Education Commons^™

An Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of A Social Skills Training Program With Young Multiply Handicapped Students, Michele L. Kratz

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to analyze the efficacy of a formal social skills training (SST) program on a group of self-contained, multiply handicapped students. The treatment group, consisting of 24 students, underwent five months of formal SST, at least three times a week for a 30 to 50 minute period. The participating teachers were trained in, and followed, Elias and Clabby's Social Decision Making and Problem Solving: Revised Readiness Curriculum (1988). They were asked to complete pre- and post test Likert scales (Social Problem Solving Skills Checklist) on the presence of specific social skills in each student.

Average gains in …

How Does Phonemic Awareness Affect Reading Ability With At-Risk Students On The Primary Level, Denise D. Layne

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how phonemic awareness affects reading ability with at-risk students on the primary level. Subjects were from two second grade classes at an elementary school. Phonological activities were provided during 30 minute class periods 5 times each week for 10 weeks. Instruction centered on finding words that rhyme, words with same blends and words with vowel sounds. Subjects completed a pre- and post-test using the Yopp-Singer Test of Phoneme Segmentation. Findings suggest that both groups' scores increased on the post-testing. But the experimental group improved 76.4% greater than the control group.

Are Computers Effective Tools In Teaching Reading Comprehension To Learning Disabled Students?, Nicole C. Rockmacher

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, teaching reading comprehension through the use of computers was tested against the traditional book method of teaching reading comprehension, in which students read in a book and the teacher does oral questioning. To carry out the study, six students with similar reading levels were split into two groups of three. The control group did reading comprehension through the traditional method for six stories. The experimental group worked on reading comprehension in Stories and More on the computer, using the same six stories. The reading comprehension section of the Kauffman Test of Educational Achievement was administered individually to …

Comparison Of Academic Success Between Students Who Live In Single Parent Households And Students Who Live In Two-Parent Households, Susan A. Ficco

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of thus study was to compare the impact household composition has on the academic achievement of elementary school students. The sample contained 83 third and fourth grade students from a small Southern New Jersey school district, 22 from single parent households, and 61 from two parent households. The grade point averages for reading, language and mathematics were recorded for two consecutive marking periods and the measuring device used was a paired sample t-test. The results of the study show a high correlation between household composition and academic achievement. The grade point averages of the students in two parent …

Analysis Of Factors That Contribute To Residence Life Staff Burnout, Antoinette Mascio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation is to provide an integrative study of the various factors that may interact to produce burnout among Residence Life staff members. This study examines psychosocial, physiological, and environmental conditions that are thought to contribute to burnout among Residence Life staff members.

The participants of this study were 71 student staff members who are employed by the Office of Residents Life, at a co-educational, nonsectarian, state supported college in a rural area of southern New Jersey. The participants consisted of both male and female, graduate and undergraduate students, who range in age from 18 to 33 …

Differences In Reading Achievement Between Title I Students And Students Not Receiving Title I Services, Melissa Calcagni

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the differences in reading achievement, specifically decoding ability, between first graders receiving Title I services and those not receiving the services. A sample of sixteen first graders from a suburban, racially diverse school in New Castle, Delaware was utilized. Eight of the children were selected for the study simply because they were receiving Title I instruction in the form of a one hour pullout program. The remaining eight children were selected based on test results on the San Diego Quick Assessment. The pre-test/post-test control group design was employed in this study. The Mann-Whitney test was used …

A Study To Assess Parental Choice: Why Families Choose Assemblies Of God Day Schools Over Public School, Michael Petrucci

Theses and Dissertations

This survey study identified reasons why families in New Jersey chose to send their children to Assembly of God day schools. Once these reasons were identified a survey was sent to 17 Assembly of God schools in New Jersey. The survey included a Likert scale which enabled respondents to prioritize their reasons for selecting one of these private evangelical schools. Nine reasons were listed on the scale which would be ranked in order of importance by the families who were responding.

The analysis of collected data revealed that families ranked their nine choices in the following order, from most important …

The Effect Of Participation In An Instrumental Music Program On Students With Serious Emotional Disturbance, William R. Brody

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an instrumental program on ten seriously emotionally disturbed students ranging in age from ten to eighteen. The study utilized a pretest/posttest with no control group. The pro-ed behavior rating profile second edition (BRP-2) was used as the testing instrument (parent, student and teacher BRP-2 were utilized). No statistically significant differences were found utilizing a T-test. The short duration of this study and the part-time nature of the music department utilized for this study have contributed to the yielding of inconclusive results. Promising recommendations for follow-up study are included.

