Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

An Evaluation Of The Primary Prevention Of Substance Abuse Program Of Mattoon Community Unit School District Number Two, Kathryn Hanneken

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse Program grades kindergarten through six in Mattoon Community Unit School District Number Two, Mattoon, Illinois. In order to accomplish this purpose the study utilized the Purpose--Input--Process--Outcome—Decision Model for program evaluation. The study was divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 presents the background and statement of the problem of substance use and abuse by America’s youth. Chapter 2 is a review of current literature and related research. For organizational purposes, the literature and research are divided into two sections: the problem of substance abuse …

Effects Of Feedback And Incentives On The Use Of Academic Skills, Jose E. Candia

Masters Theses

This research investigates the notion that the combination of feedback and incentives are essential components for the maintenance of effective academic skills with undergraduate students on academic probation. This notion is in contradiction to the assumption underlying remedial activities in most universities, where it is assumed that once the students have acquired the skills through workshops or texts they will continue to use them.

The use of the academic skills of lecture note-taking, comprehensive reading, and critical reading was studied with three undergraduate students. That use was measured prior to the intervention, during workshops of training, when feedback alone was …

Summary And Analysis Of. Scores On The Michigan Educational Assessment Tests For The Portage Public Schools (1980-1984), Jim Migliaccio

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to identify the specific areas of weakness and strength in the mathematics and reading programs of the Portage Public Schools in grades 4, 7, and 10, by isolating each of the skill areas and the specific objectives within each of those skill areas by comparing the scores of students in the Portage Public Schools with the scores of all other students in the State of Michigan for five (5) years (1980-1984). After identifying areas of strength and weakness, the intent was to recommend possible remedies for those areas determined to be in need of …

The Relationship Of Selection Criteria To Success In A Graduate Psychology Program, Cheri R. Stein

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive validity of the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test (GRE) for the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Subjects were 138 psychology doctoral students.

Predictor variables included in the research were GRE-Verbal (GRE-V), GRE-Quantitative (GRE-Q), GRE-Total (GRE-T), Miller's Analogy Test (MAT), and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA). Criterion measures were trichotomous faculty ratings and points earned in three psychology courses.

GRE-V, GRE-Q, GRE-T, and MAT were significantly correlated with faculty ratings (p< .001), and the GRE scores were also significantly related to points earned in classes. Results indicated that MAT scores added no predictive value over and above GRE scores. GRE-T correlations were consistently equal or greater in magnitude than GRE-V and GRE-Q correlation coefficients. It was suggested that GRE-T scores alone be used in selection, with a cut-off point of 1100.

The Establishment Of Sequenced Skills In Language Arts, Reading, And Mathematics For Grades K Through 6 Of The Hoopeston-East Lynn Public Schools, Chalmers E. Flint

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to establish a list of sequenced skills for grades kindergarten through six for language arts, reading, and mathematics. Furthermore, a need existed for the evaluation of student/classroom progression in the mastery of skills. Therefore, this study consisted of the following two tasks: (1) Development of a list of sequenced skills which are to be utilized in conjunction with objectives that are located within the textbook of each subject area. (2) Development of a record keeping process to monitor students’ academic progress of skills mastered within language arts, reading, and mathematics …

The Inter-Rater Reliability Of The American Association On Mental Deficiency Adaptive Behavior Scale (School Edition) Using Secondary Special Education Personnel As Raters, Jimmy L. Camp Jr.

Masters Theses

The concept of adaptive behavior has been present in the definition of adaptive behavior for many years. With the advent of intelligence testing, adaptive behavior was deemphasized, but later reemerged as widespread dissatisfaction with the testing movement grew among researchers in the area of mental retardation. The importance of the concept of adaptive behavior has been affirmed by the American Association on Mental Deficiency (A.A.M.D.), which developed a dual criteria system of defining mental retardation that included adaptive behavior as a major component. The Federal government later adopted this classification system for funding purposes in P.L. 94-142.

The valid and …

The Evaluation And Selection Process Of Instructional Games And Toys, Linda Kay Young

Masters Theses

Games and toys used in the classroom have been determined to be an effective means of instruction. The more teachers know about the games and toys being used in their classrooms, the more valuable these games and toys will be to their teaching and their students' learning. The main focus of this study was to gain understanding of the qualities and characteristics of instructional games and toys that will affect the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of the student at the elementary level. This study examined the criteria that was considered important by "experts in the field" and validated those …

Mediation: Fact Or Fiction; Force Or Finesse? A Synopsis Of Case Studies, Charles N. Carpenter

Masters Theses

The primary objective of this study was to observe a state mediator in his role during public sector contract negotiations and relate these observations to the tenets of conflict management and power sources.

