Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of Perceived Satisfaction With Quality Of Life For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury And Mental Retardation, Todd Jarger

Theses and Dissertations

An exploratory study was conducted to examine the possible differences in satisfaction with specific quality of life indicators developed by Schalock (1996) between persons with mental retardation and those with acquired traumatic brain injuries. A survey comprised of a Likert-type scale was utilized to interview 41 adults with mental retardation and 27 adults with traumatic brain injury to obtain their perceived satisfaction with their quality of life. The analysis of the data suggests that a significant difference exists between the two groups. The sample of persons with brain injuries expressed lower levels of satisfaction on 10 of the 11 items …

A Study Of Self-Esteem In Learning Disabled Students Across Placements, Constance Occhetti

Theses and Dissertations

This study set out to offer support for inclusion by analyzing learning disabled students in an inclusive environment and their pull-out program counterparts. The analysis focused on an examination of student self-esteem, a variable central to student success. A hypothesis stating that learning disabled students who were served in an inclusive environment will achieve higher scores of self-esteem than learning disabled students who were served in a traditional pull-out program was proposed. This hypothesis was based on previous research on the practice of inclusion, which showed positive effects for learning disabled students. The practice of inclusion has been supported throughout …

Increasing Sensitivity Toward Handicapped Children Through Inclusion, Christine Nicole Brookbank

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the benefits for non-handicapped students in an inclusive setting. The hypothesis suggested that regular education students would be more sensitive and aware of handicapped individuals when they are read stories about handicapped individuals and participate in a sensitivity program than regular education students who do not receive this form of intervention. The Acceptance Scale for Kindergarten-Revised (ASK-R) helped to assess fifty-eight second graders' perceptions of handicapped individuals. The difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of Classroom B (experimental group given sensitivity program and read stories regarding individual differences; has included child) …

Prevalence And Psychological Correlates Of Eating Disorders Among College Women, Lisa M. Lyons

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disordered behaviors of fasting, binge-eating, and vomiting and purging have increased in prevalence and are approaching epidemic proportions. It is estimated that 1 in 100 females age 12 to 18 are anorexic, while as many as 1 in 4 college-age women are thought to be bulimic or engage in other forms of disturbed eating. Research indicates that those who are eating disordered are more dissatisfied with their bodies, have lower self-esteem, and have a greater tendency to endorse sociocultural mores regarding thinness and attractiveness. The present study investigated a) the prevalence of eating disorders among college women, and b) …

Social Engagement: Depressogenic Factors In The Elderly, Joell P. Worster

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether those elderly nursing home residents who maintained social engagement would be less depressed then those elderly nursing home residents who did not maintain social engagement. The study consist of 21 residents who resided in a nursing home. All subjects were given the Geriatric Depression Scale and asked to respond to the 30 question by yes or no. A Mann Whitney Test was performed on the depression scores from the results of the Geriatric Depression Scale. The results were significant with the prediction of the study. Those elderly residents in the nursing …

A Study Of The Formal Operational Thought Ability Of College Students, Justin J. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This study was undertaken to measure the formal operational thought capacity of the college student and unveil any gender differences regarding this ability. Formal operational thought is important to the success of every student because it implies the ability of humans to reason scientifically and analytically and to think abstractly.

34 male and 40 female college students were selected from an on-campus apartment facility to be part of the study. The sample ranged in age from 17 to 21 and represented class standings from the freshman to senior level. The subjects included 45 Caucasians, 9 Hispanics, 17 African-Americans, and 3 …

A Descriptive Analysis Comparing The Academic Success Of Student Athletes And Non-Student Athletes, Daniel P. Crowe

Theses and Dissertations

This study was undertaken to measure and compare the academic success of student athletes and non-student athletes. The suggested hypothesis was that student athletes would perform better academically because of factors relating to accomplished goal setting and discipline. This study implies that student athletes are more prepared for academic success because of their goal oriented behaviors.

206 students participated in the experiment. There were 141 athletes and 65 non athletes. Those who were described as an athlete were a participating member of a varsity sport. The students were all members of a local Catholic high school. With the permission of …

A Study Analyzing The Ability Of The Yellow Brick Road Screening Test To Predict Future Academic Achievement, Nancy Lazzaro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of the Yellow Brick Road kindergarten screening instrument to predict future academic achievement using CAT scores as indicators of student performance. There were 31 subjects used in this study. Subjects were selected randomly from the respective elementary school population. The study followed a longitudinal design. Yellow Brick Road scores were obtained, in addition to CAT scores in grades 2, 4, and 6. All scores were recorded anonymously with the permission of the respective school Board of Education.

