A Study of the Changes Over Time in State Anxiety in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Program (open access)

A Study of the Changes Over Time in State Anxiety in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Program

The purposes of this study were to analyze (1) the changes over time in the state anxiety level of children in a computer-assisted program of reading instruction and in classroom reading instruction, (2) the changes in state anxiety patterns as related to gender, achievement level, and ethnicity, and (3) the difference in anxiety levels of the students while in computer-assisted reading instruction and classroom reading instruction.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Spence, M. Janet (Martha Janet)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Elementary Educators' Professional Reading Practices (open access)

Texas Elementary Educators' Professional Reading Practices

The purposes of this study were (1) to survey the amount of time spent by elementary educators in reading professional literature; (2) to survey elementary educators' purposes for reading professional literature; (3) to survey the availability of professional literature to elementary educators; (4) to survey the circumstances which encourage or discourage the reading of professional literature by elementary educators; (5) to survey the types of sources of professional literature used by elementary educators; (6) to compare the amount of time spent by elementary teachers, elementary administrators, and elementary teach educators in reading professional literature; (7) to compare elementary teachers', elementary administrators', and elementary teach educators' purposes for reading professional literature; (8) to compare the availability of professional literature to elementary teachers, elementary administrators, and elementary teacher educators; (9) to compare the circumstances which encourage or discourage professional reading among elementary teachers, elementary administrators, and elementary teacher educators; and (10) to compare the types of sources of professional literature used by elementary teachers, elementary administrators, and elementary teacher educators.
Date: August 1980
Creator: Jones, Carl B. (Carl Bruce)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Learning-Center Concept in Open-Space Elementary Schools of Texas (open access)

The Learning-Center Concept in Open-Space Elementary Schools of Texas

The first purpose of this study is to determine whether significant differences exist among the perceptions of principals, librarians, and teachers with respect to the following categorical practices or conditions relative to the learning-center concept in open-space elementary schools: (1) teacher preparation for use of the learning center; (2) student preparation for use of the learning center; (3) learning center personnel and their role; (4) operation of the learning center; (5) facilities, materials, and equipment in the learning center; (6) use of the learning center for individualizing learning; and (7) use of the learning center for developing independent learning skills. The second purpose of this study is to determine whether a significant correlation exists among specific categories. The third purpose of this study is to establish the degree of emphasis placed upon various practices or conditions relative to the learning-center concept in open-space elementary schools of Texas.
Date: December 1973
Creator: Dunlap, Donald Ray
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Most Important Educational Problems Affecting the Growth of Elementary Schools of Texas, 1972 (open access)

The Most Important Educational Problems Affecting the Growth of Elementary Schools of Texas, 1972

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is the identification of conditions, situations, and events that are important problems faced in the public elementary schools of Texas. Problems are categorized into sixteen areas: finance, desegregation and busing, school organization, school personnel, preschool and kindergarten, instructional improvement, reporting systems, pupil behavior, curriculum, in-service staff training, humanizing the schools, public relations, minority groups, migrant children, special education, and recent trends. The purpose of the study is to determine perceived importance of problems and to establish priorities of current issues from information obtained from education leaders of elementary schools.
Date: August 1972
Creator: Nicholson, Sara Carolyn, 1922-
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of Teachers' Attitudes Toward the "New" Social Studies (open access)

A Study of Teachers' Attitudes Toward the "New" Social Studies

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of three different types of in-service or preservice training on the attitudes of sixth-grade teachers in selected Texas school districts toward the "new" social studies. The types of preparation compared are the following: completion of a social studies methods course within the last two years, attendance at a social studies in-service training session at least three hours in length within the past year, a major or minor in one of the social science disciplines, or combinations of these. Additional variables such as age, teaching experience, classroom organization, degrees held, and textbooks being used are also considered. Three hundred twenty-four respondents from thirteen school districts completed a two-part questionnaire. Part A seeks biographical, educational, and experiential information. Part B contains thirty-nine statements about social studies education to which the participants respond on a six-point Likert-type scale. Data are treated with a one-way analysis of variance, and hypotheses are retained or rejected at the .05 level of significance. When a significant F-ratio is found on data having more than two groups, the Fisher's t for multi-type comparisons is applied to determine where the significant differences occur.
Date: August 1973
Creator: McIntosh, Carolyn Jo Johnson, 1938-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Norma and Mel Gabler: The Development and Causes of Their Involvement Concerning the Curricular Appropriateness of School Textbook Content (open access)

