Educational Psychology Commons^™

Self Perceptions Of Sibling Relationships, Cory R. Mueller

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to associate birth orders effect on an individual's perception of their sibling, family, and social roles. Research has asserted that children learn by observing the actions of their siblings, which transcend into other aspects of their own lives. One hundred and one undergraduate college students were separated into three categories: younger sibling subjects (n=47), older sibling subjects (n=49), and only children subjects (n=5). The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire comprised of 25 statements about their sibling, family, and social relationships based on a 5 point …

A Comparison Of Full-Day And Half-Day Preschool: Analyzing Behavioral And Social Development, Laura Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare full-day and half-day preschool programs by analyzing behavioral and social development of three-year-old and four-year-old children. Data was collected from 31 participants enrolled in a preschool in Wilmington, Delaware that offered both full-day and half-day programs. Measures of social cooperation, social interaction, social independence, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior were obtained from the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales- Second Edition. Between-subjects analysis of variance tests revealed that the children in the half-day program displayed higher social skills. In addition, one half-day classroom displayed more problem behaviors. Implications for future research on comparing …

The Effectiveness Of School Uniforms On Students' Academic Achievement And Overall Classroom Behavior, Bobbi Jo Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to see what effect school uniforms had on students' academics and behavior. Subjects were seventh and eighth grade students, from a school which recently implemented a uniform policy for the 2006-2007 school year. Their academic and discipline records were collected from the current and previous year. Students from the previous year, who were not required to wear uniforms, were placed in the control group (n=55). Students, who were now required to wear uniforms, were placed in the experimental group (n=55). A t-test for independent samples was run on the data. No significant difference …

Conflict Resolution In Elementary School, Nanci L. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and assess the effectiveness of conflict resolution training on students' ability to recall the steps of conflict resolution and to use conflict resolution strategies to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thirty-five third grade students from a middle class rural elementary school participated in the study. The experimental group (N = 17) received six weeks of conflict resolution training, and the control group (N = 18) received no intervention. All participants were assessed on recall of the six steps of conflict resolution and on the application of conflict strategies in response to a conflict scenario …

The Relationship Between Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religiosity And Meaning In Life, Diane Woyciechowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following study was to determine whether there is a significant relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and the presence of and search for meaning in one's life. Since religion has previously been found to play a role in one's physical and mental health, the present study offers additional evidence to religion's role in the mental health field. Three measures were used to collect the data for this study, including a demographic form, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Intrinsic/ Extrinsic Religiosity Revised Scale (I/E-R). Sixty-eight students were recruited for this study, 31 males and …

Comparing Friendships Of College Students From Intact And Divorced Families, Jennifer Shendock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in quality and quantity of friendships in young adults with divorced parents compared to young adults from intact families. To identify this, college students (n=25) from a Mid-Atlantic University filled out a questionnaire related to friendship. The participants who fell into the divorced group (n= 7) filled out an additional questionnaire that examined the impact that parental divorce had on their life. Using a t test to compare the friendship scores, it was found that there was no significant difference in the quality of friendships of the participants from both …

Family Dynamics And Substance Use In Young Adulthood, Jonathan White

Theses and Dissertations

An investigation was conducted examining the relationship between memories of family dynamics during the participants' adolescent years and substance use during their young adulthood. To carry out this research, a sample of 118 participants (72 women and 46 men) was recruited from a small public university in southern New Jersey. Participants were required to fill-out surveys assessing their memories of their families' patterns of interpersonal interactions and substance use. The statistical analysis of the data collected through the experimental procedures revealed several significant findings. Specifically, significant negative correlations were found between quality or frequency of health family dynamics and substance …

Does Student Engagement Vary Among Colleges Within A University?, Amrinder Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between student engagement and different colleges within a university. Research has asserted that student engagement is closely related to student learning and that student engagement varies from institution to institution depending on various factors. However, there has been minimal research on student engagement among colleges within the same university. A sample of 120 undergraduate college students (20 from each of the six colleges) was recruited from Rowan University to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement in four different areas: Level of academic challenge, Active and collaborative learning, Student-faculty interaction …

