Education Commons^™

Effects Of A Self-Management Procedure Using Student Feedback On Staff Members' Use Of Praise In An Out-Of-School Time Program, Cade T. Charlton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Out-of-school time (OST) programs are under increasing pressure to improve student achievement. However, OST program administrators face a number of challenges to improving program effectiveness including inconsistent student participation, inexperienced staff members, and a lack of high-quality professional development. OST program administrators can address these challenges by implementing staff development practices that encourage the use of effective instructional strategies.

Specific praise is a simple and effective instructional strategy that has been linked to improved student engagement, enhanced academic achievement, and stronger student-teacher relationships. Unfortunately, there have been very few studies examining the effects of interventions designed to increase OST staff …

Impulsive Choice, Alcohol Self-Administration, And Pre-Exposure To Reward Delay, Jeffrey S. Stein

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Prior research indicates that drug dependence is associated with a tendency to discount the future. For instance, compared to control participants, drug-dependent participants more strongly prefer small, immediate rewards (e.g., $10 now) over larger, delayed rewards (e.g., $100 in 6 months). Similarly, in animal models of addiction, impulsive preference for small, immediate over larger, delayed food rewards in rats is associated with greater consumption of a number of drugs of abuse, including alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine. These and other findings suggest that this form of impulsive choice plays a causal role in addiction; however, this account has not been tested …

An Examination Of How Qualitatively Different Delayed Outcomes Are Discounted, Jonathan E. Friedel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Jonathan E. Friedel, a graduate student in the Experimental and Applied Psychological Sciences program at Utah State University, will complete this dissertation as part of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology.

Outcomes that are received far in the future are less valuable than outcomes that are to be received more proximally. Delay discounting describes how outcomes in the future lose value. The goal of this dissertation is to examine how people discount different types of delayed outcomes. Two experiments examine the value of a wide
variety of delayed outcomes for cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. These …

Development Of The Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-Paq), Ryan L. Greene

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

For over 10 years, mental health professionals have used acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help parents in the therapy context. However, to date the field lacks a psychometrically sound measurement tool to assess ACT-pertinent factors within parenting or frameworks. Such a limitation indicates that investigation into the development of an alternative measure is warranted.

In collaboration with Utah State University (USU), Dr. Clint Field, a psychology professor, and Ryan Greene, a USU school psychology student, sought to develop a reliable and valid measure for use with parents that is rooted in the six primary processes theorized to contribute to …

Teacher Reflection Among Professional Seminary Faculty In The Seminaries And Institutes Department Of The Church Educational System, Ryan S. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This qualitative study aimed at exploring and explaining the practices and processes of teacher reflection among a group of professional secondary-level religious educators in the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as seeking to understand the perceived impact of those reflective practices on the professional development of these teachers. The researcher described, analyzed, and interpreted the data to develop a mid-range grounded theory for explaining the process of teacher reflection in a way that could lead to the improvement of teacher reflection among these teachers as an integrated function of professional development. …

Evaluation Of A High School Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (Siop) Implementation, Samuel L. Ray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many school systems across the USA have implemented sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) strategies to help their English language learners (ELLs) master core content while they learn English. Most studies have reported positive results from using SIOP strategies with ELLs. Elementary and middle school studies were available, but studies of SIOP implementation in a comprehensive high school were lacking. This action research project was initiated by teacher leaders (department chairs) and the school principal. It included a year of combined SIOP training and implementation. After the first academic year of utilizing SIOP school-wide, an anonymous electronic survey was used to …

The Social Validation Of Institutional Indicators To Promote System-Wide Web Accessibility In Postsecondary Institutions, Heather Ann Mariger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Internet is an integral part of higher education today. Students, faculty, and staff must have access to the institutional web for essential activities. For persons with disabilities, the web is a double-edged sword. While an accessibly designed website can mitigate or remove barriers, an inaccessible one can make access impossible. If websites that provide necessary information are not accessible, those with disabilities will be unable to independently complete their daily tasks or compete in the modern world.

