School Psychology Commons^™

Secure Attachments And Peer Relationships : The Effects Of Secure Mother-Child Attachments On Peer Relationships In Pre-School, Cassandra Damlo

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

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

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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

Public Discourse On Ethnic Diversity And Improvement Of Formal Education, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article presents a commentary on the belief that ethnic diversity improves the quality of formal education.

Museum -Based Learning: Informal Learning Settings And Their Role In Student Motivation And Achievement In Science, Julie Ann Holmes

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined changes in student motivation and achievement in science in relationship with a visit to the IDEA Place Experiment Gallery. The study was based on the pretest-posttest control comparison group design with four treatment groups: control, exhibit, lesson, and exhibit/lesson. The sample was 228 sixth grade students from a public north central Louisiana school who were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental groups. Pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest measures of intrinsic motivation and achievement in science were determined using the Children's Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and an achievement test written to measure areas of science incorporated …

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

Dissertations

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

Voices Of School Social Workers, Amanda Hollatz

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

A Comparison Of Traditional Versus Computerized Anxiety Assessment Using Personal Digital Assistants, Wesley Alan Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The usage of the personal computer has become more prevalent in the field of psychology. The advent of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has opened a new area of possible clinical application. These pen-based devices allow for a more natural interface and more mobility. The feasibility and application of the PDA for personality assessment will be examined in this study. Does having a test administered by a PDA lead to a significant change in response patterns compared to a test administered by the traditional pen and paper method? The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the anxiety …

The Utility Of Dibels As A Curriculum Based Measurement In Relation To Reading Proficiency On High Stakes Tests, Rebecca Gayle Cook

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills or DIBELS reading measures and the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition or SAT9 reading scores. The following research question was examined: What is the concurrent validity of the DIBELS reading measures in relation to students’ SAT9 reading scores? In this study, archival data from five firstgrade classrooms at a rural southeastern Ohio elementary school were collected. The results of the study indicated that there was a positive and significant correlation between DIBELS measures and SAT9 scores with the exception of …

Students' Perception Index Of The Mugc School Psychology Practicum : A Correlation Of Course Work With Practicum Experiences, C. Lee Chandler Iii

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The perceived consistency between the course work and practicum of the Marshall University Graduate College school psychology program was investigated. The magnitude of consistency was determined by a Spearman correlation coefficient comparing students’ subjective rankings of the relative importance of various school psychologist activities as emphasized in the program’s course work with the relative importance of those same activities as relevant to the practicum setting. The findings suggest a significant degree of correlation at the (.05) significance level between what is emphasized in the program’s coursework and what is relevant to practicum experience.

Program Evaluation Of The Practicum I Summer Program From A Student’S Perspective, Matthew J. Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The organization, function, and value of the School Psychology Practicum I summer program at Marshall University Graduate College is examined. The perceptions of students recently completing the practicum are evaluated to determine their association with the program objectives. Data collection utilizes a questionnaire developed from the goals and objectives of the program and the criteria for evaluation of student performance. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and crosstabulation are utilized to assess the data. The students expressed an overall satisfaction with the practicum experience. The study’s limitations are explored and recommendations for program improvement are presented.

Intention To Pursue Post-Secondary Education, And Related Factors, Among Jamaican Senior High School Students, Teran T. Milford

Dissertations

Purpose of the Study. The proportion of female students in post-secondary schools in Jamaica is approximately twice that of their male counterpart. This is in contrast to the observation that the proportion of male and female students in elementary and secondary schools is about the same. Little or no studies have been conducted to examine factors related to the disproportion of male and female students in tertiary institutions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the perception of senior high school students regarding their intention to pursue post-secondary education, and to determine the extent to which the value …

A Study Of The Influence Of Birth Order And Other Variables On Student Perceptions Of School Effectiveness In A Southwestern Michigan County, Hamil Tobias

Dissertations

Problem. There is an increasing demand for quality education. In his initiative for education reform, U.S. President George W. Bush promoted the concept of no child left behind, in which he calls for more accountability. It is useful to examine student perceptions of how well the education system functions. Instead of a monolithic view, their perceptions were analyzed by birth order, gender, and ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent student perceptions differed by their birth order, gender, and ethnicity.