The Effects Of Pre-Exam Exposure To Music On Test Anxiety, Samuel Parashis

Theses and Dissertations

Students (N = 39) were divided into three groups by the investigator based on a predetermined sign-up block assignment. Eleven students listened to a 7-minute compact disc audio track of Mozart's Piano Sonata K333. Thirteen listened to a 7-minute compact disc audio track of Anima's Spirit of the Southwest. Others (n = 15) sat in silence for a 7-minute period. Following the 7-minute period, all subjects attempted a logic test for 10 minutes. Next, subjects completed the Individual Test Anxiety Assessment by Samuel Parashis. A two-way Analysis of Variance, ANOVA, was conducted on the data collected from the Individual Anxiety …

The Relationship Of Locus Of Control, Assimilation/Acculturation And Academic Performance, Sandra Padró

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between locus of control, assimilation/acculturation and academic performance of a group of students in a Southern New Jersey, urban middle school. It was hypothesized that the more assimilation/acculturation of Hispanic students into the Anglo culture a more internal locus of beliefs will be demonstrated and a better academic performance. A total of 137 students participated in this study. Data was collected using a LOC survey and a SASH-Y survey. An Anova-One Way and a Two-Way Anova were used to determine the relationship of these variables. The results demonstrated a connection …

A Study On The Impact Of Parental Structure On High School Students' Academic Performance, Erica Rell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the cumulative GPAs and highest combined SAT scores of students from varying backgrounds and parental structures. A total of 83 participants (36 males and 47 females) from a southern New Jersey Catholic high school were surveyed concerning their individual type of parental structure, their cumulative GPA, as well as their highest combined SAT score and individual SAT test scores. Results showed that the interaction between gender and type of parental structure did not have a significant impact on cumulative GPA, on SAT verbal scores, on SAT math scores, on …

Service-Learning And Its Effect On Social Justice, Multicultural Competence, And Civic Engagement, Aaron Einfeld

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although there is a growing body of research revealing the transformative potential of participation in service-learning programs, there is no study that qualitatively examines the effects of participation in a long-term service-learning program. This study investigates this issue. Interviews were conducted with participants of a university - sponsored AmeriCorps service-learning program to examine the effects of a long-term placement on participant understanding of and commitment to social justice, multicultural competence, and civic engagement. Several participants in this study increased their awareness of inequality, but only some adopted a commitment to social justice. Participants also developed several multicultural skills while interacting …

Feminist Pedagogy At A Religious School? An Assessment Of Byu Law School's Approach To Teaching, Joshua S. Baron

Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law

No abstract provided.

The Framework For Early Learning: A Background Paper:Children's Early Learning And Development Executive Summary, Geraldine French

Reports

This is the Executive Summary of the background paper Children’s early learning and development, sets out the theory and research underpinning children’s early learning and development in the Framework for Early Learning. The paper essentially responds to the question - how should we envision and understand the child as a young learner? The paper begins by outlining the context for early childhood care and education in Ireland by referring to our economic and social climate, the increasingly multicultural nature of society and relevant legislation and policy. Drawing on centuries of research, the modern day view of the child is one …

No Child's Intelligence Left Behind: The Impact Of Instrumental Enrichment Training On Teacher Belief Systems, Jeanne Marie Zehr

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods research project provided quantitative and qualitative assessments on the impact of Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment (F.I.E.) training on the belief systems of American educators, specifically on the extent of belief in the modifiability of intelligence. The two-way ANOVA conducted for the quantitative research portion of the study compared the results of five groups of educators with various training experiences with Instrumental Enrichment. The second independent variable, years of experience in teaching, had three levels: 0 to 5, 6 to 30, and 31 +. The dependent variable consisted of epistemological belief in learning ability on a continuum from na'ive …

Increasing Social Interaction Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Parent Implementation Of The Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (Dir) Program, Yvette Cantu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purposed study examined the changes in positive and negative social interactions based on parent implementation and non-implementation in the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) program designed for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Nine participants were randomly selected and assigned to a DIR treatment group and a control group. The study was conducted over an eight week period. Overall, the statistical analysis of the implementation of the DIR program at home did not yield a significant change in positive social interaction skills. However, the parent's perspective of their children's social skills, as demonstrated through the parent questionnaire and through …

A Study Of Personality And Student Involvement On The College Campus, Kera Bisson

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

This study examined optimism and locus of control and their relationship to student involvement on and off-campus. The participants were 94 undergraduate students, male and female, ages 18 to 22. Participants completed three scales; Optimism Scale, Locus of Control Scale, and Involvement Scale. The results were analyzed using a correlational matrix. Optimism was significantly related to student involvement. Locus of control, contrary to predictions, was not significantly related to student involvement. Conclusions are drawn about optimism’s role in student involvement and about how student involvement may increase optimism.

