Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Comparison Of Health Characteristics Found Among Six Selected Migrant Groups In Primary Grades, Jill D. Land

All Master's Theses

Two hundred twelve migrant students in Chelan and Douglas County schools were screened in reference to fifty-two characteristics within seven health categories. A chi square analysis by contingency coefficient was made for each characteristic to compare differences between six selected groups in kindergarten and first grade and second and third grades. Significant differences between groups were found for two health characteristics in kindergarten and first grade and five health characteristics in second and third grades.

Survey Of The 1971-1972 Special Education Undergraduate Program At Central Washington State College, Rebecca Irene Morehead

All Master's Theses

This study presents an evaluation of the 1971-1972 undergraduate program in special education at Central Washington State College. Copies of the evaluating instrument were sent to 75 1971-1972 graduates of the special education program. The results from the 41 instruments returned were tabulated and evaluated. Recommendations were based on the data received.

Assessing Some Side Effects Of A Contingency Management Program, Charles M. Atkinson

All Master's Theses

This study applied a contingency management program to a single behavior while measuring multiple behaviors. Reinforcement was made contingent upon increased addition rate. The experimental group made significantly greater gains in addition rate. There was no significant difference in the gains made in subtraction rate, reading rate, reading comprehension, or classroom behavior. The study was limited by a small sample, six week time span, and the use of mentally retarded subjects to assess side effects of reinforcing an academic behavior.

The Effects Of Systematic Phonics And Contingency Management On Reading Achievement With Intermediate Special Education Students, Allena Marie Hayes Combelic

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a study of the effects of systematic phonics and contingency management on reading achievement with intermediate special education students. The thirtysix week program was divided into four phases. The four equivalent forms of the Gray Oral Reading Tests were used as measuring devices. No statistically significant results were found by using the Gray Oral Reading Tests as measuring devices. Statistically significant results were found on graph data.

Recommendations included: (1) the use of different reading tests other than the Gray Oral Reading Tests as measuring devices and (2) that the study be conducted longer than thirty-six weeks.

Effects Of Contingency Management On Grade Level Achievement Of Secondary Special Education Students, Richard L. Swanby

All Master's Theses

This study presents a comparison of grade level achievement for secondary special education students of non-reinforcement and reinforcement periods. The program was designed for 26 special education students between grade 9 through 12 at Selah High School. A statistical evaluation was done between the non-reinforcement and reinforcement periods.

Recommendation included that the program may be an effective means of educating secondary special education students.

The Effect Of Reading Achievement Of Seventh Grade Special Education Students Involved In A Tutoring Program, Kenneth A. Mattson

All Master's Theses

Many variations of the tutorial concept have been presented and analyzed. Some programs have been professionally designed and have received federal grants while others have been organized by teachers and other innovators. These programs have involved graduate students, college students, interested members of the community, high school dropouts, and public students from elementary to high school. The greatest portion of these studies has been concerned with the effects of tutoring on those who received the benefits - the tutee. Few programs have been concerned with the effects of the tutoring sessions on the tutor. The problem then is to determine …

Management Of Problem Behavior Through Peer Social Reinforcement, Nancy E. Bingell

All Master's Theses

For many years a difference of opinion has existed regarding the classroom placement of "emotionally disturbed" children into special classes. The majority of public school districts offer two placements into their special classes: heterogenous or homogeneous grouping. Homogeneous grouping of these children seems to cause a "boomeranging" effect on reinforcement of their disruptive behavior. We have not always found our answer for helping emotionally disturbed children through heterogeneous grouping. Since emotionally disturbed children usually have the ability or an above average ability to learn, a heterogeneous grouping may not be academically stimulating. Their classroom peers (children that are retarded, slow …

The Impact Of Establishing Group Homes On Public Schools Special Education Classes, Stewart Glen Egbert

All Master's Theses

This study had two purposes: to give a descriptive analysis of group homes, and to determine whether the establishment of group homes has had any impact on public school districts' special education classes in the State of Washington. The factors examined were: who is providing a formal education for the residents; to what extent are group home residents receiving public services.

