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1
Wang, Jing. "Advanced Quantitative Measurement Methodology in Physics Education Research." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1249366709.
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Thompson, Bruce, Colleen Cook, and Martha Kyrillidou. "Stability of library service quality benchmarking norms across time and cohorts: A LibQUAL+TM study." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106442.
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LibQUAL+TM is a web-administered library service quality assessment protocol that has been used around the world in hundreds of different types of libraries. Data have been collected from almost 500,000 library users. The protocol has been used in several language variations. The purpose of the present study is to characterize the stability of LibQUAL+TM score norms across both time and various user cohorts. Library staff may place more confidence in benchmarking conclusions if the stability of the score norms can be demonstrated.
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James, Elizabeth Ann. "A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF REQUIRED INTERNSHIPS: THE STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE." UKnowledge, 2018. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/epe_etds/60.
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Internships are increasingly popular in higher education (Coco, 2000; Divine et al., 2007). One reason for the increase is the benefits, both perceived and documented, associated with them (Divine et al., 2007). In addition to offering internships as electives, some programs have even begun requiring them of all students (Klein & Weiss, 2011). The policy change from elective to required internships has been evaluated very little, if at all, even though mandatory internships result in a substantial increase in cost and commitment for the departments that implement them (Divine et al., 2007).
This study analyzed survey and interview data from students (past and present) who participated in a required internship through an Equine Science and Management degree program at a major land grant institution that adopted a mandatory internship requirement in 2007. The intent of the study was to deepen the understanding of the effects of a mandatory internship policy in higher education from the students’ perspective. Specifically of interest were the benefits students gain from participating in mandatory internships, their perception of the mandatory internship policy, and whether the primary reason students participated in an internship influenced the experience. A mixed-methods approach was used to identify statistically significant results and provide an in-depth understanding of the results.
This study revealed that the vast majority of students who participated in a mandatory internship recognized a variety of benefits from it, viewed the experience as beneficial, and supported the policy of requiring internships. It was demonstrated that mandatory internships can empower students and aid in their professionalization. Participants also credited their internship more than their overall undergraduate experience for better preparing them at several important career skills including problem solving, job interviewing, networking, resume writing, oral presentation, interpersonal communication, and written communication. Furthermore, this study identified several statistically significant relationships between the primary reason students participated in an internship and how beneficially they view it, how much they believe it contributed to their current job, and how well it prepared them at specific career skills. The results of this study provide insight into the benefits of a mandatory internship policy from the students’ perspective.
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Gwizdka, Jacek, and Mark Chignell. "Individual Differences and Task-based User Interface Evaluation: A Case Study of Pending Tasks in Email." Elsevier, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105556.
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doi:10.1016/j.intcom.2004.04.008This paper addresses issues raised by the ever-expanding role of email as a multi-faceted application that combines communication, collaboration, and task management. Individual differences analysis was used to contrast two email user interfaces in terms of their demands on users. The results of this analysis were then interpreted in terms of their implications for designing more inclusive interfaces that meet the needs of users with widely ranging abilities. The specific target of this research is the development of a new type of email message representation that makes pending tasks more visible. We describe a study that compared a new way of representing tasks in an email inbox, with a more standard representation (the Microsoft Outlook inbox). The study consisted of an experiment that examined how people with different levels of three specific cognitive capabilities (flexibility of closure, visual memory, and working memory) perform when using these representations. We then identified combinations of representation and task that are disadvantageous for people with low levels of the measured capabilities.
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Gupta, Shruti. "Performance Analysis of Quantitative Bone Measurement with Spiral, Multi-Detector CT Scanners." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1229708472.
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Govender, Indren. "The integration of technology in mathematics at secondary schools in the Western Cape to enhance learner performance: an evaluation of the Khanya Project." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2008. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_9131_1267666625.
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There is a dire need to transform Mathematics education in the schooling system in South Africa as this is evident by the poor learner performance in the Mathematics examination results. There is a high failure rate in Mathematics at schools and the number of learners taking Mathematics up to the grade twelve level is on the decline. This study investigates the integration of computer technology in Mathematics education to improve learner performance.
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Messer, Dale C. "Evaluation of conditions for quantitative recovery of a drug from animal feed using supercritical fluid CO₂ extraction." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/44463.
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Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) continues to be explored as a feasible alternative to traditional Soxhlet and other types of extraction. In many cases SFE is cleaner, faster, and less expensive than the traditional types of extractions. This investigation has focused on the evaluation of Supercritical CO₂ extraction as a quantitative method for recovery of a hypolipidemic drug (tradename xenalipin) from an animal feed matrix.
Initial emphasis of this study focused on the recovery of xenalipin from a the animal feed matrix employing a liquid solvent trap. By studying the effect of time of extraction versus recovery of drug, the liquid trap was shown to be inadequate.
Further studies implemented the extraction of xenalipin from a filter paper matrix and the use of solid phase traps. This method of inquiry was use to evaluate the degree of recovery as related to the parameters of CO₂ density, extraction time, and flow rates of CO₂.
After achieving quantitative extraction of xenalipin from filter these parameters were transferred to the animal feed matrix. The animal feed matrix was prepared using three different methods. Each matrix was evaluated for homogeneity of sample and ability to achieve quantitative extraction.Master of Science
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Tandogan, Vedat Sinan. "Impact Analysis Of Industrial Research And Development Subsidy Programs In Turkey: An Appraisal Of Quantitative Approaches." Phd thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612924/index.pdf.
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This thesis has two objectives in the field of policy evaluation that recently received extensive attention from international science and technology community. First, an attempt is made to examine, in the Turkish context, the effects of public subsidies on private research and development (R&D), selecting and implementing a suitable empirical methodology. Second, in the context of emerging economies, it aims to contribute to the existing impact analysis literature by providing an evaluation study for the period during which public incentives in business R&
D have gained momentum with increased resources for diversified policy measures in Turkey since 2004. In the dissertation, three quantitative studies examining the causal relations between direct public support and private R&
D are presented. The first study, which uses the Tobit model, indicates that receiving a subsidy is an important determinant of private R&
D intensity. In the second study, adopting the propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods and using a panel dataset, effectiveness of receiving a grant from the TUBITAK industrial R&
D support program is examined. The results indicate program-induced input additionality in (i) R&
D personnel, (ii) R&
D intensity and (iii) R&
D expenditure per employee of the beneficiary firms during 2004-2006. The analysis with the propensity score matching using the data from Turkish Community Innovation Survey 2006 is repeated and similar results are obtained. The results validate that engagement in public R&
D programs in Turkey is beneficial for private R&
D. Sufficient evidence was obtained to conclude that TUBITAK&rsquo
s industrial R&
D project support program has encouraged most private firms to increase their R&
D spending and R&
D personnel in the period of 2003-2006.
