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- PCOM Psychology Dissertations (41)
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Articles 1 - 30 of 59
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Exploring The Needs Of Military Children In Public Schools: What School Psychologists Need To Know, Hannah A. Delmonte
Exploring The Needs Of Military Children In Public Schools: What School Psychologists Need To Know, Hannah A. Delmonte
Educational Specialist, 2020-current
Although research has been published documenting the increased risk for negative social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes of military-connected students, no research prior to this study has given voice to these students and explored their experiences and needs. Five military-connected high school students participated in a focus group exploring what their lived experiences are in the context of living in a military-connected home and what they wish their schools knew to better support them. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data and six themes emerged from the discussion: the emotional burden these students carry, distance they feel …
Maladaptive Social Cognitions And Peer Victimization In Elementary-Aged Students, Katelyn Szarko
Maladaptive Social Cognitions And Peer Victimization In Elementary-Aged Students, Katelyn Szarko
Honors Theses
Among elementary-aged students, peer victimization is common and is associated with psychological maladjustment and poor academic achievement. Students with maladaptive social cognitions, like low social competence and low perceived control, are more likely to be victimized, but having a supportive teacher and/or a positive classroom climate might help to mitigate this association. This study aimed to answer the question of whether teacher support and classroom climate protect against peer victimization for students with maladaptive social cognitions. It was hypothesized that teacher support and classroom climate will separately moderate the link between social competence/perceived control and subsequent peer victimization such that …
Adopting A Growth Mindset Approach To Interventions For Self-Regulation, Kelly A. Larson
Adopting A Growth Mindset Approach To Interventions For Self-Regulation, Kelly A. Larson
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Research continues to demonstrate self-regulation’s significance in almost all aspects of life, including but not limited to academic success and school adjustment. Incorporating a growth mindset into self-regulation may be a potential missing motivational component in school-based interventions. This pilot study assessed trends in survey results of whether a group of high school students who receive special education with noted difficulties in emotional regulation, organization, and consistent/timely work completion. The survey assessed whether they held a more fixed or growth mindset of self-regulation prior to intervention and whether those students' mindset of self-regulation moved towards a growth mindset of self-regulation …
Closing The Gap: Culturally Competent Consultations In Schools, Kimmely Mechelle Williams
Closing The Gap: Culturally Competent Consultations In Schools, Kimmely Mechelle Williams
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Poor academic achievement among minority students has historically been identified as one of the most pressing challenges of public education (Dorvil, 2011). However, even before the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) adoption, there has been a focus on what should be done to improve the academic achievement of the nation’s children. With each of its subsequent incarnations and legislative renaming, policymakers, educators, and researchers alike have sought to ensure that all children are afforded the opportunity to receive a high-quality education delivered by competent educators enabling them to reach predetermined but vaguely defined levels of proficiency. Despite best efforts, …
Exploration Of The School Mindfulness Project On The Executive Functions Of Elementary School Students, Jessica Brooke Savaiano
Exploration Of The School Mindfulness Project On The Executive Functions Of Elementary School Students, Jessica Brooke Savaiano
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study investigated the relationship between The School Mindfulness Project and the executive functions of elementary school students. Participants were teachers from an urban elementary school. Dependent t-tests were used to examine changes in executive functioning from pretest to posttest. The results did not show significant improvements in executive functions for the intervention group. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Critical Literacy: Meeting Twenty-First Century Literacy Demands For Adolescent Learners, Molly Blew
Critical Literacy: Meeting Twenty-First Century Literacy Demands For Adolescent Learners, Molly Blew
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills are important to college, career, and citizenship demands. At present, the literature reflects concerns with adolescents’ ability to interpret academic and internet-based texts critically. The pedagogical framework of critical literacy is presented as an instructional approach that may support the development of adolescents’ critical text interpretation skills. The objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of secondary teachers concerning student proficiency in critical text interpretation, teachers’ current level of implementation of instructional practices consistent with the critical literacy framework, and perceived barriers to implementation. Three hundred thirty four (334) high school teachers were …
