Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Self-Esteem As A Predictor Of Treatment Outcome Among Women With Eating Disorders, Suzanne F. Plowman

Theses and Dissertations

Current empirical evidence suggests that true recovery from eating disorders is not possible without a corresponding improvement in body image and self-esteem. Ten studies in current literature evaluate this relationship between self-esteem and clinical eating disorders during inpatient treatment or during follow-up studies but do not provide both pre- (baseline) and post-treatment self-esteem scores. As a result, many questions about the nature of the relationship between eating disorders and self-esteem remain unanswered. The purpose of this study was to empirically investigate whether a comprehensive measure of self-esteem, given to women at the beginning of inpatient treatment for eating disorders, reliably …

Utah School Psychologists: Self-Reported Reasons For Retention And Job Satisfaction, Lisa A. Dickison

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the level of job satisfaction reported by Utah school psychologists and their reasons for staying in their profession. An existing survey was modified and distributed to 119 of the 238 licensed school psychologists in Utah to obtain information on this topic. Sixty-nine school psychologists completed and returned the questionnaire (58% return rate). Based on their feedback, the top five reasons Utah school psychologists stay in their profession were (a) feeling the success and joy of helping students, (b) counseling with students, (c) working one-on-one with students, (d) taking vacation time during summers and holidays, and (e) …

The Correlation Between The Eating Attitudes Test And Body Shape Questionnaire, Maren L. Kanekoa

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the relationship between eating attitudes and body image dissatisfaction using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Three cohorts of almost 2,000 undergraduate females from Brigham Young University were given the EAT and BSQ twice a year for two to four years, depending upon their year of entrance to BYU. The data collected were analyzed using correlational statistics. Results indicated that a high positive correlation between the EAT and BSQ existed across semesters and cohorts.

The Effect On Teaching Problem-Solving Skills For Students With Learning Disabilities Using The Connected Mathematics Project, Melissa A. Axelsson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) for seventh-graders with learning disabilities in acquiring math problem-solving skills in the areas of comparisons, percents, ratios, and rates. A total of 10 middle school students in a small rural district participated in the study. The CMP unit, Comparing and Scaling, was taught to those students for six weeks. Four pretests and post-tests were given to evaluate their performance. A survey was provided to investigate their satisfaction with their learning experience in the CMP. All students gained scores, with an average increase of 55.72%. …

Teacher Perceptions On Student Portfolio Assessment And Implementation, Diane Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of teachers on portfolio development, implementation, and assessment for all students, specifically for students with disabilities. An interview was conducted individually with ten teachers working in diverse educational settings in southern Wisconsin.

A short survey gathered data on teacher demographics including gender, teaching experience, portfolio experience, and education. The interview protocol organized the questions into five sections: (1) Teacher Knowledge of Portfolios, (2) Developing and Implementing Portfolios, (3) Effectiveness as an Educational Tool and Influence on Instructional Practices, (4) Portfolio Legitimacy as an Alternative Assessment, (5) Student Roles and Responsibilities of Developing Portfolios.

The results …

A Study On High School Graduates With Disabilities: How Is Their Transition From School To Adulthood?, Dawn M. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the transition of high school students with disabilities after graduation, including their satisfaction with their preparedness for college, vocational school, employment options, and independent living, and the school's transition plan and services. A total of 125 high school graduates with disabilities, in the past five years, were included in this study and 50 were randomly selected for a phone interview to obtain their responses in detail. In this study, the effect of a student's transition plan and services was evaluated by the percentage of graduates attending college after high school and their …

Culturally Adapted Mental Health Treatments: A Meta-Analysis, Derek Griner

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years psychologists have increased awareness and concern regarding the quality of mental health services provided to people of color. For several reasons clients of color often find traditional mental health services foreign or unhelpful. To help diminish obstacles faced by clients of color, several authors have advocated traditional mental health treatments be modified to better match clients' cultural contexts. Researchers have also begun investigating outcomes associated with culturally modified mental health treatments, often contrasting them with traditional mental health services. Recently numerous studies containing empirical data have been published. To date there has been no attempt to review …

Stability Of A Normal Heterosexual Female Response To Affinity 2.0, Kara L. Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the temporal stability of a normal heterosexual female response to the Affinity 2.0, a newly standardized viewing time (VT) instrument that purports to measure sexual interest. Participants were 120 female undergraduate and graduate students from a private university (mean age = 21.67 years) who met inclusion criteria of non-pedophilic interest/history, identified as “Exclusively Heterosexual" on the Kinsey Scale, and who took the Affinity 2.0 both at test and at retest (approximately two weeks later). Participants also filled out a questionnaire following the retest composed of demographic questions, a shortened version of …