The Use Of Behavioral Intervention Techniques In Aiding Autistic Children In The Classroom, James H. Dundee Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to provide information to support that, through the use of behavioral intervention techniques, especially the use of positive reinforcement, teachers can help to improve the academic success of the child with autism. The purpose of this current study is to view two unique groups of subjects. Subjects for this design consisted of twelve (12) preschool-aged students from the Gloucester County Special Services School District. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group would receive reinforcement for their behaviors and the second group would not. It was hypothesized for this study that …

A Study Of The Perceptions Among Counselors And High School Students Regarding The Need For A Community College In Cape May County, New Jersey, Michelle D. Myles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare high school guidance counselors' perceptions in general regarding college attendance with those of their graduating students. It was posited, as well, that guidance counselor rankings and the student rankings of five college-choice aspects would be related; namely, that the guidance counselors' choices would be ranked in the same order that the high school students' choices were ranked, and that the students' choices would be significantly related to those aspects relevant to community college attendance. A pilot study was conducted first over phone interviews of the guidance counselors from the four public high …

A Comparison Of Burnout Levels Between Special Educators And Regular Educators, Andrea Liddle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers who work with mentally and physically handicapped children in special education schools have a higher incidence of burnout than teachers who work in regular education schools.

Twenty regular educators from a public school, k-12, and twenty special educators from two private special education schools, k-12, participated in the study. The special educators taught children with moderate levels of mental retardation and multiple handicaps, Each participant completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Educator's Survey.

Three two-tailed t-tests were computed to compare the means of the three subscales of the burnout survey: Emotional …

Effectiveness Of Conflict Resolution Programs In The Schools: A Study Of Students’ Coping Skills Before And After Participation In A Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation Program, Tammy Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate students' coping styles before and after a conflict resolution program intervention. The 6th grade middle school class was administered the Coping Response Inventory (CRI) prior to receiving the conflict resolution training. The conflict resolution/peer mediation program was designed to empower students by giving them the tools to challenge and solve problems. The program focuses on the following areas: affirmation, communication, conflict resolution, cooperation, and bias awareness/appreciation of differences.

The demographics include the following: The sample group consisted of 6th grade suburban middle school students. There were 21 subjects. 57% were male and …

Pre-Referral Intervention And Follow-Up: An Analysis Of The Pupil Assistance Committee (Pac), Jocelyn Camba

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to descriptively analyze the interventions selected and the subsequent follow-up information of the students referred to the Pupil Assistance Committee (PAC).

The sample includes twenty-one students from one New Jersey suburban elementary school which consists of kindergarten through grade six. Data was collected from actual referrals to the Pupil Assistance Committee. Additional data was collected regarding current educational placements and the status of the sample. The design of this study is a descriptive analysis. A coding instrument was used to record data from student files. The major method of data analysis is frequencies and …

What Are Counselor And Client Perspectives On The Preferred Time Frames For The Use Of Assessment Instruments In Career Counseling Of Adults In Career Transition?, Ronald L. Sutton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the timing of assessment instrument usage and the perceived value of assessment instruments for adult clients in career transition counseling settings. Comparisons of career counselor and adult client perspectives on assessment instrument usefulness were also studied. A mailed self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect data. Fifteen counselors and 47 clients, associated with the downsizing of an electric utility company's regional office in southern New Jersey, responded and formed the basis of all data analysis. An independent t Test for unequal groups was used to compare counselor and cheat ratings …

A Comparison Of First And Eighth Grade Students' Artistic Spontaneity And Creative Expression, Mary Deborah Abel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the students' creative expression as influenced by formal education. The problems of this study were to determine if there was a difference between the perception and use of color by students in primary grades with junior high students, and also if there was a difference displayed in drawing spontaneity related to age.