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Moleko, Motheo Precious. "Influence and originality in Michael Quinn Patton's "Utilization-Focused Evaluation"." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6711.
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Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The concern of this study is primarily with insights, either acquired or original, which may be gleaned from the works of Michael Quinn Patton, especially his seminal book, “Utilization-Focused Evaluation” with regards to utilisation of evaluation. The importance of utilisation of evaluation processes and findings cannot be overemphasised. Use is critical to the success of multiple development programmes in South Africa which collectively will ultimately determine the country’s accomplishment of its developmental goals. The study is an analysis of the relevant literature on utilisation of evaluation; comparing and contrasting Patton’s writings with those of other scholars on this topic of utilisation. The process of understanding these insights involves a brief biography of Patton to get a glimpse into the factors which influenced the development of his ideas and to learn from them as well as from his innovative ideas. The major theme of utilization-focused approach to evaluation is utility and actual use of evaluations. The study therefore devotes special attention to these concepts in order to find out how he defines them, his motivation to focus on them and his perceptions of the purposes of evaluation. These determine his conception of the evaluation field; and his success in promoting evaluation utilisation is measured against them. The study also contains a detailed discussion of the so-called “paradigms debate” between the quantitative and qualitative paradigms in the educational and social sciences in the 1960s and 1970s. This debate was necessary to quell the division triggered by the domination of the quantitative paradigm over qualitative one in these fields and to promote understanding of the need to prioritise research questions by designing studies to answer to them instead of research problems being fitted into “onesize- fits-all” readymade designs, the study argues. The role played by Patton in turning evaluation into a profession is also discussed at length. His works on this subject include a contribution towards enhancing quality and credibility of evaluation, major input on the Standards of Excellence for Evaluation as well as assisting in the development of methods for evaluation. The inevitability of politics in evaluation is highlighted together with the importance of their ethical conduct. The debates in the American Evaluation Association are very illuminating and Patton’s involvement in them is detailed in the study. They cover a range of issues which are useful to deepening of understanding of evaluation conduct and particular factors which affect use. The study ends with a critical analysis of Patton’s contribution to utilisation of evaluations by programme decision makers and its significance to South Africa.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van dié studie het hoofsaaklik te doen met insigte, hetsy oorspronklik of ontleen aan ander bronne, wat afgelei kan word van die werk van Michael Quinn Patton, veral van sy invloedryke boek, “Utilization-Focused Evaluation,” ten opsigte van die toepassing van program-evaluasie. Die belangrikheid van die toepassing van evalueringsprosesse en -bevindings, kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie. Toepassing is krities tot die sukses van veelvuldige ontwikkelingsprogramme in Suid-Afrika wat gesamentlik uiteindelik sal bepaal of die land sy ontwikkelingsdoelwitte sal bereik. Die studie is ’n analise van die tersaaklike literatuur oor die toepassing van evaluering; wat Patton se werk met dié van ander skrywers oor die onderwerp van toepassing vergelyk. Die proses om dié insigte te verstaan, behels ’n kort biografie van Patton ten einde ’n vlugtige blik te kry oor die faktore wat tot die ontwikkeling van sy idees aanleiding gegee het en om van hulle, sowel as van sy innoverende idees, te leer. Die hooftema van die toespitsing op die toepassingsbenadering vir evaluering, is sy veelsydigheid en die werklike gebruik van evaluasies. Derhalwe le die studie hom dus veral op dié konsepte toe ten einde vas te stel hoe hy hulle gebruik het, wat sy motivering was om daarop te fokus en sy siening rondom die doelwitte van evaluasie. Dít bepaal sy begrip van die gebied van evaluasie, en sy sukses ten einde die toepassing van evaluasie te bevorder, word hierteenoor gemeet. ’n Uitvoerige bespreking oor die sogenaamde “ paradigma-debat’’ tussen die kwantatiewe en kwalitatiewe paradigmas in die opvoedkundige en sosiale wetenskappe van die 1960’s en 1970’s word ook hierin saamgevat. Verder voer die studie aan dat die debat noodsaaklik was ten einde die verdeeldheid te oorkom wat deur die oorheersing van die kwantitatiewe oor die kwalitatiewe paradigmas op dié terreine veroorsaak is, en om begrip te bevorder betreffende die behoefte om navorsingsvrae voorrang te gee deur studies te ontwerp wat dié vrae beantwoord, in plaas daarvan om navorsingsprobleme in ’n klaargemaakte een-grootte-pas-almal ontwerp te plaas. Patton se rol om program-evaluasie in’n professie te omskep, word breedvoerig bespreek. Sy werk oor die onderwerp sluit ’n bydrae in om die gehalte en geloofwaardigheid van evaluasie te verhef, belangrike insette ten opsigte van die Standaarde van Uitnemenheid vir Evaluasie, sowel as om met die ontwikkeling van evaluasiemetodes te help.
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Ramsey, Whitney Jean. "A Quantitative Examination of School Configurations in Tennessee Using Sixth Grade Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies Standardized Test Scores." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2009. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1830.
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The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in standardized test scores, expressed as percentage passing, in math, reading-language arts, science, and social studies by comparing 6th grade students in K-8 schools with those in 6-8 schools. The data were gathered from an analysis of 6th grade student' scores on the 2006-2007 TCAP standardized assessment test in the state of Tennessee. The relationship between grade configuration (6-8 or K-8) and percent of 6th grade students scoring at the below proficient, proficient, or advanced level in each subject area was examined.
The analysis was based on 5 research questions. A t-test for independent samples was used to identify the relationships between the independent variables, configuration of the school (K-8 or 6-8), and the dependent variables, the percent of students scoring below proficient, proficient, or advanced. A chi square analysis was used to identify the relationship between the proportion of K-8 schools meeting AYP versus the proportion of 6-8 schools meeting AYP.
The study showed no relationship between grade configuration (6-8 or K-8) and percent of 6th grade students scoring at the below proficient level in math, reading-language arts, and social studies. Similarly, there was not a significant difference between grade configuration (6-8 or K-8) and percent of 6th grade students scoring at the proficient level in math and reading-language arts and the advanced level in math, reading-language arts, and science. However, there was a significant relationship between grade configuration (6-8 or K-8) and percent of 6th grade students scoring at the below proficient level and the proficient level in science and the percent of 6th grade students scoring at the proficient level and advanced level in social studies. In science, a lower percentage of 6th grade students in K-8 schools scored below proficient than did 6th grade students in 6-8 schools. In science, a higher percentage of 6th grade students in K-8 schools scored proficient than did 6th grade students in 6-8 schools. In social studies, a higher percentage of 6th grade students in K-8 schools scored proficient than did 6th grade students in 6-8 schools. However, a higher percentage of 6th grade students in 6-8 schools scored advanced than did 6th grade students in 6-8 schools. The study showed a significant difference in the proportion of K-8 schools meeting AYP versus the proportion of 6-8 schools meeting AYP.
