Educational Psychology Commons^™

Developing Self-Esteem: A Search For The Missing Element, Douglas Mack

Masters Theses

Educators have long known the impact a child’s self-esteem, or self-concept, has upon his or her ability to perform in the classroom. This paper explores the variables involved in developing self-concept both in theory and the research. The roles of teacher feedback, student failure and success, and difficulty of task are examined and their impact upon student self-esteem assessed. Learning theories such as constructivism and the use of teams in the classroom are also presented and discussed. Self-esteem does not come about simply as a result of prior success. It develops 1) as a child experiences success at tasks he …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Entry Time In The Military And Academic Performance In Air Force Resident Training, Ronald Denius

Masters Theses

Purpose of the Study

Do young Air Force recruits who enter the military during the winter months truly perform at a lower level than their counterparts who enlist in the summer, fall, or spring?

Design of the Study

Time frames: This was divided into quarters (three month segments) which used service entry dates close to summer, fall, winter, and spring seasons. Quarter segments were:

1. June, July, and August

2. September, October, and November

3. December, January, and February

4. March, April, and May

It was expected that the summer segment would capture the graduate from high school who immediately …

Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures In Pigeons And The Effects Of Ethosuximide Thereon, James J. Jakubow

Masters Theses

Previous research has shown that ethosuximide in high enough doses will disrupt operant responding in pigeons. Whether or not these same doses will protect against seizure activity in this species has not been previously tested.

To test this question a system for scoring pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in pigeons was developed and the effects of ethosuximide on such seizures were evaluated. In Experiment 1 pentylenetetrazol at 15, 27 and 47 mg/kg reliably induced seizures. In Experiment 2 non-behaviorally active and behaviorally active doses of ethosuximide were tested for their seizure controlling effectiveness.

Doses of 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg ethosuximide …

A Comparison Of Video Disc-Presented To Teacher-Presented Direct Instruction, Charles P. Schira

Masters Theses

The video disc Mastering Fractions by Systems Impact (1984) was investigated for effects on student on-task behavior. The video disc uses basic principles of Direct Instruction and was compared to teacher-presented Direct Instruction. The study used a reversal design in a Special Education classroom where the classroom teacher normally used Direct Instruction. Three Special Education students at the junior high school level were used as subjects. The results of the study indicate a slight increase in student attending behavior with the use of the video disc. Subjects were also evaluated for the novelty effect of the video disc on attending …

A Study Of Adult Students Enrolled In Off-Campus Classes, Margaret A. Schrock

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Classroom Instruction Within A Residence Hall: A Comparative Study At Eastern Illinois University, Janet K. Zielke

Masters Theses

This study examined the attitudes, attendance habits, and overall grades of students in an experimental section of Speech Communication taught within a residence hall. The results of this study were found to be significant by comparing them to three sections of the same Speech Communication course taught in "standard" classrooms. This study provides support for the continuation of the experimental program in the fall of 1988. Implications in terms of revision and expansion are discussed.

Academic-Point Incentives And College-Student Use Of Study Skills, Afnan Ma'rouf Almasri

Masters Theses

This was a study of the effects of academic-point incentives on the use of study skills by thirty high-risk undergraduate students. The students completed a four-session study-skills training program consisting of time management, concentration and memory, note taking, and test taking. They contracted to accomplish tasks specified weekly according to their class syllabus using special forms that specified the targeted study skills. The mean use of the study skills was 95.8% when points were given and decreased to 38% when points were withdrawn; but the use of study skills increased to 98.9% when points were again given.

The Effects Of Mechanically-Delivered Human-Delivered Reinforcement And Human-Delivered Reinforcement On Intrinsic Interest, Duangkaew Ungsrithong

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of mechanically-delivered and human-delivered reinforcement on the performance of intrinsically interesting tasks. The study used a multiple-trial within-subject comparison design in which two reinforcement phases (a human-delivered reinforcement and a mechanically-delivered reinforcement phase) were alternated with two post-reinforcement phases. Three of the four subjects did not show performance decrements following mechanically-delivered reinforcement while three did show decrements following human-delivered reinforcement. These data indicate that post-reinforcement decrements may be more likely when reinforcement is delivered socially, suggesting that such decrements may not be due to the reinforcers per se but to …

A Comparison Of Wais-R Scores With Wais-R Scores For Mentally Handicapped Students With Iqs Below 70 And For Regular Education Students, Kimberly A. Brennan

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the utilization of WISC-R scores as a basis for placement and continuation of services for mental retardates in special education classes throughout their school careers. A comparison of the WISC-R Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs with the WAIS-R counterparts and a statistical analysis was conducted. Regular education students were also tested to determine if the two scales were equal.

