Education Commons^™

Group Contingencies And Classroom Applications, Eric Weichers

Graduate Research Papers

Group contingency is a method of behavior control which is usually used unknowingly on a daily basis in the classroom. And more than likely, its result was success. So why is it that so few teachers use group contingencies as a formal intervention? One possibility is a lack of understanding concerning the principles involved. Another possibility is an erroneous belief that it is a difficult intervention. It may be the lack of knowledge concerning the power of a group contingency. Whatever the reason, group contingencies are not often employed by teachers as formal interventions.

Effective Multidisciplinary Team Problem Solving : A Review Of Literature, Debra S. Meyer

Graduate Research Papers

The historical legislation mandating multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in schools is well known, yet relatively little attention has been directed toward either evaluating systematic processes that would lead to the desired outcome of better services to all students or educating team members in problem solving content and process. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that influence problem solving outcomes and other aspects of service delivery in MDT settings, including the changing role of school psychologists.

Results indicated much variability and little consensus in several areas: clarity of role expectations, family involvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, continuing educational training, and …

Exploring The Lewis And Clark Expedition In An Eighth Grade Social Studies Class Using Multiple Intelligences, Scott Bockelmann

Graduate Research Papers

Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Armstrong, 1994) has created many new ideas about how people think and learn, as well as how instructors should deliver activities and lessons to students. In this paper Gardner's theory and his seven intelligences are defined.Then a discussion of the five basic formats for teaching, and implementation strategies using multiple intelligences, are shared. An eighth grade social studies unit on the Lewis and Clark Expedition using multiple intelligences is examined by comparing student turn-in rate and motivation in comparison to other assignments given in the class. Project ideas, presentation rubrics, student conference sheets, as …

Adolescent Depression : An Overview Of The Symptoms, Causes, Assessments, And Treatment, Joanne C. Wickham

Graduate Research Papers

Adolescence is said to be the most stressful time in a person's life (Greenberg, 1989). Although the majority of adolescents adapt without much trouble, there are those who do not accept the changes as successfully as others (Greenberg, 1989). The pressures from parents, peers, school, and society can often lead to temporary periods of depression. In the 1960s, adolescent depression was unusual. However, depression in the 1990s has become the 'common cold' of mental illness (Seligman, 1995).

Reading To Heal: Bibliotherapy With Children, Kimberly Ann Wilkin

Graduate Research Papers

This paper presents a counseling intervention, bibliotherapy, as an adjunctive approach to helping children resolve problems. An overview of the definition and history of bibliotherapy, the effectiveness as an intervention as well as goals, stages, application, limitations, and benefits are included. Additionally, an appendix with recommended bibliotherapy books are provided.

Helping Children With Difficulties Learn : An Overview, Sherry Marie Jack

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to integrate multiple variables related to learning for children with special needs. Regarding the first variable, intelligence, the paper considers its history, development, and biological foundations. Gardner's contemporary theory of Multiple Intelligence is also discussed. Then a discussion of learning styles, including the history, identification procedures and matching styles to instruction, is provided. Finally, the paper takes a historical journey through the learning process, to discuss the works of numerous authors in their related fields.

Treatment Strategies Used To Teach Adults Diagnosed With Mental Retardation Appropriate Interpersonal Skills, Laurie S. Youngblood

Graduate Research Papers

Currently, the care of individuals diagnosed with mental retardation is moving toward meeting their needs in the least restrictive environment. Mildly retarded individuals are being guided away from the custodial care of institutions to normalized apartment settings. This integration into the mainstream of society, which allows the retarded individuals to lead as normal a life as possible, is the goal of normalization process. An expected outcome of community living is that these individuals will have increased opportunities to meet people and develop relationships. Living and working in a more free environment is a great challenge for the individual with mental …

Alcohol Education For Elementary School Children, Pam R. Stamper

Graduate Research Papers

In 1992, close to 90% of high school seniors reported past experience with alcohol, while 50% stated use in the last month and 3% reported daily use of alcohol (Adger & Werner, 1994). According to a report in 1993, 78% of high school seniors had used alcohol in the past year and one-third stated that they drank heavily (Feaster, 1996). The average age of children first using alcohol, outside of the family or religious functions, was twelve years (Bosworth & Cueto, 1994; Feaster, 1996; Mason & Hodge, 1995). National data showed that adolescents and preadolescents used alcohol at age eleven …

Extrinsic Rewards And Their Subsequent Effects On Student Intrinsic Motivation, Anne-Grete Kaldahl Miller

Graduate Research Papers

This paper reviews the current literature on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of different extrinsic rewards and their impact on student intrinsic motivation. A review of literature will address three central questions: 1.What are the advantages of extrinsic rewards? 2.What are the disadvantages of extrinsic rewards? 3.What are the special conditions under which external rewards impact intrinsic motivation?

