Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Criterion-Referenced Competency Test Reading Comprehension And Lexile Scores And Fountas And Pinnell's Guided Reading Levels In A Georgia Public School District, Lynnda G. Higgins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the current study was to compare Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell's guided reading levels to the reading comprehension and Lexile scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). The researcher designed a correlational study to answer the following question: How do the Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels among third grade students who were instructed in guided reading correlate with the reading comprehension and Lexile scores which were generated by the CRCT? The purpose was also to determine whether guided reading levels, gender, and ethnicity had a correlation to reading comprehension and Lexile scores on the …

Curriculum Implementation: A Study Of The Effect Of A Specialized Curriculum On Sixth Grade Mathematics Summative Test Scores In A Rural Middle School, Libby Plath Bicknell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine curriculum implementation in sixth grade mathematics as it related to standardized testing in a rural district. The school in the study contained two groups of students, one group who had been taught the new statemandated curriculum and another group who was taught an outdated curriculum. The purpose was to determine if there was a statistically significant disparity between the criterion-reference test scores of the two groups while controlling for differences in student ability level through the use of pre-test scores as measured through an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The hypothesis was that …

Low Academic Performance And Specific Learning Disabilities: Determining The Better Predictor Of Aggressive Behavior At School, Cherry Lurae Flake Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher sought to determine whether an overall low average or a specific learning disability is a better predictor of a student displaying aggression at school. Further, she investigated for any interaction between an overall low average and a specific learning disability. The subjects were students in grades six through eight who attended a traditional middle school in a somewhat rural school district. The subjects had been punished by an out-of-school suspension at least once for an act of aggression during the 2006-2007 school year. Using a multiple regression analysis, the researcher found a negative correlation between overall average and …

Parent And Teacher Perceptions Of Effective Parental Involvement, Tim Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental involvement is a key factor in the success of students, but research shows differing perceptions on the definition of parent involvement. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional survey study was to compare and contrast the perceptions of parents and teachers about the parent involvement strategies they find most effective. This study also sought to find differences within each population based on demographic factors. Using a researcher generated survey based on Dr. Joyce Epstein's Six Types of Parental Involvement (2002), elementary school parents and teachers of a rural Georgia school district were asked to use a rating scale to indicate …

The Benefits Of Socio-Rhetorical Analysis For Expository Preaching, Joseph R. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past twenty years, the field of Biblical studies has witnessed a marked increase in the interest devoted to the subject of socio-rhetorical analysis. Much of the work done one this subject reveals that it has great potential for shedding new light on the Biblical text. However, in order for this type of analysis to reach its maximum value for the church it must be integrated with the field of homiletics. Surprisingly, a review of the literature reveals that little attention has been given to showing how this type of analysis can be incorporated into the ministry expository preaching. …

School Nursing And Asthma: The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Practice, Best Practice And Individualized Healthcare Plans, Anne Akins Wood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate current research on evidence-based practice (EBP) and best practices for school nurses addressing student asthma, as well as how school nurses integrate those practices with the IHP, the IEP, and other factors in daily practice. The objective of this study was is to explicate the framework for a qualitative meta-analysis of the existing research and literature addressing EBP and best practices. The method divided a general inquiry of research material, (in this case, best practices for school nurses treating asthma), into three categories: an analysis of theory, and analysis of methodology, and …

Bullying Prevention Program: Possible Impact On Academic Performance, William Daryl Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research conducted sought to find the effect of the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program on the academic performance of students in the third through eighth grade. The study examined the relationship between the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and the change in academic performance, as measured by the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The post-test scores of third through fifth grade students from one elementary school which had implemented the prevention program were compared with the post-test scores for the same grade levels at an elementary school that had not implemented a bullying prevention …

Anger, Empathy, And Romantic Styles Of Attachment In Court Ordered Domestic Violence Offenders, Luanne Faye Bender Long

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study utilized a prospective design to examine the impact of empathy and attachment beliefs on various dimensions of anger. More specifically, the study explored whether pre-treatment empathy scores in domestic violence offenders were the best predictor of post-treatment anger. The subjects (n=24) were male (14) and female (10) court referred domestic violence offenders. Correlation coefficients were calculated for attachment styles from pretreatment to post treatment to determine if the treatment response scores in anxiety were negatively correlated with anger turned inward. A series of hierarchical multiple regressions were used to examine whether pretreatment empathy accounted for any significant unique …

