Digital Commons Network^™

The Wrath Of Ignorance: Schizophrenic Policies In Access To Health Care For Undocumented Latinas, Antonia J. Spadaro Edd

Dissertations

This study focuses on the problems of health care access experienced by undocumented Latinas: women from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Those who are undocumented may encounter significantly reduced access to health care, for the risk of discovery causes them to be more furtive in their activities. Undocumented immigrants to the U.S., especially Latin women, confront myriad obstacles in obtaining health care that are sociocultural, political, economic, and personal. The problem of competing policies in the health care arena represents one of the most formidable obstacles for undocumented persons. These conflicting conditions are such that some services …

A Study Of The Concomitant Problems Facing Most Of The "At-Risk" African American Students In The Benton Harbor Elementary School System: A Case For An Alternative Model, Simon M. Honore

Dissertations

Problem

It would appear that the problem of school truancy, retention, and subsequent academic failure is a major educational crisis which puts most of the African American students at risk in the Benton Harbor area schools.

Purpose

The purpose of this study has been to determine the concomitant educational problems facing the "at-risk" African American students in the Benton Harbor Elementary School System and to suggest positive changes through an alternative model.

Results

The results of the survey indicated that approximately 90-95% of Benton Harbor educators agreed to changes. Administrators and teachers strongly agreed that the recommendations, based on the …

Reconstructing Educational Experience: A Postmodern Perspective., Jeanne Edwards Robertson

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Education in America today is dominated by the either/or thinking of modernism. This mode of thought is connected to both the concepts and methods of modern, mechanistic, Newtonian science. However, the attendant reductionistic methodology has been elevated beyond its realm of efficacy to the level of a world view, a metaphysical level. This is demonstrated by the omnipresence of the machine metaphor in all areas of human endeavor. The machine is the root metaphor of modernism. John Dewey speaks of a "new order of conceptions" necessary for significant change. These new order concepts are manifest in the new or postmodern …

Development And Evaluation Of An Instrument For Assessing Transfer Of Learning To The Workplace., John H. Reed

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to develop a simple, low-cost, easy to administer and score post-course participant survey that examined perceptions of the influence of certain factors identified as affecting the transfer of learning to the workplace. These factors were in the areas of course design, delivery and relevance as well as personal, organizational and workplace influences on learning transfer. The instrument also used participant perceptions to estimate the level of application of the course learnings before and after the course, their impact on work product and any significant individual or organizational changes resulting from them. Finally, the …

The Effects Of Analytic Reading Skills On Sixth Graders' Ability To Solve Mathematical Story Problems., Linda Hale Eilers

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of two levels of instructional treatment on sixth graders' ability to solve mathematical story problems. The two levels of instructional treatment were instruction in the use of graphic organizers in conjunction with specific analytic reading skills and instruction in specific analytic reading instruction alone. These were compared to the absence of either treatment. The steady decline in students' scores on measures of ability to read and solve story problems over the past decade prompted research in three sixth-grade public school classes in northeast Louisiana. The study employed an experimental/control, …

Reflection On Teaching: An Ethnographic Study Of Preservice Teachers' Beliefs And Practices., Thomasine Haskins Mencer

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between preservice teachers' expressed beliefs, their practices, and how they described the two. Particular emphasis was given to factors that influenced the preservice teachers' expectations of students. The preservice teachers were in the graduate year of a five year teacher education program that embraced reflective practice. In many ways, the two preservice teachers conformed to the mold of the typical American teacher in that they were middle class, Anglo Saxon, females who were high achievers from small towns. However, the pair differed in their experiences with diversity. The preservice teachers' …

Work Motivation And Perceived Organizational Effectiveness In Middle Schools., Cynthia Young Wren

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the linkage between work motivation derived from the expectancy theory and perceived organizational effectiveness derived from the Parsonian framework. School characteristics of community type, school size, and school socioeconomic status were used as predictor variables in the study. A secondary purpose was to examine these linkages in middle schools and to examine changes over time. Mixed methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative research techniques, were employed. The data were analyzed using the school and the individual teacher as units of analyses. To test the hypotheses, a multiple regression procedure was employed. The …

