School Psychology Commons^™

Cinematherapy As A Clinical Intervention: Theoretical Rationale And Empirical Credibility, Michael Powell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two problems must be addressed before cinematherapy can advance as a credible therapeutic intervention: (a) a solid theoretical rationale must exist supporting its use in mental health counseling, and (b) quantifiable data must exist promoting its treatment efficacy, and these data need to extend to various clinical populations representing a range of mental health conditions. This study intends to address both problems by critiquing the theoretical and experimental literature on cinematherapy and measuring the relative effectiveness of a structured, nondirective cinematherapy intervention at improving the hope and optimism of an adult diagnosed with Major Depression. One person (JV= 1) was …

Generalization Effects Of Social Story Interventions For Individuals With Asperger's Disorder, Jennifer Alphonso Abraham

Dissertations

Social Stories™ (Gray, 2004) is a relatively new intervention designed to teach appropriate skills to individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Although there is preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of Social Stories it has typically been implemented in one target setting. As a result, there are little data to support whether or not the effects of Social Stories will generalize to other settings. The current study examined the effectiveness of Social Stories for increasing appropriate behaviors exhibited by four children diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder. Generalization effects across settings were assessed using a typical Social Story (Train and Hope) format and …

An Examination Of Napping And Psychosocial Functioning In Preschool Children, Brian Kenneth Crosby

Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to examine racial differences in the sleep distribution of 4- to 5-year-old children, to assess the relationship between napping and psychosocial functioning, and to determine if there are racial differences in the relationship between napping and psychosocial functioning. The sleep behavior of 67 children (52.2% non-Hispanic White; 55.2% male) 4 to 5 years old from a community sample was assessed through caregiver-report and actigraphy. Psychosocial functioning was examined through caregiver-report and laboratory tasks designed to assess aspects of behavioral and emotional functioning. Results indicate that, compared to White children, Black children nap significantly more …

A Comparison Of Reading Interventions Based On Preference To Reading Interventions Identified By Brief Experimental Analysis, Debborah Eda Smyth

Dissertations

The available literature on children's acceptability of interventions is rather sparse and offers little support for the link between acceptability and effectiveness (e.g., Foxx & Jones, 1978; Shapiro & Goldberg, 1986; Turco & Elliot, 1990). The present study compared the effects of treatment preference to treatment effectiveness using a brief experimental analysis to select skill-based oral reading fluency interventions. The use of a brief experimental analysis (BEA) (Daly, Martens, Hamler, Dool, & Eckert, 1999) has been demonstrated to be an effective procedure for selecting oral reading interventions. However, the studies on brief experimental analysis to date have not examined student …

The Utility Of The Individual Reading Evaluation And Diagnostic Reading Inventory, A Specific Reading Skills Assessment, For Treatment Design And Implementation, Andrew J. Koerner

Andrew J Koerner

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Individualized Reading Evaluation and Diagnosis (iRead) Inventory for accurately assessing specific decoding sub-skill weaknesses and for informing the development of targeted interventions to improve the reading abilities of students. The iRead Inventory is a curriculum-based, specific skills mastery measurement tool for assessing specific decoding weaknesses. Students read word lists targeted to specific vowel combinations to determine weaknesses with particular combinations. The study assessed whether the iRead Inventory could distinguish specific decoding sub-skill weaknesses for students and whether the iRead Inventory was effective in supporting the development of interventions to improve …

Cohesion, Instructional Time And Reading Performance At Mugc Summer Enrichment Program, Sandra S. Stroebel, Brenda S. Harvey, Stephen L. O’Keefe

School Psychology Faculty Research

As schools attempt to improve the services to struggling readers, teacher are encouraged to work collaboratively to enhance instruction. Studies are needed to examine the effects of teaming on student performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if team cohesion or instructional time at Marshall University Graduate College Summer Enrichment Program (MUGCSEP) would be correlated with measures of reading performance for students who attended the program. Statistical analyses yielded a statistically significant correlation between cohesion, instructional time and reading performance during the 2006 program. While in 2007, instructional time was not significantly correlated, cohesion results yielded a mildly …

A Childhood Disorder Grows Up, Lee A. Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Despite the large number of research and clinical studies related to children and adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome, psychologists have only recently begun to appreciate the complex challenges faced by adults who were not identified in childhood. This article aims to increase the knowledge base of psychologists in the mainstream mental health community, who may have limited or no experience working with adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Mugc Summer Enrichment Program And Reading Achievement: Program Evaluation, Melissa A. Varian

