School Psychology Commons^™

Evaluating Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Social Validity Of Psychological Report Writing Styles, Adam Weseloh

Theses and Dissertations

Psychologists spend a significant portion of their time writing psychological reports. Oftentimes these reports are highly technical and written at a level which the literature has suggested is often difficult for teachers to utilize in their classrooms. Several previous research studies have examined psychological report writing practices and offered suggestions for improvement. One of these suggestions (theme or referral-based report writing) has not been as thoroughly examined in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine this report writing style compared to more traditional report writing practices. This study utilized a novel approach to assessing teachers’ perceptions of …

An Examination Of The Use Of The Bess With Rural Appalachian Preschoolers, Savana B. Earnest

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The use of universal behavioral screenings is endorsed by school psychology training programs as a gold standard of practice, but the implementation of these screenings is less common. Due to this, it is crucial that research examines reliability, validity, and all other psychometric properties when implementing a universal behavioral screening. Literature tells us that the BESS TRSP has shown to have moderate-to-high predictive validity and high stability coefficients in a variety of urban and rural populations of preschool and school age children. This research examined stability of high and low risk scores on the BESS TRSP within a rural Appalachian …

Using Consultation With Performance Feedback To Align Classroom Management Strategies With A Social Emotional Learning Curriculum In Early Childhood, Jessica Kemp

Doctoral Dissertations

Traditionally, school-based preventative frameworks have been implemented in isolation with little consideration of alignment and integration of practices throughout the school day. The present study aims to address this gap by increasing school psychologists’ preventative involvement with consultation in early childhood school settings. Using an integrated approach through a multiple baseline design, four Head Start teachers were trained in classroom management practices, to increase opportunities throughout the day for teaching, prompting, and reinforcing key skills taught through the Second Step social emotional learning curriculum. Findings suggest that a brief professional development session (1-hour) followed by weekly performance feedback (15 minutes) …

Incorporating Physical Activity In Mental Health Intervention Service Delivery: School Psychologists’ Perspectives, Scott Greenspan

Doctoral Dissertations

Epidemiological data posits that youth in the United States (US) experience significant mental health concerns. Approximately 10% of youth meet criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses (Danielson, Bitsko, Ghandour, Holbrook, & Blumberg, 2018) and approximately 7% of youth have a behavioral conduct problem or anxiety (Ghandour et al., 2018). Literature continues to suggest that physical activity is a viable modality in supporting the mental health of youth (e.g., Ahn & Fedewa, 2011; Annesi, 2005; Biddle et al., 2018). While it is recommended that youth achieve one hour of physical activity daily (Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee [PAGC], 2018), …

Training Teachers To Differentiate Instruction To Address Work Completion Problems In Math, Elisabeth Kane

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation investigated an adaptation of functional analysis methodology, performance deficit analysis (PDA), and its use in training teachers to differentiate instruction for students having difficulty completing independent math seatwork. Participants included three middle school teachers and one of their students who was referred for having difficulty completing his or her work. Behavioral skills training was used to individually train each teacher to interpret her student’s PDA data, determine if the student had a skill or performance deficit, and select appropriate motivational and instructional strategies to increase the student’s performance. To answer the research questions, a multiple-baseline-design across teachers was …

Improving Individual And Group-Wide Behaviors In Head Start Classrooms With Mystery Student Intervention: Assessment Of Effectiveness, Generalization, And Maintenance, Jamie Pasqua

Dissertations

The current study investigated the effects Mystery Student intervention on improving individual and group behaviors in Head Start classrooms. Mystery Student Intervention is a randomized independent group contingency and has only been investigated in one previous study (Pasqua, 2016). A multiple baseline design across three Head Start classrooms was employed to determine the effectiveness of Mystery Student Intervention on decreasing aggregate class and individual child disruptive behaviors. Of further interest was the extent to which the effects of Mystery Student Intervention generalized to other settings and results maintained following its removal. Results indicated that Mystery Student Intervention was effective at …

Cultivating Perspective: A Qualitative Inquiry Examining School History Textbooks For Microaggressions Against Native Americans, Olivia G. Holter

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Native American youth face a number of challenges that affect their academic success and mental health (Center for Native American Youth, 2016). One way in which Native American youth currently face prejudice within the school system is through curriculum (Yosso, 2002). More specifically, Native American youth are often presented with textbooks that include stereotyped and distorted information about their peoples’ history (Loewen, 1995; Sanchez, 2007). However, there is currently a gap in the literature showing whether or not these textbooks also contain microaggressive statements towards Native Americans. The current study looked at 5 Eighth Grade level Montana history texts from …

