Educational Psychology Commons^™

The Effect Of Rock Music As A Source Of Auditory Distraction On The Reading Comprehension Of Undergraduate College Students And The Relationship Between Distractibility And Achievement, Meghan Eileen Rush

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this experimental research study were to (a) examine the effect of rock music as a source of auditory distraction on the reading comprehension of sixteen undergraduate college students; and (b) assess the relationship between distractibility and achievement. Participants in the study were given two reading comprehension examinations in two conditions: music and silent control. Achievement was measured by self-report of grade point average. Statistical analysis of the main effect of rock music on reading comprehension, using a repeated measures t-test, found no significant effect. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between distractibility and achievement. Problems with the …

Using The Personality Type System To Assess Personality Types Of Social Workers, Stephanie Anne Canal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a tendency for a certain personality type among social workers. Sixty-four social workers were given the Personality Type System and a demographics information sheet. The Personality Type System is a self-report inventory that categorizes personality on four scales: extraversion/introversion, sensation/intuition, thinking/feeling, and perceiving/judging. The demographics information sheet categorized the participants in five areas: gender, age, marital status, childhood family dynamics, and years of social work experience. The scores and categories were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. The personality test scores indicated that the social workers had …

Individual Learning Versus Group Learning In A Suburban Second-Grade Classroom, Devonn Grimm

Theses and Dissertations

There has been a great debate about which learning style is the best for all students. Some propose that individual learning situations enhance the education a student is receiving. However, perhaps a group learning environment would help inclusion and special education students, as well as their average or above average peers. Research indicates that there are benefits and drawbacks to each different teaching style. The present study investigated the difference between group and individual learning styles and their impact on students' individual academic scores. A single second-grade classroom containing many types of students was manipulated and observed. For eight weeks …

Factors Influencing The Educational And Occupational Choices Of Women, Jennifer Bertino

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine self-efficacy in mathematics and various motivating factors among female college students who choose college majors in traditionally female-dominated fields as compared to those who chose college majors in traditionally male-dominated fields. The Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale and an adapted version of the College Survey were administered to forty-six female college students. Differences between groups in the outcomes of the surveys were measured using a one-way ANOVA for the MSES and a chi-square and gamma test for individual items from the College Survey. The findings were that the MSES indicated differences between the groups …

Positive Reinforcement As An Intervention For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Schizoid Personality Disorder, Dana H. Kagan

Theses and Dissertations

Positive reinforcement is effective when used as an intervention for children with inappropriate behaviors. Children with the diagnosis of Schizoid Personality Disorder (SP) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may exhibit inappropriate behaviors that inhibit their quality of life. When appropriate behaviors are paired with rewards or reinforcements, there is an increase in the likelihood of such behaviors reoccurring. When four appropriate behaviors were reinforced by stickers for a child with SP and ADHD, the behaviors increased, therefore inappropriate behaviors decreased. The data that was collected was analyzed by a two-way ANOVA test. Several types of reinforcement interventions were researched …

A Study To Assess Motivational Factors In Pursuing Higher Education: A Multicultural Perspective, Reta R. Ramos-Rios

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to (a) determine the motivational factors of students attending Camden County College in Blackwood and to (b) determine if their cultural background played a part in them choosing collective or individualistic reasons to attend. One hundred students were surveyed. Each student was given a survey of 16 questions, eight questions measured individualism and eight measured collectivism. A one-way MANOVA found that the students from Camden County College demonstrated individualistic characteristics regardless of race. The average responses for going to college were more individualistic than hypothesized However, Latinos and African Americans still scored higher on …

The Relationship Between The Time Spent Reading At Home With Parents And Reading Achievement, Robbin F. Reed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to offer support for reading to your child at home during the early elementary years to increase your child's reading readiness at school. It is hypothesized that the more time parents spend reading to their child at home the higher their scores should be on reading assessments. The sample population consists of 15 students, in grades kindergarten and first, from a parochial school located in southern New Jersey. The parents completed a questionnaire and the Marie Clay's Concepts About Print test was administered to the children. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used …