The Theory Of Planned Behavior: Predicting Physical Activity In Mexican American Children, Jeffrey J. Martin, Kimberly L. Oliver, Nate Mccaughtry

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

Theoretically grounded research on the determinants of Mexican American children's physical activity and related psychosocial variables is scarce. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict Mexican American children's self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Children (N = 475, ages 9–12) completed questionnaires assessing the TPB constructs and MVPA. Multiple regression analyses provided moderate support for the ability of the TPB variables to predict MVPA as we accounted for between 8–9% of the variance in MVPA. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control accounted for 45% of the …

Delgadina En La Frontera, Sara Soledad Garcia

Teacher Education

Es posible que "Delgadina", el romance popular español medieval más divulgado en los países de habla hispana, llegara a los terrenos fronterizos de lo que son ahora los Estados Unidos y los estados de Texas, Nuevo México y Arizona, con Ia expedición colonizadora de Juan de Oñate, Ia cual arribó al Río Grande en abril de 1598. Como corrido se divulgó mucho por esas tierras y por el Norte de México y ha seguido oyéndose y cantándose hasta Ia actualidad. En los años 30 y 40,la cantante de Texas, Lydia Mendoza conocida como "Ia flor de Texas", le dio una …

Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention: A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Perceptions Of Bullying Prevention Programs, Diana Howell

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

School bullying has often been tacitly minimalized as a rite of passage—an unfortunate but common experience among children. In the past few years there has been an increasing awareness of school bullying as a catalyst of school violence. Parents, school boards, and administrators are understanding and taking more seriously the negative impact that bullying has on victimized students and are actively looking for ways to reduce incidents of such violence. This research provides a discussion of bullying behavior and an examination of teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs in their schools. If teachers do not feel that …

The Social Coping Questionnaire: An Examination Of Its Structure With An American Sample Of Gifted Adolescents, Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Regan Clark Foust, Carolyn M. Callahan

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Gifted students report that they are often perceived differently than nonidentified students (Cross, Coleman, & Stewart, 1993); thus, they employ social coping strategies to manipulate the visibility of their giftedness. The Social Coping Questionnaire (SCQ; Swiatek, 1995) was designed to assess these strategies. This studys purpose was to examine the SCQ’s factor structure with a sample of 600 younger (grades 5-7) and older (grades 8-11) gifted boys and girls in the US. and determine the tenability of the factor structure across age and gender groups. Participants’ scores were randomly assigned to either exploratory factor analysis (EFA) or confirmatory factor analysis …

To Pay Or Not To Pay?: Legal And Ethical Issues In International Students’ Participation In Research, Ana A. L. Baumann, Melanie M. Domenech-Rodriguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research methods are typically drafted carefully to ensure that the research question on hand can be answered. Sample selection is influenced by issues of feasibility. For example, in the case of researchers interested in cross-cultural research, the cost of traveling abroad and the practical matters involved in data collection in another country may make cross-cultural research impossible to conduct. Research with samples of recently immigrated persons in the ethnic, national, and/or cultural group of interest might present a viable and defensible alternative to examine crosscultural differences in the constructs of interest. Recently, however, the authors learned that there are major …

Using Peer Mediation As A New Alternative For Conflict Resolution: The Effects On Students' Behaviors And Attitudes, Shanika Anicia Testamark

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

During the recent years, countless incidents regarding school violence have captured the attention of many, and have disrupted the lives of numerous young students in the United States. In an effort to rebuild a healthier and safer school climate in America schools, many studies have been conducted on peer mediation programs. Peer mediation programs were developed to educate students on how to resolve conflicts constructively.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the implementation of a peer mediation program called Project S.T.O.P (Students Teaching Options for Peace) could reduce school violence and students' aggressive behaviors and attitudes. To …

