Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

A Curriculum Design Using Mnemonic-Type Techniques To Aid Recall In Low/Average Achievers In The Fifth Grade, Blanche Floannell Fuqua Mcmath

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children in the Duval County School System in Jacksonville, Florida, who are low/average achievers have to compete in a multi-graded classroom atmosphere. These students are passed along supported by low minimum-based competency test scores. The purpose of this project was to show teachers how they can present mnemonic procedures to these students in an effort to help these students raise test scores, boost self-esteem, and provide a self-help study device that can aid their progress in subsequent grades, aid morale, and thus avoid potential drop-outs in the system. This curriculum design is offered in the subjects of health and science. …

Second Language Acquisition In The Field: A Personal Experience, Mary Chase Dindorf

MA TESOL Collection

This report is an examination of the results of my own beginning second language acquisition in the field. For one year I observed myself in the process of acquiring Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia in the respective countries. I was able to document my experiences in a language acquisition diary. It is the data from which this report was written.

I found that my second language acquisition in the field is a complex process determined by need as well as preferred personal strategies, and limited by a saturation monitor.

The success of this acquisition depends primarily upon my needs as …

The Relationship Between Teacher Attitudes Toward Standardized Testing And Student Test Scores, Laura J. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Standardized testing in the public schools has an increasing impact on students, teachers, and administrators, yielding evaluative data which promise to become even more crucial to decision-making processes for all concerned. Also increasing are the negative attitudes of educators toward the testing program, in contrast to the growing emphasis placed on its importance by the public. Previous research indicates that teacher attitudes affect student outcomes; therefore, this study was developed to address the possibility of a correlation between teacher attitudes toward standardized testing and student test scores.

Ninety first-grade teachers in a selected county in Georgia served as subjects for …

Stress In Education: Comparing Stress Levels In Professional Educators, Angela P. Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

The stress teachers endure in teaching is becoming a topic of wide interest and concern among educators. This study attempted to compare stress felt by special educators and regular educators as measured by the Wilson Stress Profile for Teachers. It further compared the stress reported by high school, junior high school, and elementary school teachers as measured by the Wilson Stress Profile for Teachers.

Stress level scores were compared to determine if a significant difference existed in the following categories: Student Behavior; Employee/Administrator Relations; Parent/Teacher Relations; Time Management; and the compiled Overal1 Stress Score of all nine categories addressed on …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Teachers' Locus Of Control And Attribution Training Upon Risk-Taking And Locus Of Control Of Pre-School Children, Deborah Chamberly

Theses and Dissertations

he purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of teachers' locus of control upon the locus of control and risk-taking behavior of four- and five-year old preschool children. The scores on Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale were used to assess the teachers' locus of control. Scores on the Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale were employed to determine locus of control of the students. A risk-taking situation was devised to evaluate this behavior in the subjects, and attribution training activities were selected. Control and experimental groups were identified and the treatment administered accordingly. Pretest and posttest …

The Effects Of Various Kinds Of Background Music On The I.Q. Scores Of Ninth-Grade Students, L.C. Bud Johnston

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

One hundred 9^th-grade students were divided into four groups of 25 each through systematic sampling procedures. Each of the groups were tested, pre and post, by the Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test, forms J and K. During the pretest for all groups, the background condition of silence was observed. During the posttest, one group was again tested in silence. The other three groups were each tested to one of three background conditions: pop music, hard rock music, and soft rock music. Pop music played was characterized as more mellow, more melodic, and less intense than rock music. Hard rock …

Mobility As An Element Of Learning Styles: The Effect Its Inclusion Or Exculsion Has On Student Performance In The Standardized Testing Environment, Linda Miller

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mobility and the standardized testing environment. The project focused on nine students who had a pronounced need for movement while learning and/or being tested. The study was conducted to determine whether the achievement scores of these nine students would be influenced by the denial or availability of movement while they were administered a standardized reading test. Twenty-one second grade students were the subjects. Two forms of Level B of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test were used. All subjects were tested in a traditional environment with no movement allowed. The same …

School Organization Placement For The Ninth Grade Student, Karen D. Garrison

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the best placement of the ninth grade student in the school organizational pattern. Thirty-six superintendents, seventy-seven high school principals and sixty-four high school teachers, in the state of Washington, responded to a questionnaire-opinionnaire regarding the physical, intellectual, emotional and social maturity level of the ninth grade student. The results showed support for the ninth grade student to be in a four-year high school grade configuration.

The Effects Of The Absence Of The Natural Father On Interpersonal Problem-Solving Of Preschool Children, Barbara Kennedy Stanley

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An Applied Project presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Education Specialist by Barbara Kennedy Stanley in September of 1983.

The Cognitive Structure Of The Psychometrically Gifted In The Analysis Of Piagetian Formal Operations, Charles Joseph Justice

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated a six-variable model of the cognitive structure of psychometrically gifted adolescents. In this model, Concept Attainment and Problem Finding were the dependent variables, and IQ, Achievement Motivation, Anxiety, and Innovation were the independent variables. Previous research suggests that emotional or affective variables such as Achievement Motivation, Anxiety, and Innovation strongly influence the type of problem solving necessary in Piagetian formal operational thinking. Research also indicates that the formal operational stage is a necessary but insufficient condition for a type of cognitive process termed "Problem Finding." Thus, Problem Finding was suggested as a fifth stage of cognitive development. …

A Study Of The Validity Of Undergraduate Grade Point Average And Graduate Record Examination Scores As Predictors Of Success In The Selection Of Masters Level Graduate Students In Psychology, Margaret Tandy O'Connor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the undergraduate grade point average (UGPA), the grade point average during the last two years of undergraduate work (LTYR), the Graduate Record Examination Verbal plus Graduate Record Examination Quantitative scores (GREM), the Graduate Record Examination Analytical Test score (GREAN) and the Graduate Record Examination Advanced Psychology Test score (GREAD) as predictors of graduate grade point averages (GGPA) in the Master of Arts degree program in Psychology at Western Kentucky University. The validity of the Graduate Record Examination Quantitative score (GREQ) as a predictor of grades received in the two …

Reaction To Social Pressure From Adults Versus Peers Among Mexican, Mexican-American, And Anglo-American Rural Children, Ana Maria C. Donini

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether there was a significant difference in the adherence to conventional morality and the reaction to social pressure from adults versus peers among Mexican, Mexican-American, and Anglo-American children. The instrument used was the Moral Dilemmas Test (MDT) developed by Bronfenbrenner, Devereux, Suci, and Rodgers, which measures the reported readiness of children to engage in morally disapproved behavior and their reaction to social pressure exerted by adults and peers. The subjects were asked to respond to a series of conflict situations under three experimental conditions of confidentiality, scrutiny by parents, and scrutiny by …

The Effects Of An Active Student Council On Total Student Body Behavior, James Hoffman

All Graduate Projects

This paper represents a study of the activation of iii a student council and its effects on total school climate. The activation program was outlined with specific activities described in detail. The study was designed to provide for a comparison of predetermined indicators which were measured before and after the activation took place. Conclusions included positive observations made during the course of the study and recommendations for implementing more student involvement in the ongoing business of the school.

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). …

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 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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.