Norma and Mel Gabler: The Development and Causes of Their Involvement Concerning the Curricular Appropriateness of School Textbook Content

The problem of this study was to trace through available sources the history of Norma and Mel Gablers' work concerning the curricular appropriateness of textbooks and interpret in terms of motivation, scope, and effectiveness the identified impact of their work. The purpose of this study was to present a comprehensive report documenting specifically that which the Gablers have done, said, and represent. A chronology of events of the Gablers' textbook involvement from 1961 through 1981 has been recorded. Material written and/or distributed by the Gablers through their organization, Educational Research Analysts, has been reviewed and summarized with extensive documentation to convey the philosophy and intentions of the Gablers since their work in this area began. Specific passages of textbook content petitioned against by Norma Gabler before the Texas State Textbook Adoption Committee have been presented as organized around the Gabler outline, "Textbook Reviewing by Categories." Media presentations featuring the Gablers have been reviewed for the purpose of informing others about what types of information have been presented to the American public about this issue and to offer a glimpse into the human nature characteristics of the Gablers as personalities. Professional educator reaction into this probe of textbook content is offered …
Date: August 1982
Creator: Piasecki, Frank Edward
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Participation in the BASICS Program on the Self-Concept, Experimental Beliefs, Dogmatism, and Pupil Control Ideology of In-Service Elementary School Teachers (open access)

The Effects of Participation in the BASICS Program on the Self-Concept, Experimental Beliefs, Dogmatism, and Pupil Control Ideology of In-Service Elementary School Teachers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the BASICS program. The program, Building and Applying Strategies for Initial Cognitive Skills, was developed by the Institute for Staff Development of Miami, Florida, for educating teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents in techniques considered essential in helping pre-school, primary grade, and special education children develop initial cognitive skills. The study was undertaken to determine the effects of the program on the self-concept, experimental beliefs, dogmatism, and pupil control ideology of in-service elementary school teachers who participated in it as an elective graduate level course. The design of the study was the non-equivalent control group design. Twelve subjects who volunteered to participate in the program formed the experimental group. Twelve other subjects were randomly selected from a graduate-level class in elementary school curriculum development to form the control group. The instructor who was in charge of the BASICS program taught the class from which the control subjects were selected. The study was conducted during the first six-week summer term of 1975 at North Texas State University. The two groups were administered pre and post the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the Personal Beliefs Inventory (PBI), the Teacher Practices Inventory (TPI), the Dogmatism Scale Form E, …
Date: December 1975
Creator: Afolayan, Abel O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Immediate Effect of Classroom Integration on the Academic Progress, Self-Concept, and Racial Attitudes of Elementary White Students (open access)

The Immediate Effect of Classroom Integration on the Academic Progress, Self-Concept, and Racial Attitudes of Elementary White Students

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the differences and changes in integrated and segregated white students' self-concepts, racial attitudes, and academic achievements.
Date: December 1971
Creator: Cypert, Kenneth Eugene
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship of Fifth-Grade Students' Self-Concepts and Attitudes toward Mathematics to Academic Achievement in Arithmetical Computation, Concepts, and Application (open access)

The Relationship of Fifth-Grade Students' Self-Concepts and Attitudes toward Mathematics to Academic Achievement in Arithmetical Computation, Concepts, and Application

The purpose of this study was to determine the interrelationship of self-concept and attitude toward mathematics to academic achievement in the areas of arithmetical computation, concepts, and application.
Date: August 1971
Creator: Moore, Bobbie Dean
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship between the Level of Dogmatism of Supervising Teachers and Student Teachers and the Amount of Change in Attitude of the Student Teachers (open access)