Participation In A Positive Education Curriculum And Symptoms Of Anxiety In Students, Aleida Silva-Garcia
Participation In A Positive Education Curriculum And Symptoms Of Anxiety In Students, Aleida Silva-Garcia
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Anxiety is among the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents in the United States (Bhatia & Goyal, 2018). Children and adolescents spend most of their day in the educational setting (Slemp et al., 2017). Positive education curricula may help students increase their well-being while increasing academic performance. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of a positive education curriculum in lowering anxiety levels in high school students. In addition, this study investigated the relationship among anxiety, happiness, optimism, perseverance, and academic outcomes. Through an independent samples t-test, archival data were utilized to determine the relationship between participation …
School Guidance Counselor Perceptions On Reintegrating Students To School After Mental Health Treatment, Maddie Roxandich
School Guidance Counselor Perceptions On Reintegrating Students To School After Mental Health Treatment, Maddie Roxandich
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the perspectives of school guidance counselors to determine current and best practices in planning and supporting student returns to school after absences for mental health reasons. The literature review highlights the sharp decline in adolescent mental health over the years, the rise in hospitalizations for mental health concerns, and the need for attention to school practices that support student mental health when a student requires hospitalization. The intent of this study was to build upon previous literature that examined practices existing in schools to help reintegrate students after absences. It sought to investigate whether schools have a …
Perception Of The Need For And Implementation Of Mindfulness Programming In The Education Setting, Lindsay Kurtz
Perception Of The Need For And Implementation Of Mindfulness Programming In The Education Setting, Lindsay Kurtz
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the perceptions of school personnel regarding implementing mindfulness within the educational setting. This study explored whether school personnel perceived a mindfulness program as having a positive impact on students’ well-being and staff well-being. This study also examined school personnel’s perception of time, resources, and training to implement a mindfulness program within the education setting. One hundred five school personnel who currently work in school settings in Delaware and Pennsylvania participated in this study by completing an online survey pertaining to this topic. Results indicated that the majority of school personnel perceived mindfulness as having a positive impact …
Stress And Its Interventions In Undergraduate College Students During Covid-19, Katie A. Jones
Stress And Its Interventions In Undergraduate College Students During Covid-19, Katie A. Jones
MSU Graduate Theses
Though stress in postsecondary education is a highly researched topic, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created many new questions that require answers. It is important to connect total perceived stress in undergraduate students with academic, COVID-19, and distance-learning factors and examine the effectiveness of interventions on stress and anxiety during the pandemic. This research determines the efficacy of mindfulness stress interventions (cognitive-behavioral, guided meditation, and music) for individual differences in stress, self- efficacy, and anxiety and links these variables to performance. This study measures levels of different types of stress (total perceived, distance-learning, academic, and COVID-19) for undergraduate …
Creating Sanctuary Schools For Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kerri Newton
Creating Sanctuary Schools For Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kerri Newton
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this project is to develop a Guidebook for school systems on how to help students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) feel most safe when they are integrated into and participate in classrooms providing general education. The Sanctuary Model provides a framework that can be applied to school communities to address the unique needs of students diagnosed with autism. As a framework, it can provide these communities with a blueprint of how to encourage participation from students with autism so they too can benefit from learning how to identify not only their feelings but the feelings of …
The Map Reading Probe’S Effectiveness In Predicting Performance Within An Rtiisystem, Richard J. Scherr Jr
The Map Reading Probe’S Effectiveness In Predicting Performance Within An Rtiisystem, Richard J. Scherr Jr
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Public-school districts nationwide are utilizing student progress toward proficiency on state-wide achievement assessments as their means of monitoring student achievement. Of late, the three-tiered system of reading instruction and intervention (RtII) has shown the most promise to increase reading proficiency levels schoolwide. However, little research exists to support the use of the MAP reading probe within an RtII framework for advancing reading achievement. This study provides a statistical analysis of the use of MAP as a predictor of reading performance on statewide assessments in a suburban K-5 elementary school currently utilizing RtII as a means of advancing student achievement in …
