Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

The Benziger Early Learning Assessment Test: A Study Of Predictive Validity, Marian Carol Sensor

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined the predictive power of a new screening test for pre-school and kindergarten youngsters, the Benziger Early Learning Assessment (BELA). It was hypothesized that the total score attained on the BELA would significantly correlate with selected measures of first grade achievement.

Seventy-five white, middle-class students who had been involved in the norming population for the BELA were utilized in the study. The students had been administered the BELA during the spring of their kindergarten year. In January of their first grade year the final sample (N = 58) was administered the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), and Ginn …

A Follow-Up Study Of Selected Participants In The Youth Development Program (Drop-Out Program) Of The Jefferson County Kentucky School System, H. Wayne Cumbee

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Samples from four school year classes of students that participated in the youth Development Program, were interviewed in areas of family background, marital status, career status, educational status and interest in certain communication media. The data from the Interview Questionnaire was then collated. All participants had been classed as drop-outs or potential drop-outs. The school years involved were: 4969 through 1972-73. The results showed that fifty-six percent graduated the year they attended the program; twelve percent returned to regular school. Persisted and graduated; six percent went on to college and twenty-six percent received their graduation certificate or an equivalency (G.E.D.) …

The Elements Of Mathematics Program: How Can It Be Evaluated?, Marilou Shames Giacofci

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The Central Midwest Educational Research's (CEMREL) Elements of Mathematics Program (EM) for gifted students was piloted in Tidewater for five years. Before deciding whether to continue or expand the program, it was necessary to devise a method of evaluating the program's effectiveness. In the process of this evaluation, two separate com­parisons were made:

- a lateral comparison between an experimental and an existing control class over a period of four years, and

- a longitudinal comparison of successive experimental classes over a four year period.

Lateral Study

To insure comparability between the experimental and control classes, both were administered the …

A Comparative Study Of The Reponses By Varying Socioeconomic Groups On General Knowledge And Categorization Tasks, Margo I. Keller

Dissertations and Theses

This study sought to determine if there are any "cultural" or economic level patterns of behavior in responding to tasks involving categorizing pictures and recalling general knowledge. The Daberon School Headiness Device (1972), which contains subtests for general knowledge and categorization, was used to assess four groups of children: 1) lower-SES white, 2) lower-SES black, 3) middle-SES white, and 4) middle-SES black. This study involved thirty black and thirty white children between the ages of five years and five years, eleven months. All subjects were screened to determine race, age, auditory acuity, speech intelligibility, subject cooperation, and socioeconomic status (SES). …

The Effects Of Counseling On Sociometric Status With Fifth And Sixth Grade Students, Dennis L. Cruchon

All Master's Theses

Thirty-two children, low in sociometric status, were placed in one of four treatment groups: Counseling, Teacher-Counseling, Teacher Feedback, and a Control for a period of ten weeks. Post tests were administered to determine differences in sociometric gains following treatment.

The results indicated that counseling was an effective means of improving sociometric status when compared to a control group.

Limitations of the study were discussed, and recommendations included measuring individual teacher effect on sociometric status.

Remediation Of Deficit Automatic Level Functions As Related To Second Grade Reading Achievement, Jack R. Hall

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study designed to determine if remedial procedures suggested by the authors of the ITPA would improve specific psycholinguistic functions and reading achievement. The Ss were 18 second grade children placed in matched pairs. They received 15 minutes of instruction per day for 60 days. The results did not indicate a significant improvement by the experimental group when compared to the control group

Recommendations include repeating the same experimental procedures using Ss with greater psycholinguistic deficits.

Developing And Testing An Interventionist Role For Elementary Counseling, Thomas M. Hyde

All Master's Theses

In this study a counselor worked with two teachers to increase their rate of approval behavior with the goal of reducing "non-attentive" and "disruptive" student behavior. Student behavior did improve in the predicted direction. When t tests were used to compare behavior change in these classes with behavior change in two control classes, significant differences were found for the reduction of "non-attentive" behavior and "non-attentive plus disruptive" behavior.

Results indicate that such interventionist techniques my be appropriate for elementary counselors.

The Effects Of Perceptual-Motor Training On The Perceptual-Motor Skills Of Emotionally Disturbed Children, Karen R. Brown

Dissertations and Theses

A study was conducted to determine if the program of perceptual-motor training outlined by D.H. Radler and Newell C. Kephart in their book, Success Through Play, would increase the perceptual-motor skills of emotionally disturbed children as measured by the Purdue Perceptual Motor Survey. Twenty children from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area whose ages ranged from six to twelve years were included in the program. These children were grouped according to their diagnosis of withdrawn or acting-out which was received by the agency upon their referral. Three agencies participated in the study.