Effects Of Extrinsic Reward Conditions On Students' Intrinsic Motivation : Implications For Teachers, Jennifer D. Jacobson

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper is a review of literature on the effects of rewards on intrinsic motivation. Two recent meta-analytic studies are reviewed and compared in terms of their conflicting findings. Studies that examine specific conditions in which rewards may enhance or undermine students' intrinsic motivation are reviewed. These selective studies include research on verbal rewards, noncontingent, tangible, expected rewards, and contingent, tangible, expected rewards. Suggestions for future research are made.

Historical Perspectives Of Male Same-Sex-Sexual-Orientation And The Division Into Contemporary Etiologies, Robert Emerson Willbee Iii

Graduate Research Papers

This is an introductory paper on the historical perspectives of the social acceptance of homosexual behavior, as well as contemporary views on the division of pro-gay and pro-development (growth out of homosexuality) groups. In conjunction with this, a discussion of the etiology of male-same-sex-sexual-attractions is proposed in accordance to genetic and environmental research. Difficulties in maintaining a pro-gay stance are proposed. Future research into the success of pro-development therapy, is suggested.

Looking Toward The Future For Suicide Prevention, Stacy L. Staton

Graduate Research Papers

Michael was the first born of two sons. His father expected great things from Michael, nothing short of perfection. Michael tried hard to please his father, but his father was never fully satisfied. His father thought if he yelled at Michael enough and was tough on him that Michael would eventually do things right and be molded into a "fine young man." Michael began to feel hopeless. He believed that he would never please his father. He started doing exactly the opposite of what his father told him to do because he knew he could not live up to his …

Job Satisfaction Among Principals, Irene Tan Ai Lian

Graduate Research Papers

Early studies by corporate organizations related the concept of job satisfaction to work performance. Subsequently, studies in educational research began to focus on job satisfaction among teachers with little attention paid to school administrators such as principals. In the organizational hierarchy of schools, principals hold the highest position. Consequently, it is important to study the influence of job satisfaction among these administrators because of their leadership roles. This paper focuses on the sources of job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction among principals. Studies reviewed cited various sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. These included the job itself, the work expectations of …

A Review Of The Washington University Sentence Completion Test, Jennifer K. Murra

Graduate Research Papers

Ego development is a concept which has been researched for many years One way this concept has been measured is through the use of projective tests which offer a vague stimulus (in this case sentence sterns) which respondents answer without a clear set of rules. Jane Loevinger and her associates developed a theory of ego development which was then used to develop a projective test in 1970 called the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (WUSCT or SCT).

A synthesis of information including validity, reliability, explanations of ego development theory, discussions of different forms, and scoring has not yet been done. …

Caregiver Burden: The Impact On Aging Parents Who Care For Adult Children, Joan Klekacz West

Graduate Research Papers

Contemporary research on caregiving has focused mainly on caregiver burden experienced by children caring for elderly parents. Most gerontological research (e.g., Greenberg, 1991; Greenberg & Becker, 1988) has stressed the movement of caregiver burden and related stress down through the intergenerational family system from parents to children. This research has ignored the impact of caregiver burden and stress on aging parents whose adult children have experienced major life stressors. In this situation, the movement of the caregiver burden moves up through the intergenerational family system as parents assume the caregiving role for adult children.

Using The Arts To Decrease The Educational Failure Of At-Risk Students, Agnes L. Scott

Graduate Research Papers

The number of at-risk students who are destined for educational failure, quitting school before graduation or by not learning while attending school, is increasing at an unprecedented rate (Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 1992). If America does not sufficiently educate its increasing numbers of at-risk students, the nation's social and economic status may suffer due to a deteriorated educational system. These national concerns provide an opportunity to address appropriate educational interventions to help at-risk students. This paper will review the literature which suggests using the arts to decrease the educational failure of at-risk students.