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This purpose of this study is to determine if participation in the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program enhances children’s reading skills and to determine if a gender difference was evident in reading achievement scores. DIBELS was used to determine reading achievement scores at the beginning, middle, and end of program. The data obtained were compared using a General Linear Model-Within Subjects Factors through ANOVA to determine the mean of benchmark 1 and 3 as well as the significance level of the reading scores. The findings of this study indicated no differences in Oral Reading Fluency in total scores or in …

School Counseling In West Virginia: An Examination Of School Counselors And Implementation Of Wv Policy 2315, Christine J. Schimmel

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Since the inception of the profession of school counseling there has been confusion and inconsistency about what the appropriate role of the school counselor should be. Beginning in 2002, the State of West Virginia followed a nationwide movement to attempt to clarify the role of the school counselor by implementing Policy 2315, West Virginia's policy on Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling. However, since the creation of the policy, no statewide study has been conducted to determine if West Virginia school counselors are fully implementing the policy which is based on the American School Counselor Association‟s National Model for school counseling programs. …

Teacher Burnout: Locus Of Control And Its Correlation To Teacher Burnout And Job Satisfaction, Kimberly A. Bevis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Teacher burnout is a significant problem in education today. While studies have researched the possible reasons behind it and the effect it has on students and teachers, this study proposed to investigate the correlation between teacher burnout, locus of control and job satisfaction. Surveys were sent to 102 teachers who taught kindergarten through 12th grade in two school districts in Southeastern Ohio. Of the 53 surveys that were returned, 28% of the teachers demonstrated burn out, 40% were dissatisfied with their jobs, and 20% had an external locus of control. There was a moderate correlation between the Rotter IE Scale, …

Teacher Skill And Response To Intervention In West Virginia Pilot Schools, Janna Christy

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

As a program evaluation, the West Virginia Department of Education implemented a Response to Intervention (RtI) approach to the identification of students with learning disabilities in the spring of 2005. Eleven pilot schools were used in the West Virginia RtI program evaluation. The purpose of this study was to assess the change that resulted in teacher skills as a consequence of the implementation of the RtI model. It was hypothesized that teachers’ skills will significantly change in a positive direction as result of the implementation. A pre-post survey design was utilized to evaluate the outcome. Significant positive changes were reported …

The Relationship Of Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels) Oral Reading Fluency And The Terra Nova, 2nd Ed. Performance On Ohio Grade 3 Reading Achievement Assessment, Linda Adkins Ford

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between performance on the DIBELS ORF Benchmark 2, the Terra Nova, 2nd Ed., and reading proficiency on the Ohio Grade 3 Reading Achievement Test. The research question examined the wisdom of using both the DIBELS ORF Benchmark 2 Indicator and the Terra Nova, as predictors for the Ohio Grade 3 Reading Achievement Test. After gathering archival data for the 136 students involved, a Pearson-Product Moment Correlation was used to determine this correlation. Data was additionally analyzed using a Hits and Misses Table. Results produced a significant, positive correlation between DIBELS …

Grade Retention As Perceived By Principals, Debora Ann Galford

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the perceptions of principals regarding academic, social, or emotional outcomes and alternative interventions to grade retention. The principals were asked to respond to the survey on grade retention as an intervention. Following the initial survey, an article entitled, “Grade Retention and Promotion” (Jimerson, Graydon, Pletcher, Schnurr, Kundert, & Nickerson, 2006) was given for review and post-survey was administered.

The results of this study revealed that principals’ attitudes changed about using retention as an intervention in response to reading the article. These research results indicated that when research-based information on the negative effects of retention was presented, there …

Cohesion, Instruction Time And Reading Performance At Mugc Summer Enrichment Program, Brenda S. Harvey

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if team cohesion and instructional time at the Marshall University Graduate College Summer Enrichment Program (MUGCSEP) will be correlated with the measures of reading performance of students who attended the program. Archival data, collected during the 2006 and 2007 MUGCSEP, was used for this study. After performing a Pearson Product Moment Correlation, results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cohesion and reading performance in 2006 and a mildly inverse statistically significant correlation in 2007. Instructional time in 2006 also had a statistically significant correlation with reading performance. However, in 2007 results did …

Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales Racial Bias In Children With Disabilities, Veria Hicks

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Much has been written regarding bias in intellectual tests, in particular racial bias (Naglieri & Rojhan, 2001). Depending on the way intelligence is measured, a difference may be found between racial and ethnic groups. In the second half of the 20th century on the average, the mean IQ score of African Americans was one standard deviation below that of Caucasian students (Gerig and Zimbardo, 2002). This study addressed whether racial bias existed in the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS), and examined the relationship of the RIAS to other intelligence tests. The results were analyzed using a simple linear regression. There …

