Education Commons^™

Self-Perceptions Of Special Education Students Within The Regular Classroom, Sean Rayner

Theses & Honors Papers

This study was conducted to determine the self-perceptions of special education students within the regular education classroom . The subjects in this study consisted of 25 students from a mid Atlantic school system in Virginia . The subjects were high school students. The data were collected by using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included 18 closed ended or likert questions. The data were then analyzed qualitatively by descriptive statistics. The results showed that students with disabilities perceive their behavior to be the same in both the special education and the regular education classroom.

Teacher Perspectives Of Student Transitioning In Special Education From Correctional Facilities To Public Schools, Elanor B. Mccormack

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore correctional special education teachers' and public high school special education teachers ' perspectives of student transitioning from correctional facilities back to public schools. The point of interest was regarding what information these two groups of teachers believe to be important for transitioning to occur more smoothly from correctional education to the public schools.

Surveys were distributed to the two groups of teachers. Respondents indicated the need for collaboration between correctional facilities and public schools. They also indicated the need for transference of information about the student prior to the student's arrival in …

Perceptions Of Regular Education And Special Education Professionals Regarding Involvement In The Iep Process, Donna B. Howland

Theses & Honors Papers

Special education and regular education professionals in public high schools in Virginia were surveyed regarding their perceptions of student, parent, special and regular educator involvement in the IEP conference. The survey aimed to compare the teachers' perceptions on the ideal level of involvement with what actually occurs in the schools. Students and regular education teachers had lower levels of actual involvement in the IEP conference than the teachers believed it should be. Furthermore, both groups of teachers indicated that the primary responsibility for developing the IEP should fall to the special education professional.

Students' Perception Of Involvement In Transition, Linda D. Sadler

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the exceptional student's perception of his or her involvement in the transition process as well as expectations and desired outcomes for adult life. A sample of twenty-one students classified as learning disabled who were taking a study skills class chose to participate in this study. The results show that over half of this sample were not aware that they were currently in a program designed to assist them with planning their future. Even so, over ninety percent stated that they had a future plan in mind, with over ninety percent planning to …

The Effects Of Direct Instruction On The Decoding Skills Of Learning Disabled Student With An Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Stephanie Sample

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of direct instruction on the decoding skills of a student identified as learning disabled and with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A procedure called the Corrective Reading Decoding Program was used to test this hypothesis. A single subject sign was used for this study. The subject received a direct instruction decoding program that consisted of sixty-five lessons, that took approximately six weeks to complete. An analysis by descriptive statistics showed that the subject improved his percentages at each grade level on the word lists, and improved at each reading level …

Are The Personnel Of Support Centers Trained To Meet The Needs Of Students With Learning Disabilities In College?, Sheri Barger

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not the directors of support centers are prepared to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities in college. The subjects in this study were selected from all two and four year public schools from three states. They responded to a questionnaire about their training and the pertinence of their training to their work . The data were analyzed using a Pearson-r to examine the relationship between the variables . All questions were found to be statistically significant. Seventy-five percent of the variables were found to be significant at the …

Factors Related To School Involvement By Parents Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Kristen White

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related to a parent's involvement in their child's education. More specifically it addressed the factors related to the involvement by parents of children with learning disabilities. The subjects (n=52) were all parents of children with learning disabilities. All parents attending a convention sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina were surveyed. A self-developed questionnaire was used for this research. 37% of the questionnaires were returned. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Pearson r. A significant correlation was found between teacher involvement and parental involvement (r= …

The Analysis Of Methods Of Instruction In College Algebra And Trigonometry Courses In The Langston University Department Of Mathematics, Cristie L. Bostic

McCabe Thesis Collection

In 1978, a recurring effort was made to remedy the constant decline of test scores in the area of mathematics around the country (Milhalko, 1978). At this time educational methods of "back-to-basics" and "competency-based" programs were seen as the solutions to the drastic decline in test scores and the decrease in interest among students in mathematics courses. Seventeen years later, teachers of mathematics in both the secondary schools and universities (entry level courses) are confronted daily with students who possess a fear of mathematics, students who are unwilling, uninterested, and unable to learn the concepts in mathematics, and students who …

