Education Commons^™

A Report Of An Internship With The Albion Public Schools Albion, Michigan, Anthony L. Derose

Masters Theses

This report is a summary of a six-week internship in the Albion Public Schools during the summer of 1984.

The objective of this internship was to introduce the intern to the roles, responsibilities, and duties of the position of Assistant Superintendent and to provide for a general understanding of the operations of the central office administration.

The six-week experience included extensive opportunities to observe and participate in a variety of valuable activities. A considerable amount of time was spent in the development of a new professional staff evaluation and goal-setting system, interviewing and hiring new teaching staff, completing Title I …

An Experiential Project Examining The Development, Organization, Implementation, And Supervision Of Summer Activity Programs, Thomas R. Weaver

Masters Theses

The objective of this experiential project was to examine the function of an administrative position in a recreation department's summer activities program.

Major areas that were studied were program offerings, personnel management, task structure, and budgeting.

Examination of these areas revealed that program offerings are basically determined by community demand since the Recreation Department exists to serve the community. It was discovered that personnel management is an important and ongoing process. It became evident that the organizational aspect of recreation department work i s the key to success fully run programs. Finally, it was learned that budgeting was done on …

Sex-Role Attitudes And Some Selected Background Characteristics Of Women In Nontraditional Careers, Women In Traditional Careers, And The Homemakers In Malaysia, Rohany Nasir

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the sex-role attitudes and background characteristics of women in nontraditional careers, traditional careers, and the homemakers in Malaysia.

The population studied was 630 women, out of which there were 210 women in nontraditional careers, 210 women in traditional careers, and 210 homemakers over the age of 18 who worked and resided in the areas of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Spence and Helmreich's Attitudes Toward Women Scale-short form was used to measure the overall sex-role attitudes while the AWS vocational, educational, and intellectual theme was utilized to measure the attitudes toward women's roles …

The Use Of Guided Imagery In The Control Of Food And Liquid Intake Of Hemodialysis Patients, Thomas E. Higgins

Dissertations

This research was undertaken in order to clarify the relationship between guided imagery and the control of food and liquid intake by hemodialysis patients. There have been a number of studies dealing with the negative psychological states experienced by hemodialysis patients. A behavioral manifestation of these psychological states is the problem of maintaining proper food and liquid intake and this is a major problem for most patients.

One technique used by individuals to cope with negative psychological states and to learn healthy behaviors is guided imagery. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relaxation technique coupled with …

The Evaluation Of A School-Court Program That Deals With Chronic Absenteeism Of Middle School Students, Robert A. Duell

Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to examine the perceptions of middle school administrators, probation officers, and judges regarding chronic absenteeism of rural middle school students and to evaluate a school-court pilot program designed to deal with chronic attendance problems.

Four major research questions were examined in this paper. First, do rural middle schools have chronically absent students? Second, if there are such students, is their chronic absenteeism symptomatic of other serious problems? Third, if there are such students, do the school administrators, probation officers, and judges want to cooperate to deal with those students? Finally, do these three groups …

The Comparison Of Achievement Of Weekend Course Student Groups And Concurrent Course Student Groups Of Nazareth College Management Division, Norm Woodin

Dissertations

Record numbers of nontraditional students are enrolling in colleges today. These students are being actively recruited in an effort to overcome a decrease in enrollments caused by the declining size of the pool of potential traditional 18-year-old students. To accommodate these nontraditional students, colleges have had to adjust their traditional class meeting time schedules. One such class meeting time schedule has been developed where the class meets in large blocks of time on weekends. Many educators have questions about the academic credibility and worth of this nontraditional weekend class meeting schedule. This question became the basis for a research study. …

Effect Of Father-Presence And Father-Absence On The Self-Concept Of Black Males In Special Education And Regular Education Classes, Queen Esther Woodard

Dissertations

This study compared the self-concept of Black males residing in father-present and father-absent low socioeconomic status homes, who were between the ages of 8-12, and who were enrolled in emotionally impaired, or regular education classes. Literature indicated that since 1970, the number of children reared in one-parent homes has increased by over 60%, with over 90% of these children living with their mothers. This changing lifestyle has prompted researchers to investigate the effects of father-absence on children; especially on boys.

It was hypothesized that self-concept would be influenced by father status, chronological age, and class placement. These three independent variables …

The Relationship Between Conflict-Communication Values And The Relationship Between Principals' Conflict Management Effectiveness And Involvement Of Teachers In Decision Making In Small High Schools In Michigan, Michael Kenneth Ryan

Dissertations

Due to the ever-increasing complexity of the social, financial, technical, and political environment in which schools must function, teachers have become more and more involved in the decision-making process in many schools. As teachers participate more in decision making, conflicts may arise. As these conflicts are managed, conflict-communication values may be an integral part of such management.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between principals' effectiveness when dealing with conflicts and the principals' willingness to involve teaching staff in decision making. Investigations regarding the relationships between opposing communication values were also conducted.

