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Edith Cowan University

1996

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Articles 31 - 49 of 49

Full-Text Articles in Education

The Interplay Of Formal And Informal Rule Systems In Government Primary Schools, Raymond Knight Jan 1996

The Interplay Of Formal And Informal Rule Systems In Government Primary Schools, Raymond Knight

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The aim of this dissertation is to examine the effects of regulation upon the practice and behaviour of teachers within a bureaucratic educational organisation. More specifically, the study had been designed to understand how teachers make sense of the rules and regulations of their organisation and identify strategies that they apply to make these rules serve these interests. The rule system theory of Swedish sociologist, Burns and Flam, was employed to inform the study. Thirty teachers, employed at two school sites, were included in this qualitative study. The initial data were collected by questionnaires and a survey of formal rules. …


Occupational Stress, A Cross-Sectional And Logitudinal Analysis, Nigel V. Jones Jan 1996

Occupational Stress, A Cross-Sectional And Logitudinal Analysis, Nigel V. Jones

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigated the presence of occupational stress among teachers. It did not set out to identify and explain variables associated with stress among teachers, rather the study focussed on the multitude of variables identified in the literature and sought to include these in a more extensive causal model. The study was conducted in two main stages. Firstly, a cross-sectional survey investigated the presence of stress among 230 teachers, as measured by Psychological Stress, Physical Health, Job Satisfaction and & desire to Leave their Job. The survey obtained information on stress outcome variables (Psychological Stress, Physical Health, Job Satisfaction and …


Use Of Section 20 Of The Education Act 1928: The Study Of A Contemporary Issue Using The Narrative Form, Janette R. Gray Jan 1996

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

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

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


Multiple Readings In Multiple Choice Reading Tests: A Study Of Year 11 Students' Reading Practices Of A Multiple Choice Reading Test, Rosemary Naughton Jan 1996

Multiple Readings In Multiple Choice Reading Tests: A Study Of Year 11 Students' Reading Practices Of A Multiple Choice Reading Test, Rosemary Naughton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examines students’ responses to the questions in a multiple choice reading test. An analysis of the processes students used to negotiate meaning revealed the roles played by cognitive strategies and cultural framing in shaping students' responses to multiple choice questions. A descriptive/analytical study methodology was conducted with a group of forty eight Year II students in the final term of the school year. These students represented four mixed sex ability groupings and a range of socio-economic backgrounds. Think-Out-Loud protocols were used in an interview situation. Students responded to thirty four questions from three passages selected from multiple choice …


Children's Gender Relations In The Preschoool Setting : Parents' And Children's [Sic] Perspectives As Indicators For Change, B. D. Murfin Jan 1996

Children's Gender Relations In The Preschoool Setting : Parents' And Children's [Sic] Perspectives As Indicators For Change, B. D. Murfin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study investigates how 4/5 year old children, from one preschool centre, and their parents perceive gender relations in our gendered society. By observing children's interactions in a preschool setting, and discussing these interactions with the children involved, the discourses and discursive practices operating in the gender regime of this setting are uncovered. The characteristics of children's gender relations in this setting are that asymmetrical relationships are prevalent; masculine and feminine storylines are common along with shared storylines; masculinise hegemonic discourses are dominant although many girls and boys cross the gender divide; some children see the other sex/gender as ‘foreign’ …


Student's Attitude To Using The Internet At School After Limited Classroom Exposure, Anna Hu Jan 1996

Student's Attitude To Using The Internet At School After Limited Classroom Exposure, Anna Hu

Theses : Honours

This study focused on student's attitude to using the Internet at school. A questionnaire (the School Internet Attitude questionnaire) measuring student attitude to using the Internet at school incorporating three dimensions (cognitive, behavioural and affective) was administered twice to a sample of 64 Year 12 students from a Perth Metropolitan Independent school. The questionnaire was administered before and after a six lesson 'exposure' (the limited classroom exposure) to the Internet. Pre and post test attitude measures of all students were compared using dependent sample t_ test to determine if there were significant differences in student's attitude after the limited classroom …


Word Processors In Secondary English : A Survey And Discussion Of Usage In West Australian High Schools, Stuart D. Hakeney Jan 1996

Word Processors In Secondary English : A Survey And Discussion Of Usage In West Australian High Schools, Stuart D. Hakeney

Theses : Honours

The word processor would seem to have many positive applications to student writing in the English classroom. Writers working in the field (Chandler, 1987; Jenkins, 1989; Snyder, 1994) all agree that whether the technology is used as an editing aid to help poor hand writers and weak spellers get through the "grind" of writing, or as a dynamic tool which can be used as a new and exciting way of making meaning, its usefulness in subject English should not be overlooked. However, initial inquiries undertaken as part of this study, suggested that word processing technology had been largely ignored in …