The Effect Of The Use Of Christian-Published Science Textbooks On The Act Science Reasoning Subtest Scores Of Midwest Christian High Schools, Janice Marie Guthrie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Statistics indicate that students in conservative Christian schools earn higher standardized test scores in mathematics, reading, science, and writing compared to their public school counterparts, while many are criticized for using curricular materials deemed inferior in quality and for employing uncertified and ill-trained teachers. This study investigates the effectiveness of Christian-published science textbooks in preparing students for college-level science courses as measured by the Science Reasoning subtest of the ACT college entrance examination. A questionnaire was sent to conservative Christian high schools in five Midwest states which are affiliated with the American Association of Christian Schools, Association of Christian Schools …

Science Standardized Achievement Tests: The Relationship Between Publishers, Textbook Completion, Admission Standards And Science Test Scores Of Seventh Through Ninth Grade Students In Faccs Schools, Sharon Javonne Nix

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scaled scores from the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition were examined in this causal-comparative study to determine if science publishers in Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS), textbook completion rates, and admission standards affect standardized test scores. Administrators from 34 schools in FACCS participated in the study by returning an original eleven-question survey instrument to help ascertain what differences or relationships affect standardized test scores. Nine Mann-Whitney tests, one for each grade level in seventh through ninth, did not reveal a significant difference on hypotheses 1a-3c. Publishers (BJ U Press, A Beka Book, A.C.E., Glencoe, Prentice Hall), …

An Effective Strategy For Church Revitalization Through A Case Study Of Hosanna Church, Hyung Woo Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to suggest an effective strategy of church revitalization through a case study of Hosanna Church. The case study will focus on the strategic process for church revitalization at Hosanna Church. This model of ministry extracted the principles, critical components, and elements that have been primary for the revitalization. Ten principles of church revitalization were discovered in the literature and diagnose the reality of the Hosanna Church, confirming the application of these principles. The principles were found to be transferable and applicable to various setting.

Problem-Based Learning In Police Academies: Adult Learning Principles Utilized By Police Trainers, Eric Paul Werth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the use of adult learning principles by instructors at two state-run multi-jurisdictional police training academies using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Instructor use of adult learning principles was assessed using an electronic version of the Principles of Adult Learning Scale (PALS). PALS scores indicate that instructors at both institutions favor an instructor-centered as opposed to student-centered teaching style, that time since PBL implementation did not lead to a greater use of adult learning principles by instructors at the academy utilizing PBL for a greater length of time, and that there is little significant difference in the use of adult …

A Strategy For The Balanced Discipleship That Integrates Emotional Health And Spiritual Maturity Within The Korean Presbyterian Church, Kwang Shik Seo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the biblical basis for a balanced discipleship that integrates emotional health and spiritual maturity within the Korean Presbyterian Church. This project reviews historical research and provides an analysis of the emotional issues in the Korean Presbyterian Church. Based on the survey, this project defines current reality and offers a vision for the Korean Presbyterian Church. Through the evaluation of biblical models and churches, this project suggests effective principles for developing a balanced discipleship that incorporates both emotional health and spiritual maturity.

Comparison Of Fifth-Grade Students’ Mathematics Achievement As Evidenced By Georgia’S Criterion-Referenced Competency Test: Traditional And Departmentalized Settings, Marcia Wright Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effect of traditional (self-contained, one teacher for all academic subjects) and departmentalized (math taught by a different teacher) instruction upon the mathematics CRCT achievement of fifth-grade general education students. A secondary purpose addressed teachers' experiences, perceptions, and opinions concerning the classroom structure at this level. The 2007 and 2008 CRCT math data was used with a total of 9,386 students. The researcher's Data Collection and Opinions (DCO) for Teachers surveyed 180 fifth-grade teachers. A z score population proportion and a two-sample t test determined significant differences between the two structures. Results of the passing percentages showed …

An Analysis Of Factors That Influence Success In A Low Socioeconomic Georgia Middle School, Faith Mims Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze teacher perceptions as they relate to practices considered critical to success within low socioeconomic middle schools. Teacher perceptions from four schools with similar demographics were included, and survey research was utilized in this quantitative study. The general question addressed in this study was: To what extent is there a difference when comparing teacher perceptions in a school that has been identified as a "needs improvement" school to the teacher perceptions in a school that has been identified as a "successful" school? Analyses showed a significant statistical difference in five of the seven …

