Educational Psychology Commons^™

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 …

Collaboration Between Art Teachers And School Counselors Of The Johnson City Elementary Schools To Assist At-Risk Students: An Art Experiences Model., Caroline Dover Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Art has been used for centuries as a healing tool for adults and children; however, the use of art therapy in schools is a recent development. Art therapy, encompassing art, psychology, and therapy, is by nature interdisciplinary. Art experiences provided to students at risk of failing or dropping out of school may offer non-verbal communication that can be used effectively to satisfy a variety of developmental, social, or emotional needs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a curriculum-based art experiences model, combining the skills of art teachers and school counselors. Data were collected through a focus group …

The Effects Of Adult Interaction On Toddler Behavior In The Classroom., Sarah Webb Hackney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of positive adult-to-child physical interactions and negative toddler behaviors in the classroom. Twenty-one licensed childcare centers participated in this study. One center was used to field-test the researcher-created tally instruments. The 20 centers remaining were observed to identify the number of positive adult-to-child physical interactions. They were then ranked from the classroom having the highest amount of adult-to-child interactions to that having the lowest. Three classrooms were then randomly selected from both the top and bottom thirds, providing six classrooms for the final study. Negative toddler behaviors were then observed …

Learning For A Lifetime: Motivations For Lifelong Learning In The Life Of Evelyn Mcqueen Cook., David James Timbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a growing population ventures forth into the 21^st century, people are living longer than ever before. Recent statistics indicate an ever-increasing adult population. With a larger and older population, communities will find themselves striving to ensure a high quality of life for these persons. Individuals, as well, will find themselves seeking out activities that will keep them actively involved and engaged in their post-retirement years.

The purpose of this biographical study was to explore the motivations for lifelong learning and engagement in the life of Evelyn McQueen Cook, a seventy-five year-old resident of Johnson County, Tennessee. Her life …

A Comparison Of Students' Anxiety Levels While Taking Computer Versus Paper And Pencil Timed Math Tests, Angela S. Jungerman

McCabe Thesis Collection

The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the anxiety levels of students before and after taking the computerized timed math test with the levels before and after taking the paper-and-pencil timed math test. Two second-grade classes were used in this research with each student taking each test once. The computer test, found at www .saxonpublishers.com/activities/basic fact_ sheets/, consisted of 50 addition questions to be completed in 30 seconds, and the paper-and-pencil version, adapted by the researcher from a Saxon created test, consisted of 100 addition questions to be completed in 60 seconds. The students' blood pressures and …

How Principals Work With Their More And Less Effective Teachers, Franzy Fleck

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study's purposes were to examine the differences between principals when working with their more and less effective teachers; and the differences among elementary, middle school, and high school principals when working with their more and less effective teachers. Principals at 300 Indiana public schools, encompassing grades Kindergarten through twelve, were surveyed to determine leadership strategies used when working with their more and less effective teachers; 140 responded with completed surveys for a 47 percent return. The principals were asked to fill out a forty-five-item principal leadership strategy survey. In all, forty-one elementary principals, forty-five middle school principals, and fiftyfour …

Self Defense Instruction And Its Impact On Physical Self-Efficacy Of Female Cadets At The United States Military Academy, Jason Matthew Winkle

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of self defense instruction of female cadets at the United States Military Academy on their physical self-efficacy. All95 female cadets enrolled in PE115 during the fall of2002 were surveyed on the first and last day of class to determine their levels of perceived physical ability (PPA) and physical self-presentation confidence (PSPC). Both the PP A and the PSPC are subscales ofthe Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE). Completed data were collected from 80 (84 percent) ofthe subjects. Statistical data analysis included descriptive statistics and a 2x2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOV A). …

The Role Of Celebration In Building Classroom-Learning Communities., Virginia Farr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today, teachers are expected to play a major role in the socialization of their students. Crafting strong classroom communities that incorporate celebration is one technique some teachers have developed to enhance a sense of belonging in their classroom.

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of teachers regarding what the practice of celebration accomplishes for the teacher, student, and class in reference to building and maintaining a classroom learning community. This study also examined approaches that teachers found to be the most successful in creating celebrations.