The Application Of Network Analysis To The Study Of Differentially Effective Schools., Maryann Maxwell Durland

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study applied network analysis to the exploration of the structural characteristics of differentially effective elementary schools within the framework of school effectiveness research. The study took place in two parts: a Pilot Study, using archived data, and a Field Study, using data from a stratified sample of differentially effective schools. The Centrality-Cohesiveness Model of School Effectiveness, developed through the Pilot Study, defined a communication structure as a function of the leadership status of the principal (defined by the principal's centrality) and the cohesiveness of the faculty (defined as network density). Quantitative results from both the Pilot Study and the …

Faculty Characteristics That Are Associated With The Retention Of Doctoral Students., Bonnie Chaney Cooper

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to elicit perceptions of doctoral-student advisors regarding issues and processes associated with graduate dissertation research experiences in the schools of vocational education. A mailed survey was sent to teacher educators from the 21 member institutions of the University Council for Vocational Education (UCVE) who had served as chair to at least one doctoral committee. A researcher-designed instrument which used selected scales from other research was sent to the survey population. Statistical analyses were conducted on 144 completed surveys which represented a usable response rate of 76%. The completion rate among faculty's doctoral-student advisees …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Principal/Superintendent Relationship And The Organizational Climate Of The School: Do They Correlate?, Catherine Hall Glascock

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This exploratory study examines teachers' perceptions of the principal/superintendent relationship in terms of hierarchical independence and influence, and whether those teachers' perceptions correlate with perceptions of the organizational climate of the school. A new instrument (TAI) was developed to measure the principal/superintendent relationship. After a literature review, panel of experts, and a principal intern class, a fourteen item instrument was used with the teachers. In order to hold some extraneous variables constant, only principals and superintendents who held office for at least three years were acceptable for the study. Factor analysis was conducted and the results indicate that while the …

Women Who Lead High Schools: A Missing Element In Leadership Theory., Kristy Brock Hebert

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

I addressed the problem that leadership theory is lacking in regard to how women lead high schools. My primary purpose was to contribute to the limited literature that exists regarding the leadership practices of women who are high school principals. I explored the notion of a female culture of school leadership and situated that culture among quintessential theory dictated by organizational research. I conducted this study in two phases. In Phase One I reported the demographics of 44 female high school principals in Louisiana along with their self-reported values on 32 leadership characteristics. Most important to their leadership were: communication, …

The Treatment Utility Of Functional Analyses For Disruptive Classroom Behavior., Carmen D. Broussard

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Disruptive classroom behaviors are a frequent referral problem in school settings. Although there are several intervention approaches that are commonly used in classroom settings, no standard methodology exists for developing interventions to decrease behavior problems. The primary purpose of this investigation was to develop interventions based upon a functional analysis of disruptive behavior of developmentally normal children in classroom settings, and to analyze treatment effectiveness. Functional analyses which investigated the effect of peer attention, teacher attention, and negative reinforcement (escape) were conducted with five participants. The variable maintaining disruptive classroom behavior was peer attention for all participants. Following the functional …

The Effects Of Performance Feedback On Treatment Integrity In School-Based Consultation., Kevin Michael Jones

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the relative effectiveness of traditional consultation, with and without performance feedback, on treatment integrity. Six teachers employed in a residential treatment community were responsible for treatment implementation. Treatment integrity was defined as the percentage of 2 min intervals during which contingent teacher attention for student on-task behavior was directly observed. Teacher and child behavior were monitored across baseline, traditional consultation, and consultation with performance feedback conditions in a multiple baseline design. In only one of six cases did mean levels of contingent teacher attention, following a Problem Identification Interview and Problem Analysis Interview (Bergan, 1977), exceed 35%. …