Attitudes Of Black Secondary School Teachers Toward School Guidance In The Potchefstroom Area, South Africa, Elias H. Masibi

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study To Determine The Relationship Between Perceived Communication Practices Of Leaders And Subordinate Response To Change, Catherine L. Chevalier

Dissertations

Organizational change continues to challenge leaders as they are charged with transforming their followers from a present state to a future state. This research examined the relationship between perceived communication practices of leaders and employee response to change in a natural setting. Randomly selected employees from the research and development division of a mid-size Fortune 500 company located in the Midwest comprised the sample (N. = 110). The study was executed upon completion of a large-scale change in policy which was formally communicated according to a protocol established by senior management. The participants completed three survey instruments: (1) Communication Environment …

An Investigation Of Teachers' Beliefs Concerning Evaluation Procedures And Criteria And Their Willingness To Assume An Active Role In The Process, Terina Walker-Harvey

Dissertations

Teacher evaluation has received less than favorable reviews over the decades. Reports comment on the unsound practices, inappropriate assessment methods, and inadequate performance criteria. As a result, teachers in some cases come to view the process as ineffective and inadequate. This study hypothesized that (a) teachers who believe in evaluation hold different beliefs regarding evaluation specifics compared to those who disbelieve, (b) teachers who believe in evaluation and view professional development as the purpose for conducting evaluation hold different views regarding evaluation specifics compared to those who disbelieve and view personnel decisions as the purpose for evaluation, and (c) those …

Factors Affecting Parent Perceptions Of Children's Performance In Inclusive Classroom Settings, Amy M. Johnson

Theses & Honors Papers

The subjects of this study included parents of forty - five students with learning disabilities who were integrated in the regular education classroom from rural Virginia. A self developed questionnaire was used to collect the data . Thirteen (28%) of the questionnaires were returned. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that divorced parents, married couples working between 20 to 29 hours per week, married parents who both had finished college, single I divorced parents who had finished High School only, and parents who had one child or all children in the family receiving Special Educational services …

The Effects Of Dialogue Journal Writing On The Writing Apprehension Level Of Middle School Students With Learning Disabilities, Jennifer H. Dooley

Theses & Honors Papers

This study examined what effects writing in dialogue journals has on the writing apprehension level of middle school students identified as having a learning disability related to writing. Twenty eight students participated in the study , eleven of which served as a control group and eleven as an experimental group (other subjects were eliminated randomly ). Each subject completed the Writing Apprehension Measure before and after the treatment. During the six - week study , the control group wrote in journals three times each week. The experimental group wrote in journals three times each week and received a response from …

Women And The Public School Superintendency: An Integrative Review Of The Dissertation Research, Carol A. Swingle

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to prepare a comprehensive summary, evaluation, and synthesis of the dissertation research conducted from 1970 to 1994 regarding women public school superintendents.

The units of study for this research synthesis were the 79 criterion-selected doctoral dissertations completed at colleges and universities in the United States between 1 970 and 1994 that utilized women public school superintendents as their sole, or primary, data set.

Data were collected relative to both the content and the quality of the selected dissertations. Data analysis was completed using the integrative research review techniques of listing factors, taking a vote, …

The Level Of Management Support Behaviors And The Effect On Participation Rates In Corporate Fitness Programs, Diane Braatz

Dissertations

Survey methods were used to evaluate the relationship between the nature and degree of management support provided to corporate fitness programs and employees' participation rates in those programs. A questionnaire requesting information about demographics, participation rates, and supportive management practices in the areas of coaching, modeling, and reinforcing, was sent to representatives of 400 companies. Completed questionnaires representing 157 organizations were returned. Across all respondents, the mean reported level of employee participation in fitness programs was 20.7%; the range was 2 to 67%. The level of employee participation was positively related to the total level of management support (i.e., combined …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership And School Climate, Christine L. Jensen

Dissertations

The study investigated the relationship between transformational leadership and school climate in elementary schools in w est Michigan with enrollments of 200-800 students. Eighteen school districts with 294 participating teachers completed two questionnaires.

The independent variable of transformational leadership was investigated by using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire to measure teachers' perceptions of leadership factors. The dependent variable of school climate was investigated by using the Organizational Climate Descriptor Questionnaire-Revised Elementary. The questionnaire was used to determine teachers' perceptions of principal openness, teacher openness, and overall school climate.