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Thornton, Kortney Michelle. "A Quantitative Study Comparing Traditional High Schools and High Schools Implementing Freshman Academies in the State of Tennessee." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2009. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1838.
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The purpose of this study was to compare 9th grade student achievement in Tennessee schools the year before and after the schools implemented a freshman academy, as well as compare such schools with traditional Tennessee high schools. The factors in this study that impact student achievement and serve as the dependent variables were attendance rates, number of credits earned, and suspensions for 9th graders. Data were obtained by various software programs used by the schools to enter, maintain, and retrieve student data.
2 x 2 ANOVAs were conducted to determine if there were differences in the mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned among 9th graders based on the type of institution, the academic years prior to and following the implementation of the freshman academy approach, and the 2-way interaction between the type of institution and the academic year. Crosstabulated tables and chi-square tests were used to determine if there was a relationship between suspensions prior to the academic year the Freshman Academy was implemented and the academic year following its implementation.
The 2 x 2 ANOVAs conducted using Freshman Academy A and Traditional High School C indicated there was a significant difference in mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned. Mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned were higher at Freshman Academy A once the academy approach was implemented. The 2 x 2 ANOVAs conducted using Freshman Academy B and Traditional High School D indicated there was no significant difference in mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned once the academy approach was implemented. Two-by-two crosstabulated tables and chi-square tests were used to determine if there was a relationship between suspensions at the Freshman Academy high schools (A & B) for years prior to and following implementation of the academy approach. The analysis of the data indicated there was a significant difference in the number of students suspended following the implementation of the academy approach at Freshman Academy A but not at Freshman Academy B.
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Williams, Jr Charles Jerry. "A Quantitative Assessment of Skills and Competencies in Graduates of At-Risk High Schools." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/988.
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The willingness to work and a high school diploma were once all that was needed to start one's career. The problem is that on the twentieth anniversary of the reports by the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), high school graduates may still lack what business and education leaders require for success in entry-level employment or post-secondary studies. The research question included understanding how prepared graduates from at-risk high schools are for post-secondary work or study. The study used a Likert-scaled survey to assess participant work readiness in 36 skill or competency areas. The sample consisted of recent graduates from three at-risk high schools in one school district. Graduate responses to the survey indicated that 64% were not work ready. Statistically, results were consistent with the SCANS report that indicated that 51% of all American high school graduates were underprepared. Pearson correlations were detected between the graduates' level of academic study (i.e., special education, tech-prep, college-prep, or honors) and work-readiness, and between pre-graduation work-experience and work-readiness. Implications for positive social change include improved graduate work readiness.
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Shachaf, Pnina, and Sarah Horowitz. "Are virtual reference services color blind?" Elsevier, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106524.
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This study reports an experiment that examines whether librarians provide equitable virtual reference services to diverse user groups. The relative absence of social cues in the virtual environment may mean greater equality of services though at the same time greater inequalities may arise as librarians can become less self-aware online. Findings indicate that the quality of service librarians provide to African Americans and Arabs is lower than the quality of service they provide to Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and Jewish students. This study adds to the knowledge of subjective bias in the virtual environment by specifying those that are discriminated against online, identifying the kinds of discriminatory actions of virtual reference librarians, and identifying the type of queries that more frequently result in unbiased service.
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Lee, Paul Chong Chan. "A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOFT TISSUE CHANGE EVALUATION BY ORTHODONTISTS IN CLASS II NON EXTRACTION ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT USING THE 3dMD SYSTEM." Master's thesis, Temple University Libraries, 2013. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/217032.
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Oral BiologyM.S.
With the advent of cephalometrics in the 1930s, numerous studies have focused on the profile of a face to achieve a more esthetic orthodontic treatment outcome. With such heavy emphasis on facial esthetics, a shift in focus from the profile view to the oblique view has become necessary as the smile in the oblique view is what the general public evaluates. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether the current tools for diagnosis and treatment evaluation are sufficient. Currently, 2-dimensional composite photographs are utilized in evaluating the soft tissue. At Temple University, 3-dimensional images, which show all sides of the patient's face, are used adjunctively to 2-dimensional composite photographs. In this study, faculty members at the Temple University Department of Orthodontics were asked to complete surveys after viewing two different image modalities, 2-dimensional images and a 3-dimensional video of the same patient. They were asked to fill out the soft tissue goals for specific facial landmarks. Patient photos were in the smiling view as current literature lacks studies on this view. Faculty members' responses from analyzing the 2-dimensional images and 3-dimensional video for each patient were compared to determine which areas had frequent discrepancies from using two different image modalities. During the survey, a voice recorder captured any comments regarding the images. The ultimate goal of this qualitative pilot study was to identify when 3-dimensional imaging is necessary in treatment planning and evaluation, with an added hope to further advance research in 3-dimensional imaging and its vast possibilities to advance the field of orthodontics. Based on the data collected, the following conclusions were made: 1. The qualitative data highlighted that 3-dimensional imaging would be necessary in cases with skeletal deformities. 2. In the oblique view, 3-dimensional imaging is superior than 2-dimensional imaging by showing more accurate shadow, contour, and depth of the soft tissue. 3. Further improvement is necessary to create a virtual patient with treatment simulation abilities. 4. The comfort level among orthodontists of 2-dimensional imaging was higher than 3-dimensional imaging. With more widespread use of 3-dimensional imaging, more orthodontists may gradually reach a higher comfort level in using this relatively new technology. 5. Faculty members expressed high willingness to use 3-dimensional imaging if improvement in new technology could allow for more manipulation and accurate soft tissue prediction. 6. 3-dimensional imaging is superior in its efficiency, quick capture time, and lack of need for multiple images. Implementation of 3-dimensional imaging could streamline the records process and help with practice efficiency without compromising the image quality. 7. Both patients and orthodontists may benefit from using 3-dimensional imaging. Patients can see an accurate representation of themselves and possibly view their own treatment simulation upon further improvement in current technology. Orthodontists would benefit with much more accurate images that may serve as the virtual patient. 8. Besides the exorbitantly high cost, faculty members thought that more advances were needed and the current benefit was not great enough to justify the investment. The results were consistent with other studies that used the oblique view in that the 2-dimensional oblique view lacks depth and does not provide adequate information. With further improvement in current 3-dimensional imaging, this technology can benefit orthodontists in visualizing their patients. In addition, patients can benefit by hopefully seeing a live and accurate simulation of themselves instantly as a virtual patient. With these benefits of 3-dimensional imaging, it may one day be the new standard in patient records in the field of orthodontics.