A Whole School Approach To Literacy Intervention, G. J. Raison Jan 1996

A Whole School Approach To Literacy Intervention, G. J. Raison

Theses : Honours

This research project reports on the process of developing a whole school approach to literacy intervention in one multi-ethnic, designated disadvantaged primary school. The study describes how teachers worked collaboratively, using items from a resource package Successful Intervention K-3 Literacy, to critically reflect on their pedagogy in their efforts to better address the needs of those students in their classes who appeared to have difficulties with literacy learning. A modified action research method was used by the teachers to devise a context-specific school plan. Within the plan, they allocated time and resources to assist them as they shared and developed …


Children's Perceptions Of Tasks, Structure, Routines And Roles In Two Multi-Age (P-1) Classrooms, Anne Yeoward Jan 1996

Children's Perceptions Of Tasks, Structure, Routines And Roles In Two Multi-Age (P-1) Classrooms, Anne Yeoward

Theses : Honours

In Western Australia, multi-age grouping is being explored as a means of providing a rich learning environment which helps children to learn, caters for individual differences and recognises the child's social and cognitive development (Rice & Basich. 1994 ). To date no study on the child's perceptions, expectations and experience of school within this organisational framework has been conducted. The purpose of this study is to find out about young children's perceptions of tasks, structure, routines and roles in a multi-age class. What are children's perceptions of the class grouping and task content in a multi-age class? What are children's …


The Effect Of Adjunct Illustrations On Year 8 Students' Comprehension Of Scientific Text, Jackie Knapp Jan 1996

The Effect Of Adjunct Illustrations On Year 8 Students' Comprehension Of Scientific Text, Jackie Knapp

Theses : Honours

Illustrations are present in the majority of Secondary Science textbooks. The type of illustration used and its purpose varies from text to text. The four most common forms of illustration are the photograph, hand drawing, line drawing and scientific abstract diagram. Some illustrations such as glossy photographs serve no other purpose than to attract the student to the text and motivate them to read. Others such as the scientific diagram present a lot of information in a condensed form and their purpose is to clarify concepts. Some at these more complex illustrations are often difficult to interpret especially for younger …


Are Special Needs Qualifications And Teaching Experience Factors In Teacher Attitudes Towards Collaborative Action Plans?, T. Spittle Jan 1996

Are Special Needs Qualifications And Teaching Experience Factors In Teacher Attitudes Towards Collaborative Action Plans?, T. Spittle

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this exploratory study was to ascertain if teachers who have special needs training or teaching experience have a statistically significant difference in their attitude towards the implementation of the Western Australian Education Department's Collaborative Action Plans. Using a stratified random sampling method a sample of teachers (N = 2 x 50) was generated from regular primary schools and education support facilities within the Perth metropolitan area. Survey variables canvassed were source reliability, time, efficacy, collaboration, assessment measures, information types and summary issues. A mailed questionnaire produced a response rate of 66%. Survey data indicated that in terms …


Bullying In Schools : An Extension And Replication Of Schoolchildren's Attitudes And Helping Behaviour Toward Victims Of Bullying, Kathy Elliott Jan 1996

Bullying In Schools : An Extension And Replication Of Schoolchildren's Attitudes And Helping Behaviour Toward Victims Of Bullying, Kathy Elliott

Theses : Honours

A replication and extension of Rigby and Slee's (1991) study, was conducted in rural Western Australia to investigate age and gender differences in schoolchildren's attitudes and behaviour toward victims of bullying. One hundred and seventy two students (93 Females, 79 males) participated in the study, comprising of, Year 3, Year 7, Year 8, and Year 12 students. Three written, anonymous questionnaires were used: (i) The Peer Relations Questionnaire (Rigby & Slee, 1994) and (ii) the Pro-Victim Scale (Rigby & Slee, 1991) examined students peer interactions and attitudes toward victims; and a self-developed questionnaire, (iii) the Victim Questionnaire, was ased to …


The Effect Of Role Play On Year 9 Students' Creative Writing, Kerry Mulholland Jan 1996

The Effect Of Role Play On Year 9 Students' Creative Writing, Kerry Mulholland

Theses : Honours

This thesis investigated the effect of the teaching strategy of role play on Year 9 students' creative writing and attitudes towards creative writing in the English classroom. The aim of the research was to compare role play, as a student-centred strategy, with the more commonly used strategies in the teaching of writing in the secondary English classroom, and explore and measure the effects. An experiment was conducted with a class of 32 students of average to above average abilities, divided into two groups: one was taught creative writing through role play while the other group was taught by a variety …