The Value Of The Navy Chaplain In The Fleet Marine Force Environment, Bruce Crouterfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As a result of interviews, it was found that many Naval Chaplains serving in the Fleet Marine Force fail to have an accurate sense of worth as they serve the people God has called them to serve. Because Marines and Sailors don’t share with their chaplains how they really think of the chaplain, the chaplain is left wondering about his significance. Through interviews and questionnaires, Marines and Sailors serving in the Fleet Marine Force were queried regarding their concept of the value of the Naval Chaplain serving in the Fleet Marine Force. In short, it was found that for the …

The Relationship Between The Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels) Oral Reading Fluency (Orf) And The Alaska Standards Based Assessment (Sba) For Proficiency In Reading, Polly Shuman Rowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The impact of No Child Left Behind and making Adequate Yearly Progress is influencing classroom instruction with Curriculum Based Measures such as the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). The primary population of this study was from a small school in rural Alaska. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the first grade scores of the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) and the subsequent third grade scores of the Alaska Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) in reading. A Pearson's r statistical test was performed on the data from both scores. The results indicated that there …

Inclusive Learning Environments: An Analysis Of Early Intervention Service Options For Preschoolers With Special Needs, Mimi L. Heath

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the quest to restructure educational programming toward higher student outcomes for preschoolers with special needs, professional educators are continuously challenged to provide with integrity a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restricted environment (LRE) as mandated by law. This study analyzed the effectiveness of an inclusive programming model for preschoolers with special needs by examining achievement gains in the developmental domains of adaptive, motor, and cognitive skills as assessed by the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition. Analysis of an inclusive learning environment for six preschoolers with special needs as guided by IEP committee recommendations occurred. In order …

Development And Analysis Of A Survey Assessing Eleventh Grade High School Students' Preferences For Specific Types Of Online Course Structures, Jonathan Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation describes an exploratory study to develop a survey that assesses high school students' attitudes towards various modes of online course delivery. The primary focus of the study was the development of a survey that could be used to determine these preferences with a target population of high school juniors. A panel of experts in the fields of online education and adolescent psychology examined the survey and provided feedback during its development. Reliability was established with a Cronbach's alpha. Validity was assessed through an exploratory factor analysis. Two factors emerged, focusing on interaction and student learning. The predicted online …

The Completion Of Advanced Placement Courses As An Indicator Of Academic Success In First-Year College Students, Sean Michael Preston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if Advanced Placement (AP) courses were an indicator of academic success in first-year college freshmen. A quantitative analysis of a twenty-one question survey was conducted in order to understand how AP classes create a successful high school graduate for the academic rigors of a postsecondary institution. The survey was administered to one-hundred first-year college freshmen at a large suburban state university in Georgia. The results of the quantitative survey yielded information in support of the research hypothesis and rejected the null hypothesis. The researcher was mindful of threats to both internal and …

Bullying In Public Schools In Missouri, David A. Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research conducted sought to find evidence and data to support or lack of support to the following questions: Do school administrators perceive a problem with bullying in their schools in Missouri? Is there a relationship between the victim of bullying and the learning process? Do female adolescents engage in cyber bullying more than male adolescents? Do public schools in Missouri have policies in place that address bullying? The researcher used the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program survey on bullying. The study examined the perceptions and beliefs of the superintendents in the State of Missouri concerning bullying and student responses from …

Three Intra-Departmental Ncate Reviews: A Case Study, Sharon Boylan Hahnlen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Action Research case study examined the relationship of the specialty professional association accreditation process to curricular revisions in content concentrations which service both teacher licensure degree candidates and non-licensure degree candidates at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education. It sought to answer the question, "Does the SPA/NCATE accreditation process, as experienced by the content faculty at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education in three licensure programs, contribute to the NCLB Highly Qualified Teachers mandate through curricular change?" through the examination of the NCATE review process, as experienced during the preparation of and subsequent responses to …