The WAIS-R was found to yield higher Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores, but comparable Performance IQ scores. These results suggest that the differences between the two instruments for children of …

Teaching Paragraph Construction To Second Grade Students Using A Structured, Sequential Instructional Program, Sheryl Ann Miller

Masters Theses

The present study proposed that specific methods of teaching writing could be implemented through the application of established principles of behavioral, educational technology. A group of eight second grade students took part in a five week sequential writing program designed to teach them to construct a paragraph incorporating the following components: title, name, introductory sentence, three explanatory sentences, and a conclusion sentence.

Samples of the student's writing were obtained at the beginning and end of the program. Changes in writing style were analyzed for the absence or presence of each component. Every child demonstrated some improvement regarding one or more …

An Investigative Study Of Twelve Dropouts In Villa Grove High School, Ann L. Krejci

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Adventure Activities On An Objective Measure Of Self-Concept, Marjorie Ellen Bethke

Masters Theses

Although a plethora of studies have linked experiences in adventure education to the enhancement of self-concept, virtually all have been faulted on methodological grounds. In this study the inferential leap from test performance to actual behavior was narrowed, if not eliminated, by utilizing systematic direct observation as an alternative to self-reports. A single behavior, hugs, was isolated as an indicator of self-concept. Eighth grade Outdoor Education students were observed over a baseline period, then engaged in a short-term, intense, adventure education experience. A second baseline revealed an appreciable increase in the rate of hug behavior under select circumstances. The data …

An Investigation Of The Effect Of Daily Tests On The Retention Of Knowledge Of Malaysian Students In The Re-Orientation Program, Rokiah Mohamed

Masters Theses

Seventy Malaysian students participated in the 7-day Re-Orientation Program and were divided into two groups; 20 students were in Group 1, the group that took the daily tests and 50 students were in Group 2, the group that took the final examination only. The results of the final examination revealed a significant difference between the two groups, t (68) = 5.895, p< .05. The means of Groups 1 and 2 were 30.75 and 24.26 respectively. The correlations between the scores of the daily tests and the final examination scores were also statistically significant at p< .05 where n = 20. A post hoc analysis was done to further support the data. It is suggested that further research can be done using knowledge tests in programs that run for longer periods of time to improve students' retention of knowledge.

Middle/Junior High School Guidance Programs: Recommended Guidelines And Services For Counselors, A. Nadine Boyer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Word Abbreviation On Decoding Speed And Accuracy, Frances Piccione

Masters Theses

An experiment was conducted to verify the existence and determine the magnitude of the human response latency differential between words and their abbreviations in a decoding task. Forty-eight Naval Officer Candidates learned a set of abbreviations obtained from operational aircraft cockpits. Abbreviations and corresponding words were divided into easy and hard difficulty levels. Subjects responded by saying the correct whole-word for both stimulus types. Response times measured by a voice key revealed a mean of 0.534 seconds for words and 0.662 seconds for abbreviations. An analysis of variance produced significant main effects (p < .05) for stimulus types and difficulty levels; the interaction effect was not significant. Also, t-tests for correlated scores revealed significant differences (p < .05) between difficulty levels within stimulus types.

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Study Aid Formats, Mary Anne Saint

Masters Theses

The effectiveness of matrix organizational format versus outline organizational format versus self-structured study notes was tested with high school subjects. Contrary to predictions, results of a multiple choice and essay question posttest revealed a nonsignificant study aid effect, F (2, 53) = 1.17, p > .05. An interaction between passage order and subject sex was significant, F (2, 53) = 4.68, p < .05. An analysis of recall, application and analysis levels of learning again revealed a nonsignificant study aid effect, F (2, 68) = 1.53, p > .05. A difference among recall, application and analysis posttest scores was significant, F (2, 4) = 93.25, p < .05. It was noted that the mean of the Matrix Group was somewhat greater than other groups across all five measures. The probability of one of three groups outscoring other groups across five analyses would result in a chance level of occurrence of .0039. It is speculated that additional experimentation will demonstrate a significant difference in the effectiveness of study aid formats.