Legislation, Litigation, Regulation, And Implementation Of Paraprofessional Supervision In School Settings, Sungti Hsu

Theses and Dissertations

Since the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004, there is a strong emphasis on the supervision of paraprofessionals who provide instructional assistance to classroom teachers. Scholars have stressed and litigation has highlighted the importance of paraprofessional supervision. However, there is limited information regarding the definition of supervision, who should and how that supervision should happen. The NCLB and IDEIA legislation leaves room for states to establish state regulation and litigation to interpret supervision. This study explored the current litigation and scholarly works concerning how …

Defining The Components Of Academic Self-Efficacy In Navajo American Indian High School Students, Thomas R. Golightly

Theses and Dissertations

The academic difficulties experienced by a majority of Navajo American Indian students are well documented. Past research has focused on a variety of internal and external factors which possibly explain some of these difficulties. Low levels of academic self-efficacy (ASE) has been identified as one of the factors possibly contributing to lower than expected rates of academic achievement and low post-secondary education retention rates in this population. This investigation sought to further define the component structures of ASE using theoretical structures postulated by Bandura (1977a, 1997), namely: past success, modeling, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal. Information about grade point averages …

Paraprofessionals In The Classroom: Creating A Test Bank, Linda Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This purpose of this thesis was to create a valid, reliable, fair test bank for the textbook Paraprofessionals in the Classroom (Ashbaker & Morgan, 2006). This textbook was written specifically for the education of paraprofessionals. Further education beyond high school is one of the options recommended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to assist paraprofessionals in becoming highly qualified to work with children with special needs. Extensive research was conducted by the researcher on what constituted a good test bank. Excerpts were selected from seven chapters of the textbook. Questions and a rating scale for each question …

Eating Disorder Risk In Subgroups Of College Freshman Women, Karen E. Gochnour

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to identify subgroups within the college population having a heightened risk for eating disorders. The information for this analysis was retrieved from an existing data set. The two variables that were compared were self selection of college major at the initial collection during freshman year. The sample size of 1,924 was used to see if subgroups of college majors had a heightened risk. Twenty groups composed of similar majors were studied. The majors of Dance, Dietetics, Physical Education, and Communications had heightened risk according to analysis percentage of each group in the clinical range …

States' School Crisis Planning Materials: An Analysis Of Cross-Cultural Considerations And Sensitivity To Student Diversity, Neil O. Annandale

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of providing appropriate crisis intervention to individuals and families from diverse backgrounds is an often overlooked aspect of service provision. In particular, school-based crisis intervention has only recently begun to address this issue. This study reviewed state mandated school crisis plans, state directives for crisis plans, and state resources to assist school districts in developing crisis plans. The content of these materials was examined to determine the extent and type of coverage given to student diversity, particularly cross cultural considerations. Materials were obtained from state department of education internet sites and from the state offices of Safe and …

Superficial Self-Harm Behavior: Helping Young Women Who Hurt Themselves, Katherine D. Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

Roughly 1 to 4% of the population engages in self-harm. Superficial self-harm is reported by more young women, than young men. Appropriate responses from family, friends, and other important individuals are a key ingredient in facilitating recovery. Non-therapists, such as family, friends, and school personnel often wish to assist young women who self-harm, but the problem is complex and they are often unsure of how to respond. Current studies primarily focus on the clinical interventions for self-harm, while very few have investigated the perspectives of the individuals who self-harm. This study investigated the perspectives of young women who self-harm in …

Educators' Perceptions Of Collaborative Planning Processes For Students With Disabilities, Nari Carter

Theses and Dissertations

When students with disabilities are included in general education classes, collaboration between special and general education teachers is necessary to ensure that the students have access to the general education curriculum and also have supports that enable them to benefit from their education. This paper reports the results of a phenomenological study that investigated the nature of a collaborative planning experience for pairs of special and general education teachers. From the teachers' descriptions of their experience, sharing common philosophies about educating students with disabilities was an important aspect of successful collaborative planning. Collaboration in this experience was voluntary and was …

