Education Commons^™

Nontraditional Students Success In Compressed Courses Within A Community College Cohort, Elizabeth Kinter Tanner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Nontraditional students are an untapped population for American higher education institutions. Private baccalaureate-granting universities have taken the lead on creating programs for this population’s needs. These programs typically include combinations of online instruction, cohorts, compressed or accelerated courses, and prior learning assessment. Similarly constructed programs for nontraditional students at public community colleges are less common. A review of the Council for Accelerated Programs’ website reveals only twelve of the 98-member institutions are community or technical colleges, and only one is in California (Council for Accelerated Programs, n.d.). In 2016, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District in California created the Accelerated College …

Assessing The Relationship Between Student Involvement And Academic Performance In Higher Education, Azurdee M. Garland

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The study examined the relationship between the degree of involvement in co-curricular activities and academic performance, as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) among college students enrolled at Western Kentucky University (WKU). Three hundred thirty-six sophomores were surveyed via TOPNET, an electronic registration management system, regarding their level of involvement in campus organizations and other factors, including employment status and gender. The cumulative GPAs and the number of credit hours in which the survey participants were enrolled during Fall Semester 2005 were obtained through a survey using TOPNET. Pearson product-moment correlations revealed statistically significant relationships between GPA and the number …

Consultation In The School Psychology Literature: Has The Field Moved Beyond The Three Traditional Models?, Michelle L. Seibert

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Consultation is a crucial role for school psychology practitioners. Psychologists routinely use consultation within the schools and actually wish they could spend more of their work hours on this activity. However, when authors write about consultation in the school psychology literature, they use numerous terms and phrases, which cause confusion as to what models of consultation are prominent in the field. The focus of the current study is to examine the articles that mention consultation in School Psychology Review (Digest) in order to determine whether the three traditional models (behavioral, mental health, and organizational consultation) are still prominent in consultation …

Effects Of Social Support On The Social Self-Concepts Of Gifted Adolescents, Caroline S. Cochran

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study investigates the relationship between social support and the social self-concepts of gifted adolescents. Participants include 245 gifted students who had completed the fifth through the tenth grade during the previous academic year. Social self-concept was measured using the Self-Description Questionnaire II (Marsh, 1990). Social support was measured using the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (Malecki & Demaray, 2002). Results indicate multiple relationships between perceived social support and social self-concept, as well as a significant gender difference for the frequency of close friend social support. No gender differences were found for the parent, teacher, classmate, or school …

Assessing The Efficacy Of The Talent Search Program, Martha Jane Sales

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study assessed the efficacy of one TRIO program, Talent Search. This study compared the postsecondary enrollment of Talent Search participants and non participants. The comparison was conducted on a sample of 284 low-income college ready seniors from three south central Kentucky high schools. Results indicated that low-income students participating in the Talent Search program did enroll at a significantly higher rate than non-participants. This study also examined if the length of time students participated in the Talent Search program was significantly related to postsecondary enrollment. Results indicated no significant correlations. Additionally, this study examined if a relationship in …

A Modified Therapeutic Community: Reducing Violence In A Medium Security Prison, Lee Maglinger

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explores the impact a modified therapeutic community has on institutional disorder. Treatment programs are normally evaluated by their ability to prevent recidivism and relapse. This study examines the efficacy of a modified therapeutic community in reducing the number and severity of write-ups of its clients in a medium security male prison. The study describes research findings regarding the relationship between the write-ups of clients in a modified therapeutic community compared with the write-ups of inmates in a non-treatment unit. To carry out this study, the author reviewed the write-up records from the treatment program and a non-treatment unit …

An Analysis Of Substance Abusers' Field Dependence & Time Spent In Rehabilitative Therapy, Robert Fane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This project was designed to determine if significant differences existed between the level of psychological differentiation, as determined by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), of individuals entering a treatment center for chemical dependency and the length of stay at the facility.

The subjects consisted of 43 white males who were seeking treatment for addiction to mood altering chemicals at a regional treatment facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Each subject was interviewed to collect pertinent background information pertaining to past substance abuse and was evaluated to determine psychological differentiation, utilizing the GEFT.

It was determined through an analysis of variance …

Peer Coaching & Change Implementation, Jolene Black

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The process of change implementation and the measurement of concerns of those involved in change using the C.B.A.M. model have been the topics of many studies conducted during the past two decades. Peer coaching is a relative newcomer, yet has been the focus of several studies. To date, however, comparative information about the change process and its affect on the concerns of teachers involved in peer coaching has not been analyzed.