Each child was administered the Purdue Perceptual Motor …

Counseling For The Seventies: A Compendium Of Published Articles, Joseph Henry Koch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This article, which appeared in the January '72 edition of The School Counselor, talks about what counselors have done, doing, and what the author, a school counselor, thinks they should be doing. He discusses some factors operating to narrow the counselor's role: the student stereotype of counselors as "schedule-changers," the administrative view of counseling as a clerical function, the "psychiatric myth" which casts any person in a helping profession in the role of dream analyst and explorer of the dark unconscious. The writer sees counseling as the major pupil personnel service available on the school campus. Counseling should be concerned …

A Comparison Of Children’S Achievement Whose Mothers Are Employed Full Time And Those Whose Mothers Are Homemakers, Thomas R. Funk

All Master's Theses

This study undertook to examine the relationship between mothers' employment status and the children's achievement. 728 third grade students in the Bellingham Public Schools were used as subjects. The data was analyzed by two way analysis of variance and multiple correlation procedures. There was no relationship found between the mothers' employment ststus and the children's achievement. However, there was a relationship between fathers' occupational level, family size, children's intelligence, and children's sex and some of the achievement tests.

A Comparative Study Of Difference In Social Maturity Levels For Ninth Grade Students Residing In A Rural Setting And Those Residing In An Urban Setting, Ruth Newland

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a comparative study of differences in social maturity levels for urban and rural ninth grade students of East Valley High School in Moxee School District #90. The study was designed to test social maturity levels of both groups by administration of the Bell Adjustment Inventory. Evaluation of the results followed showing some significant differences.

Recommendations included additional trial testing and suggestions for some modification of existing guidance program and incorporation of the Inventory into the regular testing program.

The Effect Of A Learning Skills Course Including Group Counseling On Low Achievers In The Community College, Paul E. Borg

All Master's Theses

A Learning Skills course consisting of study skills, goal direction, and self-understanding was tested among volunteer community college low achievers. Treatment integrated didactic, group discussion, and affective experiences in 18 hour-long sessions. Nineteen subjects received treatment; 25 subjects formed a matched control group; and 41 non-volunteers formed two additional control groups. An apparent trend toward GPA improvement was noted for all groups, but all measurements on GPA and a study survey were non-significant.

The Effect Of An Increase Of A Mother's Complimentary Behavior On Her Child's Crying Rate And In-Task School Behavior, Mark Connot

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to decrease an eight year old boy's disruptive crying rate in his home by ignoring his negative behavior and selectively complimenting his acceptable behavior. A check in the boy's classroom was made to determine if a generalization effect or transference of positive behavior from the home occurred. Crying behavior in the home was reduced significantly. There was no observed significant change in school behavior.

Operantly Conditioning A College Student's Study Behaviors, Norman L. Culbertson

All Master's Theses

A 20 year old, male, sophomore college student, who was considered an underachiever, was confined to a laboratory study room for a specified number of observed hours during a period of three weeks. An attempt was made to operantly condition increased study behaviors by the E's control of study break reinforcers. The experiment consisted of three phases, conditioning, reversal, and reconditioning. Statistical results showed that when reinforced in this manner for study behaviors, the S significantly increased his amount of study time and number of pages read. It was concluded that (1) operant conditioning procedures could be used successfully to …

Problem Solving Ability And Effective Group Behavior Of Introductory Education Students, Gary Lewis Lord

All Master's Theses

The need to understand group processes in the classroom and to use them to develop more effective learning is growing among educators. The group and its dynamics comprise significant conditions for learning and work either for or against the individual's development. One of the most significant learning developmental characteristics that is readily influenced by group variables is the individual's ability to solve problems. Not only is problem solving ability influenced by group variables, but it is through group process methods that this ability is most effectively learned. Thus, problem solving is believed to be a social skill. That group variables …

The Teacher's Contingent Use Of Praise And Privilege To Improve Classroom Study Behavior, Margaret E. Taylor

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this experiment to determine if the study behavior of an entire classroom and two target students could be increased by teacher implementation of a program of contingent praise and privilege for appropriate study behavior. It was proposed in this study that a regular classroom teacher receiving instructions in the concepts of reinforcement theory from a school psychologist intern, would be able to elicit significant behavioral changes in the classroom as the result of the implementation of this contingency program.

