appropriate instructional objectives. Increasingly, teachers have begun to turn toward school psychologists for support and guidance in the form of a consultative relationship. current consultation theory and research suggests that one of the ingredients of more effective consultation is the …

The Use Of The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised On A Population Of Diagnosed Bulimic College Women, Diane Ruth Haupt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the WAIS-R profiles of five diagnosed bulimic college women. All of the women are between the ages 18-22. The subjects are undergraduate students at a state university, and attend a university support group for individuals with eating disorders. The intent of this study was to investigate if a small population of bulimic college women could lend themselves to a specific profile for bulimic women. The subjects were given the WAIS-Rand profiles were analyzed by the researcher as well as a supervising School Psychologist and an Intern School Psychologist. The findings of this study concluded that the subjects …

Wisc-R And Wisc-Iii Aptitude Scores: How Comparable Are They?, Timothy John Fisher

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the comparability of the WISC-Rand WISC-III subtest and scale scores. The Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, and Freedom from Distractibility indices were also examined for comparability. The researcher administered the WISC-Rand WISC-III in a counterbalanced design to 20 rural, Caucasian, midwestern children ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old. On both the WISC-Rand WISC-III, means and standard deviations were computed for the subtest scaled scores, scaled index scores, and Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs. Correlation coefficients were obtained for the WISC-Rand WISC-III subtests, indices, and scales with two tailed dependent t tests computed to determine …

Teacher Classroom Strategies For Working With Attention Deficit Students, Susan Lee Schulz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to gather data to describe (a) teacher ability to recognize the characteristics used to identify students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), (b) teacher familiarity with intervention strategies effective for ADD students, and (c) teacher perceptions of their own knowledge and capability to work with ADD students. The subjects were 277 teachers from Keystone Area Education Agency that completed a 42 item self-report questionnaire. Results of the questionnaire were analyzed using frequency distributions by composite population, by school (four districts participated), setting (regular education or special education), and by sex (males and females). Data was …

The Relationship Between Actual And Perceived Aerobic Fitness And Self-Concept, Matthew Bruce Green

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Researchers have suggested that improvements in aerobic fitness lead to improved self-concept (Collingwood, 1972; Folkins & Sime,.1981; Hanson & Nedde, 1974; Hatfield, Vaccaro, & Benedict, 1985; Hilyer & Mitchell, 1979; McGowan, Jarman, & Pedersen, 1974; Percy, Dziuban, & Martin, 1981; Schumaker, Small, & Wood, 1986). It has yet to be determined, however, how aerobic fitness is linked to positive self-concept. Other researchers have found that perceptions of physical fitness are correlated with self-concept (Leonardson, 1977; Riley, 1983; Young, 1985). Perceptions of aerobic fitness and how it relates to self-concept, however, have yet to be specifically studied. Using measures of self-concept, …

Reader-Text Match: The Interactive Effect Of Reader Ability And Text Difficulty On Comprehension Monitoring, Kathryn Maelou Baxter

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of text difficulty on the comprehension monitoring of above- and below-average readers. The most of the good reader/poor reader comprehension monitoring research, students have been given identical passages. Consequently, the poor readers must read text that is relatively more difficult for them than it is for the better readers.

In this study, 36 fourth graders, 18 above-average readers and 18 below-average readers, were given text on three levels of difficulty, as determined by the Fry readability formula: (a) a second-grade passage for all students, used to reflect the standard practice …

Effects Of Electronic Mail On Staff Communication Satisfaction And Computer Anxiety, Donald D. Luck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research indicates teacher isolation and computer anxiety are significant problems effecting teachers. This study examined the influence of electronic mail on these two problems. The research hypotheses questioned whether electronic mail installation positively effected a staff's level of communication satisfaction and/or lowered their level of computer anxiety.

Three sites were used in the study. Site One had electronic mail at the time of both measurements, Site Two implemented electronic mail immediately following the first measurement, and Site Three never used electronic mail. Ten months separated the measurements.

