Exploring Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To The Use Of Pet Therapy Dogs In A Private School For Children With Special Needs,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Exploring Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To The Use Of Pet Therapy Dogs In A Private School For Children With Special Needs, Sarah Wodder
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Evidence-based psychotherapy is becoming an increasingly accepted way for individuals to manage a variety of clinical disorders and psychosocial stressors. Complementary therapies are designed to support, facilitate, or enhance existing treatment strategies. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is one such complementary treatment, in which animals are deliberately included in psychotherapeutic treatment plans in order to facilitate pre-designed treatment goals. Current literature suggests that AAT could have a multitude of benefits for both adults and children for an array of disorders and disabilities. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how AAT might contribute to learning and development for children with special needs. …
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Teachers' Perceptions And Acceptability Of Interventions,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Teachers' Perceptions And Acceptability Of Interventions, Betti Stanco Vitanza
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine elementary and middle school teachers’ perceptions of attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and acceptability of interventions commonly used in the treatment of ADHD. Eighty-one teachers from three elementary schools and one middle school participated in this study by completing an online survey containing the Perception of Attention Deficit Disorder Survey (PADDS) and Intervention Acceptability Survey (IAS). Results indicate that teachers feel adequately trained on the topic of ADHD and feel confident when implementing interventions for students with ADHD; however, teachers would like to receive additional in-service training on the topic of ADHD. …
Visual Efficiency And The Relationship Between Reading And Behaviors Indicating Difficulties In The Classroom In Elementary School-Age Children,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Visual Efficiency And The Relationship Between Reading And Behaviors Indicating Difficulties In The Classroom In Elementary School-Age Children, Patricia A. Broadbent
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between visual efficiency, reading levels and behaviors indicating difficulties in the classroom. The sample consisted of thirty–three school-aged children, from four elementary schools. Visual efficiency was measured through a multi-step vision screening process, the Visual Efficiency Rating (VERA) software program. Behaviors indicating difficulties in the classroom were measured using the Behavioral Indicator Checklist, Indicators of Visual Performance Difficulties. This behavior checklist is part of the VERA process and is completed by the classroom teachers. The students’ reading levels were reported by the participating schools. The students were …
A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of A Token Economy System, A Response Cost Condition, And A Combination Condition In Reducing Problem Behaviors And Increasing Student Academic Engagement And Performance In Two First Grade Classrooms,
2014
Minnesota State University - Mankato
A Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of A Token Economy System, A Response Cost Condition, And A Combination Condition In Reducing Problem Behaviors And Increasing Student Academic Engagement And Performance In Two First Grade Classrooms, Britta Leigh Fiksdal
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Previous research has shown that token economy systems and response cost procedures are effective in reducing disruptive behaviors in classrooms and increasing academic engagement. Few studies have compared the effectiveness of combining these two classroom management techniques, examined academic performance, and directly observed academic engaged time. The current study compared the effectiveness of four conditions: baseline, response cost procedure, token economy system, and a combination condition among two, first grade classrooms in a small town in central Wisconsin using direct observation and permanent product of a three question quiz. Behaviors assessed included problem behaviors in the classroom, academic engaged time, …
The Development Of A Teacher-Rating Measure Of Positive Behavior,
2014
Minnesota State University - Mankato
The Development Of A Teacher-Rating Measure Of Positive Behavior, Sara Ann Ebsen
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a systems-level prevention model for problem behavior in K-12 schools. As the number of schools implementing PBIS continues to increase, so does the number of evaluations of its fidelity and effectiveness. After summarizing the test construction, purpose and function, and psychometric properties of commonly used measures in PBIS, the current study examines the development of a measure of positive behavior that can be used to evaluate outcomes of PBIS implementation. Research questions focus on (a) themes of positive behavior, (b) internal consistency of the measure, (c) correlation and reliability over time, and (d) …
Seclusion And Restraint Policy And Practice: Are We Doing The Right Thing?,
2014
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Seclusion And Restraint Policy And Practice: Are We Doing The Right Thing?, Laura L. Strunk
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
The overall purpose of this research study was to gain an understanding of the significance of the policy and practice of seclusion and restraint interventions used with individuals in the public school system in the United States and to determine how the policy and practice of those interventions are currently being implemented in schools across the United States. Despite the research that shows that the use of seclusion and restraint interventions is harmful, these interventions continue to be used in school settings across the United States. Policies and regulations have been established regarding the use of seclusion and restraint in …
Korean American Adolescents And Their Mothers: Intergenerational Differences And Their Consequences,
2014
University of Kentucky
Korean American Adolescents And Their Mothers: Intergenerational Differences And Their Consequences, Hui Chu
Theses and Dissertations--Psychology