A multiple-site study design was used to gather qualitative data at …

How Utah Parents Of Utah School Children Judge School Effectiveness, Philip L. Rodgers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There is a perceived crisis concerning public education in the United States. This has led to an increase in the use of standardized tests for the purpose of measuring school effectiveness. However, the use of standardized tests for this purpose is problematic. Among these problems is the concern that standardized tests may not measure what parents believe are the most important attributes of an effective school. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of empirical evidence regarding parent beliefs in this area.

The purpose of this research was to answer the following four questions.

1. What do parents of school-aged …

Linking Mentoring And Electronic Portfolios For Utah Educators, Charles R. Graham, Kathleen Webb, Carol Lee Hawkins, David Harlan

Faculty Publications

Starting January 2003 Utah districts are required to provide each entry level teacher with a trained mentor (EYE, 2003). Additionally, each entry level teacher will be required to create a standards-based teaching portfolio to submit to the district as part of the Level 2 licensure process. This paper provides practical information about standards-based electronic teaching portfolios and how the portfolios can be used as a vehicle for mentoring novice teachers.

Education Chronicle Issue 1 No. 1, Touro College School Of Education And Psychology - Graduate Division

Yearbooks and Newsletters

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Quality Indices For Successful Programs For Students With Emotional/Behavior Disorders In The State Of Michigan, Alice Brouwer Hoekstra

Dissertations

Recent research studies have determined that students with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD) are the most difficult to integrate into the general education environment. Students with EBD are most likely to be educated in separate settings and least likely to be found in traditional education environments. However, the mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act reauthorized in 1997 (IDEA '97) and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) regulation indicates all educators, including administrators, have the responsibility to challenge teachers and schools to be more inclusive regarding students with EBD and to provide services that better support students in this setting. …

An Experimental Analysis Of The Effects Of Reading Interventions In A Small Group Reading Instruction Context, Christine M. Bonfiglio

Dissertations

The validation of specific reading intervention components in increasing oral reading fluency is evident within the literature for academic responding. However, much of the literature examines these components using single-case designs on an individual basis across students. This study utilized response-guided experimentation in the context of a small group reading instruction with four 4th graders (three male and one female) while examining individual patternsof student responding for oral reading fluency. Acquisition, fluency, and consequential components were examined in a dismantling fashion. Sequential modifications of the treatment package and its components were utilized within a multiple-baseline design in order to identify …

Science Comprehension: Effects Of Text Coherence And Reader Aptitudes, Kimberly G. Cottrell

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

There is a significant need to improve reading comprehension as typical textbooks, particularly science textbooks, are often too difficult for the average student to comprehend. The overall purpose of this study was to examine which reader aptitudes, specifically prior domain knowledge, reading ability, metacognitive reading strategy knowledge, and motivation, were most predictive of science text comprehension, and whether these relationships varied as a function of text coherence. Further, the purpose entailed which factors (reading ability, metacognitive reading strategy knowledge, and motivation) may assist low knowledge readers to compensate for knowledge deficits, particularly when reading low-coherence texts. There were 241 undergraduate …

Childhood Peer Relationships In Context, Susan M. Sheridan, Eric S. Buhs, Emily D. Warnes

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Gifford-Smith and Brownell (2003) have provided an extensive critical review of the current state of the art in peer relations research. Their thorough review of the basic research in these areas clearly illustrates the complexity of the task of understanding these aspects of children’s social development and how they navigate the interrelated relational ecologies. Our purpose is to extend the discussion by suggesting implications for intervention work and related research.

The Classroom And Beyond: The Teacher's Role In Collaboration For Children With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Sarah Altman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

While many interventions have been used to help children with emotional and behavioral problems, outcomes for children with emotional and behavioral disturbances continue to be poor. Identifying teachers as essential collateral participants in evidence-based, systems approaches to addressing the needs of children with emotional and behavioral problems, this manual is offered as a guide for members of the education community. Teacher cooperation with empirically supported interventions, interagency collaboration, and programs that accept families as equal partners, have all been clearly supported by research and this collaborative role is discussed in light of relevant literature. Exploring the issues related to emotional …

Early Intervention With Children At Risk Of Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: A Critical Examination Of Research Methodology And Practices, Peggy P. Hester, Heather M. Baltodano, Robert A. Gable, Stephen W. Tonelson, Jo M. Hendrickson