The data was analyzed using a paired sample T test. Based on the …

A Study Examining The "I Like Me" Program And Its Effects On Self Esteem, Julie Ridgway

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the "I Like Me" Program and determine if the implementation and use of the "I Like Me" Program, in addition to the standard curriculum, in a second grade classroom will significantly increase the students' levels of self esteem as compared to students who are only exposed to the standard health and social studies curricula.

Two samples of students were pretested using the Piers-Harris Children's Self- Concept Scale. The "I Like Me" Program was implemented into one of the two classrooms (Sample B) over a 20 week period of time. The program consisted …

A Study Of Self-Concept As It Relates To Academic Achievement And Gender In Third Grade Students, Grace S. Woods

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a positive relationship exists between self-concept, academic achievement, and gender. The subject sample consisted of fifty-two students from a suburban public school district in southern New Jersey. Twenty-seven females and twenty-five males participated in the study. The Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale was used to evaluate self-perception. Academic achievement was evaluated with the use of math and reading grades from the students' report cards. The correlation coefficient results indicated that a significant relationship between self-concept and both reading (.291) and math (.307) achievement exists. Frequency polygons were used to display the distribution …

The Effects Of Elementary Peer Mediation Program On Disciplinary Action In The Schools, Elizabeth Anne Haws

Theses and Dissertations

Peer mediation programs offer students options. Students can choose mediation instead of name-calling, yelling, or letting conflicts grow until they explode into violence. Little is known about the effectiveness or manner of implementing these programs. This study examines 62 black male students in grades 4, 5, and 6 from a Burlington County, New Jersey, suburban, public K-6 elementary school. Some data suggest disciplinary action is decreased with a cadre approach to peer mediation established in the school. More attention should be paid to evaluating peer mediation and conflict resolution programs. Under peer mediation programs, students in conflict and peer mediators …

The Effects Of School-Based Mentoring On At-Risk Youth, Barbara Dobzanski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of school-based mentoring on at-risk youth. The study was conducted on a group of clients from a Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. The clients were individuals who are at risk of academic and social failure or difficulty. The experimental group consisted of 21 students who were receiving mentoring services on a weekly basis. The control group consisted of 18 students who remained on a waiting list to be mentored. The variables examined were self-concept, behavioral and developmental issues, and academic performance. The extent, if any, to which mentoring benefits an individual …

Can A Specific Personality Type Predict Positive Rape Attitudes?, Elisha Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

Despite increased societal awareness, negative reactions are still common experiences for women disclosing incidents of sexual assault to social network members. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to try to identify one personality type that may be compassionate and empathetic to the victim of a rape. The participants of the study were eighty-two Freshmen, from a Northeastern College. The population contained approximately half males and half females, ages ranging from eighteen to forty-five, with a wide variety of racial backgrounds. The Understanding Scale from the PRF was used to test the participants' levels of compassion, and the Rape Attitudes …

The Role Of The School Media Specialist As Perceived By Teachers, Principals, And School Media Specialists, Veronica M. Gaskill

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the school media specialist as perceived by principals, teachers, and school media specialists. According to the current literature, the role of the school media specialists is multi-faceted. The role includes teacher, information specialist, technology person, and instructional consultant. A survey was prepared to determine if principals, teachers, and media specialists perceived the role in the same way. Two principals and thirty-five teachers were surveyed for this project. Three school media specialists were interviewed. The participants were from two districts in Atlantic County in the state of New Jersey. There …

An Analysis Of Individual Education Program Goals And Objectives For Preschool Handicapped Children And Their Relationship To Curriculum, Joann M. Mccormick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to formulate a system whereby Individual Education Plan goals and objectives can be written, and curriculum adapted, to meet the unique needs of the preschool handicapped child.