This study examines and compares the Stages of Concern regarding an innovation of teachers with and without peer coaching partners. After a review of significant research, the paper analyzes …

A Model For Group Marital Preparation In A University Setting, Terry Swan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The author created an experimental model workshop for group marital preparation in a university setting. Eight couples attended the April 16-17, 1984, workshop, and nine couples attended the March 25-27, 1985, workshop. All persons, with the exception of two couples, were university students.

Each couple was contacted by a form letter which contained questions about their expectations and invited them to take a temperament test. A participant evaluation was done after the workshop.

A great majority of responses support the need for marital education. The workshop enabled the participants to better understand their intended spouses. The basic divisions of commitment, …

Retention, Grade Point Average & Client Satisfaction Of Professionally Counseled Freshmen & Peer Counseled Freshmen, Anne Murray

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Samples from two populations, entering freshmen at Western Kentucky University who were either peer counseled/advised or professionally counseled/advised, were compared on three vairables: (i) retention rate as sophomores, (2) freshman grade point averages earned. and (3) client satisfaction with counseling/advisement services.

The variance between the means of the two freshmen groups was analyzed using a two tailed t test. There was no significant difference between groups in retention or grade point average. There was, however, significant difference in client satisfaction between the peer counseled/advised freshmen and the professionally counseled/advised freshmen. Freshmen receiving peer counseling/advisement rated their helpers at a higher …

Impact Of The Educational & Life Planning Course On Undecided Students: An Evaluation Model, Diana Shores

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this project was to establish a working model for a longitudinal evaluation of the effectiveness of the "Educational and Life Planning" (CNS ED 100) course at Western Kentucky University. This study, entitled "CELPS," was an action project designed to serve as a model for the establishment of a data bank against which future efficacy studies could be made by the faculty. A pilot study of 80 CNS ED 100 students was conducted to test the CELPS model described in this paper and also to provide preliminary information about the effectiveness of the "Educational and Life Planning" course. …

A Study Of Current Organizational Structures & The Perceived Impact Of Selected Problems Of Student Personnel Services In Selected Colleges & Universities, Johnny Wolfe

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Administrators of programs of student personnel services are being called upon to be more effective in their planning, to redefine and modify organizational structures, and to find ways to bring more control and flexibility to the budgeting process and staffing patterns. Further, student personnel administrators need to be more effective in assessing student needs, in evaluating programs, in determining problematic areas, and in providing proactive leadership within a more democratic and legalistic framework.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to report on the current organizational structures of divisions of student personnel services in selected colleges and universities and …

An Evaluation Of The Guidance & Counseling Program Of The Bishop David Memorial High School, Richard Staples

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the guidance and counseling program of the Bishop David Memorial High School. Methods and procedures included the use of the Evaluative Criteria utilized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in evaluating secondary schools, an analysis of the needs of students, a review of guidance information reported on a Supplementary Data Form, and a review of guidance practices reported in literature.

This study provides information that could be used by administrative personnel, instructors, counselors, and persons performing counselor-related functions in an effort to utilize the guidance and counseling services at the …

A Study Of Opinions Of Returning & Non-Returning Freshmen At Western Kentucky University Regarding Academic Advisors & Selected Student Personnel Services, Mary Higgins

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Three-hundred ten non-returning and two-hundred nineteen returning Western Kentucky University freshmen were surveyed regarding contact with academic advisors, availability of advisors, and quality of advisement, as well as awareness, use of, and value of selected student personnel services.

One-hundred eighteen (53%) returning and one-hundred fifteen (37%) non-returning students responded.

Returning and non -returning students differed significantly regarding number of contacts with advisor and perceptions of advisor availability. Returners reported more contacts with their advisor than did non-returners ,and returners were more likely to find their adivisor readily available than non-returners.

More non-returners used counseling services and developmental studies while returners …

A Study Of Significant Differences In Values, Problems & Personality Characteristics Of English 055 Students & English 101 Students At Western Kentucky University, Nancy Moore

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Fifty students from English 055 and 50 students from English 101 were given the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, the Mooney Problem Check Lists, the Allport/ Vernon/Lindzey Study of Values, and the Willoughby Schedule to determine if any significant differences existed between the two groups in the areas of personality characteristics, values, or problems. A statistical analysis of the results was determined by means of a t value from a separate variance estimate. Results indicated that significant differences existed between the 055 students and the 101 students in the following areas: self-esteem, economic values, need for achievement, and …

An Examination Of The Effectiveness Of A Junior High School Career Exploration Program In The Hopkins County School System, Cynthia Mason

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The problem investigated in this study was a comparison of the effectiveness of a career exploration program in a junior high school curriculum versus a traditional curriculum with regard to increased career competence and positive attitudes toward the world of work as measured by Form A-1 of the Career Maturity Inventory.