Academic Dishonesty: A Study In The Magnitude Of And Justifications For Academic Dishonesty Among College Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Bryan Hendricks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the degree to which college undergraduate and graduate students cheat as well as to examine if the justifications for cheating differed amongst these groups. Cheating behavior scores and justifications for engaging in academically dishonest behavior scores were obtained from 138 college undergraduate and graduate students through the use of a survey. One-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between the underclassmen, upperclassmen, and graduate students group reporting cheating behaviors. Post hoc tests revealed that underclassmen reported significantly higher levels of cheating than upperclassmen and graduate students. Graduate students were found to …

Nasp Standards And Rowan School Psychology Graduates: Does Knowledge Transfer To On-The-Job Skills?, Kristine E. Dipalo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Rowan University is preparing their school psychology graduates to deliver school psychology services according to professional standards set forth by NASP. This study examined the relationship between interns' self evaluations and supervisors' ratings on a measure of job performance. The information gathered was further correlated with job satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data from the questionnaires. The results from this study indicate that there is a correlation between self-ratings and supervisors' ratings of job performance. This does not correlate with job satisfaction. The graduates of the school psychology …

B.A.B.E.S. Implementation And Its Relationship To Locus Of Control And Self-Concept, Dana M. Collins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the administration of the B.A.B.E.S. Program and locus of control as well as awareness of self-concept of 2^nd grade students. A total of 161 students were given pre- and post-tests composed of questions geared to understand each child's locus of control and awareness of self-concept before and after the implementation of the B.A.B.E.S. Program. A paired-samples t-test was administered to determine the correlation between the pre-test scores and the post-test scores. Analysis determined that the administration of the B.A.B.E.S. Program did not internalize locus of control nor did …

The Relationship Between Parental Anxiety, Depression And Distress And Their Child's Social Competency, Behavior And Emotional Regulation In A Children's Partial Hospital Program, Melisa Maria Laspada

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect female caretaker psychopathology had on their child's treatment gains in the Children's Intensive Emotional Behavioral Day Program of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The sample consisted of 31 children and 31 female caretakers. The female caretakers' symptoms of psychopathology were measured by using the SCL-90-R Checklist and the children's behaviors were measured by using the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. The results of this study were termed important since the number of children with behavioral and emotional problems is increasing and the treatment being provided seems to be lacking. It was hoped that the study would …

Public School Counselors' Attitudes To Suicide/Suicide Intervention, Robert S. Felloney

Theses and Dissertations

Most of the research on suicide/suicide intervention has focused upon client characteristics and attitudes. Little research, especially in the school setting, has been done on counselor characteristics and attitudes as key variables in these situations. This study was done, at least partially, to help overcome the lack of research in this critical area. This study involved fifteen school counselors (school psychologists and school social workers) who were selected nonrandomly. Based upon interviews, a key finding was that school counselors who prioritize the role of suicide intervention and were more comfortable in doing this, perceived themselves as being more successful in …

Teachers' Attitudes Towards Inclusion, Dawn Giacchi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to identify teachers' attitudes towards inclusion and factors that may affect their attitudes. The factors that were evaluated were: grade level taught, number of students in class, type of school, experience with special needs children, success with special needs children, administrative support, additional support services, level of education and years in the profession. Teachers in grades Kindergarten to twelfth (n=33) completed the "Survey of Teachers' Opinions Relative to Mainstreaming Special Needs Children." A correlation on the data showed that administrative support was significantly correlated with teachers' against inclusion score. Higher levels of administrative support …

Self-Esteem Levels Of Adolescents With Learning Disabilities Or Mental Retardation In Inclusive Or Non-Inclusive Educational Settings, Kay L. Delp

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation compared the global, personal, and social self-esteem levels of adolescents with learning disabilities or mild-to-moderate mental retardation. The purpose was to determine differences between the adolescents based on their disability, educational setting of inclusion or non-inclusion, and by gender. The sample of this study included nine females and 22 males between the ages of 13 and 21 years who lived in southern New Jersey.

