School Psychology Commons^™

Test Anxiety: A Test Of Attentional Bias, Darla Jane Lawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Test anxiety is characterized by apprehension, panic, and ruminating thoughts of potential failure that are experienced during an exam situation. In a test conscious society, students’ lives are significantly affected by their test performance. Tests are used to measure and determine thresholds in education, career placement and advancement. Possibly due to pressure to perform well, students often experience heightened stress and anxiety during tests, and thus test anxiety has become a pervasive problem. This study investigated attentional bias among a test-anxious sample. It is suggested that test-anxious individuals have a tendency to use a disproportionate amount of their cognitive resources …

An Evaluation Of Intraverbal Training And Listener Training For Teaching Categorization Skills, Anna Ingeborg Petursdottir

Dissertations

Behavioral language interventions, such as those employed in early and intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) programs, target both expressive and receptive language skills. Skinner's (1957) analysis of verbal behavior provides a framework for analyzing expressive and receptive language in terms of stimulus control and reinforcement history. From this perspective, different expressive language programs target different verbal operants, such as tacts, intraverbals, and echoics , whereas most receptive language programs target a type of listener behavior that may be referred to as manded stimulus selection (Michael, 1995). Although EIBI curricula (e.g., Maurice, Green, & Luce, 1996; Leaf & McEachin, 1999) have frequently …

Audio Narration And Reading Ability In Programmed Instruction, Wendy Jaehnig

Dissertations

This study compared the effects of audio, textual, and audio-textual narration in a programmed instructional module on the performance of individuals with different reading abilities. One hundred eighty-four college students were randomly assigned to audio, textual, or audio-narration. Dependent variables were posttest score and instruction completion time. An ANCOVA was used to analyze the results, with ACT reading test scores as the covariate. No differences were found between the groups on posttest scores (p = .56) or completion time (p = .90), and there was no interaction between narration type and reading score for either dependent variable. Audio …

The Relationship Among Resilience, Forgiveness, And Anger Expression In Adolescents, Mauren A. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate and describe the relationship among resilience, forgiveness and anger expression in adolescents. The purpose of the study was to explore whether certain adolescent resiliencies significantly related to positive or negative affective, behavioral, or cognitive levels of forgiveness and certain types of anger expression in adolescents. This study also investigated whether there were certain adolescent resiliencies and types of forgiveness that can predict lower levels of negative anger expression in adolescents. This research was built on two conceptual models: Wolin and Wolin's (1993) Challenge Model and the Forgiveness Process Model (Enright & Human Development Study …

More Than In And Out Of The Classroom Closet: A Study Of Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Teachers’ Identity Management Strategies, Teresa S. Lance

Dissertations

Two advancements in the study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals’ workplace sexual identity management, the Workplace Sexual Identity Management Measure (WSIMM) and the Workplace Sexual Identity Management (WSIM) social cognitive model of identity management are incorporated in the current study of LGB K-12 teachers’ workplace sexual identity management strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties o f a revised version the WSIMM, investigate the workplace sexual identity management strategies of LGB teachers, and gain further understanding of the complex process LGB individuals navigate related to managing their sexual identity at work by exploring …

Gender Difference And Test Anxiety, Leann Chandler

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study compared male and female students in the 4th, 6th, and 10th grades to see which sex had more test anxiety. The students are from a rural town in Southeastern Ohio. A total of 85 students filled out the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale. The students were given the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) two weeks prior to, one week prior to, and one week after the Ohio Fourth and Ohio Sixth Grade Proficiency Tests and the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT). The hypotheses of this study are that the 10th grade females will have greater test anxiety than …

Popularity And Aggression Among Females In The Eighth Grade, April Lynn Kantz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This thesis examines how popularity affects the use of indirect and direct aggression. By using a class roster of all of the participants, the girls nominated three of the most popular and three of the least popular girls. The Direct Indirect Aggression Scales were used to examine which girls exhibited which type of aggressive behaviors. The results indicate that popularity affects aggression and that popular girls use more indirect aggression. These findings are consistent with past research on popularity and aggression and could help parents and educators understand the effects of such behaviors.