The population for this study consisted of the ninth-grade classes of two Hopkins County Schools. The subjects for the control group (South Hopkins) consisted of 25 ninth-grade students who had not been exposed to a career exploration program and the subjects for the experimental group (Madisonville Junior High School) …

The Perceived Role Of The University Residence Hall Director, Jan Akers

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was concerned with locating areas of differences in residents' perceptions of the role of the director --either a young professional or a "dorm mother" type--in their own residence halls on the 'estern Kentucky University campus. The perceptions were obtained through the use of a twenty-one item instrument (developed by the researcher) to which 1,111 students responded. The data were tabulated by sex, by residence nails, by halls with young professional directors, by halls with older "dorm mother" directors, and by a total overall. Slight differences were found between male and female students and between the various groups. However, …

Guidance-Related Services Performed By Selected Classroom Teachers In Jefferson County, Kentucky, Joseph Riley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A selected sample of classroom teachers from the Jefferson County, Kentucky, school system, some of whom were also certified counselors, were surveyed to determine the extent to which they participated in certain teacher-pupil relationship activities.

From the survey, it was determined (1) that of the teachers surveyed those with counselor certification participated in seventy-seven percent of these selected activities; (2) that those surveyed classroom teachers that do not have counselor certification also participated in these activities although generally to a lesser extent than those with certification; (3) that both teachers without and those with counselor certification felt that a master's …

A Status Study Of The Counseling Services Provided Fort Knox Armor School Students, Joseph Stith

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the counseling services provided by the Fort Knox Armor School to its students. Interviews and survey questionnaires were utilized to gather data for the study. Interviews were utilized to obtain information regarding the structure of the present counseling services program at the Fort Knox Armor School. Opinions regarding the present structure were twofold:

1. The present counseling services are adequate
2. A counseling services program comparable to a modern educational institution does not exist

Survey questionnaires were given to five different Armor School student groups.

1. Armor Officer Basic (AOB)
2. Armor Officer Advanced Course (AOAC) …

An Analysis Of Weather-Related Factors & Non-Productive Learning Behaviors Of Fourth-Fifth & Sixth Grade Students, Donald Cheser

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This project is a study of the relationships of weather variables and non-productive classroom behaviors. Four observers recorded behaviors of over one hundred elementary students for a period of fifty days.

The weather variables used in this study may be divided into two major categories; visible and invisible atmospheric conditions. Visible atmospheric conditions included classifying the atmosphere as sunny, fair, cloudy, stormy, rainy, and phases of the moon. Invisible conditions recorded were temperature and barometric pressure.

The non-productive behavior variables included were aggression, arguing, attitude, annoying, bathroom abuse, cheating, destructive, clowning, disobedient, disruptive, ill-mannered, inattentive, lying, name calling, playing, rule …

The Effect Of Parent Education Upon Parental Attitudes Toward Authority, Ruth Meredith

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study attempted to develop and evaluate the content, format and effectiveness of a parent training course which emphasized democratic child rearing methods. The course was conducted by a school counselor in an elementary school. The content was a combination of Dreikur's child-raising techniques and Gordon's communication skills embodied into a commercial program called Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. The format for each of the nine suggested group sessions began with a leader-introduced topic, followed by large and small group discussions, simulated role play, use of worksheets, handouts, audio-visuals, and homework assignments. Objective evidence of program effectiveness was determined by …

A Study Of The Reasons Successful College Freshmen Voluntarily Withdraw From Campbellsville College, Annie Neil

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Samples of successful freshmen students voluntarily withdrawing from Campbellsville College were studied and compared to determine the reasons for leaving the College. It was anticipated that findings would help to identify some of the problems involved in student withdrawal, thus giving the College some better understanding with which to proceed in an effort to build retention.