The Relationship between the Level of Dogmatism of Supervising Teachers and Student Teachers and the Amount of Change in Attitude of the Student Teachers

This research sought to determine if a significant relationship existed between various levels of dogmatism of supervising teachers and student teachers and the degree of change in attitude of the student teachers during student teaching.
Date: December 1970
Creator: Oswald, Jolene
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison of the Leisure Reading Habits of Female Teachers and Non-Teachers (open access)

A Comparison of the Leisure Reading Habits of Female Teachers and Non-Teachers

The purpose of this study was to determine, whether there was a significant difference in the leisure reading habits of two groups of women who were college graduates; one group of elementary classroom teachers, grades one through six, and another group of women who were not teachers.
Date: May 1971
Creator: Watson, Thurman O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Specialized Skill Instruction on the Ability of Six-Grade Students to Solve Mathematical Word Problems (open access)

The Effects of Specialized Skill Instruction on the Ability of Six-Grade Students to Solve Mathematical Word Problems

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of specialized skill instruction on the ability of sixth-grade students to solve mathematics word problems. Subjects were 578 sixth graders from eight elementary schools. Researcher-developed materials were used based on seven identified content strands. Specific sections of a widely used achievement test were used to identify ability groups in both reading and mathematics and served as the pretest and posttest measures.
Date: May 1984
Creator: Kuzminski, Pamela Plunkett
System: The UNT Digital Library
Determining the Predictive Value of Selected Measures for First Grade Reading Success (open access)

Determining the Predictive Value of Selected Measures for First Grade Reading Success

This study was undertaken to investigate the predictive value of certain tests in relationship to first grade reading success. The following predictor tests were administered to seventy first grade students during the first two weeks of school: Metropolitan Readiness Test, Naming Letters Test, Light Response Test and Matching Symbol Test. The Teacher's Reading Readiness Rating Scale was filled out by each of the seven teachers at the end of the sixth week. The Wechsler Intelignce Scale for Children was administered to each child during the fall. The seventh predictor test was computed by finding the difference in individual scores of the Light Response Test and the Matching Symbol Test.
Date: August 1971
Creator: Black, Bob Gene, 1925-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effectiveness of a Structured Mathematics Program with Culturally Deprived Kindergarten Children (open access)

The Effectiveness of a Structured Mathematics Program with Culturally Deprived Kindergarten Children

This study is limited to the mathematics performance of two intact groups of culturally deprived kindergarten students, mostly blacks, with a few whites and Mexican-Americans, who were enrolled at Robert E. Lee Elementary School (Denton, Texas) for the entire school year of 1970-1971. The purposes of the study are to compare the effectiveness of two methods of teaching mathematics to culturally disadvantaged children and to check for interaction of treatments when these children are classified by sex.
Date: August 1972
Creator: Fairman, Billie Jack
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Effect of Certain Curiosity Constructs and Thought Processes Upon the Responses of Black Sixth-Grade Pupils (open access)

A Study of the Effect of Certain Curiosity Constructs and Thought Processes Upon the Responses of Black Sixth-Grade Pupils

This investigation is concerned with determining the value, if any, of certain curiosity constructs and thought skill experiences upon "raw score" responses of black sixth grade pupils to selected standardized and experimenter made tests. The major purpose of this study is to determine whether the curiosity levels of black children will be increased and if gains will be made in reading comprehension and responses when selected questioning procedures are used. The study is confined to teacher-directed instructional situations where pupils are engaged in reading acts.
Date: May 1974
Creator: Chandler, George H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Relationship of Selected Variables to Reading Achievement in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Setting (open access)

A Study of the Relationship of Selected Variables to Reading Achievement in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Setting

The focus of this study was to determine the unique contribution of I.Q., gender, instructional organization, time on the computer, classroom instructional time, ethnicity and total instructional time to the predictability of achievement gain in a computer-assisted instructional setting in reading. The sample consisted of 2,000 students in grades three and five from a large suburban school district in the Dallas - Fort Worth area. The students were given the Iowa Test of Basic Skills to determine reading achievement gains and the Cognitive Abilities Test to determine I.Q. levels. The study was conducted over a five month period during the 1984 - 1985 school year. Using multiple regression, the data were analyzed.
Date: December 1985
Creator: Schneider, Judith K. (Judith Kahan)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship of Selected Variables to Math Achievement in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Setting (open access)