As a result of the data analysis, the investigation supported that there was …

A Descriptive Study Of The Implementation Process For All-Day Alternate Day Kindergarten Schedules In Michigan Public Schools, Kenneth G. Drenth

Dissertations

This research project was initiated and designed to gather data on the decision making, implementation, and evaluative processes being used in Michigan schools implementing all-day alternate day kindergarten schedules.

The major issues of concern w ere an assessment of preplanning activities transpiring prior to implementation, staff development preparations, parental involvement in the decision-making process, and evaluative data collected.

Data were collected during the fall of 1994 via a questionnaire sent to 68 Michigan school districts that had implemented an all-day alternate day kindergarten. The same questionnaire was also sent to five Michigan school districts that had implemented the all-day alternate …

Teachers' Perception Of Instructional Leadership And Student Achievement, David Anspaugh

Dissertations

The focus of this study was to investigate the teachers' perceptions of the principal's leadership behaviors and how the achievement level of the students was affected. Three middle schools representing the Prairie View Public Schools were used in the study. These middle schools were Sparta Middle School, High Plain Middle School, and Middleville Middle School.

A staff survey was given to the 33 teachers in each of the buildings. The survey dealt with 18 leadership behaviors of the principal. The teachers were asked to rate the behaviors as to their importance to them and if the behaviors existed. The survey …

Participative Management And Productivity: Partners Or Adversaries?, Michael Heenan Swearingen

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what style of management was used by different office furniture manufacturers and whether or not a participative style of management affected organizational productivity. Organizational productivity was defined by factoring together the yearly sales and the financial stability for the organization, as defined by Dun & Bradstreet.

The five hypotheses studied were:

1. The higher the educational level of the organization's management is, the more likely they are to use a participative style of management.

2. The older an organization is, the less likely they are to use a participative style of management. …

Citizens' Attitudes Toward Baraga And L'Anse Schools Sharing Resources And Consolidation In Two Community Attitude Surveys: A Five-Year Comparison, Anni C. Gregor

Dissertations

The focus of this study was to determine the relationship between respondents' data to six replicated education questions embedded in two community attitude surveys conducted in 1988 and 1993 in Baraga County, Michigan. The six questions were proposed to determine respondents' attitudes toward Baraga and L'Anse schools' sharing of educational curriculum, extracurricular activities, school calendars, staff, transportation, and consolidation of the two school districts. Demographic data in the two studies were cited to compare respondents' personal history and other demographic data between 1988 and 1993.

In the two studies, a total of 845 randomly selected subjects responded to six questions …

Classroom Personalities Of Effective Teachers Within A Technical College Setting, Fred Manley

Dissertations

This study used student ratings to examine relationships between instructor personality and teaching effectiveness for technical college faculty. Research was specifically conducted to address three questions: (1) what personality traits are associated with effective teaching, (2) do the personality profiles of effective teachers differ by academic area, and (3) are there personality dimensions that distinguish above average from below-average instructors.

Students enrolled in classes taught by instructors randomly selected from the accounting, computer information systems, marketing, and office occupations departments at five Wisconsin technical colleges rated their instructors on 29 personality traits and 18 teaching behaviors. Pearson product-moment correlations were …

Instructional Techniques For Elementary Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Marlene Tiller

Theses & Honors Papers

Instructional techniques used with elementary students diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were investigated. Subjects included fifty (n=50 ) special education teachers of elementary level (K-5 ) students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or emotional disabilities (ED). Of the fifty subjects, only twenty-three surveys were returned . Subject s were asked to choose the most effective desk placement, classroom placement , classroom strategy , and teaching method for an elementary level student with ADHD . A t-test, chi- square, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data . No significant differences were found between the choices of teachers …

Secondary Special Education Teachers' Attitudes Toward Extended School Year Calendars, Stephanie Elizabeth Kidd

Theses & Honors Papers

This researcher conducted a study in four traditional school year calendar districts to determine teachers' attitudes towards extending the school year. All special education teachers and a randomly selected sample of regular education teachers from the middle and high schools from each school district were surveyed. A researcher-made survey was constructed using a Likert scale. Questions were constructed to obtain information about their own feelings toward extended school year program s and how their students might benefit from these services. Results were categorized as either regular or special education. A t-test was conducted to determine any significant differences between the …

