Education Commons^™

Being Visually Impaired In An Elementary Art Classroom: A Case Study, Kristina Benton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of a visually impaired student during art instruction. The data was collected using observations of the subject during art class and a series of one-on-one interviews. The subject of the study was a male, second grade, visually impaired student. His optical disorder is known as Micro-Opthalmia/Cataract Syndrome and is a rare condition. Data was interpreted using coding and transcription based on the themes that developed throughout the course of the study. The findings of the study were (a) that the subject has a high level of self-esteem and view …

Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Study Of Rowan University Faculty, Sean C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of Rowan University faculty regarding accommodations for students with learning disabilities. A survey was sent to 350 full-time assistant, associate, and full professors from Rowan University's six colleges. The study aimed to discover what instructional, exam, policy, as well as university accommodations faculty members were willing to make for students with learning disabilities. The demographic data of age, gender, college, years teaching experience were correlated with the attitudinal statements included in the survey. The study revealed that, overall, faculty were willing to make accommodations for students with learning disabilities.

The Effect Of Abbott Parity Funding On Instrumental Music Programs In The State Of New Jersey, William Carl Mcdevitt

Theses and Dissertations

The funding of poor urban schools in the State of New Jersey was increased in 1997 by the New Jersey Supreme Court Abbott v. Burke decision. The purpose of this study is to determine if this parity funding has had an effect on instrumental music education in the State. Data was collected from a sample consisting of all 55 Abbott schools and a stratified sample of 60 non-Abbott schools representing all District Factor Groups. Additional data was collected from State and Region educational organizations. A low return rate of 21% (Abbott n = 5, non-Abbott n = 19) limited the …

A Comparison Of Multiple Intelligence Preferences And Performance On Standardized Tests, Suzanne Marie White

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to look for correlations between levels of preference for multiple intelligences and performance rates on standardized tests, as determined by utilizing the Teele Inventory of Multiple Intelligences and standardized test scores. The research was conducted in small rural elementary school in southern New Jersey where the researcher was the art teacher. The sample consisted of the entire fifth grade class (n= 64) who provided parental consent and had the necessary test scores available. Students completed the Teele Inventory of Multiple Intelligence by viewing a series of paired images of panda bears involved …

Self Perceptions Of Sibling Relationships, Cory R. Mueller

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to associate birth orders effect on an individual's perception of their sibling, family, and social roles. Research has asserted that children learn by observing the actions of their siblings, which transcend into other aspects of their own lives. One hundred and one undergraduate college students were separated into three categories: younger sibling subjects (n=47), older sibling subjects (n=49), and only children subjects (n=5). The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire comprised of 25 statements about their sibling, family, and social relationships based on a 5 point …

Health Locus Of Control Of Children With A Chronic Health Condition, Margo K. Shevchenko

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the health locus of control among a group of pediatric patients (n = 15) at Cooper University Hospital between the ages of 10 and 17 (mean age = 13.93) with chronic health conditions. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, form C, was used to determine whether children with a chronic health illness had an internal health locus of control (health was self-controlled) or if their health was determined by external factors, such as chance or fate or by their doctors or other people. Mean scores showed the highest health locus of …

The Relationship Of Locus Of Control, Assimilation/Acculturation And Academic Performance, Sandra Padró

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between locus of control, assimilation/acculturation and academic performance of a group of students in a Southern New Jersey, urban middle school. It was hypothesized that the more assimilation/acculturation of Hispanic students into the Anglo culture a more internal locus of beliefs will be demonstrated and a better academic performance. A total of 137 students participated in this study. Data was collected using a LOC survey and a SASH-Y survey. An Anova-One Way and a Two-Way Anova were used to determine the relationship of these variables. The results demonstrated a connection …

