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Full-Text Articles in Education

A Study Of The Fepac Accredited Graduate Forensic Science Programs' Curricula, Catherine Genice Rushton Jan 2016

A Study Of The Fepac Accredited Graduate Forensic Science Programs' Curricula, Catherine Genice Rushton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The National Institute of Justice (1999) and the National Academy of Sciences (2009) recommended that forensic science training shift from on-the-job training to formal education. However, the reports cited inconsistencies in the curricula of the forensic science degree programs as an impediment to this. The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) Standards were created to address this issue; however, no studies have been conducted to determine how the accreditation standards have been implemented by the FEPAC accredited graduate programs. This study evaluated the self-study responses (n=11) and website information (n=17) specific to FEPAC’s Graduate Curriculum Standards to determine how …


Recruitment, Retention And Socialization Of Underrepresented Minority Populations To West Virginia Higher Education Administrative Positions, Dedriell Dewin Taylor Jan 2016

Recruitment, Retention And Socialization Of Underrepresented Minority Populations To West Virginia Higher Education Administrative Positions, Dedriell Dewin Taylor

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study contributed to the body of knowledge dealing with recruitment, retention and socialization of underrepresented (UREP) minority populations for academic leadership positions in West Virginia higher education. The purpose of the study was to examine both the institutional and personal factors that are most effective in attracting members of UREP minority groups to administrative leadership positions at institutions of higher education, specifically higher education institutions in West Virginia. The study was conducted using a mixed method research approach consisting of a non-experimental research design in the quantitative phase of the study and individual interviews in the qualitative phase.


Age Of Kindergarten Entry And Rate Of Specific Learning Disabilities, Elizabeth A. Crum Jan 2016

Age Of Kindergarten Entry And Rate Of Specific Learning Disabilities, Elizabeth A. Crum

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Kindergarten age eligibility requirements vary from state to state; however, school districts typically admit children into kindergarten in the fall following a student’s fifth birthday. Research on the outcomes of five-year-old children and children whose entry was delayed until age six is contradictory. The current study was conducted to add to the existing literature to assist families and policy makers with decision making regarding appropriate kindergarten entry age. The sample included 541 second through seventh grade students from a small rural school district. Actual and predicted counts of students who were later found eligible for specific learning disabilities were examined …


Using Reading Cbm To Predict Performance On Smarter Balanced Assessment, Jonathan Wesley Shank Jan 2016

Using Reading Cbm To Predict Performance On Smarter Balanced Assessment, Jonathan Wesley Shank

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the relationship between AIMSweb oral reading fluency (R-CBM) and reading comprehension (MAZE) curriculum-based measures and performance on the English language arts/literacy (ELA/L) component of the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) using a sample of students in third through fifth grade (N = 499). Pearson correlations between R-CBM, MAZE, and SBA were moderate to high, with R-CBM generally demonstrating the strongest relationships with coefficients ranging from .73 to .75. Results from hierarchical multiple regression models indicated that R-CBM provided strong predictive validity for SBA performance among third grade students (63.4% variance explained, p<.001), while the addition of MAZE to the equation was negligible (1.4% additional variance explained, p<.001). Similar findings resulted from the fourth and fifth grade multiple regression models. The predictive value of R-CBM and MAZE each decreased as grade level increased. Results support continued use of CBM to predict success on the Smarter Balanced Assessment, although CBM using cloze passages explained little variance in high-stakes test scores beyond that of oral reading fluency alone.


Understanding Employment Preparedness Needs For College Students With Asperger's Disorder, Rebecca S. Hansen Jan 2015

Understanding Employment Preparedness Needs For College Students With Asperger's Disorder, Rebecca S. Hansen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

About 1 in 68 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder and nearly half of those individuals have average to above average intelligence. A significant number of those individuals are currently earning college degrees. Regardless of the escalating prevalence rates of individuals with Asperger’s Disorder who have the intellectual capacity to obtain a college degree, there has been little attention on how to identify and provide the types of specialized supports these college graduates require as they prepare for finding and maintaining meaningful employment. The ways in which colleges are preparing students for employment must be examined to include …