The Relationship of Selected Variables to Math Achievement in a Computer-Assisted Instructional Setting

The purpose of this study was to explore the variables of I.Q., sex, instructional organization, classroom instructional time, and time in computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the third and fifth grades in order to determine which of these variables or combinations of variables were the best predictors of mathematics computation and concepts achievement. The study used a one-group pretest-posttest design.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Rigg, Lynne P. (Lynne Porter)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparative Evaluation of Two Humanizing Approaches to In-Service Training of Teachers (open access)

A Comparative Evaluation of Two Humanizing Approaches to In-Service Training of Teachers

The problem of the study was to compare the relationships between a cognitive-oriented and affective-oriented teacher in-service program on the subsequent incidence of humane characteristics in the classroom. Ninety-two teachers of grades 4, 5, and 6 from three school districts located in the Region XI Education Service Center area were involved in the study. One of the purposes of the study was to obtain information which could be helpful to Texas educators responsible for teacher in-service programs. It is critical that educators know the kinds of in-service programs which produce the greatest change in teacher behavior. This study concludes that in-service education programs which focus on specific instructional skills and strategies related to curriculum content are more viable in achieving the characteristics of a humane classroom than in-service programs which, though they be skills-oriented, do not relate specifically to curriculum content.
Date: August 1974
Creator: Williams, Donald Gene
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effectiveness of a Transitional First Grade Program (open access)

Effectiveness of a Transitional First Grade Program

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a transitional first grade program. A comparison of reading and math achievement and school attitude was the focus of the study. The study utilized a pretest/posttest design. The group of regular first grade students who qualified for the transitional program but attended regular first grade was the control group. The group of transitional first grade students was the experimental group. The regular first grade students received formal instruction in all academic areas. The experimental group received no formal instruction. All students were pretested and posttested using the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Minnesota School Attitude Survey. Testing was administered to small groups of five or less by the researcher. Scoring was done also by the researcher. An analysis of covariance was used to determine if a significant difference existed between the groups. The analysis of covariance did not produce a significant F at the .05 level when applied to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills except for reading for boys in both groups. The numbers in each cell were low and no further comparisons were made. Due to a testing date that was approved late in the …
Date: December 1986
Creator: Day, Mary Jo, 1940-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of IOX Objectives-Based Reading Test Collections upon Fifth-Grade Comprehension and Word-Attack Skills (open access)

The Effect of IOX Objectives-Based Reading Test Collections upon Fifth-Grade Comprehension and Word-Attack Skills

This study compares the effect of the objectives-based test collections of the Instructional Objectives Exchange on reading comprehension and word-attack skills of fifth-grade students in a basal reader program. The IOX, a non-profit educational organization, was established in the late 1960's to provide educators with instructional materials such as criterion-referenced tests to allow realistic assessment of students in reference to specific instructional objectives. IOX Director James Popham states the Exchange's purpose as encouraging educators throughout the country to use criterion-referenced instructional procedures. The study compares gains in reading comprehension and word-attack skills of a research group with the gains of a control group, using the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test for both pre-test and post-test. The IOX criterion-referenced tests were added to the reading program for the research group but were not given the control group.
Date: August 1974
Creator: Hoff, Jean Estelle
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Experimental Study of the Effect of a Career Education Program on Academic Achievement and Attitudes of Fifth-Grade Students (open access)

An Experimental Study of the Effect of a Career Education Program on Academic Achievement and Attitudes of Fifth-Grade Students