The current study examined the links and mechanisms associated with intergenerational cultural conflict, psychological distress, and the intergenerational differences in acculturation and model minority stereotype (MMS) endorsement for South Korean immigrants. Specifically, Korean American adolescents’ (ages 12-19, M = 15.3, SD = 1.71) and their mothers’ (N = 209 dyads) acculturation difference and MMS endorsement difference were measured and analyzed as predictors of intergenerational cultural conflict and psychological distress for adolescents. Furthermore, the study analyzed intergenerational cultural conflict as a mediator in the acculturation gap-distress and the MMS endorsement-distress paths. Results indicated that when mothers and their adolescents differed …
Teacher Attitudes Toward Post-Secondary Transition Planning,
2014
Marshall University
Teacher Attitudes Toward Post-Secondary Transition Planning, Vicki Wallen
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The purpose of this study is to survey special education teachers in a rural high school in a rural Mid-Atlantic state. The survey collected data about attitudes and perceptions of the transition planning process and how these attitudes impact the amount of instructional time that is spent teaching self-determination skills to their students. Generally, the survey results indicated that although teachers feel that transition planning is important, they also find it difficult to incorporate self-determination instruction with the Common Core curriculum. Less than half of the respondents indicated that they feel as though the transition curriculum that they use effectively …
Behavioral Relaxation Training: A Stress Management Tool For Graduate Students,
2014
Central Washington University
Behavioral Relaxation Training: A Stress Management Tool For Graduate Students, Natalie Anne Juhlin
All Master's Theses
Stress can have maladaptive effects on health and academic performance. This study examined the effectiveness of teaching Behavioral Relaxation Training (BRT) as a stress management technique for graduate students. BRT is a form of relaxation training that teaches individuals 10 relaxed behaviors to use when experiencing distressing emotions. A concurrent multiple probe design across four participants was used in conjunction with pretest and follow-up scores from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Following baseline probes, participants received two BRT training sessions focusing on acquisition and proficiency of relaxed body postures. Results revealed that after BRT training all participants achieved greater than …
The Effects Of Anxiety And Depressive Symptoms On Working Memory In Children,
2014
Central Washington University
The Effects Of Anxiety And Depressive Symptoms On Working Memory In Children, Rachel Lee Liudahl-Carr
All Master's Theses
The study analyzed archival data of 38 elementary and middle school students from special education records. Scale scores from the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-Second Edition-Teacher Rating Scale (BASC-2-TRS), were used to measure Anxiety, Depression, Attention Problems and Learning Problems. These scale scores were used as predictor variables for Working Memory and Full-scale IQ scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition. It was hypothesized that BASC- 2-TRS scores would be negatively correlated with Working Memory scores, but not IQ. Only the inverse relationship between Learning Problems and Working Memory scores was found to be significant.
Anxiety Disorders And School-Based Treatments: Assessing School Pyschologists' Knowledge And Perceptions,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Anxiety Disorders And School-Based Treatments: Assessing School Pyschologists' Knowledge And Perceptions, Kelly A. Myhasuk
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Anxiety disorders are common in children and youth. Despite high prevalence rates, most children with anxiety disorders do not receive treatment. In fact, for the few children who are receiving treatment, schools are the primary source of mental health care. When left untreated, children experience significant disruptions in their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Therefore, it is important for those working in schools to recognize and treat children with anxiety disorders. The present study surveyed school psychologists (n = 178) to assess their knowledge about anxiety disorders and about empirically supported school-based treatments. Also, this study sought to investigate …
Effectiveness Of A Brief Parent Training Intervention,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Effectiveness Of A Brief Parent Training Intervention, Brian Legg
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the effectiveness of a brief parent-training intervention in reducing defiance in children. Four African American single mothers with children demonstrating clinically diagnosable levels of defiance participated in this study. Parental stress and general maladaptive behaviors of children were evaluated pre- and post-treatment. In addition, participants completed treatment-satisfaction questionnaires to assess the perceived value of the accommodations and training structure. Results indicated some reduction in child defiance in three of the four participants. Parental stress and overall child maladaptive externalizing behaviors were both reduced over the entire study for two participants. Participants reported that the flexibility of individually …
Factor Analysis And Predictive Ability Of A Teacher-Completed Autism Rating Scale In An Urban School Setting,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Factor Analysis And Predictive Ability Of A Teacher-Completed Autism Rating Scale In An Urban School Setting, Dana Milakovic
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Autism screening tools have not traditionally been developed for use in an urban setting with students of minority status or from a low SES home. Scales have also traditionally lacked a focus on school behaviors. The Social Communication Screener for Schools (SCSS) was developed in order to assist school psychologists in an urban school setting in referring students who, following a full evaluation, were most likely to qualify for an educational diagnosis of Autism. The goal of the scale was to focus on using teacher ratings of language-based behaviors in the school setting to assess behaviors linked with Autism. The …
Contribution Of Reactive And Proactive Control To Children’S Working Memory Performance: Insight From Item Recall Durations In Response Sequence Planning,
2014
University of Edinburgh
Contribution Of Reactive And Proactive Control To Children’S Working Memory Performance: Insight From Item Recall Durations In Response Sequence Planning, Nicolas Chevalier, Tiffany D. James, Sandra A. Wiebe, Jennifer Mize Nelson, Kimberly Espy
Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications
The present study addressed whether developmental improvement in working memory span task performance relies upon a growing ability to proactively plan response sequences during childhood. Two hundred thirteen children completed a working memory span task in which they used a touchscreen to reproduce orally presented sequences of animal names. Children were assessed longitudinally at 7 time points between 3 and 10 years of age. Twenty-one young adults also completed the same task. Proactive response sequence planning was assessed by comparing recall durations for the 1st item (preparatory interval) and subsequent items. At preschool age, the preparatory interval was generally shorter …
Incremental Validity Of The Learning Behavior Scale In Special Education Evaluation,
2014
Eastern Illinois University
Incremental Validity Of The Learning Behavior Scale In Special Education Evaluation, Margaret Lakebrink
Masters Theses
The Learning Behavior Scale (LBS) was developed as a teacher rating scale to assess students' learning behaviors hypothesized to affect academic achievement. Research utilizing the LBS has primarily stemmed from the standardization sample. The present study attempted to examine the incremental validity of adding the LBS to standardized intelligence test scores in order to predict standardized academic achievement in students participating in initial evaluations for determining disability and eligibility for special education services. Due to difficulty obtaining a sufficient sample, reevaluation cases were also obtained in the sample of first to eighth grade students (N=40) in the study. Results provided …
Parent Knowledge Of Child's Level Of Play: Implications For Early Childhood And Preschool Assessment,
2014
Eastern Illinois University
Parent Knowledge Of Child's Level Of Play: Implications For Early Childhood And Preschool Assessment, Jessie Shuemaker
Masters Theses
The purpose of the study was to examine how accurately parents were able to report on their own child's play skills. Additionally, the study sought to examine if the addition of a parent interview used in conjunction with an observational play-based assessment would warrant a more comprehensive and accurate picture of a child's skills. A Spearman Rank Order Correlation was conducted to examine the relationship between a parent interview developed specifically for this study and an observational play-based assessment. Kappa Coefficients were also conducted to determine the level of agreement between the interviews and observations. Results suggested a weak positive …
An Evaluation Of The Penn Resiliency Program For Disruptive Preadolescents In An Elementary School Setting,
2014
Liberty Univeristy
An Evaluation Of The Penn Resiliency Program For Disruptive Preadolescents In An Elementary School Setting, Mildred Howard
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Penn Resiliency Program in decreasing disruptive behavior, modifying negative automatic thoughts and improving academic achievement. Forty-eight students from two Title I schools in Georgia participated in this study. The Behavior Assessment Scale for Children, Second Edition, Progress Monitor, The Children's Automatic Thoughts Scale and report card grades were used to evaluate program effectiveness. Research results suggest the program effectively reduced negative automatic thoughts and improved academic performance.
The Effectiveness Of The Concordance-Discordance Model: Identifying Learning Disabilities In School-Aged Children,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Effectiveness Of The Concordance-Discordance Model: Identifying Learning Disabilities In School-Aged Children, Bryan Hendricks
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
After the reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in
2004, the federal regulations indicated that there are three possible methods for the identification of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). The three methods include the ability-achievement discrepancy (AAD), Response to Intervention (RTI), and the addition of a third method, which consists of other alternative research-based procedures. Hale and Fiorello (2004) proposed the use of a Concordance-Discordance Model (CDM), which suggests that learning disabled students have discordance between processing strength and both processing weakness and achievement deficit. In addition, SLD students have a concordance between the achievement deficit and processing …
Service Engagement And Serious Mental Illness: The Obstacles And Barriers To Attendance In A Post-Treatment Recovery Outpatient Setting,
2014
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Service Engagement And Serious Mental Illness: The Obstacles And Barriers To Attendance In A Post-Treatment Recovery Outpatient Setting, Marisa Jeanne Friedman
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This qualitative study examined the factors that affect treatment adherence and service engagement in individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). A semistructured interview was used to collect data from treatment adherent and treatment nonadherent adults with SMI. What factors make one more or less likely to disengage from treatment? What boundaries stand in the way of quality mental-health care, and how do adults with SMI overcome these barriers? Service engagement in the population with SMI in the study was explained according to three healthcare behavioral models, the health belief model, the network episode model, and the demoralization framework model. Data …
An Exploration Of Teaching Music To Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder,
2014
Antioch University - Seattle
An Exploration Of Teaching Music To Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Samantha D. Jimenez
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this grounded-theory qualitative study was to explore how music teachers successfully work with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many individuals with ASD are impacted daily by social and communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, and restricted or rigid behaviors. Current research, literature, media, and ASD and music circles support that music is a powerful medium for individuals with ASD. Benefits of music for individuals with ASD include therapeutic advantages, various improvements in skills, social opportunities, emergence of gifts and talents, and emotional outlets. Regular exposure to learning music in the U.S. is typically through music …