Research of current literature on preschool IEP's and curriculum was conducted before surveying preschool handicapped programs in the Gloucester County New Jersey area. Thirty-two survey instruments were mailed to twenty-one school districts. The surveys included questions in two areas; first, respondents were asked to report on teacher and program information such as teacher certification, experience, number of children in the program, and hours spent in the program; …

The Function Of Illustration In The Books Written By Maurice Sendak And Mercer Mayer, Christy L. Kaciuba

Theses and Dissertations

This study describes the function of illustration in the books written by Maurice Sendak and Mercer Mayer. Fifty children between the ages of four and six years old, together with a parent, listened to two books by each author, during three storytime sessions. Children's spontaneous responses to the readings were recorded on videotape. Response was defined as the comments and gestures children made in regard to the readings. Two identical 10-question surveys, one for the books by Sendak and one for the books by Mayer, were administered to parents and children after the storytime session. Responses collected from the data …

A Cognitive Approach To Teaching Research Skills, Christine M. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to develop a method for teaching research skills to sixth graders that would be appropriate for their cognitive abilities and prepare them for the research skills required by the seventh grade curriculum. Three classroom teachers and fifty-seven sixth grade students participated in this project. A short research project served as a pretest and inventory for knowledge of research skills. A unit of research skills and project preparation was then taught to the students in a series of eight lessons. Each skill modeled during the lessons provided concrete student learning. Examples of content materials and …

A Multicultural Curriculum For The Third Grade In The Library Media Center At The Rieck Avenue School, Millville, N.J., Joyce A. Rankin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project developed a multicultural curriculum for the third grade classes at the Rieck Avenue School, Millville, New Jersey, which adhered to the Core Curriculum Standards. The question to be answered was "How can third graders achieve an historical understanding of the varying cultures of New Jersey, the United States, and the world through the library media center curriculum?" Because of the changing demographics of our country and the increase of minority students in our schools, it is imperative that students learn how to appreciate, understand, and interact with people who are ethnically, racially, and culturally different than themselves. …

An Analysis Of The Individual Education Plan For Preschool Handicapped Children And Its Relationship To Classroom Curriculum, Karlene E. Zimmerman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an improved model for Individualized Education Plans which can be utilized in a preschool handicapped program. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions pertaining to goals, objectives, curriculum and teaching strategies was distributed to twenty teachers of preschool handicapped children. Fifteen questionnaires were returned. Forty-six of the teachers stated that they felt a general satisfaction with the content of the IEPs especially when written by themselves. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the amount of time the Child Study Team spends visiting the PSH classroom. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of …

A Survey Of The Familiarity Of Gloucester County Secondary School Librarians, Child Study Teams, And Special Education Teachers With Assistive Technology, Dianne Clement

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this survey was to assess the familiarity of Gloucester County high school librarians, child study team members, and special education teachers about different types of adaptive technologies. Two hundred twenty-one surveys were sent to the 13 school districts in Gloucester County. Eighty-four participants responded. The largest response was from librarians. Results indicated that all three groups were more unfamiliar than familiar with the technology on the survey. Librarians were the group with the most overall familiarity response, 31%. Child study teams and special education teachers were very close in familiarity responses with 26%. Taped text, large-print materials, …

A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Reading Instruction In A Resource Center Pull-Out Program Versus A Regular Education Program, Barbara Groff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a resource center pull-out program and a regular education program with in-class support as reading instruction placement options for students with learning disabilities.

A criterion-referenced reading inventory was administered to each subject in September to assess word recognition in isolation and reading comprehension. The assessment tool was readministered in March to obtain data in order to establish the gains made by each student.

Eighteen students participated in the study. The subjects are boys and girls between the ages of ten and twelve who attend adjacent school districts. All students …

Developing Criteria For Choosing Bibliographic Databases In High School Libraries, Darlene Michel

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed criteria for choosing bibliographic databases for high school libraries. A survey was conducted to find out students' opinions about the databases that they use in school to access books, periodicals, and newspaper articles. The survey covered frequency of database use, favorite and least favorite databases, reasons for using the databases, desirable and undesirable characteristics of databases, and types of searching that were used. The survey was administered to 85 students in four 11th grade college-preparatory English classes after a class period devoted to database searching for an assignment. All students completed and handed in the survey. Conclusions …

A Study Of The Effects Of The Use Of Computerized Sources On Elementary Student Research Projects, Betty Jane Oliva