Parent Perceptions Of Parent-School Partnership Efforts For Students With Disabilities, Jessica Chadwick Jan 2015

Parent Perceptions Of Parent-School Partnership Efforts For Students With Disabilities, Jessica Chadwick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The study examined parent-school partnership efforts, as reported and perceived by parents of students with disabilities in a Mid-Atlantic State. Due to the high correlation between parent involvement and academic success, these qualitative comments were deemed vital to ongoing special education improvement in the state. The study utilized the State Education Agency parent survey data which was collected in accordance with the State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report requirements under Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. Survey responses from parents of students with disabilities were aggregated and analyzed for local education agencies. These comments …


A Longitudinal Study Of States' Idea Part B School-Family Partnership Data, Channing Daniels Jan 2015

A Longitudinal Study Of States' Idea Part B School-Family Partnership Data, Channing Daniels

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In 2005, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandated that the percent of parents who report that schools facilitated parental involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities be reported to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The purpose of this study was to analyze the variability in methodologies used by 20 different states over eight years. The findings indicated the gap between the higher and lower performing states were due primarily to the metric and standard chosen. States choosing measures and standards other than those recommended by National Center for Special Education …


Trends In Intellectual Disability Identification In West Virginia, Margaret M. Stephens Jan 2015

Trends In Intellectual Disability Identification In West Virginia, Margaret M. Stephens

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of Intellectual Disability (ID) in each of West Virginia’s Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Publicly available enrollment and disability counts were aggregated and used to calculate an administrative prevalence rate for each LEA annually, from 2004 to 2013. Prevalence was examined within and between LEAs, as well as between regions. The results indicate a decrease in the administrative prevalence of ID in 50 of 55 LEAs over the 10 years examined. Rates within LEAs varied between years. Additionally, school-based prevalence varied between RESAs, with RESA I and RESA VIII exhibiting the …


The Influence Of The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Program On Child Development: Through The Eyes Of Moms And Home Visitors, Debra L. Lockwood Jan 2015

The Influence Of The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Program On Child Development: Through The Eyes Of Moms And Home Visitors, Debra L. Lockwood

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

MIHOW, the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker Program, is a parent-to-parent home visitation program that aims to enhance early childhood development in economically disadvantaged and geographically isolated families with children from birth to three. This qualitative case study conducted in two rural Appalachian counties examined the perceptions and experiences of moms and home visitors regarding the influence MIHOW has on child development. Findings were interpreted in relation to extant literature on the prevention of developmental delays. Five themes emerged from the data. The first theme related to the developmental checklists and screening materials and moms’ understanding of how the checklists …


Esl Students' Language Anxiety In In-Class Oral Presentations, Yusi Chen Jan 2015

Esl Students' Language Anxiety In In-Class Oral Presentations, Yusi Chen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This case study aims to explore connections between ESL students’ speaking-in-class anxiety and their presentation performance, factors causing oral anxiety during presentations, and strategies to regulate L2 students’ speaking anxiety in presentations. Findings of this research contribute to the investigation of speaking-in-class anxiety from non-English major L2 students. Three Chinese ESL students enrolled in the INTO program at Marshall University individually gave two presentations in speaking classes. Triangulated data sources were collected to delve into three research questions. The results suggest that L2 students’ anxiety forms mental blocks during presentations, but it has less influence on their presentation performance. Based …


Secondary Teachers’ Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, Deanna M. Hiles Jan 2015

Secondary Teachers’ Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, Deanna M. Hiles

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Classroom management of student behavioral problems is a primary reason that teachers are leave the education field. As hard as teachers and students may try, some student behavior cannot be managed by discipline alone. One technique that has had a constructive impact on student behavior is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The design of PBIS is to help teachers manage students with problem behaviors in the classroom. However, teachers’ attitudes toward PBIS and their knowledge of PBIS influence the effectiveness of its success or failure in the classroom.