Project GOALS (Gaining Online Accessible Learning through Self-Study) has developed a document outlining a set of four institutional indicators of Web accessibility. …

Who Knew? An Autoethnography Of A First-Year Assistant Principal, Gerald R. Jackman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few studies have been conducted to take an in-depth look at the role and experience of a new middle school assistant principal. Advantageous timing provided the opportunity for the author to conduct this research study examining his experience as a first-year assistant principal. The guiding question for this autoethnography was "What can be learned from the experiences of a first-year assistant principal that can be used to improve the administrative certification program and training of future assistant principals"? Autoethnography is employed as a methodology to portray the experience and understanding of the participant/observer in comparison to his training and preparation …

Combining Comprehension Reading Instruction With Video Anchors With Middle-Level Learners, Heidi Andreasen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Reading comprehension is a multidimensional process and a key component of this process is the activation of prior knowledge in the comprehension of text. This study utilized video clips as a means to anchor instruction and assist struggling middle-level readers in comprehending text. Participants in this study were 17 seventh- and eighth-grade students from a rural middle school. The study used a single-subject reversal design.

During the baseline phase of the study, students read four different titles before a stable baseline could be established. The data collected were the combined mean scores of the teacher-created comprehension assessments and commercially produced …

Exploring The Use Of The Student Readiness Inventory™ To Develop A Retention Plan For Incoming Freshmen In The College Of Agriculture At Utah State University, Lisa B. Allen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to utilize the Student Readiness Inventory^TM to profile retention and academic success rates for College of Agriculture freshmen. The Student Readiness Inventory (SRI) has been developed to help measure psychosocial issues related to academic achievement and college student retention. This information, combined with high school grade point average and admission test scores from American College Testing (ACT, Inc.), will help advisors and administrators in the College of Agriculture identify potential at-risk students during their first year of college. From SRI test results, a model for intervention will be built to meet the students' …

An Assessment Of The Perceived Value Of Teacher Portfolios In The Early Years Enhancement (Eye) Program By Primary And Secondary Teachers In Utah's Schools, Teresa J. Denison

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of the teacher portfolio as an evaluation of professional development in Utah's new teacher licensing--the Early Year's Enhancement (EYE) program. This study explored teacher perceptions of the value of the portfolio. Results of the study identified the perceived value of teacher portfolios related to: (a) accuracy as an evaluation tool, (b) usefulness with respect to teacher professional growth, (c) feasibility with regard to teacher time, and (d) appropriateness related to the effect of portfolios on teaching practices. It also identified the relationship of the teacher's perceived value and the required …

Effective Practices Of Project Lead The Way Partnership Teams, Cody J. Reutzel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to gather information from Project Lead The Way (PLTW) partnership team experts. This project follows the methodology of a modified Delphi study. A review of literature in the areas of curriculum development, pre-college engineering, and the Delphi research technique provided the background for the structure utilized. Top programs from across the country were questioned to identify and come to a consensus on top components essential to developing and utilizing a successful PLTW partnership team. The components were categorized into two lists: effective practices utilized to make a program successful and effective practices employed by …

A Qualitative Study Of Seminary Principals For The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Eric W. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This qualitative study investigates how leadership is embodied within the role of seminary principals in released-time seminaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This study utilized a grounded theory approach and constant comparative analysis while triangulating the data obtained from personal interviews, participant observations, and analysis of documents. The primary sources of data came from the personal experiences and perspectives of four principals, eight teachers, and one area administrator that are analyzed through biographical interviews.

Analyses of the data were completed to determine common themes of leadership that were embodied by principals in released-time seminaries for The …

Utah Middle-Level School Community Councils: An Evaluation Of Compliance, Processes, And Perceived Impact, Richard Jackson Nygaard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The historical perspective of schools in our democratic society provides a framework of tension between local parent and community control versus professional and state control of public school decisions. Today, federal and state requirements demand increased student achievement. The state of Utah requires each public school to have a school community council (SCC) that is responsible for the development of plans for school improvement. Limited funds are provided to each school community council through the School LAND Trust Program to assist in the implementation of the developed plans for the purpose of increased student achievement. Three Utah middlelevel school community …

The Effect Of Parent Involvement In A Nutrition Education Program For Primary Grade Pupils, Barbara A. Kirks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three schools were matched for socioeconomic data, location, and quality. Students in kindergarten through grade three in two schools received nutrition education; the third school was the control. Of the two treatment schools, one was randomly assigned to receive parent as well as student education in nutrition. Three-hundred and seventy cognitive scores, 168 affective scores, and 100 plate-waste analyses were collected in both pretest and posttest phases. At the end of the four-month treatment period, 24-hour food frequency recalls were collected for 151 children.