Restructuring In Louisiana Schools., Sharon Lee Pol

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study employs both quantitative and qualitative techniques to study the restructuring processes at the district, school, and teacher levels. The quantitative procedures include surveys used to distinguish between teachers's perceptions of highly and moderately restructured schools. Qualitative research techniques included interviews, observations, and document analysis to describe the restructuring. A new instrument, the Attributes of School Restructuring Scale (ASRS), was developed to measure teachers' knowledge about restructuring efforts and their involvement in the restructuring projects. The final version of the ASRS, included 48-items spread across three subscales: Budget/Finance, Governance/Decision-Making, and Curriculum/Instruction. The quantitative results from the statewide study indicated …

Using Interactive Desk-Top Videoconferencing As A Distance Learning Tool For Program Development And Support: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Two Family Literacy Sites., Geetanjali Soni

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This ethnographic study provides a description and analysis of the use of videoconferencing to teach an eight-week parenting class to parents enrolled in two family literacy programs. It describes the sites, details interactions that take place during videoconferencing, and investigates parents affective response to the technology. Data were collected through participant observation, interviews, video-recordings, and questionnaires. Results indicated cross-site differences in the existing program, in affective responses of users, and in interactions during the technology-mediated classes. Findings showed that the parenting classes were successful. Factors that influence effectiveness of videoconferencing instruction are discussed. Results indicated that technological factors such as …

Deaf Students In Mainstreamed College Composition Courses Culture And Pedagogy., Tonya Stremlau Johnson

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Composition theorists have already considered the effect of cultural constructs on writing students and have modified pedagogical practices to meet the needs of diverse students. However, disability has remained an almost invisible category in composition studies. This is unfortunate because our society has historically limited the access of the disabled into society, including the academy. Composition teachers need to understand deafness because poor English literacy skills are one culturally constructed attribute associated with hearing loss. The need is especially great now that legal and social developments are encouraging more deaf students to enroll in hearing majority colleges. Also, high-level literacy …

Making Justice Culturally Sensitive: Project Implementation Report, Paul Omaji, Nara Srinivasan

Research outputs pre 2011

The Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training (as it was then called) funded Edith Cowan University from the 1995 National Priority (Reserve) Fund to direct a project to identify courses for educating and training personnel employed by justice agencies on multicultural issues; identify course content for a program to educate NESB and Aboriginal peoples on various aspects of the Australian justice system; and develop training packages for the justice agencies and NESB and Aboriginal communities. The Project was conceived against the background of an increasing concern about the well-being of minority groups within the justice system.

The University, through …

Researching Education : Making Meanings To Make Better Schools, Bernard T. Harrison

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

Honouring Young Children: Research, Curriculum And Practice In Early Childhood Education, Loraine Corrie (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

Early childhood educators tend to be people who like to agree with their colleagues. Often we avoid conflict situations and keep the peace by being silent, rather than raising our voices in dissent. But rapid changes to the field, coupled with the explosion of knowledge in the 90s, have opened up new dilemmas and new challenges for teachers. If we are to meet these challenges in a way that honours young children, then we need to talk about our differences and diverse views in a spirit of trust and professional collegiality.

The Second Edith Cowan Memorial Conference on Early Childhood …

Where Are The Women? A Report Into Issues Related To Women's Access To Workplace Literacy Programs, Marion Milton

Research outputs pre 2011

This study sought to investigate the provision of workplace literacy courses available for women in female dominated industries, and women's access to and participation in those courses. Further, it was intended to interview women who had dropped out or not accessed available courses.

Prior to discussing the study, it seems appropriate to locate it within the current economic, social and political climate of the Australian workplace, with a particular focus on the increasing demand for literacy skills.

Boys' Participation In Junior Secondary School Physical Education And Sport, Lynn Embrey, M. Drummond

Research outputs pre 2011

According to social lore, boys are meant to be good at Physical Education and sport. There is, however, increasing evidence to the contrary and it is now essential to consider why boys drop out of Physical Education and sport. There has been a good deal of research and subsequent literature detailing the plight of girls' involvement in Physical Education and sport. However, a dearth of literature and research exists where boys Physical Education and sport are concerned. Out of research comes practical implementation strategies that can be adopted by teachers to create a more favourable learning environment. Extensive research on …

Nsu Fischler Center For The Advancement Of Education Programs In Education And Technology Ed.D. Program In Child And Youth Studies 1996-1997 Student Handbook, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice College Archive

No abstract provided.