Effectiveness Of The Language! Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum For 6th Graders, Laura N. Fields Jan 2014

Effectiveness Of The Language! Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum For 6th Graders, Laura N. Fields

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this evaluation was to determine if the Language! Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum-Fourth Edition would have a positive impact on students’ Lexile scores. The participants included 86 sixth grade students from a rural middle school in the Mid-Atlantic region. A paired samples t-test revealed a significant difference (p < .001) between pre-test mean score 647.52 and post-test mean score 736.22. Further calculation indicated the program had a medium effect size. According to post-test scores, 12.5% more of the students were within the appropriate Lexile range making them on target with the Common Core Standards Initiative. When looking at pre and post test comparisons, students with the lost pre-test scores made the greatest gains while students with the highest pre-test scores made little or no gains.


Teacher Efficacy Beliefs: How General Teachers Feel Towards English Language Learners, Lauren Elizabeth Fraser Jan 2014

Teacher Efficacy Beliefs: How General Teachers Feel Towards English Language Learners, Lauren Elizabeth Fraser

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine general teacher efficacy beliefs towards English Language Learners by school-level in a college-town in West Virginia. A modified version of Gibson and Dembo’s Teacher Efficacy Scale (TES) and an author-developed demographic questionnaire were used. This scale has been well-researched, but not in the area of ELL, and so this study was the first to modify the scale to reflect that population. Participants included 40 teachers. Factor analysis revealed appropriate loadings by dimension for the modified TES (22-items), with the exclusion of 2 items. Next, a Pearson correlation showed significant relationships for living …


A Comprarison Of Scores On The Rias And Wisc-Iv In A Referred Sample, Racheal R. Gliniak Jan 2014

A Comprarison Of Scores On The Rias And Wisc-Iv In A Referred Sample, Racheal R. Gliniak

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) measure the same type of intellectual abilities and if the two tests yield similar scores when administered to the same student. Archived data from counterbalanced administrations of each assessment tool were examined for twenty-nine students who were referred for a multi-factored evaluation to determine special education eligibility. Significant positive correlations were found between similar composite score pairs. The t tests indicated that the RIAS Composite Memory Index was significantly higher than the …


Iq And Targeted Based Cognitive Tier Ii Interventions, James B. Justice Jan 2014

Iq And Targeted Based Cognitive Tier Ii Interventions, James B. Justice

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between IQ and response to intervention. Thirty six students were administered the Woodcock Johnson III tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-III) and assigned interventions based on the results. The IQ scores from the 'tested' group were grouped by highest and lowest and then compared to the students' outcomes on the standardized reading assessment after all students had received the intervention. Results indicated that students in the high IQ group performed significantly better on the standardized reading assessment. The results also indicated a moderate positive correlation between the students' IQ and performance …


West Virginia's Low Percentage Of Population With At Least A Four-Year College Education, Britt Arcadipane Jan 2014

West Virginia's Low Percentage Of Population With At Least A Four-Year College Education, Britt Arcadipane

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This report analyzes key factors concerning West Virginia’s rank as last in the nation with residents that have obtained a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher. This quantitative study will examine political, economic, and sociological components at the state and county level using data collected primarily from various government and state institutions. An emphasis is placed on three main factors: poverty, parental education levels, and low socio-economic status (SES) high schools. Other variables analyzed will be high school graduation and dropout rates, free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL) eligibility, college retention rates, first-generation student population, and the influence of resource-extractive industries. Poverty …


Examination Of Consistency On The Ohio Achievement Assessments And Ohio Graduation Test, Adam R. Fox Jan 2014

Examination Of Consistency On The Ohio Achievement Assessments And Ohio Graduation Test, Adam R. Fox

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigated a cohort of students’ performance on the Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) and Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT). The purpose of this study was to investigate the consistency of a cohort’s reported scores on the OAA over a four-year period (5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades) and reported scores on their OGT assessment; this was accomplished through the examination of OAA and OGT data from a rural school district located in central Ohio. The data were analyzed using correlations, regressions, and repeated measures ANOVA. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was computed indicating positive correlations between all OAA and OGT …


Discourse Analysis Of Interpersonal Features In Esl And Jsl Textbooks, Yukina Takahira Jan 2014

Discourse Analysis Of Interpersonal Features In Esl And Jsl Textbooks, Yukina Takahira