Interactions Between Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders And Teachers In The Mainstream Setting, Susan Palese Page

Theses & Honors Papers

The author assessed the self reported behaviors of mainstream academic high school teachers who teach students with emotional/behavioral disorders with respect to preferred consequences for inappropriate student behaviors. Teachers were surveyed from four counties and asked to respond to an inappropriate student behavior with 1) positive reinforcement of the appropriate student behavior, 2) punishment of an inappropriate student behavior, 3) consequence which resulted in student escape from the academic task (negative reinforcement) or a free response of the teacher's choice. Results indicated that 49.6% of teacher responses were examples of positive reinforcement, 25.4% negative reinforcement, 6.4% punishment and 18.6% other …

Regular Education Teacher's Perceptions Of Inclusion In Virginia, Karen F. Schroeder

Theses & Honors Papers

Forty regular education teachers responded to a questionnaire concerning regular education teachers·beliefs and perceptions about the benefits. attitudes, and effectiveness of inclusion. The results were analyzed by calculating percentages and means for each item of the questionnaire and by calculating mean scores for each respondent's questionnaire to examine positive or negative reactions to inclusion. In addition. a t-test was computed. The results indicated that regular education teachers who responded were not strongly positive towards _the inclusion of students with disabilities into regular education classrooms. The t-test showed no significant difference between regular education teachers who have students with disabilities included …

The Power Of The Rational C-Test In Measuring Knowledge Of English Derivational Morphemes, Karima Helmy Ammar

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Longwood College Freshmen And Senior Attitudes Towards Their Peers With Learning Disabilities, Tracy Hogan

Theses & Honors Papers

Ninety-five randomly. selected students at Longwood College responded to a questionnaire about their attitudes towards their peers with learning disabilities. The data was analyzed using a Three way analysis of variance to examine if gender, class and school had any effect on how students felt about their peers with learning disabilities. The results showed that there is a significant difference (p < .05) between the attitudes of males and females, females being more positive towards their peers with learning disabilities. Also, the results showed that there was a significant difference (p <.05) between the attitudes of students in the school of education and the students in liberal arts and sciences and business, with the education majors being more positive towards .their peers with learning disabilities than students · in the schools of liberal arts and sciences and business .

Vocational Special Education: The Educators' Perceptions Of Program Benefits, Restrictions, And Future Implications., Suzanne V. Pruess

Theses & Honors Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits, restrictions, and future implications of vocational education. Using a self developed questionnaire, eight teachers in two south-central Virginia counties were interviewed. The data were analyzed and placed under themes. From the data obtained it was found that these vocational and special education teachers varied on certain areas they think are pertinent in vocational education. Areas that differentiated focused on the value of vocational programs, or how beneficial they are (responses of special educators emphasized this 33% and vocational teachers 66%), and the emphasis of community based instruction as a component …

The Role Of Transformational Leadership In The Collaborative Development Of A Full Inclusion Program: An Action Research Study, Paul R. Hain

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This dissertation is a critical action research study on full inclusion for students with learning disabilities. The study describes how full inclusion for 16 students with learning disabilities in three regular classes was implemented in an Illinois elementary school over a one year period. The purpose of this study is to describe how transformational leadership, collaborative decision-making and action research helped in the development of full inclusion.

Action research was the method used to 1) observe and collect data about the project, 2) to analyze what was happening, and 3) help guide the inclusion teaching team in taking actions …

An Analysis Of Local Response To State Initiated School Reform Legislation: Michigan Public Act 25, A. Bruce Watson

Dissertations

Educational reform has been a topic of interest to educators, politicians and tax payers for over a century. Michigan’s educational reform legislation, Public Act 25. enacted in 1990, is a shared-responsibility model where the state and local school district share responsibility for implementing four major educational reform components. These components are, core curriculum, annual educational report, school improvement planning and accreditation.

The study was designed to answer the following two research questions. Initially, do elementary principals in Michigan public elementary schools perceive educational reform indicators and conditions to be in enough strength to allow educational reform to continue under Public …