Conclusions are drawn relative to the impact of the mediation process on collective bargaining.

Teachers', Students', And Principal's Perceptions Of School Effectiveness Factors At Sullivan High School, Richard J. Voltz

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field experience is to compare and contrast school effectiveness factors from the prospectives of students, teachers, and principal (the researcher) of Sullivan High School. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of a school, the perceptions of these people are determined to be most important. Therefore, this researcher recognized the need to ascertain and study such data.

Procedure

Three surveys were developed by Dr. Dave Bartz, Associate Professor of Educational Administration of Eastern Illinois University, based on a review of current literature addressing the issue of identifying school effectiveness factors. These were a Teacher …

Self Assessment Model For Local Boards Of Education To Evaluate Effectiveness, Charles N. Sutton

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to develop a model self-assessment process for local boards of education. Since 1977, this researcher has served as Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools in Champaign and Ford Counties. From that experience the researcher determined that many local boards do not define and implement a formal self-evaluation process. Of the twenty-one school districts in Champaign and Ford Counties only three have planned and conducted a self-assessment program during the past four years. Since 1983, 57 per cent of the total school board membership of these districts has changed.

In 1985, the …

The Effects Of Test-Taking Instruction Upon The Test Scores Of Students Labeled As Learning Disabled, Deborah Wolfson

Masters Theses

A multiple-baseline design was used to investigate the effects of test-taking instruction upon the social studies test scores of four seventh grade students labeled as learning disabled. This two-phased (baseline and post-intervention) study ran for two semesters and included 14 test entries. All the tests were administered in the subjects' social studies class and scored by the subjects' social studies teacher. The teacher was not informed as to the nature of this study while it was in progress. The 10- day, individually instructed intervention package included activities in (a) test preparation (b) general test-taking principles (c) clue words (d) following …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of The New Discipline Policy Of Danville School District 118, Danville, Illinois, Robert M. Thomas

Masters Theses

Most educators will agree that a good sound discipline policy is a necessity for a school environment in which learning can take place most effectively. Education cannot proceed effectively without good, consistent discipline.

The Public Schools of Danville have had a discipline policy for many years. After many years of updating and revising, a new policy was approved by the Board of Education. This policy entitled "Ownership in Education'' was implemented in the fall of 1982.

The researcher investigated this new policy through an administrator/teacher survey, a review and assessment of the extent of student removal from class due to …

An Experiential Project Examining The Dual Roles Of Curriculum Director And Elementary Principal, Michael M. Perry

Masters Theses

The objective of this experiential project was to examine the dual roles of curriculum director and elementary principal as they are carried out by the same person in the Comstock Public Schools.

Major areas examined were: goal development and attainment, textbook adoption, creation of innovative programs, and decision-making procedures.

The major of operation was to observe, question, and interact. The intern participated in daily administrative activities suggested by the principal/ curriculum director and the intern himself. It was discovered that educational administration is a complex process that requires refined organizational skills and a mastery of the ability to establish priorities. …

An Evaluation For The Reading Program For Rome Community Consolidated School, James Edward Burnes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Houghton Mifflin reading program in the Rome Community Consolidated School District in Dix, Illinois. The Houghton Mifflin Reading Program was implemented in the Rome School District in the fall of 1980. This study was designed to evaluate the reading program to determine if it is meeting the purposes and objectives that the district personnel believed it would meet and to ascertain if it is as effective as the Houghton Mifflin Company purports it to be.

This study was divided into four chapters. Chapter I furnishes background information concerning the Rome School …

Teachers' Perceptions Of School Effectiveness Factors In The Stewardson-Strasburg School District, Edward Lee Allen

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to determine how the Stewardson-Strasburg schools in Stewardson, Illinois, would do when assessed on school effectiveness factors. As high school principal for the district since 1982, the researcher saw the need for a systematic means of receiving teacher input regarding their perceptions of how well the district measured up on school effectiveness factors. The researcher viewed teacher perceptions of the district's school effectiveness factors as a useful starting point for commencing what will be an ongoing study for improving the quality of education in the Stewardson-Strasburg public schools.