The methodology used …

An Examination Of The Relationships Among Locus Of Control, Role Variables, And Perceived Job Satisfaction, Glenn Ellis Liddell

Dissertations

The relationship among locus of control, role conflict, role ambiguity and job satisfaction were examined for chief housing officers of member institutions of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International with a resident population of under 1,000.

The literature review revealed that high levels of role conflict and ambiguity are related to low levels of job satisfaction and that locus of control affects perceived role conflict, role ambiguity and job satisfaction. Internals (those who believe their fate is controlled by themselves) experience less role conflict and ambiguity and more job satisfaction then do externals (those who believe their fate …

The Use Of Performance Data To Monitor And Support The Reorganization Of An Educational System, Ellen Spall Thompson

Masters Theses

The goal of this study was to determine the performance effects on staff and students following the reorganization of a special education facility. The organizational plan was based on the development of teaching teams where students were grouped together according to exit curricular goals. Four interventions were completed in order to assess the overall outcome of the reorganization project. At the student level, the rate of learning was monitored in order to determine whether the implementation of teams affected educational objective acquisition . At the team level, meeting agendas were surveyed to find out what effect they had on student …

An Experiential Project Examining The Dual Roles Of Curriculum Director And Elementary Principal, Michael M. Perry

Masters Theses

The objective of this experiential project was to examine the dual roles of curriculum director and elementary principal as they are carried out by the same person in the Comstock Public Schools.

Major areas examined were: goal development and attainment, textbook adoption, creation of innovative programs, and decision-making procedures.

The major of operation was to observe, question, and interact. The intern participated in daily administrative activities suggested by the principal/ curriculum director and the intern himself. It was discovered that educational administration is a complex process that requires refined organizational skills and a mastery of the ability to establish priorities. …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Different Running Shoes On The Gait Pattern Of Runners, Linda S. Leeds

Masters Theses

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of different models of running shoes on the gait pattern of runners. A biomechanical analysis was employed using one high speed camera, digitizing equipment, and a computer. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences in pronation, Q-angle and leg angle at foot strike and midstance. The analysis of variance indicated no difference between the shoes in pronation at foot strike or midstance. Furthermore, no difference existed in either Q-angle or leg angle during foot strike and midstance.

Apparently, shoes had no effect on running gait during foot strike and midstance. …

The Effects Of Do-Say And Phase Sequencing On Correspondence Behaviors Of Preschool Children, Catherine M. Mcmanus

Masters Theses

This study assessed the effects of a do-say procedure and phase sequencing on the correspondence behaviors of seven preschoolers. Three subjects received correspondence-content (Group A) phase sequencing training and four subjects received content-correspondence (Group B) phase sequencing training. During the Content Phase, subjects received reinforcerrent (socials, stickers, snack, etc.) for verbalizations about engaging in a pre-determined non-preferred activity. During the Correspondence Phase, subjects received reinforcement for verbalizations about the non-preferred activity only when they had actually engaged in play with that specific non-preferred activity. The results indicated that in most instances, reinforcement of verbalizations alone results in increases in those …

Collective Bargaining And The Building Principal: A Case Study, Rosemary Ervine

Masters Theses

The purpose of this report is to describe the role of a school building principal in the collective bargaining process and consider the affects of the collective bargaining process on the role and function of the building principal. Perspective and data were gained by participation as a building principal representative on the administrative bargaining team for the Kentwood Public Schools in their negotiations with the Kentwood Education Association during the summer of 1982. This report serves as a case study of that experience.

Collective bargaining is introduced in Chapter I which also includes a brief summary of its history in …

An Examination And Analysis Of The Department Of Special Education In The Muskegon Heights Public Schools, Doristine Louise Minott

Masters Theses

This project was undertaken so that an indepth view of the role of the director of special education and the Department of Special Education, Muskegon Heights Public Schools, could be observed. While there are many facets in the Department, much of the time was spent reviewing the Michigan Department of Education Administrative Manual for Special Education, working on administrative skills, and getting a feel for operating the Department.