Temple University--Theses
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Lamarche, Anick. "Putting the Singing Voice on the Map : Towards Improving the Quantitative Evaluation of Voice Status in Professional Female Singers." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Musikakustik, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-9976.
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Diagnostic and evaluative methods used in voice care are mostly designedfor the speaking voice, and are not necessarily directly applicable to thesinging voice. This thesis investigated the possibilities of fine tuning, improvingand quantifying the voice status assessment of the singer, focusingespecially on the Western operatic female voice. In Paper I, possible singer-specific Voice Range Profile (VRP) characteristicsand tasks were explored and VRP data for 30 professional female Western opera singers was collected. Vocal productions were controlled for a physiological VRP (VRPphys) and for a stage performance context (VRPperf) and outcome differences were identified. Task design was critical for the(VRPphys) but had very little effect on the VRPperf. Significant voice category differences (between soprano,mezzo-soprano and contralto) were limited to frequencyrelated metrics. Two new VRP metrics, the area above 90 dB (Perc90dB) and the sound pressure level extent (SPLext), were found to be key metrics to the study of VRPs for singers. Paper II investigated, in conjunction with the VRP, whether the sound pressure level (SPL) or the skin acceleration level (SAL) was more correlated to the subglottal pressure (Ps). SAL was much less F0 dependent than SPL and facilitated the interpretation of VRP data. However, the correlation between SAL and Ps was found to be weaker than that between SPL and Ps. Papers III and IV explored the mapping of self-perceived impairmentrelated difficulties into the VRP. A modified phonetograph was tested first with a healthy singer population and then with a singer-patient group. Subjects used a button device to communicate their self-perceptions while singing, and were consistent in task replications as well as across different tasks. Healthy singers pressed mostly at the extreme limits of the VRP, where loss of vocal control could be expected and their presses were mostly concentrated on the periphery of the VRP area. Singer patient button- press patterns were distinct from patterns observed in healthy singers. Singer patients pressed mainly inside the VRP boundaries, in the higher range and at intermediate intensities. In Paper V, the Voice Handicap Index for singers was translated and adapted to Swedish (Röst Handikap Index för sångare or RHI-s). The questionnaire was found to be a reliable and a valid instrument. High correlations between general perceptual patient VAS ratings and the questionnaire scores underscored the instrument’s internal coherence. Overall, patient scores (including subscales) were significantly higher than healthy singer scores. The results showed implicitly the necessity and usefulness of adapting clinical procedures to specific patient populations.Together, the results of these five papers can ultimately be of value tovoice clinicians who are treating singers. The results obtained also contributeto the understanding of the singing voice and underline the importance ofproperly documenting the singing voice.QC 20100726
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Meyers, Margaret B. "Telling the Stars: A Quantitative Approach to Assessing the Use of Folk Tales in Science Education." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2005. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1090.
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This research examines the impact of paired folk tales and science explanations on students in third through sixth grades who viewed program modules from the SkyTeller Project of Lynn Moroney and the Lunar and Planetary Institute of Houston, Texas. The audience consisted of over 3500 students in eight locations in the United States. Because few quantitative studies have been conducted to examine the use of stories in science education, the development of an instrument to assess students' attitudes toward science and stories forms a major part of this research. During the final stage of testing, the revised instrument and methods found significant increase in positive attitude toward science after the presentations. Questionnaires, telephone calls, and on-site visits with program presenters and teachers confirmed quantitative results. Despite the difficulties of conducting large-scale studies and the traditionally small response compliance, quantitative assessment can provide useful information for evaluating storytelling media.
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Hicks, Tyler Aaron. "What You Know Counts: Why We Should Elicit Prior Probabilities from Experts to Improve Quantitative Analysis with Qualitative Knowledge in Special Education Science." Scholar Commons, 2015. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5493.
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Qualitative knowledge is about types of things, and their excellences. There are many ways we humans produce qualitative knowledge about the world, and much of it is derived from non-quantitative sources (e.g., narratives, clinical experiences, intuitions). The purpose of my dissertation was to investigate the possibility of using Bayesian inferences to improve quantitative analysis in special education research with qualitative knowledge.
It is impossible, however, to fully disentangle philosophy of inquiry, methodology, and methods. My evaluation of Bayesian estimators, thus, addresses each of these areas. Chapter Two offers a philosophical argument to substantiate the thesis that Bayesian inference is usually more applicable in education science than classical inference. I then moved on, in Chapter Three, to consider methodology. I used simulation procedures to show that even a minimum amount of qualitative information can suffice to improve Bayesian t-tests' frequency properties. Finally, in Chapter Four, I offered a practical demonstration of how Bayesian methods could be utilized in special education research to solve technical problems.
In Chapter Five, I show how these three chapters, taken together, evidence that Bayesian analysis can promote a romantic science of special education - i.e., a non-positivistic science that invites teleological explanation. These explanations are often produced by researchers in the qualitative tradition, and Bayesian priors are formal mechanism for strengthening quantitative analysis with such qualitative bits of information. Researchers are also free to use their favorite qualitative methods to elicit such priors from experts.
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Leslie, Kevin A. "Evaluation and Adaptation of Live-Cell Interferometry for Applications in Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research." VCU Scholars Compass, 2018. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5562.
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Cell mass is an important indicator of cell health and status. A diverse set of techniques have been developed to precisely measure the masses of single cells, with varying degrees of technical complexity and throughput. Here, the development of a non-invasive, label-free optical technique, termed Live-Cell Interferometry (LCI), is described. Several applications are presented, including an evaluation of LCI’s utility for assessing drug response heterogeneity in patient-derived melanoma lines and the measurement of CD3+ T cell kinetics during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The characterization of mast cells during degranulation, the measurement of viral reactivation kinetics in Kaposi’s Sarcoma, and drug response studies in patient-derived xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer are also discussed. Taken together, data from these studies highlight LCI’s versatility as a tool for clinical, translational, and basic research applications.
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Nivens, Ryan, and Daniel Romano. "A View on Research in Mathematics Education in Republic Of Srpska during 2010–2015 through Quantitative Analysis of Published Texts." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/2636.