Procedure

The …

A Student Developed Minimum Competency Test For Donovan High School Study And Use, Stephen Anthony Shuda

Masters Theses

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this field study was to research the literature concerning minimum competency testing and using twelfth grade students at Donovan High School, develop a student originated minimum competency test. Further consideration was given to potential use in curriculum study and minimum competency evaluation.

The students were instructed in the basics of minimum competency tests and testing programs. Care was given to not bias their choice or selection processes.

The completed test was evaluated and considered to be a foundation for future studies in minimum competency testing and curriculum applications.

Procedure

Although this project was designed …

Minimal Competency Testing In Community Unit # 2 In Mattoon, Illinois, Lila E. Sullivan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the competency testing program in Community Unit # 2 in Mattoon, Illinois, and in particular the English Competency Tests at grades 9 and 11. Although this field study studied techniques and methods from the Mattoon school district, the researcher believes that these procedures could be adapted to serve as a reference for any school district contemplating competency testing.

The study was divided into five chapters. Chapter One gives background information on the rising interest in competency testing and a definition of terms associated with competency testing.

Chapter Two is a review of …

A Study To Investigate Predictors Of Mathematical Giftedness As Measured By The Scholastic Aptitude Test - Mathematics, Jolene Mcgrogan

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the following were predictors of mathematical giftedness as measured by the Scholastic Aptitude Test-Mathematics:

1. family income
2. father's level of education
3. sex of student
4. student's liking for school
5. time spent on home computer by student
6. marital status of the parents

This study was based on The Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth done by Stanley at Johns Hopkins University.

Two forms of The Questionnaire for Academic Talent Search were developed; (1) a student form and (2) a parent form. The instruments were based on those used by Stanley with a few items added …

A Community Climate Survey Of The Mattoon Community Unit #2 School District, Doug Craig

Masters Theses

School district boards of education and administrators need to constantly gather information about the attitudes and opinions of the community they serve if the true educational needs of the community are to be served. Total community consensus or opinion is preferable, but often impractical. Casual information gathered from self-selected individuals from the community is readily available, but unrepresentative and often misleading. Surveys of a selected sample of the school community can be inexpensive, practical and accurate depending on the method of information collection, the nature of the questions and the manner in which the sample is selected.

A Community Climate …

Determination Of Shorthand Enrollments And Homework Procedures In East-Central Illinois High Schools, Nancy Louise Rippy

Masters Theses

This study was an attempt to determine shorthand enrollment trends and homework procedures being utilized in secondary schools in the East-Central Illinois area. The study was conducted through a questionnaire at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois, during the fall semester, 1981.

The survey instrument was given to a shorthand instructor in each high school in the East-Central Illinois area and consisted of five sections. The first section pertained to the instructors' teaching experience. The second section included information about each school's shorthand program. The third section requested information about current shorthand enrollments while the fourth section was centered around teaching …

A Confusion Matrix Intelligibility Testing Procedure For Preschool Children, Jane C. Coe-Kruse

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to develop and examine a procedure for testing and analyzing the speech intelligibility of preschool children through the use of a phonetically balanced pictured word list, confusion matrices, and computer analysis. Four subjects and 15 listeners were used to obtain data on perception of sound production. The results indicate that use of this procedure differentiates varying speech intelligibilities and allows for effective analysis of sound production parameters as they pertain to speech intelligibility.

Prediction Of Junior Required English Grades Using Expectancy Tables At Central High School, Clifton, Illinois, Richard Lee Longfellow

Masters Theses

Problem:

At Central High School in Clifton, Illinois, students are required to take one of three Junior English classes in order to graduate. These classes are: American Fiction, American Literature Survey, and Modern American Literature. Many times, students would ask their counselor "What are my chances of passing the three different Required Junior English classes?". The counselors would only be able to give a personal opinion that was based on Sophomore English grades and not a substantiated answer.