Mindfulness : Extending Treatment For Early Onset Obsessive Compulsive Disorder / Tourettes Syndrome, Rita L. Baldino

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Mindfulness is a categorical name for a group of techniques borrowed from ancient Buddhist practices that teach individuals to pay attention in the present moment. Recently, the technique has been applied successfully in several clinical populations to help individuals live with, or accept, some of the difficult-to-treat symptoms of their illnesses. This intervention study takes three specific techniques from the mindfulness literature and introduces them to a young male who had been diagnosed and has received evidence-based treatment for early onset obsessive compulsive disorder, comorbid with Tourette’s syndrome. Fourteen sessions, scheduled over eight weeks, occurred. Three measures of effectiveness were …

Middle School Teacher Acceptance Of Interventions For Adhd, Linda Latsko Castenova

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The study explored the relationship between middle school teacher knowledge of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), their knowledge of common interventions for ADHD, and their perception of treatment acceptability. The study also investigated teacher characteristics and their relationship to teacher knowledge of ADHD and their ratings of acceptability of interventions. Fifty-eight general education middle school teachers completed a survey containing demographic information, an ADHD knowledge scale, and a survey on interventions for students with ADHD. Results indicated that teachers scored an average of 58% correct on the Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Scale (KADDS), scoring significantly higher on the Symptoms/Diagnosis subscale compared …

A Survey Of Pennsylvania School Psychologists' Training, Knowledge And Evaluation Practice For Assessing And Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders, Loren M. Pearson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The main purpose of this research was to survey Pennsylvania school psychologists regarding their training, knowledge and evaluation practices when assessing and diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A 65 question electronic survey focusing on four areas: A) training, B) knowledge, C) current practice and D) demographic information, was distributed to 908 certified school psychologists in Pennsylvania and completed by 243 respondents. Results found that school psychologists in Pennsylvania play a key role with assessment and diagnosis of ASD, yet have limited formal training in important aspects of ASD. Doctoral level school psychologists and school psychologists with the greatest number of …

Breaking The "Sound" Barrier To Fluent Reading: An Evaluation Of A Middle School Reading Intervention, Kimberly Simmerman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The failure to read efficiently accounts for nearly 80% of the children who meet the criteria for a specific learning disability in America. Moreover, many of those children do not receive instruction that is sufficient to improve their reading achievement to within the average range. The current study examines the Breaking the “Sound” Barrier to Fluent Reading program by comparing pretest and posttest scores on individually administered and group statewide tests of reading achievement. The impact of IQ on progress is evaluated and discussed. Students’levels of reading proficiency preintervention and postintervention, as determined by the criteria set forth by the …

Character Counts! Incentive Program : Implementation And Evaluation, Julie A. Rouse

Graduate Research Papers

In order to better serve the school population, the school counselor is often called upon to deliver the counseling curriculum to all students. Data often drives the curriculum the counselor will present to the students. As a result of a program audit and perception data, a school counselor at West Elementary chose to implement a character education piece to the curriculum. Furthermore, an incentive program was added to encourage positive behavior and to recognize student achievement. Due to the age of accountability, the school counselor created a survey to assess the program. In addition to the survey, other sources of …

Impact Of Participation In A Community Based, Even Start Literacy Program On School Achievement And Parent Involvement For English Language Learners (Ell), Elvira I. Zuazo-Legido

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The family literacy model underlying the national Even Start Family Literacy Program has not fared well in large-scale evaluation studies, with outcomes showing minimal or no positive impact on later school achievement. However, the results of these studies have not been replicated in smaller studies, which hold the possibility of yielding richer and possibly more valid data using appropriate research design, methods, and techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an Even Start Family Literacy Program on the academic progress of a homogeneous group of ELL (English Language Learners) Hispanic immigrant elementary school-age children. Twenty-nine …

Biographical Study Of A Woman With Agenesis Of The Corpus Callosum: A Story Of Hope And Inspiration, Robin Comerford

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

School psychologists must be knowledgeable about brain development to help students in their care. The human brain has the capability to determine a person's happiness, effectiveness, and positive relationships with others. This biographical study examined how a young woman diagnosed with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) and agenesis of the cerebellum came to live a productive, happy life. ACC is a low incidence form of brain damage marked by inconsistent behavioral and emotional manifestations throughout the lifespan. Personal life artifacts, school documents, and medical records were used to help organize her life experiences in the form of a narrative …

Qualitative Analysis Of The Implementation Of An Autism Program Within A Public School District, Lucila F. Hernandez