It was determined that the Department is a very complex one indeed. Because policies change so often from the state level, it is often difficult to stay abreast of things. Therefore the …

The Relationship Between Demographic Factors And Leader Behavior Of Department Chairpersons Of Colleges Of Education In Michigan, John H. Ortyoyande

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions: (1) What is the relationship between demographic factors; namely, age, gender, educational background, experience, social status, marital status, siblings, career path, professional memberships and publications and leader behavior (measured on two dimensions: Initiating Structure and Consideration)? (2) Can one predict leader effectiveness of department chairpersons prior to their selection? (3) To what extent is there congruence between self-ratings of chairpersons and ratings of their observers? (4) How are chairpersons selected in some public colleges in Michigan?

The research population consisted of 18 chairpersons and 108 randomly selected faculty members …

The Effects Of Immediacy To Parenthood On The Perceptions Of Importance Of Parent Education Topics, Nancy Mauro Gerard

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how immediacy to parenthood affects one's perception of what should be learned in a parent education class. Differences were sought among groups of individuals at four levels of immediacy to parenthood on the perceived importance of 11 parenting topics. These topics were Pregnancy and Childbirth, Infancy, Early Childhood, Late Childhood, Adolescence, Health and Safety, Social Issues Related to Parenthood, Family Relations and Communication, Guiding the Behavior of Children, Parenting Patterns, and Career-Related Concerns. In order to determine if there were differences, the data, collected through the use of a parent education questionnaire, …

Job Position As A Moderator Of Opinion Regarding School Finance Among Seventh-Day Adventist Administrators, Gregory A. Gerard

Dissertations

All levels of public and private education have been affected by difficult economic times. Much attention has been paid to the financial plight of public schools, but less research has been undertaken regarding the financial operation of parochical schools.

The purpose of this study was to investigate one aspect of the financial operation of one church's school system. Specifically, the research examined the opinions of incumbents of five different positions within the Seventh-day Adventist Church and school system concerning the potential of within and outside of school strategies for the operation of boarding schools. Within school strategies were defined as …

A Comparison Of Computer-Assisted Instruction And Traditional Instruction In Braille Transcription, Susan Kay Vlahas Ponchillia

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the teaching effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) with the effectiveness of traditional instruction of braille transcription for sighted persons. Since the traditional method (TM) of teaching and learning braille transcription requires a great deal of time for both instructor and student, it was hoped that computer-assisted instruction would be as efficacious as the traditional method while shortening time requirements for instructor and student. A review of the literature revealed that computer-assisted instruction has been successfully used in teaching many subjects including languages, providing immediate feedback and reducing learning time. In studies where …

A Computer Aided Instructional System And Its Application Towards A Course On Snobol4 Programming Language, Abtin Edelji

Masters Theses

Computers are rapidly replacing humans in many tasks. Computer Aided Instructional System is an application of the computer in the teaching of a subject. Currently, a large number of educational Institutes use Computer Aided Instructional Systems.

The objectives of this thesis is to review some techniques in implementing such systems and to present a Computer Aided Instructional System called TEACH. The emphasis of this thesis is on the type of the directory used to minimize the search time for the TEACH System.

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Student-Generated Versus Instructor-Generated Questions On The Comprehension Of Written Material, Helen Diann Pratt

Masters Theses

Twelve college students volunteered to participate in a special section of an introductory psychology course at Western Michigan University. A multiple baseline design across groups was used to assess differences in reading comprehension between students who received study objectives written by the instructor and students trained to write their own study objectives. Quizzes and examinations were used to assess students' reading comprehension of course materials. A comparison of pre- and post-test scores on the Nelson-Denny Reading Comprehension Test was used to determine whether students had acquired skills which aided their comprehension of other materials. Results indicated no statistically significant differences …

A Comparison Of Teacher And Student Absenteeism In Three School Districts Of Different Size, John Clifton Huffman

Masters Theses

This paper compares absentee rates for teachers and students in three Michigan school districts. The districts under investigation vary greatly in enrollment. This first chapter relates the problem of teacher and student absenteeism to maintaining an assumed level of teacher/student contact time.

The second chapter reviews literature related to student and teacher absenteeism. This includes those studies which evaluate absenteeism based on personal and organizational factors associated with absence.