Diversity Of Diagnoses And Student Learning Experiences In An On-Campus School Psychology Assessment Center: Future Directions And Focus, Nina M. Ellis-Hervey Ph.D., N.C.S.P., L.S.S.P., P.L.P., Ashley Doss B.S., Maio-Cert, Deshae Davis-Gatti M.A., Juliet Aura Bs/P

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

School Psychology Assessment Centers (SPAC) developed at the University-level are crucial in developing competent school psychologists. While many models on how to develop mental health centers are in existence, a new model exists for creating a SPAC on a University campus that is specifically designed to serve the diverse surrounding community and postsecondary students (see Ellis-Hervey et al., 2016). The community’s needs were reviewed, including missing service links in the region, and identification of potential clients who would benefit most from services provided. Senior students who work with clients in the SPAC gain assessment skills and build supervision skills through …

Commentary: School Psychologists As Advocates For Racial Justice And Social Justice: Some Proposed Steps, David L. Shriberg

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

I am extremely honored to have this opportunity to comment on the articles in this special issue of School Psychology Forum (SPF). Social justice and racial justice are critical frameworks from which to view school psychology. Individually and collectively, the works in this issue of SPF are a tremendous service to the field.

Involvement In Extracurricular Activities: Identifying Differences In Perceptions Of School Climate, Andrew Martinez, Crystal Coker, Susan D. Mcmahon, Jonathan Cohen, Amrit Thapa

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Many youth participate in extracurricular activities, and research has linked activity participation with school engagement and academic success. Social-ecological theory suggests that the social contexts of different types of extracurricular activities may differentially affect student outcomes. Yet, there is scant research examining the relation between various extracurricular activities and student outcomes. The current study seeks to address this gap by exploring how participation in three activities (sports, clubs, and arts), and combinations of these activities are associated with perceptions of school climate, using multilevel modelling. Participants included 15,004 high school students from 28 schools across 11 states in the United …

National Association Of School Psychologists Approved Programs Applying For Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Karly Trovarelli

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to examine the decision-making process of graduates of National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) approved programs who are eligible for the National Certification of School Psychologists (NCSP). Having graduated from a NASP approved program, graduates have met all prerequisites for the NCSP, but some still choose not to receive the certification. This research centers on the monetary value—including the application fee—of the certification; applicants have expressed indifference to receiving the NCSP because it will not provide an advantage, monetarily or otherwise, for advancement in their careers. Current New Jersey Association of School Psychologists (NJASP) …

Appalachian Teachers' Referral For Adhd In Contrast To Giftedness In Selected Vignettes, Alexandria Rose Mejia

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

ADHD is the most widely diagnosed behavior disorder in children however, the nonstandardized nature of an ADHD evaluation can lead to misdiagnosis. Teachers often initiate referrals, though symptoms associated with ADHD can also be observed in gifted students. Appalachia has reported rates of ADHD that are much higher than the national average. It is therefore important that the factors that influence referral are better understood. This study hypothesized that priming to giftedness would reduce the likelihood that a teacher would refer for an ADHD evaluation in ambiguous vignettes and that teachers primed to consider giftedness will rate characteristics of ADHD …

The Effect Of Group Therapy On Diabetes Specific Knowledge, Marci A. Hankins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic illness that must be managed 24 hours a day with insulin administration and frequent blood glucose testing to maintain control. Because children spend a significant amount of their day at school, children with Type 1 Diabetes need additional support within the school setting. However, there are few studies investigating the school setting for support for children with Type 1 Diabetes. The current school-based study evaluated the effectiveness of a psychoeducational group therapy intervention on Diabetes Specific Knowledge. One child with Type 1 Diabetes and four peers without diabetes participated in the group therapy treatment. …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Curriculum-Based Measurement Written Expression Probes, Mallory Hart

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite the growing popularity and utilization of Curriculum-Based Measurement for assessing students’ academic skills and for progress monitoring, little attention has been devoted to the area of written expression. Very few studies have been conducted to assess test-retest reliability. Only three previous studies were identified that examined the test-retest reliability of written expression curriculum-based measures. To address this issue, the current study examined the test-retest reliability of five common scoring procedures with students in grades 2, 4, and 6. A one-week time interval was used. Results indicated that while test-retest correlations were statistically significant and often at a moderate to …

Assessing Stages Of Team Development In A Summer Enrichment Program, Marcella Charlotte Wright

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Collaborative problem solving teams are an important component of successful schools. Groups move through a predictable pattern of development and it has been proposed that teams move through a similar development. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the teams that were formed during the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program in 2012 displayed a pattern of development similar to group development. The study found that high performing teams develop similarly to groups.