The Development Of An Integrated Anger Management Protocol, Gerald W. Smith
The Development Of An Integrated Anger Management Protocol, Gerald W. Smith
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This thesis describes the rationale for and development of an anger management protocol that can be used with middle and high school students. The protocol is based primarily on the anger management work of Goldstein (1999) and Larson and Lochman (2002) integrated with the Holarchichal Model of Executive Functions (McCloskey, 2008). The protocol also integrates the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model of Greene and Ablon (2001) and mediated learning principles. This integrated anger management protocol primarily draws upon internally based executive function interventions involving goal-setting and increasing self-awareness and self-realization. This thesis discusses the methodologies in developing the protocol, a …
The Role And Implications Of Executive Functions During The Transition To Middle School, Susan Niznik
The Role And Implications Of Executive Functions During The Transition To Middle School, Susan Niznik
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study analyzed the relationship between executive functions and academic performance in middle school. In particular, this study analyzed the relationship between BRIEF Index and Scale scores that were compiled on a group (N = 54) of seventh graders by two seventh-grade ELA teachers and the students’ final grades in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The results showed statistically significant correlations between most of the BRIEF Indexes and Scales and the final grades, with the Metacognitive Scales showing the highest correlations. In contrast, the results showed much higher incongruence index values than expected, given the high correlations that …
School Psychologists And School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Preparation Received For The Provision Of School-Based Mental Health Services, Sherika Mckenzie
School Psychologists And School Counselors’ Perceptions Of Preparation Received For The Provision Of School-Based Mental Health Services, Sherika Mckenzie
Education (PhD) Dissertations
School psychologists and school counselors are increasingly playing an essential role in the provision of school-based mental health services (SBMHS). This is especially true in California. Unfortunately, there are a few studies that have examined how California school psychologists and school counselors perceive their training to provide SBMHS, how they perceive their role in providing these services, and what they regard as their needs for professional development. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which California school psychologists and school counselors believe that their formal pre-service education and later in-service professional experiences have prepared them to …
Text Messaging Between School Counselors And Students: An Exploratory Study, Nicholas R. Gilly
Text Messaging Between School Counselors And Students: An Exploratory Study, Nicholas R. Gilly
Graduate Theses & Dissertations
This exploratory case study examines the impact of text messaging on mentoring relationships when used as an outreach between school counselors and high school students, where established relationships are lacking. An SMS gateway was used to mediate communication between school counselors (N=2) and students (N=5) over a three-month timeframe. The SMS gateway converted email, sent from counselors, to text messages, which were received on mobile devices of students and allowed students to respond back to counselors. Findings indicate that the use of text messaging may ease scheduling of face-to-face meetings between counselors and students, but evidence does not support any …
The Equivalency Of Digital And Paper-Based Administration Of The Wechsler Intellegence Scale For Children-Fifth Edition With Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Students, Kenneth Reimer
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study explored the equivalence of the digital and paper-based version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Edition (WISC-V) with deaf and hard-ofhearing children. There are a number of psychological tests being administered using both paper and digital formats. There is currently no literature on the validity of using these new digital tests with deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This study used a repeated measures design in which deaf and hard-of-hearing participants took the Figure Weights and Matrix Reasoning subtests of the WISC-V in counterbalanced order. The study found no format effect for the Figure Weights subtest with this …
Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark
Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
National legislation has led to an increasing need for school districts to demonstrate student reading progress using performance on statewide achievement tests as indicators of growth. This study added to previous research on the effectiveness of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in predicting success on statewide reading achievement tests and determining whether a student is at-risk for poor performance on statewide tests. The current study analyzed the relationship between a CBM tool for assessing reading progress, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), and a statewide reading assessment, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). This study compared the predictive …
