The purposes of this study were to identify the factors influencing industrial-technical students in the choice of major area of study, to determine if certain areas were more influential when these students elected a major, and to provide information for industrial arts teacher-preparation programs that would aid in determining the reasons for the current industrial arts teacher shortage. From the study of factors influencing the student's choice of major, one may conclude that there is a definite need in the state of Texas for students to major in industrial arts education. One may also conclude that at the high school level, the industrial arts class and the industrial arts teacher have positive influences on the student when the student selects a college or university major. Perhaps the most significant conclusion is that the existence of an industrial arts teacher shortage is, in part, due to the fact that teaching salaries are not competitive with salaries offered by industry.

This study investigated the predictive value of time on-task and error scores on tests administered through Control Data Corporation PLATO interactive computer graphics simulation as predictors of errors and time on-task for inertial navigation system equipment operation. In addition, the correlation between simulated pass/fail error and time on-task scores, and subsequent pass/fail criteria using actual equipment was investigated.

The problem of this investigation was to clarify the responsibilities of the employer participating in the VOE program. Three major purposes were stated: (1) to determine the role expectations of employers of VOE students as perceived by employers participating in the program; (2) to determine the role expectations of employers as perceived by the VOE teacher-coordinators; and, (3) to determine if any significant differences existed between the employer perceptions and those of the teacher-coordinators. To obtain information, questionnaires were sent to a random sample of fifty employers participating in the VOE program during the 1983-84 school year. An identical survey instrument was administered to thirty VOE teacher-coordinators in Fort Worth. A Chi-square test of independence was applied to the data to test the hypotheses, with the .05 level used as the point of rejection. Of the seventeen surveyed possible role functions addressed, a majority of the employers responded positively to sixteen, were undecided about one, and responded negatively to none. A majority of the teacher-coordinators responded positively to eleven, were undecided about six, and responded negatively to none. One significant difference existed between the employer perceptions and those of the teacher-coordinators concerning one training responsibility which resulted in the rejection …

Freshmen at Sul Ross State University are required to take tests which are used for placement purposes. One of the tests given is the Nelson-Denny Reading Test which measures comprehension, vocabulary, and reading rate. The scores are used with American College Test or Standard Achievement Test scores to place students in either remedial or regular freshman English. Remedial students, who score below the tenth-grade competency level, are placed in English 1300. Regular students are placed in English 1301 or 1302. Twelve studies were found which had been done in this area since 1980. One was directly related to this study. The Anglo and Hispanic population of the freshman class of 1987 was tested. Blacks were not included as they comprised less than 9 percent of the freshman class. There were 69 students in the experimental group and 162 in the control group. A pretest-posttest design was used. A three-way analysis of variance set up data for statistical testing. The Alpha level was set at .05. The findings indicate a significant difference for Hypothesis 1, which predicted no significant difference in the posttest performance of students required to take English 1300 and the pretest performance of students who were not. Therefore …

The problem of this study was to compare the effects of two methods of filmstrip presentation on student achievement. One method employed a personal robot to automatically advance a filmstrip projector in sequence with an audio cassette tape while the other method had a person manually advancing a filmstrip projector in sequence with an audio cassette tape. These were the findings of the study: The pretested experimental and control subjects learned from the sound/filmstrip. The pretested experimental and control groups' mean posttest scores were significantly higher (p < .05) than their pretest mean scores. The experimental groups did not achieve significantly higher mean scores (p > .05) on a posttest, delayed retest, or module mean tests than the control groups. Using the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn. Students Learn from a sound/filmstrip on robotic technology whether it is presented by a human being or by a robot. A robot is a viable alternative to the human teacher in situations where the student-teacher interaction is limited.

The purposes of this study were to determine the role expectations of academic counselors in vocational education as perceived by home economics cooperative education teachers and academic counselors, to compare the extent of agreement between these two groups, and to determine if selected demographic variables caused significant differences in perceptions of role expectations. This study surveyed randomly selected counselors and teachers by means of a questionnaire designed to ascertain role perceptions and to collect demographic data. The Likert-type scale instrument consisted of 46 items that were categorized into six areas of counseling tasks. A total of 45 teachers and 158 counselors returned usable questionnaires.

The problem of this study was to investigate the relationship of the variables of impulse control, adaptive behaviors, responsible behaviors, intelligence, and duration of institutionalization to job performance of the mentally retarded student at the Denton State School, Denton, Texas. The purposes of this study were 1. to ascertain the correlation of the variables of adaptive behaviors, responsible behaviors, impulse control, duration of institutionalization and intelligence quotient to job performance of the mentally retarded student at the Denton State School; 2. to determine which factor or combination of factors would be most useful for predicting job performance effectiveness of the mentally retarded student. It was concluded that of those variables included in this study, intelligence quotient was the best single predictor of job performance. The combination which was found to be the best predictor of job performance was impulse control and intelligence quotient. The variables included in this study (adaptive behaviors, impulse control, responsible behaviors, intelligence quotient, and duration of institutionalization), taken either singly or in combination, do not correlate highly enough with job performance to be of much value for predicting job performance.