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Student-Generated Versus Instructor-Generated Questions On The Comprehension Of Written Material, Helen Diann Pratt

Masters Theses

Twelve college students volunteered to participate in a special section of an introductory psychology course at Western Michigan University. A multiple baseline design across groups was used to assess differences in reading comprehension between students who received study objectives written by the instructor and students trained to write their own study objectives. Quizzes and examinations were used to assess students' reading comprehension of course materials. A comparison of pre- and post-test scores on the Nelson-Denny Reading Comprehension Test was used to determine whether students had acquired skills which aided their comprehension of other materials. Results indicated no statistically significant differences …

The Effects Of Immediate Vs. Delayed Knowledge Of Results On The Acquisition And Retention Of Multiplication Tasks, Lynn Ruth Kidwell

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of three feedback conditions on a multiplication task. Data were obtained over a nine week period of instruction with a single individual. Both correct and incorrect responses were charted and analyzed in the results. A pretest and two posttests, one immediate and one after six weeks, were given to obtain information about the retention of the multiplication tasks.

Results of this study showed that practice with immediate feedback and practice with delayed feedback were significantly better than no feedback without practice for correct responses. Practice with immediate feedback was significantly better than …

Overcoming Unadaptive Behavior: An Assertive Skills Program For Women Entering The Workforce, Julia Sara Wolf

Masters Theses

This study examined the various relationships between the assertive content of a structured phone call and the probabilities of obtaining an interview in a program designed to generate new assertive behaviors for women entering the workforce. This study was implemented in the setting of a job finding program. It was shown that the difference between calls that produced interviews and those that didn't was a higher percentage of component use in those calls that resulted in an interview. In addition, the utilization of two specific assertive components when placing a call was associated with, a higher probability of obtaining an …

A Comparison Of Three Monitoring Systems On The Management Of Contingency Contracting Behavior, James V. Yanna

Masters Theses

Three student monitoring systems were compared to determine their efficacy in maintaining student contracting behavior. These systems were (1) teacher monitoring, (2) student peer monitoring, and (3) self monitoring. The study examined the extent to which each of the three systems would maintain students correctly including all of the necessary contract components. The results showed a small and statistically insignificant variation between the three procedures. Each procedure resulted in an approximately 70% contract component specification. Additional research was recommended to determine if student contracting behavior would maintain in the presence of a longer self-monitoring condition. It was also recommended that …

A Study Of Alcohol Use/Abuse Among High School Students In A Small Illinois Rural School, Stephen Eugene Race

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Follow-Up Study Of 1981, 1982, And 1983 Freshman Students At Eastern Illinois University Who Scored Low On The Act And/Or Nelson Denny Reading Test, Reo John Rorem

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Research In The Use Of State Diagramming As A Communication, Diagnostic, And Descriptive Tool In Applied Educational Programs, Roger S. Coates

Masters Theses

State diagramming is a schematic communication tool used to present experimental designs or educationally-significant conditions in applied settings. In applied situations, public school teachers and students, and college students used state diagramming as an effective communication and diagnostic tool for educational programming. Four of five teachers showed rapid comprehension of classroom programs when the use of diagramming was compared to written narratives. College students described antecedent events present in familiar educational systems at a higher percentage of accuracy and total information presented almost doubled when diagrams were utilized. Training public school students in drawing state diagrams was initially successful. This …

The Effects Of A Cumulative Review Procedure Upon The Acquisition And Retention Of Basic Addition Facts Under Mastery Learning Conditions, Michael Jeffrey Harshman