Students at the school where both parents and their children were involved had higher dietary quality …

A Study Of Faculty And Administrators' Perceptions Of The Factors Affecting Salary Increases At Utah State University, Izar Antonio Martinez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in faculty members' and administrators' perceptions of those factors which should be influential and those factors which are actually accounted for in making decisions pertaining to salary increases at Utah State University.

The data for this study was collected from 55 administrators and 303 faculty members at Utah State University. A total of 21 factors, which were identified as being influential and/or determinants of faculty salary increases at Utah State University, were analyzed through the testing of four hypotheses using the chi square test for independence. The …

Teaching Critical Thinking Through Student Self Analysis Of Video Taped Seminar Discussions, James M. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The main objective of the Cedar High School (C.H.S.) study was to develop a curriculum that would be useful to the social studies educator interested in teaching critical thinking skills to high school students. The model for teaching critical thinking that was followed during the C.H.S. study included three requirements. The first was to identify those critical thinking skills that would be useful to students during discussion of controversial issues. The second requirement of the critical thinking model was to teach these context specific critical thinking skills to students. This requirement was met by using a variety of materials, including …

Student Involvement In The Governance Of Institutions Of Higher Education And The Campus Unrest (A Study Of University And College Officers' Views Of Student Participation In Campus Governance), Elliot Alfred Chand

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of student participation in various aspects of college and university governance in contrast to the extent to which selected administrative officers would allow them to participate.

Objectives of the Study

1. To determine what the opinion of the university officials is on the general scope of student involvement in university affairs and institutional governance.

2. To determine the extent to which students are and should be involved in areas of administration including general governance, as viewed by the officers included in this study.

3. To compare the latitude of …

School Systems In Communist China (1949-1963), Ting Chih Lang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to conduct historical research of the educational systems of the People's Republic of China during the period of 1949-1963. It is hoped that this study will help to clarify the Chinese Communist regime's approach to education and some of the problems encountered in its attempt to mold an educational system suitable for its economic and political need and purpose. More specifically, this study met the following objectives:

1. To know the picture of the school ladder.
2. To understand the deviation between actual practice and propaganda of Communist China's education.
3. To comprehend relationships between Party …

Administration Of Utah's Governmental Immunity Act By Utah's School Districts, Steven Howard Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Purpose

Since the Utah Governmental Immunity Act went into effect on July 1, 1966, the experience of Utah's school districts under the law was not known. For the purpose of determining the experience of Utah's districts in administering the law and to determine the adequacy of the law, this study was undertaken.

Procedures

To accomplish the purpose of this study, a questionnaire was sent to each of Utah's 40 school districts. Instructions were sent with the questionnaire indicating that the writer would be making contact either by telephone or a personal interview to assist in filling out the questionnaire. A …

Some Background Considerations To The Establishment Of A Consortium Of Four Intermountain States, In The Area Of Independent Study, Suresh C. Kaushik

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The growth of Independent Study divisions of the state-supported educational institutions of the area covered by the states of Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming, and the increasing demands for the establishment of new curricular offerings, coupled with these states' limited financial resources, make the exploration of possible cooperative offerings a rather crucial necessity.

The purpose of this study was to develop and appraise the climate for developing a consortium of the Independent Study divisions of Utah State University, University of Utah, University of Nevada, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming. A systematic sequence of approach for accomplishing the stated …

The Secondary School Principal's Role In Professional Negotiations As Perceived By Representatives Of Utah's Educational Enterprise, Paul H. Lefevor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which congruent role expectations on 50 selected variables were held for the secondary school principal about his role in professional administration and in collective negotiations by representatives of Utah's educational enterprise. The selected variables describe certain possible functions performed by the principal and were subgrouped into nine topic headings that were tested by use of the null hypothesis method. The nine topic variables were: (A) Instruction and Curriculum Development, (B) Personnel Staffing and Placement , (C) Pupil Arrangement and Control, (D) Public Relations, (E) School Building Management and Finance, …