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Children's behavior problems pose challenges to families, schools, and society. The research literature argues that early detection/intervention is the most powerful course of action in ameliorating these problems in children at risk of emotional/behavioral disorders. However, specifying precisely what constitutes a quality program of early intervention is not a simple task. Current conceptualizations suggest that successful early intervention cannot be unidimensional in nature, but must consist of a complex series of interactions and transactions that synergistically serve to nurture and enhance both the development of the child and family. In this paper, we reviewed the accumulated research to learn more …

Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches To Anger Management For Children And Adolescents, Amy L. Zirkelbach

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the need to address anger problems among children and adolescents given the implications of uncontrolled anger on relationships, education, possible involvement with the law, and physical and mental well-being. Aggression and its relationship to anger will also be discussed as well as the need to develop early intervention practices aimed at anger-related problems. A cognitive-behavioral approach will be presented as an alternative to many of the prevailing psychological approaches dominating individual and group interventions targeting angry and aggressive youth. A description of the key components of cognitive-behavioral anger management programs will be described, including arousal management, cognitive …

Enhancing Student Learning Styles Through The Use Of Technology, Mark A. Dugger

Graduate Research Papers

The multiple learning styles of students have in the last few years become a major topic of concern for all educators. Experience and time are valuable learning tools assisting teachers in developing an understanding of these learning styles. This review pursues the importance of considering student learning styles when incorporating technology within an existing curriculum. Research studies provide supporting evidence that a technology-rich environment promotes collaborative, project-based learning, which in tum has a positive effect on learning styles.

The Role Of School Psychologists As Perceived By Administrators, Teachers, And School Psychologists In Berrien, Cass, And Van Buren Counties, Rosemary E. Mcdaniel

Dissertations

Problem. As our society changes, new demands are made on families and their children. This creates problems, concerns, and needs which should be addressed by the schools. Consequently, school psychologists will be expected to broaden their present roles and functions to meet these demands. The dilemma is to know what adjustments within the role of school psychology must be made in order to keep up with the changes in society, particularly those which affect school-age children and their families.

Method. This study was an attempt to examine actual and desired functions and training needs of school psychologists within Southwestern …

Stressful Educational Phenomena That Led Teachers To Separate Voluntarily From A South Florida School District, Michael Raymond

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

In 1999, the Florida State Legislature passed a statute that provided funding to all Florida school districts for recruitment and retention (Florida Department of Education, Teacher Exit Interview Information, 2000-01 [FDOETEII], 2001). This statute required all districts to document teacher attrition with exit interviews. In the two years that exit interviews have been conducted, 11 1 of the 655 teachers left the district voluntarily due to stress on the job, equating to 16.9% of the total number of voluntary separations (FDOEETEII, 200 1,2002).

When a teacher suffers from burnout they at first could develop increased feelings of emotional exhaustion and …

A Case Study Of Secondary School General Education Language Arts Teachers' Attitudes Concerning Teaching Mainstreamed English To Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Students, Aurora Francois

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The purpose of this case study was to explore, through naturalistic inquiry, the events that contributed to general education language arts teachers' attitudes regarding teaching mainstreamed ESOL students. Four sources of data were utilized to analyze five indicators which were: a) previous educational experience, b) specific ESOL training, c) personal contact with diverse culture, d) prior contact with ESOL students and e) demographic characteristics. This study employed a purposeful sample and included eight high school general education language arts teachers. The study's methodology included a demographic questionnaire, a self-assessment checklist, multiple observations and in-depth interviews. Participants in this study displayed …

Phonological And Syntactic Processing, And The Role Of Working Memory In Reading Comprehension Among High School Students, John V. Holsgrove

Theses : Honours

The performance of 60 year8 students was examined on tasks measuring phonological processing, syntactic processing, and reading comprehension. The students were also administered several measures of working memory relating to the phonological loop and the central executive. A series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that phonological processing and syntactic processing were both predictors of reading comprehension, and that the presence or absence of the latter distinguished good and poor comprehenders respectively. The phonological loop was found to play a small but significant role in the processes involved in reading comprehension, but not the central executive. Gender differences suggested that boys …