Masters Theses

The effects of cumulative review upon the acquisition and retention of basic addition facts were examined within a modified multielement baseline design. Subjects were two second graders enrolled in a tutorial program. After training (memorization to specific criteria) involving drill with flashcards, facts were practiced according to one of two procedures. One procedure (Interspersal Only) involved practice of newly trained facts mixed with facts known on a pretest. The other procedure (Cumulative Review) involved practice of newly trained facts mixed with facts learned during prior training sessions. The Cumulative Review condition was found to be more effective in terms of …

The Support And Maintenance Of A Behavioral Teaching Methodology In The Public Schools, Sheryl M. Rippee

Masters Theses

A contract study center was the site for two experiments involving the modification of teacher behavior. The Center was located in a rural high school of 300 students and 15 staff members. The Center was school-wide and utilized contingency contracting and peer tutoring in order to help students on individual academic assignments. Experiment I was conducted to examine the effects of using teachers to support and maintain the behavioral teaching methodology used in the Center. Results of Experiment I indicated that teachers were not as effective in supporting and maintaining the Center on a half time basis as University Personnel. …

The Design And Development Of An Instructional Package On How To Locate Information In A Textbook, Steven P. Ragotzy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to design, develop and test the effectiveness of an instructional package on how to locate information in a textbook. The package contained worksheet activities on the use of the table of contents, index, and headings and sub-headings of a book. After the package was developed, its effectiveness on students' academic performance was assessed. The students' performance was assessed in two different ways — sample questions, or probes at different points of the program and classroom quiz results. The first experiment showed that the package was effective in teaching the skills of using the table …

Schedule Effects And Interim Activities In Two Retarded Subjects, Raymond G. Miltenberger

Masters Theses

Fixed interval (FI), fixed time (FT), and fixed ratio (FR) schedules of reinforcement were implemented with two retarded subjects and the effects on operant responding and interim activities were evaluated. One subject responded under FI 1 min, multiple FI 1 min, and multiple FI 1 min extinction schedules. Three interim activities were observed to occur under each schedule. The second subject responded under FI 1 min, FI 3 min, FR 20, FR 25, FR 35, multimple FR 35, FT 1 min, and multiple FR 35 extinction schedules. Two interim activities occured, primarily in the FI and FR schedules. Both subjects' …

A Diagnostic Teaching Analysis Of The Feasibility Of Teaching Trainable Mentally Impaired Students Hutchings’ Low-Stress Addition Algorithm, Marsha K. Markle

Masters Theses

This study attempted to determine the feasibility of teaching trainable mentally impaired subjects Hutchings' low-stress addition algorithm. It was a non-experimental study of acquisition using diagnostic teaching techniques. Three trainable mentally impaired subjects participated in training. No subjects knew basic addition facts, so use of a number line was substituted. Training was divided into four steps: a) use of the DOOF for a single binary; b) notation; c) adding two binaries in one column; and d) adding binaries in two columns. Tests were scored immediately, error patterns diagnosed and program modifications implemented. All subjects acquired skill for the first three …

Reduction Of Aggressive Behavior Of A Preschool Child Using Extinction And Teacher Attention Procedures, Greg Randle

Masters Theses

The subject was a 2 and a half-year-old male who engaged in a high rate of aggressive behavior that appeared to be maintained by teacher reprimands and physical contact. An extinction procedure in which all aggressive behavior directed toward peers was ignored was used in conjunction with teacher attention directed to the victim. Teacher attention was also used to positively reinforce the subject for interaction with peers. These procedures reduced the subject's aggressive behavior to a much lower rate. Although the subject's undesirable behavior was modified, a questionnaire responded to by the teachers indicated the need for open communication between …

The Resistance To Temptation Paradigm With Modeling - A Review, Lorre Patricia Berger

Masters Theses

The resistance to temptation paradigm and modeling literature was reviewed to evaluate imitation effectiveness as an instructional method. Varied interventions used in conjunction with modeling were: rehearsal of rule following behavior; consequences to the model; reinforced and nonreinforced interaction; alternative, attractive and available tasks; and rationales for temptation. The past experimental results of these interventions used with modeling have been diverse. All temptation research utilized the forbidden toy or movie procedures as the tempting situation, while most allowed the subjects to engage in toy play or a film editing task. Imitation proved to be effective in teaching resistance to children. …