West Virginia School Psychologists' Roles In Contrast To The Nasp Practice Model, Kimberly S. Sheltraw

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current roles of school psychologists practicing in West Virginia in contrast and comparison to the National Association of School Psychology (NASP) Model of Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services. A needs-assessment survey developed by the West Virginia School Psychologist Association (WVSPA) was distributed to all the school psychologists in West Virginia in order to determine the main services being provided in the state. The results indicated that school psychologists in West Virginia spend the majority of their time in data-based decision-making as opposed to evenly distributing their time conducting a broad …

Identifying Emotional Disturbance: Implications For Consistent Practice, Ramona L. Patillo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Determining eligibility for special education services under the educational classification of Emotional Disturbance (ED) has historically posed difficulties for school psychologists. The federal law provides vague eligibility criteria and a clear exclusion for students with Social Maladjustment (SM). This study evaluated the results of an online survey that required participants to identify behaviors that are most commonly associated with the constructs of ED and SM. This study further proposed to assess levels of comfort in determining eligibility based on a constellation of behavioral symptoms presented in short case vignettes. The study sought to reveal any differences in symptom identification based …

Teachers' Beliefs Towards Grade Retention In A Rural Elementary School, Sarah Elizabeth Terry

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the beliefs of kindergarten through fourth grade teachers regarding effects of retention on academic, emotional, and social areas, as well as alternative interventions to retention. The teachers were asked to take a web-based pre-survey on grade retention. After completing the initial survey they were then asked to watch a web-based PowerPoint presentation on research-based evidence regarding retention before taking a web-based postsurvey. The results of this study revealed that teacher‟s beliefs towards grade retention were not significantly changed when presented with a research-based PowerPoint presentation regarding the negative effects of retention practices, as measured by the pre …

Goal Attainment Scaling To Determine Effectiveness Of Inidividual And Group Counseling, Andrew J. Woolwine

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to utilize the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) during the Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program (MUSEP) to determine the effectiveness of individual counseling, group counseling, and a combination of both, on student academic and behavioral goals. Results indicated that no significant differences were found when comparing the type of counseling students received with their scores on the GAS in academics or behavior. Also, no significant differences were found when hours of treatment, combined with the type of counseling were compared to students’ scores on the GAS.

Monitoring Treatment Integrity: An Alternative To The ‘Consult And Hope’ Strategy In School-Based Behavioural Consultation, Lee A. Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

An international trend in school psychology services is a shift from an emphasis on assessment-based activities to a paradigm of consultation problem-solving and behavioural intervention. As the profession experiences an expansion of roles and functions, school psychologists should have an understanding of a critical aspect of behaviour change: treatment integrity (Gresham, 1989). Treatment integrity (or fidelity) refers to the extent to which an intervention is implemented as intended (or planned). This article describes the construct of treatment integrity as it relates to the implementation of consultation-derived behaviour intervention plans. Practical approaches for assessing and monitoring the integrity of treatments are …

Bridging The Research-To-Practice Gap In School-Based Consultation: An Example Using Case Studies, Lee A. Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Scientific practices were applied through case studies to evaluate the utility of conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC) as a method of providing support for 2 students with behavioral challenges in general education classrooms. A single-case design with a follow-up phase was employed to assess the effectiveness of an evidence-based intervention (self-management) delivered in the context of the CBC model. Results indicated a significant increase in teacher ratings of behavioral control (on-task and compliant behavior) for both students. Positive treatment effects were maintained at a 4-week follow-up. Norm referenced measures produced statistically reliable and clinically meaningful changes in teachers' perceptions of behavior …

The Effect Of An Increase Of A Mother's Complimentary Behavior On Her Child's Crying Rate And In-Task School Behavior, Mark Connot

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to decrease an eight year old boy's disruptive crying rate in his home by ignoring his negative behavior and selectively complimenting his acceptable behavior. A check in the boy's classroom was made to determine if a generalization effect or transference of positive behavior from the home occurred. Crying behavior in the home was reduced significantly. There was no observed significant change in school behavior.

Evaluation Of The Consistency Of Informants’ Reports For Children’S Ratings With The Progress Assessment Chart, Craig Allen Gilroy

All Master's Theses

Seven TMR, seven EMR, and seven regular pupils were rated on the P-A-C I by observers who viewed the children in their classrooms or by using parents and teachers as informants. Ratings were compared for consistency between groups and between raters by means of percent agreement figures and proportional t tests. Few significant differences were found between raters within groups. Significant differences were found in the majority of the cases when parent, teacher, and observer ratings of handicapped and regular children were compared.

The Supervision Of The Guidance Program In A Small High School, John H. Clark

All Graduate Projects

The small high school has some problems to overcome in order to do an effective job in the guidance of its young people. It is difficult for the staff to find time for guidance activities in the busy schedule of today's curriculum. Released time is very necessary if effective counseling is to be done.

Another problan to be faced is the lack of trained personnel to head the guidance program. The high school principal must find a capable person or else head the program himself.

A third problem faced by the small high school is that of maintaining adequate records …