Advances In Student Self-Authorship: A Program Evaluation Of The Community Standards Model, Klinton E. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Universities are increasingly applying student developmental theories in a variety of contexts in order to better understand students and to accomplish institutional educational objectives. Robert Kegan's constructive-developmental theory has been utilized in the creation of the Community Standards Model, a program designed for use in university residence halls. The purpose of the Model is to promote student development from Kegan's third order of consciousness, in which student identity is based on a fusion of their peers' expectations and ideas, to the fourth order of consciousness, in which one becomes the author of his or her own values, beliefs, and ideals. …

The Use Of Viewing Time Of Non-Erotic Visual Stimuli To Differentiate Between Frequent Pornography Users And Infrequent Users, Brian James Sneed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a measure of viewing time that uses non-erotic visual stimuli can differentiate between frequent users and infrequent users of pornography. Thirty-six male participants were classified as infrequent pornography users and 37 as frequent users. Participants completed a questionnaire and were asked to rate a variety of images, both male and female of varying ages, on their sexual attractiveness. Individuals were timed as to how long they looked at each image. The groups were then compared based upon their viewing time of several categories. No statistically significant differences were detected. The temporal …

Medical Model Influence In Counseling And Psychotherapy: Counseling Psychology Training Directors' Views, Dallas R. Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of counseling and psychotherapy is influenced by a number of ideologies, models, and paradigms. Among these, the medical model's influence is particularly salient. The ideology of the medical field pervades the theory, research, and practice of psychology and its influence deserves close examination. The few studies in this area that have been conducted are descriptive and basic in nature. The present study aimed to contribute richness and depth to conversations about medical model influence. By interviewing Counseling Psychology training directors and applying a qualitative analysis, this study provided the following themes that characterize views of the medical model's …

Full-Day Kindergarten Versus Half-Day Kindergarten: Which Has More Advantages For Children With Disabilities?, Kathy V. Priest

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare academic and social skills of children with disabilities enrolled in both half-day and full-day kindergarten programs. Four boys, between the ages of 5 and 6, participated in the study. Of those, two were enrolled in a half-day program, and the other two were in a full-day program. Over a 4.5 month period, the children's academic skills were measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Test, and their behaviors were observed. A single subject research design with AB phases was used. Their scores were collected in three weeks as baseline data and their progress was …

What Are Elementary Students' Perceptions Of Their Homework? An Investigation On Student Achievement And Their Homework Completion, Charles Kenneth Morgenweck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to determine if there was a relationship between the amount of time special education and general education elementary students spent on homework and their corresponding academic achievement. The participants of the study included 83 fifth through eighth graders from a rural elementary school. Of those 67 were general education students and 16 were special education students. A self-reported survey was provided to participating students, as well as an interview to eight randomly selected students and their parents. The results showed that there was a very slight correlation between the amount of time students …

The Effects Of Social Skills Training To Increase Appropriate Behaviors Of Elementary Students With Disabilities In Physical Education, Rachel P. White

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a social skills training program provided by the researcher during physical education classes. Four male students ages 7 and 8 participated in the study once a week for 45 minutes.

Direct observations were used to collect data on the targeted social skills of sharing, taking turns, saying "Please" and "Thank you", and displaying good sportsmanship before, during and after the training. A single subject design with ABC phases was used to record student behaviors.

The results indicate that all students increased the appropriate target behaviors and reduced inappropriate behaviors …

Homework Can Be Challenging For Students With Learning Disabilities, Regis A. Vitale Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how homework affected students with learning disabilities and their parents. A total of 14 students with learning disabilities in a Learning Resource Center of a middle school, together with their parents, participated in the study. A survey with 15 questions was provided to participating students and parents individually. The results showed that 57% of the students had difficulty in completing their homework and 24% of students responded that homework was unimportant, because of the type, length, support and the grading system. In addition, 57% of the parents reported homework was important for …

A Study On Employment Of Vocational School Graduates With Disabilities: How Is Their Transition From School To Adulthood?, Herbert H. Stevenson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the employment and independent living status of students with learning disabilities (LD) upon graduation from a vocational school, the Institute of Technology. A telephone survey of 56 graduates was developed based on the Post High School Plans Survey (PHSPS) to investigate their employment, living, and opinion of transition services. A total of 46 graduates responded to the survey questions. The results showed that 39% of the graduates were employed in the career major they had studied at the institute, 17% employed out of their major and 22% unemployed. Fifty four percent of …