Preparing A Surpassing Moral Force: The Dynamics Of The Brigham University Singers, David Ray Burton

Theses and Dissertations

This is a qualitative study that takes a close look at an exemplary performing group, the Brigham Young University Singers. Using the methods of phenomenology and naturalistic inquiry, the author presents a rich, thick description of the daily activities and unique culture of the choir. Both strengths and weaknesses of the group are identified so that others can have an authentic, vicarious experience through reading the Singers' story. The author also identifies seven principles that contribute to the success of the group so that other choral conductors can adapt them to their own unique situations. Educators in all disciplines can …

Extending The Reach Of Educational Research: Applying Product Commercialization Processes To Communities Of Practice, Richard Edward Culatta

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to extend educational research beyond the research community could have a great impact on end-users such as teachers, students, or educational administrators. One way to extend the use of educational research is to create tangible educational products; such as virtual simulations, instructional videos, and printed materials; which can be easily and widely distributed. In order to transform research into products, members of the research community must adopt and implement certain product commercialization processes. Effective processes, if not recognized by members of the community, are not helpful for ensuring that quality end products are reached. Likewise, a supportive community …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Performance Improvement Initiative At Byu Broadcasting, Brandon L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the feasibility of bridging performance gaps in the program stream between BYU Broadcasting's post production and master control environments by implementing a technical infrastructure that supports a file-based workflow. The system that was evaluated was an Apple Xsan running specialized software, called FORK. Performance gaps were identified and a technical evaluation of the system was conducted. Figuring out how the change initiative would affect and be affected by non-technical factors, such as human nature and social and cultural concerns, was integral to the evaluation process. The evaluation concluded that the System was …

Creation Of A Training And Development Program For Teachers Of Less Commonly Taught Languages At Brigham Young University: A Development Project, Margaret Merrill

Theses and Dissertations

This project report discusses the design, development, and evaluation of a teacher development program for teachers of less commonly taught languages in the Center for Language Studies (CLS) at Brigham Young University. Teachers hired to teach beginning language classes in the CLS are typically very proficient in the target languages, but are not trained in language teaching. Because proficiency in a language alone does not sufficiently qualify someone to teach it, this teacher development program was created to train CLS teachers in the basics of language pedagogy. The report includes a review of relevant literature on language pedagogy and teacher …

Book Review: Social Identity And Its Discontents, David Moshman

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

In 1944, a Muslim day laborer named Kader Mia was knifed while looking for work in Dhaka, Bengal, in what later became the geographically separated eastern part of Pakistan, and still later Bangladesh. His assailants were unknown to him except that they were Hindus for whom his Muslim identity was sufficient reason to kill him. Bleeding profusely, he stumbled through a gate into a garden where he asked an eleven-year-old boy for help and water. The boy called his parents and got some water, but Kader Mia later died in the hospital.

Evaluating The Impact On Users From Implementing A Course Management System, Charles R. Graham, Meghan M. Kennedy, Gregory L. Waddoups, Richard E. West

Faculty Publications

Nearly all colleges and universities are using some form of e-learning system, usually an expensive course management system (CMS), to create online course offerings or to enhance regular, classroom-oriented courses. Our university has invested a large amount of resources into purchasing and supporting one of the two most popular CMS vendors, and it has become imperative to understand what the effects from using this technology have been, as well as how we can improve the integration of this and other educational technologies into different instructional contexts. This project, through a combination of surveys, call-log analysis, and interviews, was used to …

Understanding The Experiences Of Instructors As They Adopt A Course Management System, Charles R. Graham, Gregory L. Waddoups, Richard E. West

Faculty Publications

In this study, we used qualitative methods to help us better understand the experiences of instructors as they are persuaded to adopt a course management system and integrate it into their teaching. We discuss several patterns explaining how instructors implemented Blackboard, a CMS, by experimenting with individual features, facing both technical and integration challenges, and attempting to adapt Blackboard features to match their goals and practices. We also give explanations for why instructors either a) embraced the tool and grew more dependent on it, b) reduced their use of the tool to only some features, or c) discontinued the tool …