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Studies of the publishing practices in mathematics education have situated sets of journals in tiers of quality. These reports document the rankings and prestige of only a subset of the wealth of journals available for publishing in mathematics education. We posit that there is value, quality, and purpose to be found in journals that present studies that are of value on a regional level, and that the studies are extremely important to the field. This is particularly important for journals published in languages other than English, and the studies referenced above are almost entirely English-language journals. In this paper we seek to demonstrate that we as a field of researchers cannot discount the value and role of these regional and small-country journals. Using a case study of one small European country, we quantitatively present the areas of strength and weakness in the publishing practices in mathematics education journals that are unlikely to be seen beyond the region of their publication. We conclude with recommendations to publish in areas where research is lacking as well as recommendations to the community at large to recognize the value of such outlets.
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AKBARITABAR, ALIAKBAR. "QUANTITATIVE SOCIOLOGY OF ACADEMIC WORK IN AN ERA OF HYPERCOMPETITION AND RANKINGS." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/635951.
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In recent years, higher education institutes have shifted towards managerial organisational models. Some observers see this as a sign of our neoliberal times, with obsession for rankings, performance indicators and resource allocation. The result is that academic work is more competitive nowadays. Rankings and quantitative analysis of research output are more and more crucial for hiring, promotion and funding allocations. Chapter 2 touches upon these themes and suggests the fruitfulness of cross fertilisation between sociology and science studies. To study this hyper-competitive context, we designed a complex research project to answer different questions regarding multi-faceted aspects of the subject. Our main question was to find what factors drive research collaboration and productivity. These factors are helping some researchers be more successful than others in current evaluation based system. We have employed two sets of data to achieve this goal. One national and one international, both considering the case of sociologists. For individual research productivity measurement and to explore correlates of this productivity (Chapter 3) and macro level policy effect analysis (Chapter 4), we reconstructed the full publication list of all currently hired Italian sociologists on available data. We looked into their research productivity and how they have reacted to the ANVUR national policies by taking into account their embeddedness in different academic contexts. Our aim in Chapter 3 was to explain individual research productivity with organisational embeddedness and we found that male scientists, those working more internationally, and those working with a similar group of coauthors were more productive but not necessarily more cited by other members of the community.In Chapter 4, we analysed the effects of the Italian national research assessment exercise (VQR 2004-2010 by ANVUR) on research productivity and publication behavior of sociologists. Results showed that ANVUR had a limited influence on research productivity. Indeed most differences in individual research productivity of Italian sociologists were due to individual characteristics. Academics who experienced a promotion after 2010 were the most prolific authors.To explore the structural and societal effects on research productivity of sociologists in a more competitive arena at the international level, in Chapter 5, we reconstructed gender, background information and coauthorship networks of all published authors in two top sociology journals, i.e., the American Journal of Sociology (AJS) and the American Sociological Review (ASR). We expected that examining the élite of our community could reveal interesting patterns, especially to understand certain implications of the hyper-competitive academic culture. We found that white male authors affiliated to US institutes were over-represented in these journals.
We also found that male authors tended to work more in team and found trace of significant gender and ethnicity penalties. In Chapter 6 we looked into research communities formation and evolution through the time among Italian sociologists. We aimed to investigate if being a member of these communities would inspire different patterns of scientific collaboration among Italian sociologists. We used a sophisticated multi-level design by using temporal community detection. We found the two largest and most stable research communities among Italian sociologists who were political and economic sociologists. We further explored the underlying mechanisms and processes of coauthorship tie existence in multi-level exponential random graph models (ERGMs) trying to take individual, community and macro levels into account in one integrated framework. We found that the collaboration ties were mainly driven by research focus while preferential attachment was also at work and highly prolific researchers attracted further coauthorship ties. In Chapter 7, we conclude by emphasising that academic work has changed drastically in 21st century. Scientific collaboration is a multi-faceted phenomenon and any effort at studying it only with one or two approaches or with one observational unit would yield reductionistic results. That was the main reason behind our effort to investigate this phenomenon from different points of views. Finally, in Appendices Chapter, how to access the data and R and Python scripts developed during this research project is described and an Annotated bibliography on different aspects of academic work is provided.
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Scott, Sara Ann. "An analysis of the validity of the Enneagram." W&M ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1550154163.
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Scott, Amy M. "A Quantitative Examination of Title I and Non-Title I Elementary Schools in East Tennessee Using Fourth-Grade Math and Reading Standardized Test Scores." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2005. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1060.
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In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind legislation into law. The law established new standards of accountability for individual students, schools, and school systems. Because of No Child Left Behind, the penalties for schools with poor academic performance in our country are the loss of reputation, student enrollment, and financial support. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in standardized test scores in reading and math between fourth-grade students in Title I schools and those in NonTitle I schools. The study focused on the following subgroups: gender, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. The data were gathered from an analysis of standardized test scores in reading and math of fourth-grade students in 172 elementary schools located in 21 East Tennessee school systems. The data were collected from the 2002-2003 Terra Nova Standardized Assessment Test scores. The Terra Nova test is a standardized test used to evaluate academic progress in the state of Tennessee.
In summary, there were some differences between Title I and NonTitle I fourth-grade students in the subject areas of reading and math. Significant differences were noted within the subcategory of gender in both reading and math. Significant differences were also noted within the subcategory of students with disabilities in the content area of math. No significant differences were found in reading for students with disabilities. There were no significant differences between Title I and NonTitle I schools in reading and math within the subcategory of economically disadvantaged students.
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Swanson, Phillip L. "A Quantitative Study of School Characteristics that Impact Student Achievement on State Assessments and those Assessments' Associations to ACT Scores in Tennessee." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2009. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1837.
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The purpose of this study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between particular home, student, and school characteristics and ACT scores and the relationship these characteristics subsequently have with the TVAAS grades assigned to each high school's ACT scores. These home, student, and school variables were socioeconomic status, percentage of minority, graduation rate, per-pupil expenditure, Gateway English II scores, and Gateway Algebra I scores. By looking at these variables and the influence they hold on the education of students, I sought to ascertain the fairness that is present when schools and districts are given grades through the TVAAS assessment.
The population in this study was students in the Tennessee high schools that had given the Gateway English II test, Gateway Algebra I test, and had TVAAS ACT composite grades. I also examined the influence that variables such as socioeconomic status, percentage of minority students, graduation rate, and per-pupil expenditure have on achievement. Before doing the first phase of this project, I set about to see if assumptions of normality were met. I then analyzed data to establish that certain home, student, and school variables affect achievement. After doing that, I was able to show a strong relationship between these 6 home, student, and school variables and achievement.