What Are Teachers' Perspectives On Their Competence In Teaching Students With Disabilities?, Tara Wessel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate special and regular education teachers' perspectives on issues such as training, experience, and education in teaching students with learning disabilities in inclusive settings. Twenty kindergarten, 1^st, and 2^nd grade teachers employed in an urban school district participated in the study. Of those, 13 are regular education teachers, and 7 are special education teachers. They responded to ten survey questions. Five teachers were randomly selected to participate in an interview in school. The results showed that special education teachers demonstrated a greater deal of competence in teaching students with disabilities …

Linkages Between Family Cohesion And Sibling Relationships In Families Raising A Child With A Disability, Mary L. Jefferson

Theses and Dissertations

Family researchers have often reported that siblings of children with disabilities have mixed outcomes, some harmful, and some beneficial, but have neglected to investigate how the sibling relationship might be correlated with other factors, such as family cohesion. Therefore, 72 mothers and fathers raising a child with a disability and a child without a disability completed the Family Cohesion subscale of Bloom's family functioning measure and the Sibling Inventory of Behavior to determine interactions between parents' perceptions of family cohesion and sibling relationships. Results indicated that mothers and fathers' perceptions of cohesion and sibling relationships were not significantly different. Mothers' …

Bibliotherapy: School Psychologists' Report Of Use And Efficacy, Marci A. Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the use of bibliotherapy by school psychologists. A survey was created and distributed to 119 registered and licensed school psychologists in Utah to obtain information on this topic. Forty-one percent returned a completed survey. Results indicated that bibliotherapy is used by 82% of the participants in the study, and 31 of 34 (91%) use bibliotherapy with children grades K-6. Topics most used with bibliotherapy included self-esteem, bullying, divorce, anxiety, and grief. Efficacy varied depending on the topic of bibliotherapy. However, school psychologists regarded bibliotherapy across all topics to be very effective to effective.

Perceptions Of Parents, Self, And God As Predictive Of Sympton Severity Among Women Beginning Inpatient Treatment For Eating Disorders, Melissa H. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The present investigation examined whether perceptions of parents, self, and God among women beginning inpatient treatment for eating disorders was predictive of symptom severity. The sample included 464 women (ages 12 to 56 years) beginning inpatient treatment for eating disorders at a private treatment facility, with the majority being Caucasian. Participants completed study measures as part of an initial battery of assessment measures, and included indices of eating disorder symptomology, parental relationships, self-esteem, and religious well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed perceptions of self and parents to be significant predictors, however perceptions of God failed to predict eating disorder symptom severity. …

School Psychologists' Perceived Concerns Regarding Crisis Intervention With Diverse Populations, Ana E. Kemple

Theses and Dissertations

With the ever-increasing diversity among students in the United States, American schools are seeing more of a mismatch between school personnel and students. Service provision has traditionally addressed multicultural competencies in the area of assessment and more recently in counseling procedures. With the increased attention given to school-related crises, the role of school psychologists has expanded to include crisis intervention. The current study will present information on the need for multicultural competencies in crisis intervention and assess the current concerns of nationally certified school psychologists in this area of service provision. Responses from a random sample of school psychologists (n= …

School Counselors' Concerns Regarding Effective Crisis Intervention For Students Of Diverse Backgrounds, Michelle Lynn Canada

Theses and Dissertations

Although school counselors routinely provide crisis intervention, minimal research has focused specifically on providing such services in a manner sensitive to multicultural and ethnically diverse students. Responses of a random national sample of school counselors (n = 276, 69% return rate) indicate that approximately half voice some sort of concern related to providing crisis intervention services to students from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this study is to summarize school counselor's concerns, providing an initial understanding for this aspect of school-based crisis intervention. Additionally, school counselors' comments were further analyzed to examine possible relationships between the type of concern and …

Ipsative Score Distortion On Affinity 2.0, Alec J. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated distortion that occurs when raw scores are converted to ipsative scores on Affinity 2.0, a relatively new instrument for assessing sexual interest. Using a sample of 146 non-offending, heterosexual females, this study examined the characteristics of distorted ipsative score profiles and attempted to develop an algorithm to identify such distortions. A method was developed for defining distortion objectively. Of the 146 profiles,125 were found to contain some degree of distortion. Several hypotheses were formulated as to variables that might be related to distortion. These relationships were examined using Pearson Product Moment Correlations. Several statistically significant, but weak, …