Method. This study utilized a 4 x 2 x 2 (birth order by …

The Effect Of Locus Of Control And Stability On Academic Achievement In Eighth Grade Students From North Central West Virginia: A Comparative Approach, Tasneem Edmonds

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to learn more about how locus of control and stability affect academic achievement. Eighty-three eighth grade students at Cheat Lake and Westwood Middle Schools were given two questionnaires that took between thirty and forty-five minutes to complete. The study was conducted in a classroom environment during regular school hours. Both student assent and parental consent were collected. Confidentiality and voluntary participation were explained to all students. After the data from the questionnaires were obtained, comprehensive grade point averages and SAT 9 scores for each student from the previous year were collected. This GPA and …

Evaluation Of The School Psychology Program At Marshall University Graduate College, Mary L. Winters

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research evaluates the structure, purpose, and efficiency of the School Psychology Program at Marshall University Graduate College and will be utilized as baseline research for further measures of program efficiency and accountability. This study investigates the satisfaction levels and opinions of the student population, including all current and recent students who have graduated from the program. The methods of data collection were a survey, developed primarily from the goals and objectives of the program, and telephone interviews. The information requested in these methods was structured to provide both qualitative and quantitative data. Frequency analysis of the data resulted in …

Graduate Bulletin, 2002-2004 (2002), Minnesota State University Moorhead

Graduate Bulletins (Catalogs)

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Teachers' Decisions To Refer Students For Special Education Evaluation, Amanda R. Perry

Masters Theses

This study examined the factors that influence teachers to refer students for psycho-educational evaluation. Fifty seven teachers from Midwest and Southwest suburban and rural school districts completed a questionnaire designed to gather information about the factors teachers consider when referring students for evaluation, as well as their opinion of the etiology of Learning Disability and their preferences for services. Results indicated that the most influential factors in participants' referral decisions were low achievement and behavioral problems. The majority of teachers agreed that eligibility decisions should be based on the child's needs. However, there was no agreement that an ability-achievement discrepancy …

Helping At-Risk Students Add Up: Motivational Lessons For Students In High School Mathematics, Karen Beckner

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

New Teachers’ Perceptions Of Discipline-Related School Problems And Teacher Satisfaction, Amy L. Kavanaugh

Dissertations

Satisfaction The public is concerned with school safety because of recent school shootings resulting in multiple deaths. Educators are concerned that perceptions of school safety may affect new teacher attrition.

Three questions were examined in this study: (1) What is the trend of new teachers’ perceptions of discipline-related school problems? (2) Do new teachers’ perceptions of school problems vary by teacher gender, school level, size, location, and percentage of minority students?, and (3) Are new teachers’ perceptions of school problems related to their professional satisfaction?

National data gathered by the National Center for Education Statistics through the Schools and Staffing …

Praise For Ability Versus Praise For Effort During Continuous Failure, Scott Spaulding

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Recent research suggests that praise for ability may be less effective than praise for effort in influencing performance and interest. C.M. Mueller and C.S. Dweck (1998) suggested further study to examine these variables in real-life settings. Their work has shown that praise for effort increases persistence, performance, interest and other indicators over praise for ability after failure is introduced. This study of 32 fifth graders from a public elementary school further extends this research and examines the effects of praise for ability, praise for effort or no praise while experiencing multiple failures on a task. The results suggest no difference …

The Relationship Between Attention And Memory And School Readiness In West Virginia Preschoolers, Brenda Carol Parker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study investigated the relationship between memory and attention and academic readiness in children between the ages of 2 ½ and 5. Forty-two preschool children were involved in the study and were selected from childcare centers participating in the Educare project in West Virginia. All subjects were tested with the Bracken and the Carolina Curriculum. The Bracken measured the academic readiness and the Carolina Curriculum measured memory and attention levels of the children. The results indicated a positive correlation between memory and attention and academic readiness. The findings supported the position that there is a positive correlation between mastery …

Ratings Of Assessment Procedures By Learning Disabilities Teachers And School Psychologists, Raquel A. Williams

Masters Theses

This study surveyed the perceptions of school psychologists and learning disabilities teachers (LD teachers) on the frequency of use and usefulness of the following assessment procedures: Standardized tests, curriculum based measures (CBMs), classroom observations, interview with general education teachers, and analysis of class assignments for initial placement of a child, instructional planning, and evaluation of student progress. Further, this study investigated how proficient the two groups felt in administering each of the five assessment procedures. Fifty four school psychologists and 32 LD teachers completed the questionnaire. Results indicated that school psychologists and LD teachers agreed on the frequency of use …

Neuropsychological Test Scores In Children With And Without Learning Disabilities, Gerard E. Spiegler