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine elementary students' abilities in the information gathering process and the impact of the use of computerized resources on these abilities. Did the use of computerized research technology improve students' results? How well did students make use of this technology to find information? Would students effectively combine the use of computerized and print sources for information? What effect did the inclusion of computers have on the students' attitude towards the research assignment? Four classes of fourth grade students were combined into two groups. Students were assigned to research answers to 50 questions. Each …

A Study Of The Circulation Patterns And Lifestyle Demographics Of Year-Round Residents Who Use The Ocean City Free Public Library, Judith C. Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine if adult lifestyle behaviors, as identified in the 1990 U.S. Census, could be linked with circulation statistics for fiction and nonfiction books, and thereby, used to assist acquisition librarians in the purchase of library materials. The project, a partial replication of the Davis and Altman (1997) study, focused on the book selections made by adults at the Ocean City Free Public Library in Ocean City, NJ. The methodology included the examination of circulation records for these subjects during December, January, and February 1992-1997, and relating these choices to the spending potential index …

A Comparison Of New Jersey Certification Requirements For Educational Diagnosticians With Six Other States, Elizabeth O'Neill

Theses and Dissertations

This study compares the New Jersey certification requirements for educational diagnosticians with the requirements of six other states. Child Study Team compositions were also examined. The search was narrowed to six states when interviews with state licensing agencies and state universities did not yield comprehensive information. In order to obtain more in-depth information, the research was conducted via phone interviews with employees from counties within each of the six states. Information received was hand recorded. Raw data was converted to percentages. None of the other six states required additional certification for the educational diagnostician who determines eligibility for special education. …

A Study On Effective Inclusion And Its Academic And Social Impacts On The Mildly Learning Disabled, Maria Naugle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the effectiveness of placing mildly learning disabled (LD) public elementary school students (grades three, four, and five) in a fully inclusive general education setting with necessary support services, specifically collaborative teaching. Students involved in the study were classified perceptually impaired in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6:28, and placed in an in-class support (ICS) classroom, instructed by both a general education and special education teacher. Academic achievement data, as formally measured on the California Achievement Test (CAT 5) and functionally measured through teacher assigned report card grades, was analyzed. Social functioning (self-concept and …

Student Evaluation Of Internet Resources, Kathleen Donoghue

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated a means by which high school students were taught to critically analyze information found on the Internet. Many students view the Internet as an information resource and regard what they find there as authoritative. It is necessary for students to develop strategies that will assist them in identifying information that is relevant, reliable, and accurate. In this study, 18 students were provided with sample checklists to use as a guide in evaluating Internet resources. After guided practice in the classroom, each student examined four web sites that were pre-selected by the instructor and varied in characteristic properties. …

The Status Of Internet And World Wide Web Use In The Elementary Schools Of Gloucester County, New Jersey, Christine A. Rohrman

Theses and Dissertations

Are schools preparing students for the new age of communication, where the Internet and World Wide Web will be an efficient way to access information? The purpose of this study was to determine the status of Internet use in the elementary schools of Gloucester County, New Jersey. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire sent to the library media specialists of the 48 elementary schools. They were asked if there was Internet access in their school building and if not, were there plans to have Internet access by the year 2001. Other questions about the Internet involved computer equipment available, …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Adolescents And The Use Of Ritalin, Joanne Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if a combined stimulant intervention/behavior improvement system facilitated greater gains on achievement tests and on a behavior improvement level system than a behavior improvement system alone with ADHD adolescents. The sample used consisted of 10 subjects classified with ADHD. Subjects were matched for IQ, age, educational classification and placement, socioeconomic status, and family type. Five subjects received stimulants and five received no medication, but all subjects were involved with the behavior improvement system at school. Pretest results were gathered using the KTEA (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, brief form) and the student's …

Attitudes Toward Inclusion: A Survey Of General And Special Educators, Debra M. Shinn

Theses and Dissertations

Whether or not the attitudes toward inclusion differ between regular educators and special educators was investigated. From the current literature reviewed, it was hypothesized that special educators would have a more favorable attitude toward inclusion than regular educators. Forty-nine regular educators and sixty-three special educators responded to a questionnaire. The results of an independent groups t test did confirm a statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, the significant difference revealed that, overall, regular educators had a more favorable attitude toward inclusion than special educators.

Over half of the regular educators believed that the challenge of a regular class …