The Most Evangelistic Kentucky Baptist Churches In Eastern Kentucky, Paul R. Badgett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to acknowledge the value and role of the smaller church in Eastern Kentucky as it relates to reaching people for Christ. According to Gary England, Richland Southern Baptist Church in Peoria, Illinois, the average size of a Southern Baptist Church is around one hundred active members. This means that the majority of Southern Baptists are being reached for the kingdom of God by the smaller church. Almost all of the churches in Eastern Kentucky fall into this small church classification. Therefore, this project will attempt to deal with the smaller work, and will seek …

Bridging Academic Writing With Service-Learning: Measuring Student Perceptions And Learning Outcomes Of An Academic Writing Course, Karen Gabrielle Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between students who completed a service-learning component and those who did not complete a service-learning component in the areas of student achievement of learning outcomes and perceptions of the course. Proponents of service-learning claim that students write higher quality papers and are more engaged, motivated, and satisfied when they complete a service-learning component. However, these findings are largely based on anecdotal and qualitative evidence that lack empirical evidence to strengthen these claims. This study employed a quasi-experimental design using static group comparison to measure differences between …

Effects Of Student Self-Corrective Measures On Learning And Standardized Test Scores, Beth Darlene Poplin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined whether students who graded and corrected their own test papers improved their learning and standardized test scores on the North Carolina end-of-course test in United States History. Four preexisting, intact classrooms of 11th grade United States History students in two different high schools formed the basis of this quasi-experimental, Static Group Comparison Design. Two classes formed the control group, and two classes participated in the alternative assessment strategy, with both groups taking the pretest and posttest in United States History. The control group had their weekly tests graded by the classroom teacher and returned to them, while …

A Comparative Analysis Of Factors Contributing To The Biblical Worldview Among High School Students In The American Association Of Christian Schools Of Georgia, North Carolina, And South Carolina, Michael Hugh Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental quantitative study is a comparative analysis of factors contributing to the biblical worldview of students attending select Christian schools in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The research design uses non-randomized control groups, an instrument which includes original questions in addition to items from three other instruments, and a Likert-type scale. Results imply that the subjects appear to consistently reflect orthodox doctrine in their responses, if not always in their behavior. The subjects were homogenous in many of their answers even though there were particular questions that evoked a wide disparity of answers. The particular …

The Effect Of School Size On The Utilization Of Educational Technologies, Daniel Nelson Patton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of school size, as defined by student enrollment and by total school budget, on the utilization of educational technologies. The focus group for this investigation was Christian schools that were further delineated by three criteria: (a) membership, (b) scope of program, and (c) geographic location. Membership was schools that were members of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Scope of program was schools with comprehensive programs. Geographic location was schools in two ACSI regions. The survey instrument covered 23 categorical questions, several of which contained sub-questions. Survey data including …

Block Scheduling In High School Mathematics: Effect On Algebra Ii End-Of-Course Grades And Act Assessment Mathematics Scores, Gayle Hawkins Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistical difference between end-of-course grades in Algebra II at three high schools in northeast Tennessee and mathematics content scores on the ACT Assessment at the same three high schools, by comparing a one-semester accelerated (4x4) block schedule, a two-semester accelerated (4x4) block schedule, and a traditional year-long schedule. The purpose was also to determine if a relationship exists between Algebra II grades and ACT Assessment mathematics content scores for all students and for each school, and to determine if a statistically significant difference occurred in the number of …

A Comparison Of Student Achievement Between Missouri Professional Learning Communities Project Participants And Non-Participants, Chanda Long

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to suggest a response to the following research question: Is there a significant relationship between student scores on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) achievement test and the type of Missouri high school attended, PLC or NPLC? This study focused on two populations of high school students in the state of Missouri: those that were participants in the state’s Professional Learning Communities Project (PLC) and those that were not participants in the state’s Professional Learning Communities Project (NPLC). Both school populations were arranged in a typical ninth through twelfth grade configuration.

The means …

A Comparison Study Of Remediation Services Offered To Latino Students In The Primary Grades, Melissa Harold Lannom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This comparative study was designed to assess the efficacy of Reading A-Z, an online reading program with differentiated reading levels from kindergarten to sixth grade, on first through third grade Latino students. Ten Virginia elementary schools in a single school district participated in this study of tutoring services offered to low-performing, Spanish-speaking students. Increases in individual instructional reading levels (IRL) and word recognition in isolation (WRI), as measured by Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) assessment, were documented using pretest scores collected in fall 2007 with posttest scores collected in spring 2008. An independent t-test was used to determine if differences …