Two art classes totaling fifty-four students comprised Group A, the primary students, and one class of thirty eighth grade students made up the junior high group for Group B. Students in both groups received a common introductory lesson relating the …

School Bullying And Alcohol And Other Drug Attitudes Survey In Southern New Jersey, Gail J. Tilley

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this thesis is the extent of school bulling in southern New Jersey as measured by an adapted version of the Olweus Bully Questionnaire. The students (n=232) surveyed were fourth and fifth graders in a suburban community in southern New Jersey. It was found that 11% of fourth graders and 15% of fifth graders surveyed self-report bullying other students. It was also found that 20% of fourth and fifth graders surveyed indicated that they had been bullied. These percentages matched the trends found by Olweus in Norway. Students in southern New Jersey were also surveyed on their attitudes …

The Relationship Between Career Maturity And Locus Of Control In College Students, Maryann Kimchick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between locus of control in college students and career maturity. The sample consisted of 39 undergraduates attending a state college in New Jersey. Of the total sample, 5 were male, 34 were female. The mean age of the population was 18, with ages ranging from 18 to 24. The majority of the sample were in their first year in college. Locus of control was assessed with the Rotter Internal-External (I-E) scale and the Career Maturity Inventory Scale (CMI-As) was selected to measure Career Maturity. The data collected was analyzed using …

Performance-Based Curriculum And Sight-Singing: The Effects On Attitudes And Singing Achievements Of Fifth- And Sixth-Grade Music Students, Pamela J. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to gather information concerning literacy training and the use of a performance-based curriculum with fifth- and sixth-grade music students. The problems of the study were to determine the effects of different combinations of sight-singing training and CME instruction on the singing achievement and attitudes of upper elementary school students.

Twelve fifth- and twelve sixth-grade classes from an intermediate school participated in the study. The classes were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions involving various combinations of sight-singing training and CME. All classes were taught by the same instructor for one 45-minute period …

A Criterion Related Validity Study Of Chapman's Elements In Art Test, Susan E. Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to create and investigate the psychometric properties of a tool which evaluated fourth and fifth grade student's performance in the visual arts.

The subjects for the study included 104 fourth and fifth graders from a public elementary and middle school in southern New Jersey, comprising students from a diverse socioeconomic background and ethnicity.

The scores for the Chapman's Element in Art Test and the Clark's Drawing Ability Test were compared. Pearson product moment correlations were computed among the data for both tests. On the basis of the correlation acquired from the study, it may …

Parenting Styles And The Influences Upon The Level Of Functioning Of Adolescents, Tamiko Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to view the relationship between parenting styles and the influences upon the level of functioning of adolescents. There were 15 subjects in the study. Several characteristics were examined: level of functioning, family status, educational levels, and parenting styles.

The data was collected by a self-designed survey in order to assess the specific parenting style that an adolescent may have been subjected to and an observational rating scale was utilized to assess the level of functioning of each subject.

It was discovered that 66.6% of the subjects were reared by a care provider who favored …

Homework Practices And Attitudes Of Secondary Students With Learning Disabilities: A Comparison Of Classroom Settings, Melissa E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: will secondary students who are in self-contained, resource center, or inclusive classrooms improve their homework practices and attitudes after using a self-monitoring activity? It also was the intent of the study to determine if learning-disabled students in different classroom settings improved their homework practices and attitudes at different levels after using a self-monitoring activity.

The subjects of the study were 30 students in grades seven and eight in special education, resource center, or inclusive classrooms in a southern Gloucester County Regional school district. Students responded to the Student Survey …

A Descriptive Analysis On The Effect Of The Congruency Between National And State Guidelines For School Psychology Training Programs, Jacqueline J. Olsh

Theses and Dissertations

Each of the 50 states has independently developed guidelines for the minimum training required of school psychologists, providing for variation among the required curriculums. NASP has developed guidelines for training and experience at a national level as a means of establishing uniformity in training. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the congruency between national and state training guidelines has an effect on the percentage of nationally approved school psychology programs. The training guidelines of the 50 states were obtained. A listing of school psychology training programs as well as those nationally approved by state was acquired. The …

A Study Of Personalized Systems Of Instruction For The Community College Student In Developmental Mathematics, Debra A. Wimer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Urban Challenge Grant program, a modified "Personalized System of Instruction"(PSI) was more effective and efficient than the traditional lecture method of instruction for community college students testing into the lowest level of developmental mathematics. Students were separated into an experimental group (Urban Challenge Grant program) and a control group (traditional lecture method). Each group was given a New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT) pre-test. The experimental group, after one semester of instruction, was given the post-NJCBSPT. The control group students were given the post-NJCBSPT after 2 semesters of …

Teaching Strategies And Methodologies Utilized In Inclusion Education Classrooms, Christine Gentile

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if regular education classroom teachers modify their lesson plans and/or their teaching methods to accommodate the leaning abilities of "inclusion" children within their classrooms.