Teacher's Perceptions Of The Introduction Of A Middle School Within A Western Australian Independent Girls' School, S. M. Lienert Jan 1996

Teacher's Perceptions Of The Introduction Of A Middle School Within A Western Australian Independent Girls' School, S. M. Lienert

Theses : Honours

In 1995 an independent girls' school in Perth, Western Australia, decided to introduce a Middle School. 'This meant changing the traditional structure of grouping children aged between 5 and 12 years into primary school and children aged between 13 and 17 years into secondary school. The aim of the Middle School was to provide increased educational opportunities for 12 to 14 year old students. When the introduction of a Middle School was announced teaching staff expressed a number of concerns with respect to their new roles and the new school operations. These concerns raised questions about whether years of teaching …


Assessing Content-Related Validity And Internal-Consistency Reliability Of Tests Constructed By Seychellois Teachers, Justin Davis Valentin Jan 1996

Assessing Content-Related Validity And Internal-Consistency Reliability Of Tests Constructed By Seychellois Teachers, Justin Davis Valentin

Theses : Honours

Teachers are seldom trained to construct tests (Boothroyd, McMorris, & Pruzck, 1992; Wise, Lukin, & Roos, 1991). Yet, the use of teacher-made tests for assessing students is a common occurrence in schools. This study challenges the quality of tests constructed by teachers without measurement and testing training. A sample of tests (n = 15) constructed by Primary 5A mathematics teachers in the Seychelles was analysed. The teachers who submitted the tests have not completed a course in measurement and testing. However, results of these tests will be used to make important decisions about their students. The purpose of the study …


Esl Development In A Mainstream Classroom : A Case Study, Silvia Davidson Jan 1996

Esl Development In A Mainstream Classroom : A Case Study, Silvia Davidson

Theses : Honours

Learning English as a second language is a challenge faced by many children. This research has focused on the language learning and acquisition of a middle primary school student, new to Australia, from France. The English language development of this French student in a mainstream classroom of a primary school within Western Australia has been examined. The student, Rene, is a nine year old male child who is a fluent speaker of the French language. His English language development was studied over a ten week period where he was taught in a mainstream classroom with the assistance of a bilingual …


Conceptions Of Learning Held By Students In The Lower, Middle And Upper Grades Of Primary School, Carole Noelle Steketee Jan 1996

Conceptions Of Learning Held By Students In The Lower, Middle And Upper Grades Of Primary School, Carole Noelle Steketee

Theses : Honours

Conceptions of learning are the fundamental beliefs and ideas people hold about their own learning. To a large extent, these understandings determine the way in which learning tasks are tackled and, ultimately, the outcome of learning experiences. Using a phenomenographic approach, this study explored the conceptions of teaming held by six students in the lower, middle and upper grades of primary school. Data collected from a series of individual in-depth interviews resulted in the identification of six distinctly different conceptions of learning. At the most basic level, the students articulated their understanding of learning in a very general sense. This …


The Beliefs And Attitudes Of Primary School Teachers In The Bunbury Region Toward The Subject Of Science, Michelle A. Mckeon Jan 1996

The Beliefs And Attitudes Of Primary School Teachers In The Bunbury Region Toward The Subject Of Science, Michelle A. Mckeon

Theses : Honours

The study investigated the beliefs and attitudes of primary school teachers in the Bunbury region toward the subject of science. Teachers' beliefs and attitudes were investigated in terms of the dependant variables of teachers' attitude toward science, preference for teaching science and confidence to teach science and how they related to the independent variables of qualifications, Year 11 and 12 science subjects, years of teaching experience, time of last science inservice and gender. Teachers' perceptions of the barriers toward more and better teaching of science in primary schools were also investigated. The sample included 89 teachers from nine schools, six …


The Variables Related To Attrition And Persistence Of Distance Education Students Enrolled In The Fourth Year Of The Bachelor Of Education Course, Eileen Thompson Jan 1996

The Variables Related To Attrition And Persistence Of Distance Education Students Enrolled In The Fourth Year Of The Bachelor Of Education Course, Eileen Thompson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The extent to which a range of demographic, academic and administrative variables are related to attrition and persistence of external students enrolled in the Fourth Year of the Bachelor of Education course during second semester, 1995 are investigated in this study. The applicability of the sub-scales and scales developed by Kember, Lai, Murphy, Siaw and Yuen (1995) for distance education students is also reported on for the study group. Data were obtained from the student records system and two self-administered mail out questionnaires. The study population was predominantly female, in their early thirties, living in Western Australia, had completed their …