A Comparison Of Seven Teaching Traits Between Experienced Special Education Teachers And Experienced Regular Education Teachers, James Edward Thomas

All Master's Theses

There seems a need for educational research to find if special education teachers have unique behavioral traits in dealing with children in the classroom. Many studies have been conducted with this general goal in mind. Unfortunately, most of the studies have dealt with such things as personality traits, attitudes, and characteristics. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are any significant differences among experienced special education teachers and experienced regular classroom teachers on seven teaching traits. It was hoped that this investigation would point out some behaviors unique to special education teachers since it is believed by …

A Survey Of The Integration Of Exceptional Children In Regular Classrooms, Catherine A. Greene

All Master's Theses

Educational practice in the past has been to segregate exceptional children by placing them in self-contained special education classrooms. Recently, however, this method has been questioned by leading special educators. Proponents of segregation of exceptional children admit to inadequacies in the present situation, but they argue that such inadequacies can be remedied and do not justify placing exceptional children in regular classrooms. Proponents of integration maintain that exceptional children live in a heterogeneous world and as adults will live and work in a heterogeneous world; therefore, these children should have a school setting that is like the world in which …

The Effects Of A Behavior Modification Program On The Self Concepts Of Children In Special Education, Barbara M. Scott

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine whether using a behavior modification approach to teaching children will help to raise a child's self concept.

Special Education Vocational Rehabilitation Cooperative Work Experience In Washington State, James C. Mcconnell

All Master's Theses

The cooperative program now has been in operation six years, long enough for both parties to have experienced success and also frustration in their efforts to mold a true partnership. Ten separate programs now operate within this framework; however different personnel and philosophies shape each program in distinctive ways. In any program demanding cooperation between not only individuals but also separate agencies, success or failure is partly dependent upon how well objectives can be shaped for the common good. The intent of this study is to explore how well this shaping process is proceeding, to what degree objectives are cooperatively …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Various Methods Of Teaching Reading In Special Education Classrooms, Mary Ann Fisher

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two reading programs, Sullivan's Programmed Reading and the Psycholinguistic Color System, and to try to determine if one program did, in effect, have a particular value over the other when used with children in an intermediate special education program. A secondary purpose of the study was to determine if a teacher-centered program brought about different results than one which was student-centered.

A Comparative Study Of Open Court And Slingerland Reading Programs When Used With Special Education Students, Steven L. Richards

All Master's Theses

It is the purpose of this investigation to determine the effectiveness of Open Court and Slingerland reading programs when used with intermediate students who perform at the educable mentally retarded level.

Contingency Management In A Language Development Program, James E. Clark

All Master's Theses

The problem was two-fold. The first part of the problem was the investigation of whether a person with no formal training in speech could successfully administer Gray's (1970) language development program. The second part of the problem was the investigation of whether the two subjects involved would gain the ability to use new language structures.

Increasing The Verbal Response Rate Of A Mentally Retarded Girl, Preston W. C. Smith

All Master's Theses

This investigation was instigated to assess the effectiveness of a systematic application of reinforcement on the verbal response rate of a withdrawn, educable mentally retarded student in a junior high school special education class. The purpose of this study was to test the following hypothesis: There will be no statistically significant difference in the subject's verbal response rate between the baseline average and under conditions of systematic application of reinforcement.

The Experimental Use Of Operant Procedures With Language Delayed Children, Scott W. Nielsen

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study: (1) To compare the amount of vocalization produced by each child before the experiment with the amount of vocalization during and after the application of operant conditioning techniques. (2) To compare the variations in the vocalization produced by the children. (3) To explore the possibility of shaping those vocalizations into meaningful words. The study sought to verify the following statement: Utilization of operant conditioning principles will increase the amount and variety of vocalization in language delayed children.

Effects Of Programmed Conditioning On Language Achievement Of A Ten Year Old Non-Verbal Child, Robert J. Moore

All Master's Theses

It was hypothesized that a ten year old non-verbal boy could progress in the development of language through the use of programmed conditioning (Gray, 1968) conducted in a public school by a teacher not specifically trained in speech and language.