The Effects Of Pre-Exam Exposure To Music On Test Anxiety, Samuel Parashis

Theses and Dissertations

Students (N = 39) were divided into three groups by the investigator based on a predetermined sign-up block assignment. Eleven students listened to a 7-minute compact disc audio track of Mozart's Piano Sonata K333. Thirteen listened to a 7-minute compact disc audio track of Anima's Spirit of the Southwest. Others (n = 15) sat in silence for a 7-minute period. Following the 7-minute period, all subjects attempted a logic test for 10 minutes. Next, subjects completed the Individual Test Anxiety Assessment by Samuel Parashis. A two-way Analysis of Variance, ANOVA, was conducted on the data collected from the Individual Anxiety …

Social Norms: Actual Versus Perceived Alcohol Consumption Of College Freshmen, Erick M. Nuñez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the actual frequency of alcohol consumption of college freshmen (n = 84) and the students residential status. The participants consisted of fifty-six resident students and twenty-eight commuter students. The frequency of alcohol consumption by students in general as perceived by the participants was also analyzed. The secondary purpose was explore a relationship between actual alcohol drinking norms and perceived alcohol drinking norms. The Campus Survey of Alcohol and Other Drug Norms were administered and analyzed using basic tables. Results demonstrated that freshmen resident students consume alcohol at a greater …

Does Student Engagement Vary Among Colleges Within A University?, Amrinder Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between student engagement and different colleges within a university. Research has asserted that student engagement is closely related to student learning and that student engagement varies from institution to institution depending on various factors. However, there has been minimal research on student engagement among colleges within the same university. A sample of 120 undergraduate college students (20 from each of the six colleges) was recruited from Rowan University to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement in four different areas: Level of academic challenge, Active and collaborative learning, Student-faculty interaction …

A Study On The Impact Of Parental Structure On High School Students' Academic Performance, Erica Rell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the cumulative GPAs and highest combined SAT scores of students from varying backgrounds and parental structures. A total of 83 participants (36 males and 47 females) from a southern New Jersey Catholic high school were surveyed concerning their individual type of parental structure, their cumulative GPA, as well as their highest combined SAT score and individual SAT test scores. Results showed that the interaction between gender and type of parental structure did not have a significant impact on cumulative GPA, on SAT verbal scores, on SAT math scores, on …

Influences Of Mothers And Dual-Career Families On The Educational Attainment Of Female College Students, Mansi Patel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand if mothers have an influence on their daughters by (a) determining if a relationship existed between the educational attainment of mothers and the level of education female college students strive to achieve and (b) verifying if female college students are more likely to come from households with working mothers and dual-career families. A sample of 50 predominantly Caucasian female college students at Rowan University were surveyed on their personal and family background. A non-parametric correlation test revealed that a significant relationship existed between the educational attainment of mothers and the aspired educational …

Body Image In Middle School Students, Erin Lichtenwalner

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate the body images of Middle School aged students. A population of 62 students (37 males, 25 females) was given a survey that questioned their level of body image, their practice of weight-control behaviors, and the various potential influences on these areas. The results showed that this particular population had a higher level of body image than previous studies indicate. It also showed that students at this age are engaging in weight-control behaviors. The major influences on body image and weight-control behaviors were found to be peers and the media. This research, along with previous …

Comparing Friendships Of College Students From Intact And Divorced Families, Jennifer Shendock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in quality and quantity of friendships in young adults with divorced parents compared to young adults from intact families. To identify this, college students (n=25) from a Mid-Atlantic University filled out a questionnaire related to friendship. The participants who fell into the divorced group (n= 7) filled out an additional questionnaire that examined the impact that parental divorce had on their life. Using a t test to compare the friendship scores, it was found that there was no significant difference in the quality of friendships of the participants from both …

The Effectiveness Of School Uniforms On Students' Academic Achievement And Overall Classroom Behavior, Bobbi Jo Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to see what effect school uniforms had on students' academics and behavior. Subjects were seventh and eighth grade students, from a school which recently implemented a uniform policy for the 2006-2007 school year. Their academic and discipline records were collected from the current and previous year. Students from the previous year, who were not required to wear uniforms, were placed in the control group (n=55). Students, who were now required to wear uniforms, were placed in the experimental group (n=55). A t-test for independent samples was run on the data. No significant difference …

