Education Commons^™

Can Principals’ Personality Traits Predict Their Risk-Taking: Uncertainty And Success Orientation As They Relate To Risk Propensity, Bruce A. Evans

Dissertations

This exploratory investigation compared the personality traits uncertainty orientation and success orientation of Michigan principals with their risk-taking propensities. The personality traits were correlated individually with the risk-taking of principals and both traits were combined to examine their additive effect. The principals' personality traits and their risk-taking were also compared by gender.

One-third o f the public school principals in Michigan were chosen and targeted as subjects for study. The study concluded a significant positive correlation between uncertainty orientation and success orientation existed. The Pearson coefficient was r = 0.39. However the alpha level was a = 0.003. The findings …

An Exploratory Study Of Michigan Grantmaker Attributes And Competencies, Lisa R. Wyatt Knowlton

Dissertations

Foundation trustees and professional staff are giving greater attention to issues of accountability and return on investment, while voices of those with significant experience in the private sector inquire with increasing frequency and vigor about the organizational performance of foundations. For these reasons there must be renewed attention on the competencies and attributes of grantmaking practitioners. This study is a self-assessment by grantmakers based on the construct of Emotional Intelligence (Goleman, 1995) as well as competency studies in organizational management and leadership.

In association with the Council of Michigan Foundations, grantmakers associated with foundations holding in excess of $1 million …

The Organizational Culture In Community Foundations, Nanette Marie Reiser

Dissertations

Because of the current and future critical roles community foundations play in their geographical areas, the limited research to inform the community foundation field, and the importance o f studying organizational culture, there was a need to study the organizational culture of community foundations. A questionnaire was sent to 179 community foundation staff members in one state in the Midwest. Responses were received from 98 of the 179 staff members.

It was found that the actual organizational culture of the community foundation “industry” was differentiated across all variables (staff overall, paid staff size, asset size, and age of foundation). Organizations …

Helping The Slow Learner, Susan E. Little

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to increase academic success through the formulation of additional learning experiences for those students we label "slow learners." The design of this study is one of action research. Through the observation of material culture and interviews of classroom teachers and Pupil Assistance Committee chairpersons, a list of eligible students will be formulated, with weak academic areas detailed. Additional learning situations will then be established for each subject and set into place through the regular classroom teacher and other certified personnel. Through the course of the school year, records will be kept through spreadsheet format …

Not More Important – Just Different: Concerns Of Middle School Female And Male Students, Marianne W. Gaffney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific needs of middle school females in order to develop a curriculum for an after school female program. This program would enhance the growth of female students ages eleven to fourteen.

After school meetings were held weekly for three months with female students in Orchard Valley Middle School. Attendance at these meetings ranged from eight to twenty girls. From these meetings, concerns pertinent to female students were identified. A survey was developed to determine the focus of middle school student concerns. The hypothesis being that males and females in middle school …

Will The Adoption Of A More Stringent Attendance Policy Improve The Attendance Of Students At Nehaunsey Middle School?, Suzanne F. Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research design was to discover whether, after implementing a more stringent attendance policy, would the attendance of students improve? A pattern of poor attendance was observed in an increasing number of students who were absent more than 10% of the school year, and this alarming trend prompted this study. The entire student body of 200 students was included in this study, in which attendance records were studied before and after the adoption of the new Attendance Policy. Although the intention was to compare data for the ten month school year period before and after the …

An Action Plan For Improving The Continuum Of Services That Are Offered To The Classified Student At The Lower Cape May Regional High School, Gene Sole

Theses and Dissertations

Though there are many success stories in the Lower Cape May Regional High School, for a myriad of reasons many of the classified students are not achieving their potential. In this thesis, the intern will evaluate the continuum of services offered to the classified student, with the overall intent of advancing the learning of those in special education. In his role as the acting Assistant Principal, the intern was able to get staff members to work towards the goal of improving the services that we offer our students. In addition, the intern's role as a member of the special education …

Initiating The New Jersey Middle School Peer Leadership Initiative Into Beck Middle School And Determining Its Effects On The Student Population, Alisa E. Whitcraft

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to enhance students' use of critical thinking skills and decision making abilities for the 6th grade at Beck Middle School. Using an action research plan, this intern measured the learning that derived from peer led presentations. By enhancing these skills through peer led groups, students at Beck Middle School have begun to realize that all actions have consequences and effect others.