A Survey Of Sixth Grade Students' Reactions To Selected Situations Involving Certain Elements Of Civil Rights, Robert Neldon Hanson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine :

1. What actions sixth grade children think should be taken in situations that contain certain elements of civil rights.

2. The reasons given by the sixth grade children for choosing these actions.

A measuring instrument was constructed from 14 court cases containing certain elements of civil rights. These court cases were then rewritten so that sixth grade students could comprehend the vocabulary and situations described. Statements for students responses were developed from the case itself, newspapers, and magazine articles.

Two sixth grade classes and one fifth grade class served as a …

Educational And Family Conditions That Affect Post-High School Plans Of Intermountain Navajo Seniors, George Patrick Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Graduation from high school has become the accepted educational goal for most Americans and stands as the minimum requirement not only for higher education but also competitive positions in the employment market. The general public, the government, business, industry and education have great interest in the plans and decisions of high school graduates.

American History And Teaching Critical Thinking, James M. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of teaching critical thinking as part of a continuous progress packet in American history was studied at Cedar High School during the 1969-70 school year. An experimental group using the critical thinking packet was compared with a control group that used a continuous progress packet that taught only American history.

The dependent variables for the study were the STEP (Sequential Test of Educational Progress), Social Studies portion, and the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in either American history or critical thinking.

Differences in critical thinking ability, though not significant statistically, …

A Forecast And Analysis Of Educational Events Identified By Utah Educators, David Thatcher Handley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine how Utah educators and school board members view the future of education in the state. This was done by comparing the ratings for importance and the predictions on the time of occurrence of 53 educational events. An event was an incident or happening which might effect the education of the state. The hypotheses were based on the assumption that the various educational groups would hold differing views concerning the future of Utah education.

Procedure

The study provided data on the perceptions of 236 individuals representing five groups of educational participants (State …

A Description Of Change In School Expenditures In The San Juan School District From 1951 To 1965 And An Analysis Of Student Achievement During The Same Period, Kenneth B. Maughan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The setting for this longitudinal cost-quality study was unique insofar as it provided the rare opportunity to involve a district that had undergone a "rags to riches" transition during the past decade.

The purpose of the study was twofold: (1) To report changes in the "learning opportunities" that were brought about as a result of money. (2) To determine if the per pupil expenditure level had any influence on the learning opportunities of pupils in the San Juan School District, as measured by the achievement gains on the California Achievement Test.

Three hypotheses were tested, all of which hypothesized that …

A Study Of The Extent To Which Further Consolidation Is Feasible And Desirable Within Selected County School Districts In Utah, Walter D. Talbot

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Under the mandator consolidation act of 1915, the county-unit school district in Utah had its beginning (10). Although, through this consolidation movement, many small school districts were combined into larger ones, the elimination of the small districts did not, necessarily, provide for the elimination of the small schools. Due to several factors including distance, poor communication and transportation facilities, and a strong desire on the part of the people who lived in small communities for a voice in school matters, the consolidation of school attendance areas did not keep pace with school district reorganization.

With the improvement of highways and …

An Evaluation Of The Differences Among Lower, Middle And Upper Socio-Economic Groups In The Sixth Grades In The Ogden City Schools With Regard To Scholastic Achievement, Milton Kendrick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There are some inadequacies in our American way of life. One of these is the inadequate help and attention given to the problem of children who become shackled with their lower class environment with little or no desire or incentive to rise above this. The major challenge to any teacher is the ability to stimulate and inspire children to achieve or succeed. There are different degrees of achievement. For one child, great achievement is not the same as for another. The realization of this prompted the decision to see what differences in achievement exist among the three main socio-economic classes. …

History Of The Church College Of Hawaii 1955-1960, Ralph Dallas Olson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

From the Mormon point of view, ignorance is a sin. Mormons believe that their very salvation is dependent upon the development of their mental and spiritual powers, as evidenced from the two following, typical statements from Mormon sacred literature: "The glory of God is intelligence;" "It is impossible for man to be saved in ignorance."