The Effects Of Being A Mentor On High School Students' Self-Efficacy And Communication Skills Development, Annemarie Wagner-Fehn

Theses and Dissertations

The outcome of mentoring programs on the child being mentored has been widely researched in recent years. However, little empirical research has been conducted to determine the effects that these relationships have on the person doing the mentoring. The purpose of this research was to investigate if becoming an adolescent mentor would (a) positively affect high school students' feelings of self-efficacy and (b) affect their communication skills development. Thirteen high school students from Big Brothers Big Sisters School Based Mentoring Program participated in this study. A t-test for paired samples revealed no significant differences between the pre and post …

The Relationship Between Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religiosity And Meaning In Life, Diane Woyciechowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following study was to determine whether there is a significant relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and the presence of and search for meaning in one's life. Since religion has previously been found to play a role in one's physical and mental health, the present study offers additional evidence to religion's role in the mental health field. Three measures were used to collect the data for this study, including a demographic form, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Intrinsic/ Extrinsic Religiosity Revised Scale (I/E-R). Sixty-eight students were recruited for this study, 31 males and …

Do Students With Learning Disabilities View Their Self-Concept More Positively In A Private Day School For Special Needs Versus Students In An Inclusive Public School Classroom?, Jennifer L. Wierski

Theses and Dissertations

"An individual's self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life" (Brothers, date unknown). The following paper addressed the three competencies of self-concept in students with learning disabilities: academic, physical and social. The construct of self-concept was compared in students with learning disabilities in a self-contained versus inclusive classroom environment, The author supported the findings through research contained in academic and professional journals and quantitative data gathered from the completion of the …

Family Dynamics And Substance Use In Young Adulthood, Jonathan White

Theses and Dissertations

An investigation was conducted examining the relationship between memories of family dynamics during the participants' adolescent years and substance use during their young adulthood. To carry out this research, a sample of 118 participants (72 women and 46 men) was recruited from a small public university in southern New Jersey. Participants were required to fill-out surveys assessing their memories of their families' patterns of interpersonal interactions and substance use. The statistical analysis of the data collected through the experimental procedures revealed several significant findings. Specifically, significant negative correlations were found between quality or frequency of health family dynamics and substance …

A Comparison Of Full-Day And Half-Day Preschool: Analyzing Behavioral And Social Development, Laura Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare full-day and half-day preschool programs by analyzing behavioral and social development of three-year-old and four-year-old children. Data was collected from 31 participants enrolled in a preschool in Wilmington, Delaware that offered both full-day and half-day programs. Measures of social cooperation, social interaction, social independence, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior were obtained from the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales- Second Edition. Between-subjects analysis of variance tests revealed that the children in the half-day program displayed higher social skills. In addition, one half-day classroom displayed more problem behaviors. Implications for future research on comparing …

Conflict Resolution In Elementary School, Nanci L. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and assess the effectiveness of conflict resolution training on students' ability to recall the steps of conflict resolution and to use conflict resolution strategies to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thirty-five third grade students from a middle class rural elementary school participated in the study. The experimental group (N = 17) received six weeks of conflict resolution training, and the control group (N = 18) received no intervention. All participants were assessed on recall of the six steps of conflict resolution and on the application of conflict strategies in response to a conflict scenario …

A Study On High School Graduates With Disabilities: How Is Their Transition From School To Adulthood?, Dawn M. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the transition of high school students with disabilities after graduation, including their satisfaction with their preparedness for college, vocational school, employment options, and independent living, and the school's transition plan and services. A total of 125 high school graduates with disabilities, in the past five years, were included in this study and 50 were randomly selected for a phone interview to obtain their responses in detail. In this study, the effect of a student's transition plan and services was evaluated by the percentage of graduates attending college after high school and their …