Principals' Perceptions Of The Change Process As Related To The Implementation Of Block Scheduling In Five Indiana High Schools, Thomas Ray Edington

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research examined the change process occurring with the implementation of block scheduling. The study utilized elite interviews with the principals of five Indiana high schools, representing those which adopted a block schedule format beginning with the 1993-94 school year. The literature review located little formal research dealing with the change process to block scheduling in high schools. Those thematic factors which each principal perceived as relevant to the change process were dissatisfaction with the prior schedule, principal attending a conference describing block scheduling, staff site visitations, staff study committees, staff vote on scheduling change, principal advocacy, staff development, …

Regular Educator, Special Educator, And School Principal Perceptions Of The Collaborative/Co-Teaching Model Employed By The Eastern Illinois Area Of Specialeducation, Sandra Kay Schroeder

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated regular educator, special educator, and school principal perceptions of roles and responsibilities within the collaborative/co-teaching model employed by Eastern Illinois Area SpecialEducation Cooperative. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if regular educator, special educator, and school principal perceptions differed significantly toward the implementation of the collaborative/co-teaching model in the areas of administrative support, professional development, instructional practice, impact and promise, professional development, and policy. This investigation was a descriptive study involving a causal-comparative perspective. A total of 1,549 regular educators, special educators, and school principals within 30 of the 31 school districts that comprised the …

Teaching As Reflective Practice: Papers By Teacher Researchers, Merc Teacher Researchers

MERC Publications

This is a collection of papers by Teacher researchers in different county public school systems put together by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC). Papers in this report include:

- "Why Do They Hide Their Hands?" by Rebecca Miller and Tracy Pausic of Bailey Bridge Middle School, Chesterfield County Public Schools

- "The Fourth "C" of Motivation - Competition" by Sharon P. Eshler of Cold Harbor Elementary School, Hanover County Public Schools

- "A Study of the Implementation of a Math Buddy Program Between Kindergarten Students and Third Graders In An Attempt to Improve Communication Skills" by Melinda Jenkins and …

Full-Time Courses, Entry 1996, City Of Dublin Vocational Education Committee

Prospectus: Bolton Street

Courses for the College of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1.

Part-Time Courses 1996-97, City Of Dublin Vocational Education Committee

Prospectus: Kevin Street

Courses for Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street.

Crossing Borders: Transformative Experiences Of Euro American Bilingual Teachers In A Spanish Speaking Context, A Participatory Study, Margaret C. Laughlin

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Clinical Utility Of The Smell Identification Test In Differentiating Persons With Dementia Of The Alzheimer's Type From Depressed Elderly And Elderly Controls, Theodore Lynn Moretz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Accurate differential diagnosis between Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (DAT) and depression is important in providing appropriate treatment to persons suffering from each of these disorders; however, accurately differentiating between these disorders is often problematic. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Smell Identification Test (SIT) could accurately distinguish between persons with DAT; depressed, non-demented elderly; and elderly controls. The sample consisted of three groups of 30 white subjects matched for age, gender, and smoking behavior. Group I consisted of persons with early DAT. Group II consisted of persons diagnosed as suffering from depression and Group III …

Use Of Section 20 Of The Education Act 1928: The Study Of A Contemporary Issue Using The Narrative Form, Janette R. Gray

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

There is a growing acceptance in the social sciences that in the telling and reading of a story a form of truth can be developed. This 'truth' will be dependent on the reader actively constructing knowledge from constant reflection and modification using cultural (bounded) knowledge as a basis for comparison. Typically the narrative form employs the use of evocative, contextualised language to create implicit meaning, a plot based on some form of conflict within a temporal framework, and the use of multiple voices and genres. Generalisation from the sequence of events subsumed in the plot is assisted by the effective …