A Comprehensive Review Of Treatment Options For Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kristin M. Vanderah

Graduate Research Papers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a disorder affecting between 3 and 5 percent of school-age children, manifests as a combination of three core skill deficits: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The deficits have been found to present children with many difficulties in both home and school settings. Thus, comprehensive treatment for individuals with ADHD is of paramount importance to their development and their academic and social experiences. The content of this paper is comprised of a review of the recent research that has been published regarding the three major theoretical orientations of ADHD interventions (pharmacological, behavioral, and multimodal treatment). All of …

Self-Monitoring : An Efficient And Effective Intervention For Academic And Behavioral Targets In The School, Stacy S. Huisinga

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper will review current research concerning the use of self-monitoring as an intervention technique for academic and behavioral targets in the school. The history and theory will be described, as well as the elements and implementation of self-monitoring as an intervention technique. Classroom applications with academic and behavioral targets are reviewed, as well as caveats on the use of self-monitoring as a classroom intervention technique. Recommendations concerning the need for additional research on the applicability of self-monitoring as an intervention technique are also described.

Proponents And Opponents For Rewarding Children, Shelly Bromwich

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of the literature concerning the types and uses of rewards. The primary focus of this paper was to look at opposing sides of whether rewarding children has benefits or whether there are problems with using rewards. Also, I looked at how children can be given credit for their efforts to accomplish their goals with using encouragement and natural and logical consequences.

As stated by Alfie Kohn, "A reward .. .is a desired object or event made conditional on having fulfilled some criterion" (Kohn, 1993, p. 53). There is a controversy today concerning the use of …

Teaching Fractions Through The Multiple Intelligences, Lisa K. Freese

Graduate Research Papers

Fractions are frequently used in daily life. However, many students have difficulty learning fraction concepts. In addition, some students begin the study of fractions with negative impressions.

The writer of this article uses Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences to address the difficulties students face in learning fraction concepts. Dr. Howard Gardner, the creator of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Ml Theory), believes that it is unfair to teach all students in the same way. Students need opportunities to solve relevant problems that are meaningful to their everyday lives. Rather than concentrating on singular viewpoints and exclusive answers when studying …

Teachers' Positive And Negative Effects On Student Effort, Jeanne Turner

Graduate Research Papers

This paper reviews the historical development of concepts regarding students' perceptions of achievement and self-efficacy, examines the literature on teachers' perspectives on ability and effort and the various teaching methods used to increase student achievement in the classroom, and evaluates the effects these methods actually have on student effort. The definition of student effort used in this paper is similar to Schlecty's (1994) definition of student "engagement," which is: a student's persistence in completing a task despite challenges and/or obstacles. This paper, however, will not focus on the related areas of gender bias, socioeconomic variances, and ethnic differences that exist …

Suicide And Family Survival, Nancy K. Veldey

Graduate Research Papers

Early one beautiful summer morning, a twenty-two-year-old young man, who was loved by his family and liked by many friends, went to his place of employment in the town where he was attending college, and for reasons known, or perhaps not known, only to him, chose to kill himself by means of hanging. His decision not only ended his life; it impacted the lives of others in a way that will have an effect on them, and those with whom they associate, for a long time, if not forever. His family was left not only with the task of dealing …

Personal Learning Preferences, Perceptions, And Multiple Intelligence Profiles : Affect On Educators' Attitudes About Computer Usage, Mary J. Dove

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teachers' learning preferences, self-perceptions of multiple intelligence profiles, and attitudes toward computer usage, including the incorporation of computer technology into their classrooms. Data for this survey were obtained from a population of teaching and administrative faculty from a small, Midwest, rural public school district. Access and education that results in higher levels of experience were found to be critical variables, in agreement with professional literature to date. These factors, however, did appear to influence personal learning preferences in some instances and the multiple intelligence profiles provided valuable insight into …

Issues And Treatment Of Female Victims Of Domestic Violence, Stephanie R. Stoehr

Graduate Research Papers

Issues and, Treatment of Female Victims of Domestic Violence It has become increasingly apparent to mental health counselors that the family, especially the nuclear family, is not at all society's expected placid, tranquil refuge; rather it is a fertile ground on which violence can and does occur. Domestic violence is a widespread societal problem with consequences reaching far beyond the family. It is conduct that has devastating effects for individual victims, their children, and their communities.

Use Of Learning Theories In Media Design, Janet Adams

Graduate Research Papers

This review discusses learning theories such as dimensions of learning, multiple intelligences, reading-learning styles, constructivism, and brain research. It looks at software design, multimedia programs and some experimental programs that are making attempts to integrate these theories into the design of technology.

Long-Term Effects Of Social Skills Training On The Social Competence Of Children, Stephanie Lynn Schmitz

Graduate Research Papers

When one hears the term "social skills" many different ideas may come to mind. Yet no one can deny that social skills are an extremely important aspect of every person's life. This paper is devoted to defining and examining the long-term effects of social skills training on the social competence of children.