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Textbooks play an important role in language classrooms. They serve as models for language use in a target community and significantly influence language learners in their development of language use and perceptions of the target community. In traditional grammar teaching, teachers seldom look into linguistic choices at the discourse level and mainly use language textbooks to focus on grammatical accuracy at the sentence level. Language cannot be divorced from the context and culture of its use; contextual and cultural aspects of language are inherent in discourse. Language textbooks provide not only the needed linguistic resources, but also reflect the interpersonal …


Describing The Spoken Discourse Practices Of Second And Third Grade Classroom Teachers In Appalachia, Natasha Janel Scott Jan 2014

Describing The Spoken Discourse Practices Of Second And Third Grade Classroom Teachers In Appalachia, Natasha Janel Scott

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In order to meet the academic demands of the school system, school-aged children must be able to understand the language (discourse) of their teachers and the curricular expectations for verbal expression. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), working within the schools, need to identify and include in their therapy planning the learning supports that will contribute to students’ classroom success. One useful data-set for this planning is knowledge of the types and levels of discourse used and expected by the classroom teacher. The purpose of this study was to examine the spoken discourse practices of second and third grade teachers in Appalachia. By …


Teacher Attitudes Toward Post-Secondary Transition Planning, Vicki Wallen Jan 2014

Teacher Attitudes Toward Post-Secondary Transition Planning, Vicki Wallen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to survey special education teachers in a rural high school in a rural Mid-Atlantic state. The survey collected data about attitudes and perceptions of the transition planning process and how these attitudes impact the amount of instructional time that is spent teaching self-determination skills to their students. Generally, the survey results indicated that although teachers feel that transition planning is important, they also find it difficult to incorporate self-determination instruction with the Common Core curriculum. Less than half of the respondents indicated that they feel as though the transition curriculum that they use effectively …


Assessing Stages Of Team Development In A Summer Enrichment Program, Marcella Charlotte Wright Jan 2013

Assessing Stages Of Team Development In A Summer Enrichment Program, Marcella Charlotte Wright

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Collaborative problem solving teams are an important component of successful schools. Groups move through a predictable pattern of development and it has been proposed that teams move through a similar development. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the teams that were formed during the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program in 2012 displayed a pattern of development similar to group development. The study found that high performing teams develop similarly to groups.


Interpretation Of The Wisc-Iv Working Memory Index As A Measure Of Attention, Talya J. Colliflower Jan 2013

Interpretation Of The Wisc-Iv Working Memory Index As A Measure Of Attention, Talya J. Colliflower

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The WISC-IV Working Memory Index is often interpreted as a valid measure of attention and concentration. Students who score low on the WMI are frequently viewed as having attention difficulties. If the WMI is accurately interpreted as a measure of attention, then students who score low on this composite should present with attention deficits in the classroom. Data of students who were referred for an evaluation to determine special education eligibility were compared to determine the accuracy of the interpretation of the WMI and its relationship with the Inattention and other scales on the Conners 3rd Edition – Teacher Form. …


Student Characteristics And Targeted Based Cognitive Tier Ii Interventions, Patrick M. Billups Jan 2013

Student Characteristics And Targeted Based Cognitive Tier Ii Interventions, Patrick M. Billups

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Tier II student characteristics and outcomes on a standardized reading assessment. Ninety students who scored in the lowest third on a Virginia standardized reading test were placed into one of three instructional groups: 1) a control group consistent with instruction from previous years, 2) a “teacher selected” treatment group in which teachers determined students’ cognitive processing deficits and administered a chosen intervention, and 3) a “tested” treatment group in which students were administered the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-III) and assigned interventions based on the results. …


Predicting Proficiency On The Ohio Achievement Assessments Using I-Ready Diagnostic, Terra Ann Jones Jan 2013

Predicting Proficiency On The Ohio Achievement Assessments Using I-Ready Diagnostic, Terra Ann Jones

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Ohio’s schools are held accountable for ensuring that students become proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Curriculum-based measures are often utilized to help monitor student progress toward proficiency goals and pinpoint those students who are at risk for falling below state standards on standardized tests. Using data from third grade students in a rural county in southern Ohio, this research determines what score on the I-Ready Diagnostic must be obtained in order to achieve proficiency on the Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) reading component. Data were compared and a Pearson Product Moment Correlation of 0.71 was determined. A …