Student Participation In School Sponsored Extra-Curricular Activities At The Elementary School Level And The Impact Of Student Engagement, Kirsten D. Myers
Student Participation In School Sponsored Extra-Curricular Activities At The Elementary School Level And The Impact Of Student Engagement, Kirsten D. Myers
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Getting students involved in their day to day educational processes is often challenging and, in some schools, systems appear almost unrealistic. Students in school do not often see the value of or make the connection with the importance of education. Students see movie stars such as Jennifer Lawrence drop out of school at fourteen, singers, rappers and others in the entertainment industry who are successful and make millions without an education. The potential of a YouTube posting, turning someone into a star looms in their imaginations and they think it could happen to them. Students today are even more enticed …
The Impact Program: Increasing Employability Skills Of High School Students Through Adventure Based Learning, Titina Finch Brown
The Impact Program: Increasing Employability Skills Of High School Students Through Adventure Based Learning, Titina Finch Brown
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
High school students face unique challenges following graduation such as the rising costs of post-secondary education, demands from employers for a highly skilled workforce, and the desire of employers to hire workers who are not only technologically proficient, but also effective communicators and team players. Soft skills have become a commodity to businesses. High schools find themselves more and more responsible for adequately preparing students for a rapidly changing economy. Engaging instruction in social motional learning (SEL) for secondary students is essential in preparing them for this transition. Research shows that Adventure Based Learning (ABL) could be the vehicle for …
Executive Capacities For Students Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Learning Disability, Kate Boccella-Perras
Executive Capacities For Students Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Learning Disability, Kate Boccella-Perras
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
All students in this study were rated by teachers with the McCloskey Executive Function Scale (MEFS) to identify executive function deficits (EFDs; not knowing when) and executive skill deficits (ESDs; not knowing how). Significantly larger proportions of students in the ADHD-diagnosed (ADHD) group than in the matched control group were rated by teachers as having either an EFD or an ESD within all seven self-regulation clusters, with more deficits identified within the Academic Arena than within the Self/Social Arena. In contrast, significantly larger proportions of students in the LD-classified (LD) group than in the matched control group were rated by …
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques To Improve Socialization Skills For High School Students With High Functioning Autism, Erika D. Wood
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques To Improve Socialization Skills For High School Students With High Functioning Autism, Erika D. Wood
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The literature on the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) suggests that it is a well researched and evidenced-based viable intervention in teaching and improving social skills for children with high functioning autism (HFA). Autism is a prevalent diagnosis for children and adolescents as school settings struggle with how to provide effective interventions and support to address students’ deficits with communication and social skills. Students with HFA may not have difficulty with verbal language skills; however, there is the expectation of being able to navigate social relationships, use social communication and be aware of social cues and rules which are …
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
A private residential school in the northeast United States provides a cost-free coeducation to qualifying pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students. One of the most important application factors is need, which is measured by a scale for parental availability. For a parent to be considered unavailable, any or all of the following areas could be present: limited physical capacity to effectively parent the child, limited mental capacity to effectively parent the child, active abuse of drugs or alcohol or ongoing substance abuse history, inadequate supervision, chronic neglect, incarceration, death, no contact or sporadic contact (e.g., not on a regular basis or …
The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker
The Effects Of A Guided Imagery Intervention On The Working Memory Of Primary Aged Students, Monica D. Addison-Walker
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Many practitioners view working memory as the temporary capacity to store and manipulate information. Current findings suggest a developmental trajectory of working memory and other executive functions. Limited research has been effective in improving working memory using short term methods; however, recent findings suggest guided imagery and mindfulness meditation improves working memory in children. This study examined whether or not a 30 day guided imagery intervention affected the working memory of students in the primary grades of an elementary school. Participants from a sample of convenience were randomly assigned to a guided imagery intervention (n = 12) or to a …
The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Stress Among College Students, Elizabeth Marie Vonderheyde