This study was designed to determine the effects of the infusion of career-education concepts into the language arts and social studies curricula of fifth-grade students. Hypotheses related to differences in mean scores of students in the experimental group and the control group on the Reading Test, Language Test, Study Skills Test of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills, as well as on the total battery scores. Additional hypotheses were formulated concerning the difference between proportional mean scores on the Career Education Questionnaire and three self-concept inventories designed by Instructional Objectives Exchange. The following conclusions are based on the findings of this study: (1) Infusion of career-education concepts into content areas of the curriculum can result in the increased academic achievement of-students. This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that, statistically, the arithmetic mean scores for the experimental and the control groups were not significantly different. Gains in language expression and mechanics, reading vocabulary, and references study skills can result when students relate academic knowledge to the world of work; (2) Students' attitudes toward career education can be altered through the provision of factual information and meaningful experiences; and (3) The self-concepts of students are relatively stable and not altered appreciably …
Date: August 1975
Creator: Bryant, Rita S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Work-Study Methods Instruction on Student Achievement in Fifth Grade Social Studies (open access)

The Effect of Work-Study Methods Instruction on Student Achievement in Fifth Grade Social Studies

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is the effect of work-study method instruction upon the achievement of students in fifth grade social studies. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of the SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) Study Method instruction upon the achievement of students in fifth grade social studies. The subjects ranged in age from ten years two months to thirteen years three months. Th I.Q. for the subjects ranged from 70 to 135. Of the 102 subjects involved in the study, 42 were male and 60 were female. The I.Q. score from the California Test of Mental Maturity, S Form was used to structure the subjects into three intelligence levels. Fifty-four subjects served as the experimental group, and forty-eight served as the control group. The instrument used to obtain pretest and posttest scores on the variable relating to achievement was the SRA Assessment Survey, Blue Level. Form E was used for the pretest, and Form F was used for the posttest. The subjects were assigned to four classes which were near equal. Two classes were selected by the principal to serve as the experimental group. The other two classes served as the …
Date: December 1973
Creator: Walker, Gaston Lea
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation into the Nature of b-d Confusion Among Selected Samples of Elementary Children (open access)

Investigation into the Nature of b-d Confusion Among Selected Samples of Elementary Children

The problem explored by this study is the nature of b-d confusion as it is exhibited by remedial and nonremedial readers at various elementary ages in the areas of letter identification, spelling, and reading. The purposes of Phase I of the study were to examine the progressive phase-out of b-d errors committed by samples of remedial and nonremedial readers and to explore certain factors that could be related to the problem. The object of Phase II was to describe subjects with extreme b-d reversal problems. Extreme b-d reversers were found to have been average or below on first-grade-readiness scores and significantly below grade-level placement in reading achievement. School marks were also generally low. As a whole, the extremes were predominantly right-handed and no sex bias was detected. When the extremes were compared to subjects above average in b-d responses, the extremes made significantly more errors on other letters, were able to read significantly fewer words, and required significantly more assistance in spelling. These groups significantly differed on position of b-d reversals in reading, but not in spelling, nor on the proportion of real words actually produced when reversals were made in reading. Reversal of b and d was not associated …
Date: May 1976
Creator: Merwin, Marjorie Ann
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Relationship of Sex and Age at Entrance to School to Second Grade Achievement (open access)

The Relationship of Sex and Age at Entrance to School to Second Grade Achievement

This investigation compared achievement of boys and girls in second grade who were seven years old in June, July, and August of 1983 to the boys and girls in second grade who were eight years old in September, October, and November of 1983. The students were tested using the Iowa Test of Basic Skills using the following areas: reading, total math, and composite scores. The study also looked at the correlation of sex and age of students who had been retained in first grade. A comparison of teacher grades to standardized test scores and ability grouping was also presented. One way analysis of variance was applied to the test results. A chi square test of independence was conducted on students retained in the first grade to determine if interaction between sex and age was indicated. Older children scored higher in all three areas measured, while girls scored higher in reading. This may seem contradictory, but is not. Age was significant beyond the .05 level, while sex was significant beyond the .001 level. This difference is explained by the extremes in means for younger boys and older girls. Since first grade curriculum emphasizes reading, this gave girls a definite advantage over …
Date: December 1986
Creator: Jernigan, Sharon Reynolds
System: The UNT Digital Library