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The study analyzed the development, implementation and success of an educational program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis within a public school structure. Records reviewed for a two year time period identified four phases to program development and implementation, as well as identifying themes and barriers for specific roles, administration, staff and parents. The success of the program is evidenced by growth in the children and by reported satisfaction of parents and staff. A program blue print offers an outline to program development and implementation. Necessary ASD program components, based on literature reviewed are summarized. This study highlights …

Qualitative Study Of Male Asperger's Syndrome Students : Transition From High School To College, Jon Alan Lyman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examines the narrative statements of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome concerning their recollections of the transition from high school to college. Nine male college students are led, via interviews, starting with their experiences in high school, to the initial stages of preparing for college life, and ending with current experiences in college. Analysis of the data focuses on the factors that have impact on this transition. The study is intended to contribute to the development of qualitative data about Asperger’s Syndrome, informing students with Asperger’s Syndrome who intend to apply to college, and providing recommendations for parents, and professionals …

Evaluation Of The Construct And Predictive Validity Of A Resiliency Matrix, Bobby R. Van Divner

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Following a comprehensive review of the literature, the present study undertook the development and evaluation of a Resiliency Matrix to assess for the presence of protective and vulnerability factors. The factors, which emerged from the literature review, to promote the expression of resiliency were organized and operationalized into a Resiliency Matrix. Resiliency Matrix Protective Factor Composite scores were evaluated for construct validity through correlations with the Resiliency Scale of the BASC-2 and BASC-2 Depression T-scores, a measure of psychopathology. Resiliency Matrix Protective Factor Composite scores were then evaluated for predictive validity against measures of successful academic and behavioral adjustment to …

An Analysis Of Survey Data On Student Perceptions Of Adolescent Counseling Needs, Jane Ellen Santo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The school counseling needs of adolescents have often
been assessed through the perceptions of school personnel
and other adults. This study provides an alternative
perspective and reports the results of a mental health/life
stress counseling needs’ assessment, conducted directly
with middle school and high school students’ grades 7
through 12. The results of this student-centered survey
are reported with relation to literature pertaining to the
potential counseling needs of adolescents and the
deleterious consequences of not meeting these needs. Data
pertaining to each area of the survey: awareness of
counseling services, participation in counseling services,
perceived counseling needs, and perceived …

Experiences Of Mature Age Female Students Studying Psychology: A Phenomenological Account [Thesis], Ruth Ayres

Theses : Honours

The trend towards increasing diversity in university student populations has not come without its problems and one area of concern has been the high attrition rate amongst mature age female students aged between 40 and 49 years. This literature review seeks to summarise and integrate findings on the adjustment of mature age female students into university; on the relationship between expectations and experience of university and how these might impact on attrition for this group. The review indicates a complex relationship around expectations driven by motivations and perceived benefits from return to study, expectations of academic support, ability to cope …

Understanding Seychelles Students' Social, Academic And Cultural Experiences During Transition To University, Sophia A. Harryba

Theses : Honours

University transition is a form of change from the familiar to unfamiliar (Hellsten, 2002). According to a literature review, international students (IS) go through both positive and negative experiences due to cross- cultural learning (Grey, 2002). Findings from previous research can be broadly categorised into academic and/or socio-cultural difficulties. Academic issues included getting used to a different learning and teaching environment, a heavier study load coupled with language barriers and academic procedures (Mcinnis, 2001). Socio-cultural issues included culture shock (Townsend & Wan, 2007), language difficulties (Cannon, 2002), discrimination (Poyrazli & Lopez, 2007) and financial issues (Forbes- Mewett et al., 2007). …

Fostering A Healthy Body Image: Prevention And Intervention With Adolescent Eating Disorders, Michelle Giles, Michael Hass

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Eating disorders are among the most frequently seen chronic illnesses found in adolescent females. In this paper, we discuss school-based prevention and intervention efforts that seek to reduce the impact of this serious illness. School counselors play a key role in the prevention of eating disorders and can provide support even when not directly involved in psychological or medical treatment. Because of their ability to play a leadership role in school-based prevention of eating disorders, school counselors are essential in facilitating a collaborative approach to the prevention of and intervention in eating disorders and their associated risk factors.

The Co-Mentoring Project: Overview And Outcomes, Renee A. Zucchero

Faculty Scholarship

The Co-mentoring Project matched developmental psychology students with older adult volunteers for an intergenerational learning experience. Students conducted a biopsychosocial life review to increase understanding of older adult development and the continuity in lifespan development. Each student developed a summary paper containing the older adult's life history, a developmental analysis, and personal reflection. A project description, including the scholarship of teaching and learning, and an overview of its outcomes are presented. The project goal was accomplished; students positively evaluated learning outcomes and displayed a significant increase in knowledge about older adults and aging. Implications for college instructors are discussed. (Contains …