A Comparison Of The Effect Of Single-Sex Versus Mixed-Sex Classes On Middle School Student Achievement, Carol E. Thom

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of single-sex versus mixedsex classes on middle school student achievement. It was a case study of Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Charleston, West Virginia, an inner-city school with approximately 600 students, of which 30% were minority (mostly black), 30% were special needs, and 70% were classified low socio-economic status (SES). Student WESTEST (West Virginia Educational Standards Test) scores in reading/language arts and math were collected and compared from the school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. Each student’s scores from the first year were compared to that same student’s scores from the …

Staff Attitude Change In A Response To Intervention Program Evaluation, Alicia Kirby

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to predict whether the staff attitude about the Response to Intervention (RtI) Project in the areas of reading achievement, student potential, the time it takes to implement the RtI Project, and parent involvement have improved from the survey in December of 2005 to the survey in March of 2006. Winfield Elementary began the project with very little funding and professional development training on Response to Intervention (RtI). The prediction for change in attitude is a result of additional funding and RtI professional development training.

A total of 399 initial and final surveys from the …

Parental Satisfaction With Psycho-Educational Consultation, Larry G. Lester

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the consumer satisfaction of the Psycho-educational consultation. The method of data collection was a survey consisting of ten questions to be answered using a Likert type scale and one question asking for opinions for program improvements. The instrument was based on a measure of effectiveness for School Psychologists (Barnett, 2004). At the end of the meeting to discuss the results of the psycho-education evaluation, parents were asked to complete the survey. Parents and students remained anonymous and the completion of the survey was voluntary. Parents were asked to place their survey in …

Parent Satisfaction With Marshall University’S Summer Enrichment Program: Year Three, Cristen C. Pulliam

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study sought to examine the level of parent satisfaction with an extended school year program, the Marshall University Graduate College Summer Enrichment Program, verses the level of parent satisfaction at students’ local schools. The study also replicated the findings in two previous studies (Lattimore, 2003; Wartenburg, 2005). Parent satisfaction data were collected using satisfaction surveys. A survey was mailed to parents at the end of the regular school year to assess level of parent satisfaction with local school (N= 105). Twenty surveys were returned by mail. Intercorrelations of the parent satisfaction survey questions for the local school were …

Is The Gai A Good Short Form Of The Wisc-Iv?, Kimberly A. Scott

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A comparison was done between the standard scores of the GAI and the FSIQ of the WISC-IV using 31 subjects. The mean difference between the GAI/ FSIQ standard score is 3.74. T tests of significance show that there is not a significant difference between the scores of the GAI and the Full Scale IQ. The Pearson r correlation (.963 @ .01 level) suggests there is a strong positive correlation between the GAI and the Full Scale IQ. In summary, the GAI is a good predictor of the FSIQ of the WISC-IV. More data is required to determine if a statistical …

The Utilization Of Gender, Retention, Ses And Steep Scores To Predict Reading Mastery, Lisa Lee Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gender, retention, SES and STEEP scores to predict reading mastery. Second grade students’ records were reviewed to obtain demographic information. SAT 9 scores were used to measure students' reading mastery. SES was measured and defined by approved applications for free or reduced lunch for the 2004-2005 school year. Retention was defined as the number of students previously retained. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictive validity of gender, retention, SES and STEEP scores dependent on SAT 9 reading mastery. Gender, retention, SES and STEEP scores were entered as …

Correlations Between The Wisc-Iv, Sb: V, And The Wj-Iii Tests Of Achievement : Which Has A Better Relationship With Reading Achievement?, Krystal Campbell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The relationship between the WISC-IV and the SB: V to three reading subtests on the WJ-III Tests of Achievement was used to determine which intelligence test correlates better with achievement using 22 students. Results yielded insignificant values when assessing significant relationships, comparing two correlated correlations, and significance between means. This study concludes that both intelligence tests measure reading similarly and does not result in whether or not one should be preferred over the other. Future implications to further validate these results would include a larger and more generalized population.