After establishing predictor variables, I examined the predictor variables and their relationship with the TVAAS ACT composite scores of Above, No Detectable Difference, and Below. These designations from the Tennessee Department of Education are "grades" for the schools and districts. The analyses indicated that, indeed, some of these home, student, and school variables such as socioeconomic status and percentage of minority students still have a relationship with the grades, despite the claim that TVAAS measures teacher effectiveness almost exclusively.
This study concluded with recommendations that further modifications need to be done with the TVAAS grades on ACT composite scores. The conclusions in this dissertation merit consideration from Dr. William Sanders as well as the assessment division of the Tennessee Department of Education.
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Perry, Brittney Dawhn. "Ineffective Psychometric Testing: GRE Test Administration." TopSCHOLAR®, 2012. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1202.
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The effectiveness of the GRE was measured through a mixed-methods study. Quantitative data was studied to determine a relationship between GRE scores and the completion of higher education. Students and employers were surveyed to clarify a link between the content the GRE measures and the skills that are needed in graduate school and the workforce. In addition, students were asked if test administration, time-constrained questions, and question bias had any effect of their GRE score. Together, these findings were inconclusive and do not suggest that the GRE is effective or ineffective in its measurement of potential graduate students in relation to test content, test administration, and question bias, time-constrained questions, and the accurate measurement of psychometrics.
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Cervantes, Melissa. "Bringing Hope to Those Forgotten: Is the Provision of Transitional and Supportive Housing Effective in Reducing Homelessness? A Quantitative Analysis of WillBridge of Santa Barbara, Inc." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1371502328.
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Coughlin, Kevin Barry. "An Analysis of Factor Extraction Strategies: A Comparison of the Relative Strengths of Principal Axis, Ordinary Least Squares, and Maximum Likelihood in Research Contexts that Include both Categorical and Continuous Variables." Scholar Commons, 2013. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4459.
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This study is intended to provide researchers with empirically derived guidelines for conducting factor analytic studies in research contexts that include dichotomous and continuous levels of measurement. This study is based on the hypotheses that ordinary least squares (OLS) factor analysis will yield more accurate parameter estimates than maximum likelihood (ML) and principal axis factor anlaysis (PAF); the level of improvement in estimates will be related to the proportion of observed variables that are dichotomized and the strength of communalities within the data sets.
To achieve this study's objective, maximum likelihood, ordinary least squares, and principal axis factor extraction models were subjected to various research contexts. A Monte Carlo method was used to simulate data under 540 different conditions; specifically, this study is a four (sample size) by three (number of variables) by three (initial communality levels) by three (number of common factors) by five (ratios of categorical to continuous variables) design. Factor loading matrices derived through the tested factor extraction methods were evaluated through four measures of factor pattern agreement and three measures of congruence.
To varying degrees, all of the design factors, as main effects, yielded significant differences in measures of factor loading sensitivity, agreement between sample and population, and congruence. However, in all cases, the main effects were components of interactions that yielded differences in values of these measures that were at least medium in effect size. The number of factors imbedded in the population was a component in six interactions that resulted in medium effect size differences in measures of agreement between population and sample factor loading matrices. of factor loading sensitivity, general pattern agreement, per element agreement, congruence, factor score correlations, and factor loading bias; in terms of the number of interactions that yielded at least medium effect size differences in measures of sensitivity, agreement, and congruence. The number of factors design factor exerted a larger influence than any of the other design factors. The level of communality interacted with the number of factors, number of observed variables, and sample size main effects to yield at least medium effect size differences in factor loading sensitivity, general pattern agreement, per element agreement, congruence, factor score correlations, factor loading bias, and RMSE; in terms of the number of factors that included communality as a component, this design factor exerted the second largest amount of influence on the measures of sensitivity, agreement, and congruence. The level of dichotomization, sample size, and number of observed variables were included in smaller numbers of interactions; however, these interactions yielded differences in all of the outcome variables that were at least medium in effect size.
Across the majority of interactions among the manipulated research contexts, the ordinary least squares factor extraction method yielded factor loading matrices that were in better agreement with the population than either the maximum likelihood or the principal axis methods. In three of the four measures of congruence, the ordinary least squares method yielded factor loading matrices that exhibited less bias and error than the other two tested factor extraction methods. In general, the ordinary least squares method yielded factor loading matrices that correlated more strongly with the population than either of the other two tested methods.
The suggested use of ordinary least squares factor analytic techniques represents the major, empirically derived recommendation derived from the results of this study. In all tested conditions, the ordinary least squares factor extraction method identified common factors with a high degree of efficacy. Suggested studies for future would incorporate the limiting constraints associated with this dissertation into methodological studies to extend the generalizability of conclusions and recommendations into areas that are beyond the scope of this dissertation.
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Carvalho, Wirla Risany Lima. "Tessituras da formaÃÃo em avaliaÃÃo educacional: os desafios à cultura de avaliaÃÃo e a busca por uma educaÃÃo crÃtico-reflexiva." Universidade Federal do CearÃ, 2016. http://www.teses.ufc.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=17572.