The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Stress Among College Students, Elizabeth Marie Vonderheyde
Theses and Dissertations
College students who have high levels of stress have reported difficulties with functioning on a daily basis, whether it be high anxiety due to classes or an increase in unhealthy habits like smoking or overeating. Studies have shown that those who practice mindfulness every day learn how to live with accepting the stresses in their lives (Siegel & Allison, 2016). This study explored the relationship between mindfulness and stress in college students from a medium size public university in the northeast. Two self-report measures were used to collect data though an online survey. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential …
Changing Peer’S Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Disabled Students, Dylan G. Kitley
Changing Peer’S Attitudes Towards Accommodations For Disabled Students, Dylan G. Kitley
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
Previous research on attitudes towards accommodations given to university students with disabilities has examined three groups: Faculty, disabled students, and their non-disabled peers. In general, faculty members have positive attitudes about implementing accommodations as long as they do not drastically change the curriculum. Both disabled and non-disabled students had similar positive attitudes for external disabilities such as visual impairment, cerebral palsy, and brain injury but less positive attitudes towards non-physical disabilities like depression. The purpose of this study was to see if an online educational intervention could change attitudes towards accommodations of disabilities. Participants (N = 122) were divided …
Teacher Knowledge And Implementation Of Evidence Based Interventions Prior To Referral For Special Education, Kathryn L. Hottenstein
Teacher Knowledge And Implementation Of Evidence Based Interventions Prior To Referral For Special Education, Kathryn L. Hottenstein
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study is not only to understand teachers’ knowledge of evidence based intervention strategies but also how they implement these in the classroom. This information will provide insight into current teacher behaviors regarding the intervention process. The study also explores how long teachers utilize such techniques before referring a student for a psychoeducational evaluation, as well as how often students are referred for a comprehensive evaluation. The study was designed to address four research questions related to teacher knowledge of evidence based interventions and their utilization of the prereferral process. A total of 117 classroom teacher in …
Effect Of A Brain Based Learning Program On Students' Use And Recognition Of Self-Advocacy Skills, Megan Maynard
Effect Of A Brain Based Learning Program On Students' Use And Recognition Of Self-Advocacy Skills, Megan Maynard
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Students' abilities to employ self-advocacy skills have a wide research base; however, the research behind the use of students' self-advocacy skills used in conjunction with brain-based learning theory has not been widely explored. This is also true when one considers the population of children who have been studied; it is particularly true about those who have been diagnosed with language-based learning disabilities. This study, conducted using archival data at an independent school in the Philadelphia suburbs, used a variety of statistical methods to determine whether or not a brain-based learning self-advocacy program would increase students identified with a language based …
An Analysis Of Teacher’S Judgements Of Student’S Executive Functions And Percieved Academic Competency Across Age Groups, Evan Skolnik
An Analysis Of Teacher’S Judgements Of Student’S Executive Functions And Percieved Academic Competency Across Age Groups, Evan Skolnik
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
In the school setting, well-developed executive functions are associated with the metacognitive skills important for learning and are positively correlated with measures of student achievement across children and adolescents; however, development of executive skills has been shown to be inconsistent with chronological age among children. The current study examined if teachers’ ratings of students’ executive functions differ significantly among groups of students whose academic competence is judged to be above average, average, and below average and if these ratings differ significantly by age. Further, the study sought to determine if the relationship between teachers’ ratings of executive functions and teachers’ …
Life Adversity, Social Support, Resilience, And College Student Mental Health, Joshua Mello
Life Adversity, Social Support, Resilience, And College Student Mental Health, Joshua Mello
All Master's Theses
This study investigated how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), current college student hassles, and perceived social support relate to college student resilience. This study also explored how ACEs, current college student hassles, perceived social support, and resilience relate to college student mental health. A sample of 507 students from a public university in Washington State completed an online study which consisted of surveys operationalizing each variable. The results showed that current college student hassles and perceived social support significantly predicted resilience. Current college student hassles, resilience, and perceived social support also significantly predicted mental health. The study revealed that ACEs had …