Forty academically successful freshmen of the class 1974- 75 were surveyed using a questionnaire and telephone and personal interview. These students were grouped in three divisions: (1) those who entered with plans to transfer, (2) those who entered with indefinite plans, and (3) those …

A Descriptive Survey Of Values Of Selected Groups Of Seventh, Tenth And Twelfth Grade Students In Kentucky & Michigan, Rachel Schmitz

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This project was a study of values of selected seventh, tenth, and twelfth grade students in Kentucky and Michigan. Students were instructed to rank order ten of the twenty values listed on the Low Vocabulary Values Survey. Descriptive comparisons were made within groups and between groups relative to sex and grade level differences. "I believe in God" and "I enjoy life" were ranked highest by each of the groups. "I get an allowance" was ranked least frequently. Twelfth grade students ranked "I make my own decisions" and "I express myself" higher than did the seventh grade students. Seventh grade …

An Approach To Meeting The Educational Needs Of A Select Group Of Migrant Children, Ruth G. Cornelius

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Children in grades one through six who were identified as children from migrant agricultural families in a specific country in South Central Kentucky were compared to non-migrant children in the same specific county. A determination of the educational needs of these migrant children was made by a comparison of their standardized test scores to similar test scores of children from non-migrant families in the areas of Reading, Math, AND Total Battery scores. Resultant data from the test scores indicated that migrant children generally do not have achieve as high academically in the areas tested as do children from non-migrant families. …

The Effects Of Facial Characteristics & Attitudes Upon Initial Interpersonal Attraction, Henry Ackerman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Two groups of males were utilized to examine the causal effect of facial characteristics and attitudes upon initial interpersonal attraction. The two groups were given a booklet in which photographs and attitude statements were paired in various combinations. One group of males was given the booklet with photographs of females non-randomly assigned; while the other group of males was given the booklet with photographs of females randomly assigned. The major finding of the Present study was that facial characteristics were more causal in predicting initial interpersonal attraction than were attitudes. A colateral finding was that the attitude statements had in …

An Examination Of The Jefferson County Readiness Test As A Predictor Of Readiness & Achievement, Phyllis Reinstedler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Jefferson County Readiness Test, a locally developed readiness test, has been in use in the Jefferson County, Kentucky elementary schools for seventeen years. This test had not been standardized and few studies were available to support its use. The JCRT was studied to determine if the test was a valid predictor of readiness and achievement. Phase I of the study was designed to study the JCRT as a predictor of readiness. Beginning first year students in one elementary school were selected and JCRT scores, Metropolitan Readiness Test scores, and teachers' perceptions of readiness were collected for each child. Results …

Achievement Need & Academic Success Of Marginal College Students, Marvine Wannamaker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was undertaken in an effort to identify the marginal students at Western Kentucky University who will succeed academically only if they receive special help. Thirty-four male and eleven female marginal freshmen (ACT scores 13 to 17; GPAs 1.9 to 2.2) were tested with the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) to explore the possible relationship of the EPPS need for achievement (n Ach) to the academic success of the marginal freshmen. A secondary purpose was to determine if the need for achievement had a significant relationship to the number of hours for which the students initially registered and the …

A Comparison Of The Turse Shorthand Aptitude Test Scores & Other Factors For Predicting Achievement Of Students In Beginning Shorthand Of Woodway Senior High School, Dellazine Moran

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The first-year shorthand class of Woodway Senior High School was given the test instrument, The Turse Shorthand Aptitude Test, to determine whether achievement in shorthand could be predicted by the percentile rank achieved on The Turse Aptitude Test. Comparison was made of the shorthand grades; SCAT-Total, and Grade Point Averages. The only significant correlation found was between first semester grades of first-year shorthand and the overall grade point average which was significant at the .03 level. The second semester grades of first-year shorthand and the overall grade point average was significant at the .13 level.

The socio-economic factors of father's …

Perceptions Of Selected Counselor Services By Ninth-Grade Public School Students Of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Marian Yates

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A selected sample of six hundred ninth-grade public school students from six schools of the Jefferson County, Kentucky, school system was surveyed to determine their perceptions regarding selected counselor services. A questionnaire was designed made up of questions related to the hypotheses being tested. No distinction was made between male and female responses and students from all socio-economic classes and the various ability groups were included. Based on the data obtained from this study the following conclusions were drawn: (1) secondary school counselors are identified as persons who can give assistance in the areas of educational and vocational planning as …

The Effects Of Certain Group Guidance Procedures Upon The Attitudes Of Selected Eighth Grade Students Toward School, Self & Family, Donald Nall

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

There is considerable evidence indicating great interest on the part of school counselors in the use of group procedures, but their reactions are mixed as to the effectiveness of such procedures. One reason for these mixed feelings is that many counselors question whether the group approach is a natural and appropriate way of being helpful to young people.

This study was made in an effort to measure the effect of group guidance activities upon the attitudes of certain selected middle school students. A planned group guidance program was initiated. Eighth grade students were divided into a control group (N=56) and …