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CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel SuperiorCoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
nÃo hÃ
Diante do contexto de complexidade, apresentado no sÃculo XXI, e da era denominada de Sociedade do Conhecimento, a EducaÃÃo, sobremaneira, à impactada nas concepÃÃes mais estruturais de sua formaÃÃo. A avaliaÃÃo educacional sofre os efeitos de um cenÃrio que exige forte conhecimento e aplicabilidade para desenvolvimento de prÃticas educativas eficientes. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral diagnosticar de que forma a relaÃÃo entre conhecimento cientÃfico e espontÃneo apresenta-se como fator importante para a internalizaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo educacional pelo professor e para uma proposta de reconstruÃÃo na formaÃÃo docente em cultura de avaliaÃÃo. Especificamente, intencionou: i) investigar se a reproduÃÃo da avaliaÃÃo como cultura de exame à uma prÃtica recorrente na prÃtica avaliativa docente, quando nÃo hà conhecimento cientÃfico que promova no professor um processo de internalizaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem baseado em uma cultura de avaliaÃÃo; ii) constatar se o conhecimento cientÃfico tem importÃncia fundamental para o docente no processo de formaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem em busca de uma prÃtica de cultura de avaliaÃÃo e educaÃÃo crÃtico-reflexiva; iii) buscar subsÃdios teÃricos que embasem a implementaÃÃo de uma formaÃÃo obrigatÃria em avaliaÃÃo educacional, durante a formaÃÃo em pedagogia e outras licenciaturas nas IES, como fato fundamental para o exercÃcio de uma prÃtica docente em cultura de avaliaÃÃo. A espinha dorsal do estudo foi a teoria de formaÃÃo de conceitos de Vygotsky, complementada por conhecimentos na Ãrea de formaÃÃo docente e da avaliaÃÃo educacional. A abordagem da pesquisa foi qualiquantitativa, de natureza aplicada, utilizando-se nos aspectos qualitativos da hermenÃutica-fenomenolÃgica de Heidegger e Gadamer; e nos quantitativos a anÃlise fatorial e o teste do quiquadrado. Os dados da amostra quantitativa foram coletados com 500 professores em exercÃcio na rede pÃblica de ensino do municÃpio de Fortaleza, CearÃ, atravÃs de escalas de Likert, para depois com nÃmero intencionalmente reduzido de participantes da amostra ampliada, haver a aplicaÃÃo de entrevistas semiestruturadas por adesÃo espontÃnea. Foram utilizados os softwares SPSS 20.0 e Atlas t.i7 para anÃlise dos dados qualiquantitativos. A pesquisa aplicada respondeu Ãs questÃes norteadoras do estudo e diagnosticou que a relaÃÃo entre conhecimento cientÃfico e espontÃneo apresenta-se como fator importantÃssimo para a internalizaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo pelo professor e para uma proposta de reconstruÃÃo na formaÃÃo docente em cultura de avaliaÃÃo, porquanto, foi diante da constataÃÃo dessa relaÃÃo intrÃnseca que os professores se revelaram em suas deficiÃncias formativas e conceituais no campo avaliativo. Foi constatado que a reproduÃÃo da avaliaÃÃo como cultura de exame à uma prÃtica recorrente na prÃtica avaliativa docente, quando nÃo hà conhecimento cientÃfico que promova no professor um processo de internalizaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem baseado em uma cultura de avaliaÃÃo. Constatou-se tambÃm, que o conhecimento cientÃfico tem importÃncia fundamental para o professor no processo de formaÃÃo do conceito de avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem em busca de uma prÃtica de cultura de avaliaÃÃo e educaÃÃo crÃtico-reflexiva. Por fim, apresentaram-se muitos subsÃdios teÃricos â em forma de resultados da pesquisa â que embasam a implementaÃÃo de uma formaÃÃo obrigatÃria em avaliaÃÃo educacional, durante a formaÃÃo em pedagogia e outras licenciaturas nas IES, como fato fundamental para o exercÃcio de uma prÃtica docente em cultura de avaliaÃÃo. Pode-se supor que atà em outros cursos das IES, principalmente, os que necessitem da avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem, como fato fundamental para o exercÃcio de uma prÃtica docente em cultura de avaliaÃÃo. Defendeu-se nesse estudo a tese de que, se hà uma deficiÃncia notÃria na formaÃÃo docente em avaliaÃÃo educacional â para que uma prÃtica docente em avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem seja executada sob a Ãgide da cultura de avaliaÃÃo e de uma educaÃÃo crÃtico-reflexiva â hà uma necessidade premente de formaÃÃo cientÃfica obrigatÃria em avaliaÃÃo educacional, durante a formaÃÃo inicial nos cursos de pedagogia e licenciaturas das InstituiÃÃes de Ensino Superior (IES). Espera-se que o impacto no ensino superior seja fomento à geraÃÃo de uma classe do magistÃrio de professores-cientistas que produzem o saber, nÃo apenas de professores-docentes, que reproduzem e transmitem um saber produzido em outro lugar em relaÃÃo à avaliaÃÃo educacional. Que estes professores-pesquisadores possam fazer da sala de aula um espaÃo de pesquisa onde promovam transformaÃÃes sociais, a partir de seus alunos, despertando nestes a sua prÃpria identidade e busca de autonomia como cidadÃo, como sujeito que foi educado crÃtica e reflexivamente para um pensar e um agir dentro de uma visÃo libertÃria.
Before the context of complexity, presented at the XXI century, and was called the Knowledge Society, Education, greatly, is impacted the most structural concepts of their training. The educational evaluation suffers the effects of a scenario that requires strong knowledge and applicability for the development of effective educational practices. This research aimed to diagnose how the relationship between scientific and spontaneous knowledge is presented as an important factor for internalizing the concept of educational evaluation by the teacher and for a reconstruction proposal in teacher training in evaluation culture. Specifically, purposed: i) investigate whether the reproduction of evaluation as test culture is a recurring practice in teacher evaluation practice, when there is no scientific knowledge to promote the teacher a process of internalization of the concept of evaluation of teaching and learning based on a culture evaluation; ii) establish whether scientific knowledge is of fundamental importance for the teacher in the process of formation of the concept of assessment of teaching and learning in search of a practical evaluation culture and critical-reflexive education; iii) seek theoretical support that could support the implementation of a mandatory training in educational evaluation during training in pedagogy and other degrees in HEIs, as a fundamental fact for the exercise of a teaching practice in evaluation culture. The backbone of the study was the formation of theory concepts of Vygotsky, complemented by expertise in the area of teacher training and educational evaluation. The research approach was qualitative-quantitative, applied nature, using the qualitative aspects of hermeneutic phenomenology of Heidegger and Gadamer; and the quantitative factor analysis and the chi-square test. Data from the quantitative sample was collected with 500 teachers working in public schools in the city of Fortaleza, CearÃ, through Likert scales, then with intentionally small number of participants of the expanded sample, be the application of semi-structured interviews for membership spontaneous. the SPSS 20.0 and Atlas t.i7 for analysis of qualiquantitativos data were used. The applied research answered the study questions and diagnosed that the relationship between scientific and spontaneous knowledge is presented as an important factor in the internalization of the concept of assessment by the teacher and for a reconstruction proposal in teacher training in evaluation culture because, it was on the realization of this intrinsic relationship that teachers have proved in their formative and conceptual weaknesses in the evaluation field. It has been found that the reproduction of evaluation as test culture is a recurring practice in teacher evaluation practice, when there is no scientific knowledge to promote the teacher a process of internalization of the concept of evaluation of teaching and learning based on an evaluation culture. It was also found that scientific knowledge is of fundamental importance for the teacher in the process of formation of the concept of assessment of teaching and learning in search of a practical evaluation culture and critical-reflexive education. Finally, presented are many theoretical support - in the form of search results - that support the implementation of a mandatory training in educational evaluation during training in pedagogy and other degrees in HEIs, as a fundamental fact for the exercise of teaching practice in evaluation culture. It can be assumed that even in other courses of IES, particularly those who require the evaluation of teaching and learning as a fundamental fact for the exercise of a teaching practice in evaluation culture. It has been argued in this study the thesis that if there are serious deficiencies in teacher training in educational evaluation - for a teaching practice in evaluation of teaching and learning to run under the aegis of the evaluation culture and a critical-reflexive education - there is a pressing need for mandatory scientific training in educational evaluation during initial training in pedagogy courses and degrees of higher education institutions (HEIs). It is expected that the impact on higher education is promoting the generation of a class of teaching teachers-scientists produce knowledge, not only teachers-teachers who reproduce and pass a knowledge produced elsewhere in relation to educational evaluation. These professors-researchers can make the classroom a research space where promote social change, from her students, awakening these to their own identity and quest for autonomy as a citizen, as a person who was educated critical and reflexively for thinking and act within a libertarian view.