Retroactive Inhibition Versus Proactive Inhibition As A Function Of Variable Time Interval Among Elementary School Children, Tom L. Warren

All Master's Theses

As a study of phenomena which affect learning, the inquiry into retroactive and proactive inhibition and their varying functions should be of vital interest to both psychology and education, particularly to those educators and learning theorists who work with elementary school children. Also, it is hoped that this study will provide more reliable and statistically significant data on the question of whether retroactive inhibition is greater than proactive inhibition of retention. And, in addition, if there is a difference between retroactive and proactive inhibition when the retention test is immediate or follows soon after original learning, will this difference disappear …

Informational Components Of Attribute Identification And Rule Learning Aspects Of Conceptual Behavior, Christianne White

All Master's Theses

Two experiments were performed to discover the affect of equalization of positive and negative instances in the presentation of stimuli for Attribute Identification and Rule Learning problems. 56 student volunteers from CWSC were used as subjects. Stimuli were presented to them either according to the traditional truth table representation (four classes for every four trials) or by presenting an equal number of positive and negative instances. The results showed that tasks requiring identification of the relevant attributes among stimulus characteristics were performed better if the stimuli were equalized for positive and negative instances.

The Relationship Of Selected Cumulative Grade Point Averages To Intelligence Quotient, Donald G. Varner

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Ninety Day Follow-Up Of A Boy To Determine The Effects Of The Use Of Operant Techniques In The Classroom, Kim Gene Kay

All Master's Theses

The present study was undertaken in part to determine the effectiveness of operant conditioning techniques when applied to a virtually ignored child in a regular classroom. However, the main emphasis of the study was on the maintenance of the modified (desirable) behavior in the classroom after the period of summer vacation.

Retention As A Function Of Competition In Learning, William Wayne Parker

All Master's Theses

This study was undertaken to add to empirical evidence for use in drawing some sort of conclusions as to the significance of competition as a factor in retention of learning. This is necessary if teachers are to offer optimum learning conditions to their students.

The Use Of Video Tape Replays To Modify Student Behavior In An Elementary Classroom, Robert Lawrence Ewing

All Master's Theses

This study was conducted to see whether behavioral responses in a school classroom setting could be altered in young children as a result of viewing themselves on video tape recordings.

The Case Study Approach In Remedial Reading, Marlyn L. Willardson

All Master's Theses

A case study of one student who failed to pass the reading portion of the teacher education test at Central Washington State College was the investigation of this paper. The purpose of this study was to present the case study as a technique in diagnosing the reading disabilities of the individual and using the diagnosis as the basis for prescription and implementation of corrective procedures. This investigation was also conducted to serve as a single depth study upon which future case studies at the college level could be based.

A Comparison Of The Fourth And Fifth Grade Achievement Of Younger And Older School Starters Who Have An Above Average Intelligence Quotient, Mary Ann Williams

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

No abstract.

Relationship Of Weather Phenomena And Disruptive Behavior In Special Education Classrooms, Carol Bartlett Ryno

All Master's Theses

If a clear-cut relationship between weather phenomena and human behavior could be established, the case for controlled atmosphere in industry, commerce, and education would be strengthened. In the area of education, classroom procedures and learning tasks could be varied in accordance with the weather. This dimension could provide for insights into misbehavior and might enable school personnel to deal with such misbehavior more effectively.

The purpose of the present investigation was to gather information pertaining to the relationship of various weather phenomena and disruptive behavior in the classroom. It was intended that the present study differ from that reported by …

The Relationship Between Social Integration, Attitude Toward School And Absenteeism, Donald A. Price

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social integration, absenteeism, and attitude toward school at Frontier Junior High in Moses Lake, Washington.

A Longitudinal Study Of Self-Concept In Late Adolescents, William Davy Thomas

All Master's Theses

Since knowledge of self-stability is important to self-theory, a study as briefly outlined above seemed valuable. The four chief parts of the study to emerge are given below: 1. To investigate the stability of the self-concept of adolescents over one and two-year intervals. 2. To investigate the stability of the self-concept and its relationship to such factors as social status, intelligence, and maturation age. 3. To investigate the favorability of self-concept and to see if such things as social status, intelligence, and maturation age make for differences in favorability. 4. To investigate the differences between drop-outs and continuands when all …

A Study Of Intelligence And Its Measurement As It Pertains To The Preschool Deaf Child, Patricia H. Slesdet

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of The Achievement Of Underage And Overage Third Grade Boys And Girls., Carl M. Maw

All Master's Theses

It is the intention of this study to gain some insight into the problem of starting boys and girls into school at an age when they may be too immature to cope with the pressures of the school environment. The purpose of his study, then, is to locate, compare and analyze some of the differences that seem to exist between the two sexes. This study will consist to two separate by integral sections: the first being the survey of literature and the second being a comparison of the achievement of underage and overage pupils.

Verbal Conditioning And Its Generalization, Grace Evica Kessling

All Master's Theses

The present study will attempt to produce verbal conditioning in a carefully controlled experimental situation and to investigate its generalization to a similar activity. The purpose is then two-fold: (1) to obtain a measure of verbal conditioning, and (2) to investigate whether there is a relationship between increased verbal response (verbal conditioning) and a related type of behavior.