The study used the Computer Satisfaction Questionnaire to measure eight components of communication …

Parallel Form Test-Retest Reliability And Predictive Validity Of A Curriculum-Based Measurement Academic Readiness Test, Stanley F. Hanus

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to help a local school district in rural Iowa determine the reliability and predictive validity of a Curriculum-Based Measurement Academic Readiness Test (CBM-ART). The subjects were 85 kindergarten students and 77 first grade students enrolled in regular education. The total sample of 162 students was approximately 88% Caucasian, 8% Native American, 2% Hispanic, and 2% Asian. Parallel forms of the test were administered at a 14-day interval, with resulting reliability coefficients ranging from .76 to .94 with a median coefficient of .88. Validity coefficients computed between CBM measures administered in kindergarten and Iowa Tests …

Predicting Adolescent Aids-Related Risk Behavior From Psychosocial Factors: A Path Analysis, Sharon M. Hays

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study had two purposes. The first was to develop a model for relating the unique and combined contributions of knowledge about AIDS, attitudes toward AIDS, and several psychosocial characteristics to the self-reported sexual activity of adolescents. The second purpose was to validate the proposed causal paths by studying a sample of ninth-grade adolescents and using the results of a path analysis to revise the a priori model.

The model validation study was conducted among 179 ninth-grade adolescents. A questionnaire involving knowledge, attitudinal, psychosocial characteristics, and self-report behavioral information was administered (spring, 1989). The instrument used combined a questionnaire developed …

Industrial Technology Faculty's Valuation Of Consulting And Professional Performance, Daniel Richard Meyer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate university industrial technology faculty relationships between their consulting with industrial and perceptions of professional performance. The question addressed was that if effects on teaching ability, research activity, scholarly publishing, and public service arising from this activity. The information obtained adds to knowledge and may be useful for administrators in supporting this form of public service. The result should be increased faculty competence, better prepared students, and increased industrial competitiveness.

Exogenous variables of consulting with industry, competency maintenance, theory testing, enthusiasm regeneration, research opportunity, and scholarly publishing were identified as having potential impact …

An Investigation Of The Types Of Support Perceived Necessary By Iowa Elementary Classroom Teachers For The Integration Of Students Identified As Severely Disabled, Katheryn Ann Kinnard East

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate Iowa elementary classroom teachers perceptions regarding the conditions required for successfully including students identified as severely disabled in their regular classroom. Specifically, data were gathered to determine the types and ranking of types of support perceived necessary for such inclusion. Additionally, how actual levels of support differed from those deemed necessary and teacher willingness to accept these students were investigated. Comparisons were made between teachers with experience and those without experience in teaching students identified as severely disabled in the regular classroom.

An adapted version of the survey instrument devised by Myles …

Sustaining And Impinging Factors On Teaching Satisfaction Of Effective Middle Level Teachers, Cheryl D. Hoversten

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the ontogeny of effective middle level teachers. The study was a search through their lives, both professional and private, for those elements that they perceived have contributed to their professional development and consequent attitudes and perspectives on teaching.

A sample of 12 teachers was obtained through reputational-case selection, a process by which teachers were nominated by experts on the basis of their professional expertise. All participants were middle level teachers from two Midwestern states who had at least 10 years of teaching experience.

A career history interview, which focused on critical shifts …

An Investigation Of The Responsibilities Of Secondary Principals Serving Shared And Nonshared Superintendents, Dale E. Greimann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 1981-82, two school districts in the state of Iowa shared one superintendent; in 1985-86, 10 districts shared five superintendents; by 1991-92, 116 school districts reported sharing 58 superintendents. Studies on the shared superintendency suggested that role overload accompanied the position and that superintendents reacted to the increased workload by delegating responsibilities, often to building principals. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences in the perceived responsibilities of Iowa secondary principals serving shared superintendents and Iowa secondary principals serving nonshared superintendents. In addition, the study determined if significant relationships existed between Iowa and …

Professional Development And The Police: A Study Of Institutional Change, Gehrig Kenneth La Velle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to examine curricula change in the area of police professional development in England and Wales. More specifically, it was an examination of the process of change in a professional development institution. The intent was to investigate a comparative institutional model that could assist United States police educators and career development. The Police Staff College. known as Bramshill, agreed to participate in the study. A quantitative-interpretive paradigm was used and three study visits were conducted at Bramshill from May 1990 to September 1991. Participants included the Police Group, Directing, and Support Staff. Each participant was …

Parallel Form Test-Retest Reliability And Concurrent Validity Of An Instrument Designed To Measure Parental Love Deprivation, Margaret Josephine Zander

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the parallel form test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of an instrument designed to measure parental love deprivation. This instrt1Dent, the Parental Love Deprivation Scale (PLDS), was designed by Dr. Radhi Al-Mabuk. The subjects in the study were 77 college students enrolled in three undergraduate classes in the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa during the spring semester, 1992. Parallel for of the test were administered at a one month interval, with resulting reliability coefficients ranging from .93 for the PLDS/Father and .82 for the PLDS/Mother. In addition, Chronbach's Alpha …