Education Commons^™

A Comparison Research Study On The Use Of School Uniforms And Graduation, Attendance, And Suspension Rates In East Tennessee, William Elihue Gouge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Graduation rates in Tennessee are 8 points below the state goal of 90%. Implementation of a school uniform policy may be a way to improve these rates by giving students increased school structure. The purpose of this quantitative, causal comparative study was to examine whether a significant difference exists in graduation, attendance, and suspension rates between a school that has a school uniform policy and a school that does not. Two public high schools in East Tennessee, one with and one without a school uniform policy, with similar demographics were compared. A second comparison was made after the implementation of …

Representations Of L2 Motivational Self System With Beginning Chinese Language Learners At College Level In The United States: Heritage And Nonheritage Language Learners, Yan Xie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Dornyei (2005) proposed the L2 motivational self system in response to the need to develop the socioeducational model. This study further tests the validation of the L2 motivational self system by investigating beginning Chinese language learners at the college level in the United States. A questionnaire combining two published questionnaires was administered to 197 subjects, including heritage language learners and nonheritage language learners, and compared the motivational representations of the two types of learners. This is the first study to test the L2 motivational self system by investigating learners of a language other than English. Through a correlation analysis, the …

A Study Of Principals' Instructional Leadership Behaviors And Beliefs Of Good Pedagogical Practice Among Effective California High Schools Serving Socioeconomically Disadvantaged And English Language Learners, Jamon Frederick Peariso

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed methods descriptive and causal-comparative study investigates what instructional leadership behaviors effective California high school principals have and what their beliefs are in regards to pedagogy, related issues, and professional issues, either constructivist or instructivist in nature, in the environment of the current NCLB accountability era. Differences found in eight specific demographic variables were analyzed in combination with data obtained from principals' responses on the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) and the Principal Beliefs Survey (PBS, a variation of the Teacher Beliefs Survey).

The population comprised of principals whose schools have met their API growth targets for two …

Economically Disadvantaged Students: A Case Study Of Resilient Qualities That Encourage Academic Success, Stephanie Kim Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study examined academically successful economically disadvantaged (ED) students from one intact Caucasian family through parents', students', and teachers' perceptions of the reasons for resilience. The problem is that little research exists exploring qualities of academically successful ED Caucasian students. Because being a high school dropout significantly affects students, families, schools, and society, risk factors were explored; protective factors that help students overcome risk factors were also investigated. This study describes why academically successful ED students from one intact Caucasian family in Tennessee thrive despite risk factors working against them. Findings include the importance of Christian faith to the …

The Impact Of Smart Board Technology On Growth In Mathematics Achievement Of Gifted Learners, Patricia Ann Riska

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined whether SMART Board technology increased growth in mathematics performance of fourth grade gifted students. Gifted students in North Carolina were studied to determine if the use of SMART Board technology during mathematics instruction impacted their growth on standardized state tests. The sample consisted of 175 students from six elementary schools with similar populations. Three of the schools used SMART Boards during mathematics instruction, and three schools did not use SMART Board technology. All students were taught the mathematics curriculum according to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The instrument for evaluating growth was the state End-of-Grade …

Gifted Dropouts: A Phenomenological Study, James Zabloski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study of the life experiences of seven rural gifted individuals who dropped out of school investigated whether they shared commonalities that might have led to the phenomenon of dropping out. The problem was that no one had asked them to share their stories prior to this study. By searching for meaning in their individual and combined stories, the overarching theme of relationships weaved through all of them. Three themes emerged which contributed to their drop out decision: relational traumas, relational losses, and relationships with teachers. All of these gifted dropouts experienced a significant relational trauma in middle …

Student Perception Of Professional Education Organizations, Amanda Mcmillian

Senior Honors Theses

Topics covered in this thesis include the development of qualities of effective teachers, field experiences within teacher preparation programs, the definition of professionalism, pre-service teachers and professionalism, the perceptions of in-service teachers of professional development, education organizations, the psychological details of organizational dynamics, benefits of membership in professional education organizations for both pre-service and in-service teachers, and community involvement. Topics also include current research on teacher satisfaction with professional organizations and Liberty University’s professional education organizations. The investigation of the aforementioned topics will reveal the correlation between professional education development training and undergraduate professional education organization involvement. This thesis will …

Teacher Perceptions Of Student Support Team And Response To Intervention, Lynn Russell Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of Student Support Team (SST) and Response to Intervention (RTI) effectiveness. While an effective, researchbased framework is certainly paramount to the success of either endeavor, the teachers involved in the process and their perceptions directly impact the effectiveness. Teacher perceptions of their familiarity with SST and RTI, adequacy of training, qualifications to implement, the effectiveness of SST and RTI, eligibility requirements for special education, weaknesses of the frameworks, and reasons for non-referral are examined in the study. The sample population for the survey consisted of teachers (n=342) from around the …

Non-Traditional Entrants To The Teaching Profession: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations, Experiences, And Reflections Of Second-Career Teachers, William Darrell Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals entering the teaching profession from other fields have much to offer in terms of practical experience in fields such as business, private industry, law enforcement, and the military. This study examined the phenomenon of second-career teachers with specific emphasis on the motivating factors, common experiences, and reflections of the participants in this study concerning the decision to leave already established professions in order to pursue a career in teaching. The study also inquired into the process involved in professional preparation as well as in assimilating to the culture of schools. Twelve diverse second-career teachers were purposefully chosen for this …

The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study with a narrative component investigated the effect athletic participation on the academic achievement of senior student-athletes and non-athletes who attended three public high schools in Eastern Tennessee. The impetus for the study was the conflicting research as it relates to the impact athletics participation had on academic success at the college and high school levels. Through student athlete and non-athlete comparisons of ACT scores and GPAs, the researcher found athletic participation did not affect academic achievement for high school seniors who graduated in 2009 from the three target high schools when compared to non-athletes. However, statistically significant …