The problem of this study was the need for a systematic development of curriculum for Coordinated Vocational Academic Education (C.V.A.E.) Office Duplication Practice. Sources of data included recent research and information provided by the Texas Education Agency. The study is divided into five parts, including an introduction; background information; an overview of the Mid-America Vocational Curriculum Consortium and the Occupational Curriculum Development Laboratory; and a summary of findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Findings are that there are opposing forces in curriculum development. The study concludes that progress is being made in curriculum development, and recommends that the individual learner be the focal point of all curriculum development efforts.

The purposes of this study were to determine the perceptions of vocational administrators, vocational counselors, and vocational teachers toward selected issues in vocational education. This study surveyed randomly selected vocational administrators, vocational counselors, and vocational teachers by means of a questionnaire designed to ascertain perceptions toward selected issues related to three categories: policies and procedures, curricula, and societal implications. The Likert-type scale instrument consisted of 26 items covering the three categories. A total of 116 returned useable questionnaires of the 150 sent. Vocational administrators returned 90% (4 5 instruments); vocational counselors returned 70% (35 instruments); and vocational teachers returned 72% (36 instruments).

The purpose of this study was to focus on the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 and the amendments of 1989 and 1990. Nursing assistants were placed in cluster groups of 300-hours, 120-hours, and 0-hours. Each subject's job performance of nursing care was observed using the Francis's Task Performance Rating Scale. The purpose of the analysis was to determine (1) if there was a significant difference in job performance of patient care between program completers and the challengers, (2) if there was a significant difference in the job performance of patient care between 300-hour and 120-hour, and (3) if there was a significant difference between the content required in OBRA mandated nursing assistant programs and actual job performance skills needed in patient care. It was determined that program completers' job performance of patient care was significantly different from the challengers.

The research problem was to determine the perceived mean self-concept attitudes of academically at-risk students in Coordinated Vocational Academic Education (CVAE) cooperative education programs with at-risk students in regular academic programs as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Preparation for Adult Living skills training program by measuring the learning gains and learning outcomes of students participating in the training. The quasi-experimental posttest control group design was used. A treatment sample of twelve students received the Preparation for Adult Living training. A nontreatment sample was selected by matching the characteristics of educational and reading level and the gender of twelve students with no previous independent living skills training with those of the treatment sample. Students in the treatment sample were tested for learning gains using the Preparation for Adult Living Test. Both the treatment and nontreatment sample were tested using the post-training Preparation for Adult Living Scale to determine the level of their learning outcomes. The Preparation for Adult Living Test results were analyzed using the t-test for correlated samples of pretests and posttests. The t-test for independent samples was used to analyze the Preparation for Adult Living Scale results to determine the students' learning outcomes. A Pearson r correlation coefficient was calculated for Preparation for Adult Living Scale scores to determine if a relationship existed between employment and the life coping skills of the treatment sample. …

This investigation, which was conducted on the post-secondary level and included vocational and academic students, was undertaken to develop an instrument to assess the attitude and knowledge of students concerning body language and to develop a module of instruction in body language to favorably influence their attitude and knowledge concerning body language. Hypotheses were formulated related to the differences in mean effective and cognitive scores of the experimental group who were taught body language and the control group. Additional hypotheses were formulated related to mean differences in the scores of students differing in age, sex, business experience, and prior exposure to body language. The findings of this study included first, the testing of the instrument; second, the testing of the validity of the research design and third, the testing of the hypotheses. The following conclusions are based on the findings of the study: the instrument seems to be acceptable for assessing the attitude and knowledge of post—secondary students concerning body language, the module of instruction in body language seems to be acceptable as a basis for influencing the attitude and knowledge of post—secondary students concerning body language, the mid-management and speech students were comparable in attitude and knowledge concerning body …

This study concerns the contributions of Kelley Ezell to Air Force Education Services Programs and examines the impact of his educational leadership in developing the Education Services Program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, into its current position as an officially recognized Air Force leader in program excellence. It determines the effects of his leadership on subsequent leaders in the Sheppard Education Services Center and identifies the systems and procedures which contribute most significantly to the Center's success.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role ambiguity, role conflict, and job satisfaction perceptions among selected Human Resource Development (HRD) practitioners. The study's target population was the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)—Dallas Chapter. The independent variables used in this study consisted of HRD practitioners' gender, age, length of HRD experience, educational level, and HRD role category.