The problem had two parts. The first part was to determine if a relationship existed between Sophomore English grades and Junior Required …

Mt. Zion School District Gifted Elementary Reading/Language Arts Program, William D. Fancher

Masters Theses

Differentiated curricula for gifted and talented students are necessities for any school district which purports to serve the educational needs of all of its student population. During the 1980-81 school year, the Mt. Zion School District, Mt. Zion, Illinois, conducted a thorough investigation and began a total revision of its district-wide gifted program. Using a systems analysis approach to problem solving, a selected committee of administrators and professional staff conducted a needs assessment in order to determine the actual value of its existing program. Concluding that the existing program did not meet the needs of its gifted/talented youth, several alternatives …

A Feasibility Study On Minimum Competency Testing, Cerro Gordo School District, Josephine Howerton

Masters Theses

In the Cerro Gordo Public School System, Cerro Gordo, Illinois, a feasibility study of Minimum Competency Testing was begun in the Spring of 1980.

The preliminary work included contacting Supt. H. R. Starkey, who with the Cerro Gordo Board of Education, gave approval to conduct this study.

A special survey questionnaire was distributed to the community and faculty. These questionnaires were returned to the school, which were in turn given to this writer.

The report will attempt to describe the opinions and feelings of the members of the community and faculty about competency testing as indicated in the survey.

The …

Mct - A Competency Test For Westville, Illinois, Eighth And Twelfth Graders, Larry Huber

Masters Theses

In Westville, Illinois, Minimal Competency Testing (MCT) began in the spring of 1979, after the writer of this paper and a colleague attended a meeting in Peoria, Illinois. This two day workshop focused on the Peoria MCT program and provided the initial impetus for Westville's developing program.

Westville's preliminary MCT work preceded our initial inservice day in August of 1979. Our MCT work in Westville concentrated totally on grades 8 and 12. At this initial meeting of all district staff members, we asked all present to submit suggested skill statements. A special survey instrument was used for this purpose. Next …

An Evaluation Of The First Year Of The Instructional Media Intern Program In Northeastern Illinois, Roger Joseph Rezabek

Masters Theses

This Thesis is an evaluation of the first year of an instructional media intern program in northeastern Illinois, near Chicago. Included as part of the evaluation is a description of the program in video cassette format. The script of the recording is one part of this paper. A copy of the video cassette is on file at The Audio Visual Center, Eastern Illinois University and with the author.

There were eight interns in the first year's program during the 1973/74 school year. Each intern had an immediate supervisor who was a media specialist in the district. There were three district …

The Illinois Problems Index: A Look At The South Ridge Public Schools, Carol Spencer

Masters Theses

This paper deals with curriculum evaluation. It specifically follows the process adopted by a medium-sized rural school district in taking an introspective look at its instructional program.

The reader observes the instrument utilized in this process, the role of the educational consultant serving as a facilitator, and the interaction of the various constituents of the educational community as the study progresses.

The district called in the educational consultant, who was an employee of the Illinois Office of Education, to assist in the development of the evaluation process. This consultant recommended the use of the Illinois Problems Index, a needs assessment …

A Learner Verification And Revision Of A Linear Programmed Text, Frank J. Schwartz

Masters Theses

A field testing procedure was implemented using a programmed text with two high school introductory business classes. The text attempted to teach concepts related to the stockmarket. Pretest and post test measures were taken for each class. After the first class was used the text, the program was revised based upon post test data. The criterion for whether or not to revise a frame sequence teaching an objective was 11% of the students failing the post test item testing that objective. The revised program was used by the second class. Comparisons were made between post tests. Twenty-eight of a possible …

A North Central Association Self-Evaluation Visitation And Implementation Process, Gary E. Glosser

Masters Theses

This field study was written and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Specialist in Education at the Graduate School of Eastern Illinois University. The study was based on a single unique experience. The purpose of this paper was to show a complete overview of a North Central Association Evaluation. This was accomplished by applying the process utilized by the Villa Grove High School in its North Central Evaluation.

Each North Central Association Evaluation is divided into three phases. These phases are the self-evaluation phase, the visitation team phase and the implementation of recommendations of the …

Retention In Salem Elementary Schools, Charles M. Raglin

Masters Theses

Social or chronological promotion has long been a practice of the public schools of the United States. The alternative, nonpromotion or retention, has in the opinion of most psychologists and sociologists led to emotional and sociological trauma for the child. Another and probably the most cogent objection, is many parents oppose nonpromotion and are unwilling to accept the social stigma of "flunking." Children's achievement is a status symbol which profoundly affects families in many communities.

The writer contends that unless parents are directly involved in the decision early in the nonpromotion year, retention will not culminate in satisfactory achievement. Cooperation …