Impact Of Self-Esteem And Identification With Academics On The Academic Achievement Of African American Students, Edward Earl Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of self-esteem and identification with academics on the academic achievement of African American students in a charter school setting. Ninety-three students participated in this study. Using a pretest/posttest control group design, both the experimental group and the control group were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) as pretest measures of self-esteem and identification with academics at the beginning of the experiment. The control and experimental groups were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ) at the end of the experiment. The control group received no intervention …

Predictors Of Student Achievement In Grade 7: The Correlations Between The Stanford Achievement Test, Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, And Performance On The Texas Assessment Of Knowledge And Skills (Taks) Math And Reading Tests, Kristen Karrh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

State-mandated testing programs are more prevalent and have greater implications for public school systems since the passing of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 and the implementation of standards-based reform practices. The 331 grade 7 students involved in this correlation research endeavor all attended a public middle school in Texas. One evaluated and analyzed fall 2007 Stanford 10 Achievement Test and Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (8th edition) results, and spring 2008 Math and Reading Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scale scores to determine the statistical significance and strength of the relationship and whether or not …

Low Academic Performance And Specific Learning Disabilities: Determining The Better Predictor Of Aggressive Behavior At School, Cherry Lurae Flake Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher sought to determine whether an overall low average or a specific learning disability is a better predictor of a student displaying aggression at school. Further, she investigated for any interaction between an overall low average and a specific learning disability. The subjects were students in grades six through eight who attended a traditional middle school in a somewhat rural school district. The subjects had been punished by an out-of-school suspension at least once for an act of aggression during the 2006-2007 school year. Using a multiple regression analysis, the researcher found a negative correlation between overall average and …

Parent And Teacher Perceptions Of Effective Parental Involvement, Tim Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental involvement is a key factor in the success of students, but research shows differing perceptions on the definition of parent involvement. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional survey study was to compare and contrast the perceptions of parents and teachers about the parent involvement strategies they find most effective. This study also sought to find differences within each population based on demographic factors. Using a researcher generated survey based on Dr. Joyce Epstein's Six Types of Parental Involvement (2002), elementary school parents and teachers of a rural Georgia school district were asked to use a rating scale to indicate …

Bullying Prevention Program: Possible Impact On Academic Performance, William Daryl Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research conducted sought to find the effect of the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program on the academic performance of students in the third through eighth grade. The study examined the relationship between the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and the change in academic performance, as measured by the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The post-test scores of third through fifth grade students from one elementary school which had implemented the prevention program were compared with the post-test scores for the same grade levels at an elementary school that had not implemented a bullying prevention …

Comparison Of Fifth-Grade Students’ Mathematics Achievement As Evidenced By Georgia’S Criterion-Referenced Competency Test: Traditional And Departmentalized Settings, Marcia Wright Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effect of traditional (self-contained, one teacher for all academic subjects) and departmentalized (math taught by a different teacher) instruction upon the mathematics CRCT achievement of fifth-grade general education students. A secondary purpose addressed teachers' experiences, perceptions, and opinions concerning the classroom structure at this level. The 2007 and 2008 CRCT math data was used with a total of 9,386 students. The researcher's Data Collection and Opinions (DCO) for Teachers surveyed 180 fifth-grade teachers. A z score population proportion and a two-sample t test determined significant differences between the two structures. Results of the passing percentages showed …

Devaluing Life And Education: The Effect Of Naturalism On The Field Of Education, Erin R. Reynolds

Senior Honors Theses

The rise of naturalism has affected every area of life. This thesis seeks to address the negative influence of naturalism in various educational settings, exposing the degradation of the secular society while challenging the Christian to pursue change. The United States’ participation in eugenics during the early 20th century caused a lack of regard for the lives of special education students. Regular education, specifically the science classroom, has been a target for the naturalistic point of view. Even the abolition of God in the public school setting stems from the rise of naturalism. Lastly, many scientists and professors who hold …

A Step Forward: A Study Of The Practical Application Of The No Child Left Behind Act, Kathryn F. Lowry

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes teachers’ perceptions of the impact NCLB has on classrooms every day. It begins with a brief literature review analyzing and synthesizing editorial articles that discuss perceptions of the successes and shortcomings of NCLB. It then describes and discusses a survey study conducted amongst teachers in Southern Virginia. Thirty teachers from three counties were surveyed, and, as expected, when given space to respond freely, they responded with negative comments toward NCLB. However, when asked to rank the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on student success and teacher effectiveness the surveyed teachers expressed a neutral impact. …

The Relationship Of Principal Leadership And Teacher Morale, Keith A. Rowland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Study examined the relationship of the leadership practices of middle school principals and the morale of the teachers in these schools. Seven middle schools in a Metropolitan Atlanta school system participated in the study. The Leadership Practices Inventory was used to collect information on the principal practices and the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire was used to collect information on teacher morale. Results indicated that principal leadership and teacher morale were significantly correlated and that the leadership practice of Enable Others to Act had the strongest positive correlation to teacher morale. These results imply that a principal’s daily behavior plays a …

The Study Of Music: A Valuable Part Of School Education, Melanye Crayton

Senior Honors Theses

Music has been a part of human experience since the existence of man. It has been studied throughout the ages by philosophers and students, laymen and courtesans. When America was settled, it became a part of a student's education, eventually becoming part of the curriculum of public schools. In the twentieth century, the study of music experienced a decline in the public educational systems.

The study of music is beneficial for all students. It provides students with an opportunity to excel in school work, the benefit of learning in a constructive and positive atmosphere, and the opportunity to learn about …