Reading Achievement For Students In Marshall University Graduate College’S 2005 Summer Enrichment Program: Program Evaluation, Elizabeth Cottle-Willard

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The improvement of individual student reading achievement is a major desired goal for academic institutions across America. Public and private schools desire knowledge to afford professional assessment of implemented curricula and instructional strategies. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Marshall University Graduate College’s Summer Enrichment Program through individual student reading achievement for pre-kindergarten through ninth grade students. Running record reading probes were administered to help identify student’s reading skills. The analysis of this data enabled the instructors to instructionally group students with similar reading strengths. This researcher compiled each student’s initial and final reading running …

Comparison Of The Reading Subtests Of The Woodcock Johnson Tests Of Achievement- Third Edition And The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Second Edition, Bruce A. Crum

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A comparison of the reading subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson, Third Edition and the Wechlser Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition using 49 subjects. A t test of significance and the Pearson R Correlations were computed to compare the scores. The purpose of the study is to determine how closely the two tests measure the same reading skills.

Attendance And Reading Gains: Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program, Justa L. Dolin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if attendance has any influence on student success during the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program. This study compared student’s daily attendance records to gains in reading. Students were divided into two groups, those who missed no more than 2 days and those who missed 3 or more days. Missing no more than 2 days has been the traditional description in this setting for the program completion certificates. Running record reading probes were used to identify the student’s gain in reading skills. The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test to determine the …

Study Of The Cognitive Functioning Of Medicated And Non-Medicated Elementary School-Aged Children Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Janet Friedman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a serious disability that has been shown to adversely affect cognition, affect, and behavior. Research using traditional measures of cognitive functioning, such as intelligence tests has shown that children diagnosed with ADHD perform poorly on cognitive measures of processing speed, and on working memory in particular (Kerns, Mclnerney & Wilde, 2001; Weiler, Bernstein, Bellinger & Waber, 2000). Mahone, et al. (2003), note that reviews involving the Wechsler Scales for children suggest that Full Scale IQ scores (FSIQ) on the WISC-III average 5 to 6 points lower than scores in the WISC-R. It was hypothesized …

Survey Of Teacher Attitude Regarding Inclusive Education Within An Urban School District, Evangeline Kern

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

It is anticipated that inclusion will become more prevalent in classrooms over the next ten years as a result of increasingly stringent federal and state mandates. In order for inclusion to result in adequate yearly progress for all subgroups, it must be implemented properly. Research has demonstrated that a key component for proper implementation is an understanding of baseline attitudes regarding inclusive education held by teachers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of K-12 regular and special education teachers regarding inclusive education, in an urban Pennsylvania school district, the Chester Upland School District. The study examines …

Descriptive Study Of The Planning, Implementation, And Outcome Of A Parent School Involvement Program, Carol Mack

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Research verifies a positive impact on academic achievement based upon parental involvement with children's educational needs and school programs. It takes a sense of partnership between parents and schools to achieve positive educational outcomes for children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development, implementation and outcome of a Parent School Involvement Project involving parent-training workshops. While no statistically significant relationship could be found between improvement in student homework completion rates and parent attendance at school-sponsored parent training workshops, parents, faculty, and administration were united in their belief that the program was a positive and promising approach to …

The Impact Of Sleep Quality And Duration On College Student Adjustment And Health, Robert L. Krenek Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

College years are a time of change and transition that involves complex challenges in academic, social, personal/emotional, and institutional adjustment. Stress, anxiety, and tension are often associated with college transition and adjustment; stress and worry have been related to poor sleep quality. Studies have found that college students have more sleep problems than the general public. Research has shown that poor sleep has adverse effects on cognition, mood, and other physiological and psychological aspects of human functioning. Recent research has indicated that sleep quality may be more important than amount of sleep. Relationships have been found between sleep problems and …

School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports : An Evaluation Of An Elementary School Program, Lisa Andreasen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The outcomes of a school-wide positive behavior support program at a rural elementary school were evaluated to determine the effects of a school-wide program on the behavior of students. A program evaluation was conducted using student office referrals that were collected over a six year period. The results indicated that student office referrals significantly decreased from Year 1 to Year 6 and that specific behaviors of aggression and inappropriate language also decreased significantly from Year 1 to Year 6. Data were investigated to indicate trends in total office referrals by gender, grade, month, location, and problem behavior.