Effects On Student Achievement Of Changing Cognitive Strategies During Targeted Tier Ii Interventions, Angela M. Mellace Jan 2013

Effects On Student Achievement Of Changing Cognitive Strategies During Targeted Tier Ii Interventions, Angela M. Mellace

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changing cognitive based strategies is more effective than not changing strategies when a student fails to respond to an intervention. Ninety students who performed in the bottom third on a state reading test from a rural school district in Virginia were randomly placed into three groups: 1) students who received traditional evidence-based reading interventions 2) students whose teachers were trained in Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory and whose teacher chose an intervention that she considered being the most suited to the student’s cognitive profile 3) students who were assessed using the Woodcock Johnson III …


West Virginia School Psychologists' Roles In Contrast To The Nasp Practice Model, Kimberly S. Sheltraw Jan 2013

West Virginia School Psychologists' Roles In Contrast To The Nasp Practice Model, Kimberly S. Sheltraw

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current roles of school psychologists practicing in West Virginia in contrast and comparison to the National Association of School Psychology (NASP) Model of Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services. A needs-assessment survey developed by the West Virginia School Psychologist Association (WVSPA) was distributed to all the school psychologists in West Virginia in order to determine the main services being provided in the state. The results indicated that school psychologists in West Virginia spend the majority of their time in data-based decision-making as opposed to evenly distributing their time conducting a broad …


An Analysis Of Targeted Tier Ii Cognitive Interventions On Reading Achievement, Shannon K. Kovack Jan 2013

An Analysis Of Targeted Tier Ii Cognitive Interventions On Reading Achievement, Shannon K. Kovack

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine which cognitive intervention based on Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory was most effective at increasing student reading achievement. Ninety students who performed in the bottom one-third on the Virginia Standards of Learning (VA SOL) test from a rural school district in VA were placed into three instructional groups: 1) a control group, in which the teacher utilized the same instructional strategies from previous years, 2) a “teacher selected” treatment group, in which the teachers determined the students’ cognitive processing deficits and chose an intervention, and 3) a “tested” treatment group, in which students were …


Measuring Team Cohesiveness In The Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program, Sara Fragale Jan 2013

Measuring Team Cohesiveness In The Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program, Sara Fragale

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The present study investigates team cohesion among graduate students participating in the Marshall University Graduate College (MUGC) summer enrichment program. The purpose of the study was to use a team cohesiveness evaluation and expert ratings to determine if this evaluation is an accurate measure of team cohesiveness. A Spearman’s rho correlation showed low correlation and non-significance between the team cohesiveness evaluation survey ratings by students in a consultation class and practicum class for each week that was examined. Results also showed low correlation and no significance between the ratings of students in a consultation class and practicum class and the …


Legislative Mandates Concerning Truancy Effects On Attendance Rates, Felicia Corley Jan 2012

Legislative Mandates Concerning Truancy Effects On Attendance Rates, Felicia Corley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The correlation between truancy and dropping out of school is high, prompting school districts and the state legislature to attempt to intervene (Sparks, 2010). The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the West Virginia Code 18-8-4 that requires mandatory legal compulsory attendance (CA2) meetings to be held at the county level when a student obtains five days of unexcused absences. In the summer of 2010, the WV state legislature changed the CA2 meeting requirements from 10 days of unexcused absences to five. Barbour County Schools began to intervene in truancy using a multidisciplinary approach in 2007. …


Attendance Rates Of Special Populations In One Rural County, Julie Bright Jan 2012

Attendance Rates Of Special Populations In One Rural County, Julie Bright

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this current study is to determine if a difference exists in the attendance rates for special education students and low socioeconomic status students when compared to their peers who do not have these designations. The attendance data from one rural county school district for the years of 2007-2011 were examined to determine if a difference in the attendance rates did exist. Results from this research revealed that students receiving special education services were absent significantly more than their general education peers. However, students of low socioeconomic status were not absent any more than their peers who were …