The purposes of this study were to identify criteria which influence students' decisions to attend specific colleges and to determine whether different groups of students use similar criteria. The following groups were compared: white students and minority students, males and females, older students and younger students, university-bound students and vocational students, and full-time students and part-time students. The sample used for this study was taken from the students enrolled in freshman English classes at Vernon Regional Junior College, Clarendon College, and Grayson County College. Approximately 100 students at each college were selected to participate in the study. Each student in the study received instruction, provided demographic information, and completed a two-part survey. The survey asked respondents to evaluate each of twenty items on a Likert-type scale. The data provided were compiled and organized into groups by a data base computer program. Data obtained from specific groups of respondents were compared, first through an examination of means, then through a chi-square test of independence. It was determined that the most important college selection criteria to these respondents were the cost of attendance, the availability of specific programs, the size of the college, the size of individual classes, the location of the …

The purpose of the study was to determine if occupational investigation teachers and vocational administrators held similar or differing attitudes toward the occupational investigation courses in relation to the mainstreamed handicapped students they served. The following conclusions were warranted from the findings of the analyses of the data. Findings derived from multiple T tests indicate that occupational investigation teachers perceive all survey item statements concerning Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings and the content of Individual Education Programs (IEPs) as occurring to a significantly lesser degree than do vocational administrators. There is no significant discrepancy in their perceptions toward the current practices of occupational investigation teacher training, student assessment, classroom accessibility, course content, or special education assistance described in the survey items. The results of the multiple T tests indicate that there are no significant differences between the attitudes and perceptions of occupational investigation teachers and vocational administrators in Texas toward the future of any of the conditions reflected in the survey items. Teachers and administrators agree that all of the current conditions reflected by the items should be promoted to a higher degree in the future. The results of the multiple T tests indicate a high degree of significance …

The purpose of this study was to determine if significant differences existed in attitudes of international students concerning college withdrawal. Data collection involved 200 freshmen international students from two universities in Texas. Two questionnaires were distributed to the students to determine attitudes toward college withdrawal. The instrument used to score the attitudes was the Purdue Master Attitude Scale. The analysis of variance was used for the statistical evaluation. The statistics indicated there was no significant differences between the students tested in the study and that the students had favorable attitudes toward college and unfavorable attitudes toward college withdrawal. Based on the findings of this study, universities should devise an extensive counseling and orientation program in order to provide students opportunities to complete their college education.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between anxiety reducing teaching methods and computer anxiety levels and learning gain of students in a college level introductory computer course. Areas examined were the computer anxiety levels of students categorized by selected demographic variables, the learning gain of students categorized by selected demographic variables, and anxiety levels and learning gain of students after completion of the course. Data for the investigation were collected via the Standardized Test of Computer Literacy (STCL) and the Computer Opinion Survey (CAIN), developed by Michael Simonson et al. at Iowa State University. The nonequivalent pretest/posttest control group design was used. The statistical procedure was the t test for independent groups, with the level of significance set at the .05 level. The data analysis was accomplished using the StatPac Gold statistical analysis package for the microcomputer. Based upon the analysis of the data, both hypotheses of the study were rejected. Research hypothesis number one was that students in a class using computer anxiety reducing teaching methods would show a greater reduction in computer anxiety levels than students in a traditional class. Hypothesis number two was that students in a class using computer anxiety reducing methods …

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the perceived attitudes of vocational administrators, vocational office education teachers, and marketing and distributive education teachers toward using microcomputers in vocational education programs. The sample forth is study was randomly selected from all vocational administrators , vocational office education teachers, and marketing and distributive education teachers employed by Texas School Districts. A total of 288 questionnaire were returned from the three vocational education groups. The return was seventy-seven percent. Statistical techniques included descriptive statistics, one-way, and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) to describe the responses and to test the seven null hypotheses. The results of the study was reported in two categories: statistical significance of the tested hypotheses, and the educational inferences of the vocational administrators' and vocational teachers' responses to questionnaire items. There were significant differences in the perceived general attitudes of the three groups. There were no significant differences in the perceived general attitudes of the three groups when categorized by levels of age, occupational experience, amount of computer training, and availability of microcomputers. There were no significant differences in hypotheses which tested for differences in the perceived attitudes of the three groups toward utilizing microcomputers for classroom instruction …

The purpose of this study was to assess the achievement of older learners when using computer-assisted-instruction tutorials with no time limits and to compare this achievement with that of other older students who were taught by the conventional lecture method of instruction. The effects of prior formal education, physical limitations, socioeconomic status, and sex were also identified. Students in the age categories fifty-five to sixty-seven and sixty-eight and over were placed at random in either a control group that would receive instruction in the conventional lecture method or a treatment group that would receive computer-assisted-instruction. Each of the students in the study completed a demographic data form, received instruction, and was tested over the topics which had been covered. The test scores and demographic data were summarized and analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. The purpose of the analysis was to determine (1) if there was a significant difference in the effectiveness of the two methods of instruction, (2) if there was a significant difference in the performance of the two age categories, (3) if there was a significant interaction between the age levels and the methods of instruction, and (4) if the test scores were affected by past formal …