Students were given the Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventories-Third Edition, a 67 item self-report, norm-referenced instrument. Mean scores for each group were compared and analyzed by using a one-way ANOVA, a two-way ANOVA, and descriptive …

A Preliminary Analysis: Children Aged Birth To Two With Asd And The Early Intervention Methodologies Of Aba, Pecs, And Floor-Time, Erin L. Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

The archival data regarding 20 children who received early intervention services from a child development center in southern New Jersey were reviewed. Each child in the study was aged 0 to 2 years, had a disorder of the autistic spectrum, and was provided treatment in the form of ABA, PECS, floor-time, or a combination of interventions. Because research on ASD and its treatment has not yet focused on children under the age of 3, the purpose of this study was to investigate which methodology of intervention is most feasible for such young children. Additional aims of the study were to …

Socioeconomic Status And Locus Of Control, Allegra Nicole Esposito

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine a possible relationship between locus of control and socioeconomic status. Past studies have shown that children of higher socioeconomic status have a more internal outlook on life, and children of lower socioeconomic status have a more external outlook. Two groups of fourth graders containing both males and females were involved in the study. One group (n=20) were from a school located in a high socioeconomic area, and the other group (n=40) were from a school located in a lower socioeconomic area. Both groups were given The Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control scale, which …

A Link Between Handedness, Gender, Socioeconomics, Race, And Parental Involvement And Learning Disabilities, Heather Reiss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine if there was a link between handedness, gender, socioeconomics, race, and parental involvement and learning disabilities. The records from a local school where reviewed and compared to the national records. When comparing the local and national records, the school was found to be close in percentage for gender and handedness. The school, however; had a much higher percentage for African Americans and a much higher percentage for free and reduced lunch services than did the national records.

The Competitive Female Skater: What Motivates Her?, Jennifer L. Pfeffer

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explored motivational orientation of 12 females (age 9 - 18) who participated in figure skating. The hypothesis used was that competitive skaters, with more demands on their time and finances, would more often exhibit an avoidance of failure motivation when participating in sport. This hypothesis was chosen to address the high burnout rates that are exhibited by child athletes at the elite level.

To determine the results of the study, skaters were administered the Achievement Motivations Scale for Sporting Environments developed by Brent Rushall and Randy Fox in 2000. The scale asked 28 questions to which four …

The Social Construction Of Academic Success Of Learning Disabled College Students, Robin D. Waltman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges faced by college students with learning disabilities from their own perspective. Interviews were conducted with four first-year students with learning disabilities and five sophomore, junior, and senior students with learning disabilities. The subjects attended Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. The subjects were varied in race, socioeconomic backgrounds, and majors. They all attended college full-time. Qualitative data analysis was performed in order to construct thematic categories from recurring patterns. It was found that college students with learning disabilities have difficulties in college that are unique. They not only have academic …

Personality Differences In Terms Of Temperament Between Teachers Of Regular Education Students And Teachers Of Developmentally Disabled Students, Melissa Masella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the components of human personality in terms of temperament that are similar and different between individuals who teach regular education students and individuals who teach special education, specifically in the area of developmental disabilities. This study examined the temperament of these two types of teachers by using the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II which is a self-report questionnaire that places individuals into one of four temperament groups: Guardianas, Artisans, Idealists, or Rationals. The sample consisted of 53 teachers, 37 females and 16 males, coming from either a Catholic High School or a private …

A Study Of Ten Sadist Women For Signs Of Specific Patterns Throughout The School Years, Orlando Bru

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover whether there was a specific pattern apparent in the school years of lifestyle sadist women that caused them to become sadists. The results showed no specific pattern that would lead one to believe there was a cause but some irregular percentages did appear, such as in high percentages of abuse and not fitting in with fellow students in school. Eighty percent of the participants involved reported their sadist interest being inborn however, of which more than half were abused after they already knew they were sadists. These results are discussed along with …

Socioeconomics, Self-Esteem And Locus Of Control In Third Grade Students, Kathryn S. Gipe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between third grade students' socioeconomic status and their corresponding levels of self-esteem and locus of control. Students who received free or reduced lunch were determined as lower socioeconomic status as compared to those who paid full price for their lunch. Five third grade classes were chosen in a suburban area of Philadelphia. One hundred children were used for the study. Seventy-two children were recipients of free or reduced lunch and twenty-eight paid full price for their lunches. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory was given as a measure of self-esteem and the …