Methodology

72 sixth grade students at Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill, NJ were surveyed with 13 questions that related to their exposure to the Student Leadership Corps. These sixth graders had …

The Influence Of A School's Schedule On Teaching Practices And Behaviors, Ann Moore

Theses and Dissertations

In 1999 the teaching staff at Washington Township High School and the teaching staff at Upper Darby High School were asked to participate in a study of the influence of a school's schedule on teaching practices and behaviors. This study investigates the classroom behaviors and practices of high school teachers both in a traditionally scheduled school and in a block scheduled school. This report presents the results of an analysis of a survey administered to a stratified random sample. The results of the survey were compiled manually and appear in tabular form. The analysis of the data reveals the frequency …

Factors Influencing Middle School Teachers To Change Classroom Practice In Response To Standards-Based Reform, Gayle Yvonne Thieman

Dissertations and Theses

In an environment of systemic educational reform, which emphasizes the alignment of curriculum standards, instructional practices, and assessments, an important question arises: What are the factors which influence teachers to change their classroom practice in response to standards-based reforms ? My study examined the initial legislative model, Washington Education Reform Act HB1209 (1993), and tested other factors that led to changes in classroom practice in three middle schools which are currently implementing HB1209.

The case studies included multiple sources of evidence (administrator and teacher interviews, surveys, classroom observations, focus groups, and documents). The data were analyzed for each school individually …

A Study To Determine That If By Establishing An Equity Awareness Baseline That Programs And Activities Can Be Identified To Reduce Levels Of Gender Bias At The Westampton Township Middle School, Michael Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a gender bias-free environment for students at the Westampton Township Middle School utilizing an action research survey model in order to establish a staff and student equity awareness baseline. Using this baseline, resources will be identified and committed to programs and activities to address and reduce levels of identified gender bias.

To establish the baseline, surveys were developed. One survey was developed for staff and another for students. Thirty-nine of forty-two teachers participated in the staff survey. Three hundred out of three hundred and six 6th, 7th and 8th grade students participated …

Multicultural Unit For Fourth Grade, Shannon M. Whalen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a multicultural, interdisciplinary unit on fourth grade students using an action research design. The unit included eight cultures that aligned with the Social Studies curriculum. Students learned to appreciate different cultures and experience the ideas and practices of those cultures.

This study took place at Mary Ethel Costello School with students in grade four. The population sample was limited due to the fact that the study was only conducted with fourth grade students. All students and each teacher received survey questionnaires. Categories were designed to organize the data. Observations …

The Analysis Of Air Conditioning An Existing School, Dennis M. Vespe

Theses and Dissertations

The intern wants to learn the cost and electrical feasibility of air conditioning an existing school, as well as to determine if students' learning is enhanced by the presence of air conditioning in an educational atmosphere. The intern will use the interview procedure along with the review of material culture data, and action research techniques. The intern will research case studies on the improvement of student achievement in a climate controlled atmosphere, as well as interview faculty members that have taught in climate control environments and non - climate controlled environments to develop an air conditioning plan for the Black …

Should Triton High School Continue Its Study Hall Policies And Procedures?, Bill Westerby

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to determine if Triton High School should continue its current study hall policies and procedures. Conclusions are drawn based upon data collected using action research, which included observations, interviews, and surveys. All study hall periods were observed. Students, teachers, and varying administrative levels were interviewed.

The intern concluded that Triton High School should revise its current policies and procedures regarding study hall. A strong belief that study hall should be available to a student remains, but the perceptions of students, teachers, and administrators is negative. Recommendations to improve the perceptions are to empower the …

The Relationship Between Noncognitive Dimensions And The Academic Performance Of Student-Athletes, Bradley R. Mcallister

Legacy ETDs

Due to NCAA eligibility guidelines, coaches and administrators have a special interest in the academic performance of student-athletes. Furthermore, as a nontraditional group, it may be useful to use the NCQ to describe student-athletes. Insight into possible influences on their academic performance may help to improve services, especially academic support services, for student-athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to extend Sedlacek's use of noncognitive dimensions to all student-athletes, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or age. The research questions this study addressed were 1. Do the scores on the NCQ differ among student-athletes by gender? 2. Do the scores on …

Characteristics Of Millenium Minority Students And Their Student Organization Involvement, Joyya Pauletta Smith

Legacy ETDs

The climates of many colleges and universities are changing to accommodate the needs of the millennium student. For African American students who enroll in predominantly white institutions, the need for programming to alleviate the concerns of non majority students is still a factor in leading students to greater rates of retention. Peer mentoring programs are coordinated to assist in student adjustment to campus as well as the establishment of connections with their campus. Student organizations have also been key in helping students become comfortable within their new environments. For the Minority Advisement Program(MAP), at a Southeastern University, student participants show …

Resident Assistant Training Programs At Member Schools Of The Council Of Christian Colleges And Universities, Richard T. Gwaltney

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This study examined resident assistant training programs at member schools of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Training content, methods, personnel, timing, duration, budgetary issues and evaluation reports were analyzed in order to gain clearer understanding of what is being done to train RAs at this sampling of institutions. Data were collected electronically by e-mail where respondents were able to access an online survey. The following six research questions were the focus of this study: Research question 1 - What are the institutional demographics of the sample institutions? Research question 2 - How much is being budgeted for training …