A Study Of New Jersey Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Qualifications And Beliefs On Certification, Stephanie Marone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to assess New Jersey middle school mathematics teachers' qualifications and beliefs on certification. To research this topic, teachers from South Jersey middle schools were contacted and asked to respond to a survey. The survey was created by the researcher to obtain information on the qualifications of respondents and their beliefs. The survey used a Likert scale to measure teachers' beliefs on their qualifications and comfort level teaching New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. It is clear from previous research that middle school mathematics teachers should be educated specifically to teach both mathematics and young …

Professors' Perceptions Of Student Readiness For College-Level Mathematics, Tara L. Pedrick

Theses and Dissertations

Students are not performing well in their freshman year in college mathematics classes. More incoming college freshman are being required to take remedial mathematics coursework. The purpose of this research is to determine if professors feel that traditional incoming freshmen students are prepared for college-level mathematics, and what factors they feel contribute to this level of preparation. To research this topic, professors from chosen two- and four-year colleges were contacted and asked to respond to a survey. The researcher created a survey using a Likert scale to obtain information on the views of college professors pertaining the topic. The instrument …

An Exploratory Study Of Rates Of Progress In Early Reading Skills In An Inclusive Classroom As Measured By Dibels Indicators, Tracy Deangelo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if inclusion of special education students impacted the rate of progress made within the kindergarten classroom. The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) was used to measure progress. DIBELS is a set of standardized, individually administered measures of early literacy development that can identify children at risk for reading difficulties and monitor the effectiveness of remediation programs.

Kindergarten students from Harrison Township Elementary School were the participants of this study. The progress made by 22 students within a morning noninclusive class was compared to the progress made by 18 students within …

A Study Of Selected Student Attitudes Toward Factors That Influence Academic Achievement, Marquis L. Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of selected African-American male college students and the impact of financing, role-modeling, high school preparation, college/community acceptance, and family support on academic achievement at Rowan University. The study sought to determine if any of these factors had a significant relationship with academic achievement.

Academic achievement was measured by a self-reported GPA of 2.76 or higher, which was higher than Rowan University's minimum requirement (2.5) for graduation, and honors achievements (awards, certificates, honor societies). Responses were measured using a Likert scale of 1-Strongly Agree to 5-Strongly Disagree.

Respondents reported that financial …

Perceived Benefits Of Involvement In Student Government, Kristen Diorio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived benefits of being involved in student government at Rowan University. Thirty-five undergraduate students involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) at Rowan University completed a survey to determine their perceived benefits, discover why they decided to become involved, and to determine whether there was a pattern of involvement.

The findings showed that involved students saw positive benefits in the areas of: personal development, educational, and developing social skills. Rowan University students who were involved in SGA saw positive values from their experience. The higher level of involvement a student had …

An Exploratory Study To Determine Best Practices In Implementing Response To Intervention, Nikki Allison Renella

Theses and Dissertations

Prior to the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) in 2004, the only operational definition for determining eligibility as a child having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) was to determine if a severe discrepancy existed between a child's achievement and intellectual ability. Concerns with the IQ discrepancy model have led to changes in the special education code to also include a child's response to scientific, researched-based interventions as adequate criteria to determine a Learning Disability. This process is called Response to Intervention (RTI).

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) determine the elements that …

A Study Investigating Academic Advising Support For Student Athletes At Rutgers University-Camden, Thomas Thomasson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a need for an academic advising support program for student athletes at Rutgers University-Camden. Rutgers University-Camden is currently in the process of developing such a program. The sample studied consisted of 122 student-athletes at Rutgers University-Camden.

Data were collected through an 18 item survey designed to obtain background information on the student athletes and their attitudes toward academic-advising at Rutgers University-Camden. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program to calculate the descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations for responses …

Image Yearbook 2007, Dayna Silver, Ed Ziegler

Yearbooks

Rowan University yearbook for the Class of 2007; 184 pages.

Contents: Student Life p. 2, Seniors p. 24, Organizations p. 80, Sports p. 106, Faculty p.134, Camden Campus p. 146, Graduation p. 154.

Editor-in-Chief Dayna Silver; Advisor Ed Ziegler.