An Investigation Of The Effects Grade Retention Has On Students' Academic Performance, Tyree Gunter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine if grade retention has a positive effect on a child's academic performance, and if females, whether retained or not, improved more academically than males. Language/literacy and mathematics cumulative grades of 58 students in the second and third grade were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results indicated that students who were retained improved more in academic performance than students who were low-achievers but promoted instead and those placed in a transition class. In addition the findings showed that males, whether retained or not, had higher mathematical scores than females, but there was …

The Impact Of A Residential Substance Abuse Treatment For Women, Loretta Lemon

Theses and Dissertations

During the early development of the twelve-step program, it was an effort to help middle class older white males that abuse alcohol. Since the 1930's the twelve-steps have been used to treat women and men from all different backgrounds that have experimented with a variety of drugs. The purposes of this research were to evaluate the effectiveness of a twelve-step program using the scores from each woman's Symptom Checklist-90-R and to review current literature on twelve-step programs and their effectiveness with the female populations.

The Symptom Checklist-90-R was designed to help screen for a range of psychological problems and symptoms …

Bullying And Self-Esteem, Julie Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between the amount of bullying a victim endures and levels of self-esteem of those victims. The sample was made up of of 124 students, 68 male and 56 female, attending a large middle school in a middle-class neighborhood in Southern New Jersey. All of the students were seventh (n= 52) and eighth (n= 72) graders enrolled in a Life Skills class in which issues regarding bullying were discussed. The Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire was used to assess bullying activity at the school and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to …

A Research Study Of School Uniforms On Academic Achievement, Attendance, And Behavior Referrals In Third, Fourth, Fifth, And Sixth Grade Students, Jennifer Gonnella

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of school uniforms on academic achievement, attendance, and behavioral referrals in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in School Uniform Elementary School, a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school located in a small, rural community in Southern New Jersey. Academic achievement was recorded for fifth and sixth grade students using the National Percentile Rank on the Terra Novas (n=63). Attendance was recorded for third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students by counting the number of days absent (n = 117). The number of written discipline referrals were recorded for students in third, …

Relationship Of Family Involvement And Functioning Among Mentally Ill Adults, Sharon A. Sabatino

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of the present study were to find a relationship between family/caregiver involvement in treatment of mentally ill adults that they care for and clients' overall Axis IV and V assessments. Support and education groups were held at Family Service in New Jersey over a six-month period. The population (n=12) came from the Hattie Tallie program at Family Service. These clients and their family members/social supports and caregivers attended meetings for six months to gain education and to support each other in dealing with clients' treatment. Global Assessment of Functioning scores (Axis V) and Severity of stressors (Axis IV) …

What Motivates College Students To Volunteer? Using The Volunteer Functions Inventory., Jennifer Giorgio

Theses and Dissertations

This study intended to look at what motivates college students to participate in volunteer work. The Volunteer Functions Inventory was used to have students rate their beliefs about what would influence them to volunteer. A sample of 184 subjects (67 male & 115 female, two participants did not disclose their gender) were obtained from Rowan University's student body and each were given the Volunteer Functions Inventory. One hypothesis was tested using an Analysis of Variance. Results found that the value motivation was the dominant motivation to volunteer among students who volunteer and non-volunteers. It was determined that the volunteer variable …

A Study To Identify Factors Associated With Readmission To A Psychiatric Hospital In Adults Attending A Partial Care Program, Tammy M. Pedrick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify the factors which lead chronic mentally ill adults to be rehospitalized when compared to other chronic mentally ill adults, attending the same partial care program, who have not been rehospitalized. The sample included 108 subjects attending a particular partial care program. The subjects ranged between the ages of 20-80+. Each of the subjects has met the criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis.

The researcher reviewed each of the subject's charts to determine if he/she has been readmitted to a psychiatric hospital while attending the partial care program. The subjects were then grouped accordingly …

Aftermath Of 9-11: Stress Levels During January 2002 From Manhattan To California, Terryl Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

In September of 2001, the world entered a period of recovery from the terrorist attacks on our nation which will engender decades of struggle to study, analyze and express the effects of that day by almost every conceivable field of human endeavor. The purpose of this study was to describe levels of stress throughout the nation during the first two weeks of January 2002. It was hypothesized that those people who were in closest geographic proximity to the disasters would have the highest levels of stress. The present study consisted of 96 respondents. 22 of those were within a 20-mile …