The third chapter relates the procedures which were used in the comparison. The fourth chapter lists the results of the data collected from the three school districts. The data are compared …

Perceptual Accuracy Of Affect Identification And The Relationship To Representational System And Personality Type, Richard Andrew O'Leary

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate accuracy of response to affectively laden stimuli across visual, auditory, and kinesthetic representational systems. This research was undertaken to assess subjects' individual response patterns and to distinguish possible differences in accuracy of response which subjects reported across representational systems. Subjects' response accuracy was correlated with their response frequency in subjects' representational systems. Subjects most accurate representational system was, in turn, compared to subjects' personality type. Subjects were assessed by two instruments, a modified version of the Affective Sensitivity Scale and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Relevant literature was reviewed related to human information …

The Propensity Toward Juvenile Delinquency And The Social Rehabilitation Needs Of Alternative Education Students In Western Michigan, Joseph Steven Miller

Dissertations

This study investigated the propensity toward juvenile delinquency and the social rehabilitation needs of 238 Section 48 alternative education students. The study population was comprised of students from ten Section 48 alternative education programs in Allegan, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa Counties in Michigan. The study also investigated the differences between groups of students within these programs when the independent variables of age, sex, and grade level were compared. The data were collected during one-day visits to each program. The Jesness Inventory was used to measure propensity towards juvenile delinquency and social rehabilitation needs. A t-test that compared a sample …

Criteria For “Reduction-In-Force” Staffing Decisions: Opinions Of Teachers And Administrators From Large Nea Districts In Connecticut, Lorraine A. Marcantonio

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to answer the question: When reduction in force (RIF) decisions are necessary, what is the extent of agreement between teachers and administrators in regard to criteria to be considered? The criteria of seniority and performance evaluation were investigated in depth through analysis of the responses to these questions: (1) To what extent do teachers and administrators have similar opinions concerning the definition of seniority? (2) Would a change in nature of existing evaluation systems affect the acceptance of evaluation as a criterion in RIF decisions?

In order to collect the data necessary to …

The Impact Of Gender On The Perceived Importance Of Criteria For Selection And For Promotion Of Administrators In One Institution Of Higher Education, Karen R. Laroe

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: What is the relationship between the gender of administrators at Western Michigan University and the perceptions of factors and qualities significant to employee selection and promotion? Specific questions were: (1) Do male ratings of each variable--aptitudes, attitudes, capacity for work, knowledge, personality, political factors, preferences, skills, social factors, wants--differ from female ratings of each variable when the variable is considered in relationship to selection of higher education administrators? (2) Do male ratings of each variable--aptitudes, attitudes, capacity for work, knowledge, personality, political factors, preferences, skills, social factors, wants--differ from …

The Relationship Of Declining Enrollment, Community Involvement, Tax Support, And Assessed Evaluation To Labor Peace In Some Selected Michigan School Districts, William Right Kirby

Dissertations

Golden first investigated labor peace to determine if the causes of labor peace could be identified. It was his premise that organizations should work toward peace to allow the organizational goals to be accomplished more efficiently. Given Golden's premise, this study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the quality of labor peace in school districts and the external factors of community involvement, declining enrollment, tax support and assessed evaluation. These factors were selected as they are the external factors most influential on the operation of a school district. A total of 22 districts in Southwestern Lower Michigan, 16 identified …

Geographic Place Location Knowledge: An Empirical Investigation Into The Performance Of University Undergraduate Students As A Result Of Cognitive Theory Based Instruction, Sharafat Khan

Dissertations

The major purpose of the study was to determine the effects of cognitive based Atlas Exercises and cognate materials (films, data sheets, readings from a geography book, regional examinations and map tests, book reviews, transparencies, a map module, wall maps, and slides) on the geographic place location knowledge of undergraduate university and/or college students. The research sample (n = 371) consisted of students enrolled in introductory geography courses located in three institutions of higher education in Michigan. Three researcher designed survey instruments were utilized for data collection: Background Data Questionnaire, Map Location Test I, and Map Location Test II. These …

A Comparative Study Of The Career Aspirations, Job Seeking Patterns, And Career Patterns Of Male And Female Doctoral Recipients In Educational Administration, Alice J. Hullhorst

Dissertations

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of women completing advanced degrees in education administration during the past decade. Yet, the number of women administrators has decreased during this same time period. The purpose of this study was to compare career aspirations, job seeking patterns, and career patterns of men and women doctorates in educational administration.

The sample consisted of 118 men and 118 women who received doctorates in educational administration or educational leadership from Mid-American Conference universities between 1976-1980. A mailed questionnaire was used to collect data. The 23 hypotheses were tested using a chi-square test or …

A Descriptive Study Of The Leadership Styles Of School Business Officials In Selected Michigan School Districts, Daniel S. Gilmore

Dissertations

This study described the leadership style of school business officials employed by Michigan school districts with an enrollment range between 5,000 and 20,000 students. The population was comprised of 68 public school districts.

The dependent variable of leadership style and the independent variables of age, experience, professional orientation, and enrollment size were investigated. The basis for a predominant leadership style was also established.

Leadership style was defined as the extent to which the leader is concerned about (a) task or production, and (b) people or relationships. Various theories focusing on the dimensions of concern for task and concern for people …