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Fifty-six elementary and secondary school students between the ages of 9 years and 16 years were individually administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition (WISC-III) and the Reading and Mathematics Composite sub scales of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT). Based on a criterion of at least 1.75 standard deviations difference between the highest WISC-III Index score and the lowest WIAT composite score, 27 subjects were assigned to a Learning Disability (LO) group and 29 subjects to a Not LO group (NLD). All even numbered subjects were subsequently administered the same battery of 9 neuropsychological tests in …

The Impact On Team Effectiveness Of Personality Preferences Of Team Members Involved In The Connecticut Early Intervention Project, Nancy Krafcik-Rousseau

Dissertations

Problem. Educators are faced with significant challenges daily as they attempt to meet the diverse needs of students. The establishment of school-based problem solving teams is one approach that supports teachers and students. This study will determine if personality preferences of team members impact the effectiveness of teams involved in the Connecticut Early Intervention Project (EIP). EIP incorporates a team approach providing assistance to requesting classroom teachers who have students experiencing difficulties.

Method. The research design consisted of a comparison of two groups of Connecticut public schools that participated in the Early Intervention Project (EIP) and were trained accordingly. Schools …

An Analysis Of Role Perceptions And Job Satisfaction Of Secondary-School Counselors In Trinidad And Tobago, Hillman St. Brice

Dissertations

Problem. The increasing emphasis on school counseling by the Ministry of Education in Trinidad and Tobago highlights the need to clarify and standardize the role of the counselor in the secondary schools. The satisfaction of these needs can be facilitated by determining the perceptions held by counselors, principals, teachers, and students about the counselor’s role in the school system; by clearly articulating this role; and by identifying the relationships between the counselor’s role and the counselor’s job satisfaction. The burden of this study was to determine these perceptions and relationships.

Method. A descriptive mode of inquiry was used to explore …

The Impact Of The College Experience On The Lives Of Female Single-Parent Students, Elizabeth Darby Watson

Dissertations

Problem. Poverty affects all people groups, but women are systematically poorer than men are. The feminization of poverty aptly defines the plight and consequence of women's poverty. In the United States the current federal mandate requires all able-bodied adults to be gainfully employed. Minimum-wage jobs, for unskilled and untrained workers, do not move poor women and their families out of poverty.

Method. This study used quantitative and qualitative data to explore the impact of the college experience on 56 single parents who had attended a tuition-driven, faith-based college during the 10-year period of 1987-1997. Responses from a mailed questionnaire and …

Addressing Peer Mediation : Conflict Resolution In Schools, Amy Junkermeier

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and research on peer mediation ip schools. A critical review is necessary due to the increasing popularity of peer mediation programs despite limited empirical evidence to support their usage. Examining the strengths and weaknesses of previous research is an important part of establishing program effectiveness and overcoming barriers to successful implementation. A critique of the research and implications for future research are also provided.

Trends. Social Violence: The Jigsaw Classroom As A Piece Of The Puzzle, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the "jigsaw technique" developed by social psychologist Elliot Aronson as a partial way of addressing school-related violence.

Trends. When Is A Psychological Profile Not A Psychological Profile? The Fbi And School Violence, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the difficulties of predicting and preventing school violence. Though the FBI does have a list of "warning signs" by which to evaluate potential perpetrators of lethal school violence, they do not consider this list to be a profile. This is especially true given that no reliable predictors of lethal school violence have been found.

Principals', Guidance Directors', And Department Chairs' Perceptions Of Goals And Effectiveness Of The Trimester Schedules In Indiana High Schools, Robert E. Brower

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare high school principals', guidance directors', and department chairs' perceptions of agreement (as clustered from 33 literature-based goals into school benefit, teacher benefit, and student benefit) of a trimester schedule. Secondly, this dissertation compared high school principals', guidance directors', and department chairs' perceptions of agreement (as clustered from 33 literature-based goals into school benefit, teacher benefit, and student benefit) as to whether these 3 3 goals were achieved after one year on a trimester schedule. This study is based on 10 Indiana high schools that were on the trimester schedule for a minimum …

The Teenage Inventory Of Social Skills: A Validation Study, Joshua Myers

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development and maintenance of adolescent peer relationships has been recognized by researchers as important for healthy current and future psycho-social adjustment. Furthermore, adolescent friendships are developmentally unique and qualitatively different than childhood friendships. The present study examines the validity, reliability and clinical utility of the Teenage Inventory of Social Skills (TISS), a self-report measure of adolescent social/friendship skills. Self-report and teacher/adult ratings on the TISS were compared for 64 participants from a court-ordered, residential treatment program and 51 adolescent participants from a public school-based youth group. While overall results confirmed the clinical utility and psychometric superiority of the TISS, …