Conditioning Expressive Language In A Nonverbal Child, Frederick R. Moll

All Master's Theses

The problem of treating the child with delayed speech acquisition has generated a considerable amount of research and these studies have pointed out the need for further work in this area. The purpose of this study is to test the procedures of one particularly effective study, that of Dr. Burl B. Gray at the Monterey Institute for Speech and Hearing in Monterey, California. By removing it from the clinical setting of the Institute, with its unusually well-trained and highly specialized staff, and by successfully employing its procedures using comparatively untrained personnel, it was felt that this program might be applied …

A Descriptive Study Of Focus Room As A Method Of Integrating The Educationally Disadvantaged With The More Abled Student, Edward J. Novak

All Master's Theses

The problem was to develop a descriptive method of meeting the needs of underachieving students in the junior high. Focus Room was then decided upon as a method of meeting these needs by integrating the educationally disadvantaged with the more abled students. The general purpose of Focus Room was to attempt to establish a method of providing reparation experiences that would enable the student to evaluate and rebuild in these areas in terms of his own needs. The specific intent of student assignment to Focus Room was intended to be as varied and individual as the needs of the students …

A Description And Analysis Of Children With Learning Problems Referred To A Reading Teacher, Patricia M. Olsen

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study (1) to analyze remedial classes in an average school for one school year, (2) to make as thorough a study as is possible of individual learners and to identify the factors present in their problems, (3) to describe the factors to make them more easily recognized, and (4) to find possible solutions for the problems found to be present most often.

An Experimental Study To Determine The Effect Of Creative Dramatics Upon A Public School Speech Therapy Program, Sharon Lee Balyeat

All Master's Theses

The intent of the study was to determine the effect of creative dramatics upon the attitudes and language skills of a group of children participating in a public school speech correction program.

Spontaneous Use Of Manual Precision Skills By Trainable, Educable And Average Children, Sister Ellen Ward Snjm

All Master's Theses

Since manual precision skills are vital for some tasks and for successful manipulation of objects in the environment, it is important to ascertain whether or not young trainable mentally retarded and educable mentally retarded children are as apt to use these skills as are young average achieving elementary school children.

Clarification Of The Role Of The Teacher Of The Elementary Educable Mentally Retarded Child In Tacoma, Washington, Stephen Melseth

All Master's Theses

The basic problem is what role expectations does the teacher of elementary EMR children think she has compared to what her principal thinks her role should be? Role expectation statements from four areas were considered: (1) Curriculum and Instruction; (2) School and Community Relations; (3) Administration and Organization; (4-) Guidance and Evaluation.

Three specific questions are cited:

(1) Is there consensus for selected role norm items, among teachers of the elementary EMR child?

(2) Is there consensus for selected role norm items among the building principals?

(3) Is there consensus for selected role norm items between the focal and counter …

A Comparison Of The Self-Concept Levels Of Educable Mental Retardates In The Wenatchee Public Schools And The Lacey Public Schools, John Williams

All Master's Theses

It shall be the purpose of this study to determine the measured self concept of the educable mentally retarded enrolled in a secondary special education program and to compare it with the measured self concept of the educable mentally retarded enrolled in a normal secondary school program.

A Study Of The Influencing Factors Causing Experienced Special Education Teachers To Change To Regular Programs, Jon R. Gobiet

All Master's Theses

This study was done to determine basic reasons why qualified special education personnel in three similar school districts in Washington State have changed to the regular programs.

A Pilot Study On The Comparison Of The Effect Of A Traditional Physical Education Program And A Movement Exploration Program On The Self Concept Of The Special Education Student, Sherrie Ann Chrysler

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this pilot study, which was exploratory in nature, was to determine if the type of physical education program a special education student experiences affects his self concept.

Comparison Of A Movement Exploration Program To A Traditional Physical Education Program Using Junior High School Special Education Students, Dale W. Lanegan

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a scheduled program of Movement Exploration would show an effective means of improving the physical fitness and motor skill abilities of a group of junior high school special education students. For means of analyses, the Movement program was compared to a traditional program of physical education for a Control group of junior high school special education students.

A Developmental Program For Trainable Mentally Retarded Pupils, Richard Matthew Ozanich

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the project was to apply a specified training program and test its results with eight pupils who constituted a class for trainable mentally retarded children. The children were placed in the group on the basis of evaluation by a school psychologist. The training program was the Social Education First Aid (SEFA) program (Gunzburg, 1964). Additional concrete materials were used to supplement the SEFA material. The children's growth in the following areas of social competence was evaluated: self-help, communication, socialization, and occupation.

Effects Of Contingency Management On Reading Achievement Of Junior High Special Education Students, Larry Busse

All Master's Theses

Historically, the approach to teaching the special education child, who has learning difficulties, has been one of following the regular course of study but going more slowly than with the academically able student. However, junior high school special education students need to be motivated by techniques that go beyond existing methods. The initial purpose of this investigation was to explore "new methods" as a means of improving teaching techniques.