Seven certified regular education classroom teachers from a single school district participated. The participants were currently practicing teachers who varied in years of teaching experience, areas of certification, and grades taught. Each teacher completed a questionnaire and a checklist which focused on present teaching strategies and methodologies for inclusion children as well as questions based on changes needed for the future of inclusion in their school district.

Data …

Date Rape: Attitudes And Perceptions, Elizabeth Young

Theses and Dissertations

The reasons date rape victims are often blamed for their own assault may be associated with sex-role identification and a lack of education. This study aims to examine the relationship between an individual's measure of sex-role traditionality and their attitudes towards rape by using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory combined with the Rape Attitudes and Perceptions Questionnaire which were administered to two mixed gender classes consisting of 30 juniors and seniors in a rural high school. Approximately one week after the surveys were taken, both classes watched When Romance Turns to Rape, which contains several vignettes on date rape. Then …

A Study Of The N-Body Problem In Celestial Mechanics For College Students, John Atsu-Swanzy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to investigate simple solutions of the many-body problem otherwise known as the n-body problem. The study focuses on elementary solutions of the n-body problem that can be understood by undergraduate students and college preparatory students of applied. mathematics.

Historical origins of the problems were traced to the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks. Further development and interest dated back to the time of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and finally to Newton who proposed its modern form.

Analytical and numerical solutions of specific n-body problems were solved to demonstrate solvability of certain types of n-body problems. Analytical …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Both Parents And Teachers On Whether Pharmacological Interventions Along With Behavior Modification Work In Controlling Behavior In Students With Add, Carol L. Gallucci

Theses and Dissertations

More and more students are being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and placed on medication.

This study looks at students in both private and public schools who are already diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and are on medication. Both parents and teachers of the same student filled out surveys inquiring whether behavior modification is used along with medication in controlling student behavior at home and in the classroom.

There are 25 pairs of participants in this study. Twenty pairs of respondents are from private schools, with five pairs from public schools.

The surveys sent out included nine questions for parents and …

Homework Behavior Interventions Used With Learning Disabled Junior High School Students: A Comparative Study, Naomi M. Cressman

Theses and Dissertations

A three phase integrated intervention of study skills and work habits direct instruction, use of a self-monitoring device where all homework information and its completion was recorded, and a modified behavior management using self-selected extrinsic rewards was implemented. The sample for this study was three sixth grade learning disabled students serviced in a resource center. The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, of these interventions would produce a positive effect in the ability of these students to complete independent tasks. While each of the interventions did bring about an improved homework completion rate, it was determine …

African-American Identity, The Quality Of School Life And Academic Achievement, Michael James Mcintire

Theses and Dissertations

Although some studies have linked educational outcomes to identity status (Francis 1981; Hummel & Roselli 1983), only Taylor, Lasten, Flickinger, Roberts and Fulmore, L.D. (1994) have attempted to link educational outcomes to the racial identity status of minority group members. Given the theorized importance of adequate racial identity development for the future psychological health of minority group members, and the impact of educational achievement in high school on subsequent educational, economic, and social outcomes, the present study is designed to assess the quality of school life and the racial identity of African-American high school students, and to determine the extent …

A Study To Determine The Effects Of Nild Educational Therapy On Standardized Test Results And Classroom Performance, Deborah A. Dower

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if the gains evidenced on standardized tests as a result of intensive intervention using the NILD educational therapy model are reflected in functional classroom performance. Twenty-two students who had been diagnosed as learning disabled and enrolled in the NILD educational therapy program participated in this study. Pre- and post-test measures on standardized tests were compared to determine progress of the students in the NILD program. Report cards were analyzed to determine progress in grade point averages in language and mathematics. In addition, information was gathered through initial test reports and anecdotal records …