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Rios, Yesmi. "A Quantitative Investigation of the Relationship Between English Language Assessments and Academic Performance of Long-Term ELLs." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5034.
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Research shows academic literacy is a challenge for students classified as Long-Term English Language Learners (LTELLs). In the pseudonymous Windy Desert School District (WDSD), there are 17,365 students classified as LTELLs. Of these students, the majority are falling short of English academic literacy goals on the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) test and 67% do not graduate from high school. This quantitative study examined the predictive relationship between ACCESS English language proficiency subscale scores in the language domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing and course semester grades in English 9, English 10, and English 11. This longitudinal study, informed by theorists Cummins and Krashen, followed a cohort of 718 Grade 9 students for 3 years (2012-2015). Of the 718, only 161 participant data sets were valid for the final ordinal logistic regression analysis. ACCESS subscale scores in speaking, listening, reading, and writing comprised the predictor variables and English course semester grades comprised the criterion variables. Results revealed that LTELLs' ACCESS subscale scores in listening, reading, and writing were significant predictors of their English course grades whereas speaking scores were not. For each predictor variable, a 1-unit increase in the predictor decreased the likelihood of receiving a lower grade in the course. Social change can result from the WDSD using ACCESS results to create and implement effective instructional programs that develop LTELLs' proficiency in the language domains found significant in predicting their academic grades, thereby increasing their language proficiency, academic grades, and graduation rates over time.
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Anandappa, Marienne A. "EVALUATING FOOD SAFETY SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION BY QUANTIFYING HACCP TRAINING DURABILITY." UKnowledge, 2013. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_etds/19.
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HACCP-based food safety programs have been widely acclaimed, accepted and implemented as an effective means of managing food safety risks. While HACCP training is a cornerstone of managing HACCP programs, there is little information about the effectiveness of HACCP training and the durability of HACCP knowledge. Findings reveal a link between involvement level in HACCP activities and the accuracy of HACCP knowledge over time. Opportunities for peer training in HACCP, irrespective of overall experience in the food industry provide favorable circumstances for maintaining accuracy of HACCP knowledge. The optimal window for engaging employees in HACCP is directly following the completion of training for achieving the minimal depletion level of content knowledge. This study further reveals that refresher training in HACCP is necessary within three years. Furthermore, training standardization organizations likely need a formal process of monitoring and maintaining HACCP trainer and trainee qualifications to ensure uniformity in HACCP programming.
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Houston, Natasha. "Evaluation of a Family-Centered Parenting Program for Culturally Diverse High-Risk Families." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2008. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/21.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a family-centered parenting program for culturally diverse high-risk families using science-based curricula and evaluation tools. Despite the evidence supporting the effectiveness of parenting education, there are still limitations to the current body of knowledge. Research has been conducted primarily with middle-class European American mothers. Less is known about parenting education with culturally and economically diverse families. In addition, much of the additional research targeted well-functioning families. High-risk families are less likely to participate in parenting programs and research studies. Most programs do not use evidence-based curricula or conduct evaluations using valid reliable measures. Last, most programs work solely with the parent and do not have a family-centered approach. Including children suggests the entire family learns together and has a better opportunity to build family cohesion.
This study utilized a science-based curricula parenting program for at-risk families. The sample population included 31% Caucasian, 2% Hispanic, 66% Native American, and 1% of other races combined. Quantitative data reflected that overall parenting scores increased in both target and control groups based on the scores from pretest to posttest with a t score of 0.459 for the target group and 0.346 for the control group.
Overall, the program was successful, and the applied dissertation effectively met each of the 6 outcomes. Nonprofit organizations should review the findings of this applied dissertation to develop more programs that incorporate science-based curricula to address the parenting needs of those who are high risk.
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Sheehan, Kristen I. "The Impact of Direct Writing Conventions Instruction on Second Grade Writing Mechanics Mastery." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2015. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/16.
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This applied dissertation was designed to determine the impact of direct writing conventions instruction on second grade writing mechanics mastery at an independent school in southeast Florida. The research study utilized a nonexperimental quantitative method. The design was pretest-posttest with a control. The pretest-posttest assessment was the Children’s Progress Academic Assessment. The score utilized in the analysis was the Phonics/Writing subtest. De-identified data were collected and analyzed from two separate second grade classes from two consecutive school years (i.e., 2011-2012, 2012-2013). The control group consisted of 43 second graders who received writing conventions instruction in the context of student writing during individual and small group conferences. The control group received no direct writing conventions instruction. The treatment group consisted of 39 second graders who received direct writing conventions instruction through the use of mini-lessons during the writing workshop. An analysis of the de-identified data revealed that, although the treatment group mean change score had a positive change greater than the control group change score, the change was not statistically significant. The researcher failed to reject the null hypothesis relative to a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Recommendations were made for future research.
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Wallace, Richard L., Nakia J. Woodward, and Travis Clamon. "A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Library-Based Hand-Held Intervention with Rural Clinicians." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/3816.
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Background: The East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine Library has participated for several years in projects to provide rural clinicians with health information resources.
Objectives: To determine whether a strategy of hand‐held devices with a best‐evidence point‐of‐care disease tool and a drug database paired with access to a medical library for full‐text articles and training to use the tools would be an affordable way to meet the information needs of rural underserved clinicians.
Methods: This study is a mixed‐methods methodology. The first project was evaluated using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) methodology. The second was evaluated qualitatively using interviews and focus groups.
Results: The quantitative findings discovered that clinicians equipped with a hand‐held device with evidence‐based software more frequently found answers to clinical questions, found answers more quickly, were more satisfied with information they found and use expensive resources such as continuing medical education, online databases and textbooks less than the group that did not have access to online technology. Qualitative results supported the quantitative findings. Conclusion: Librarians can implement a three‐pronged strategy of the secondary literature via a hand‐held, the primary literature via Loansome Doc and quality training to meet basic information needs of rural clinicians.
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Li, Caihong Rosina. "ASSESSING THE MODEL FIT OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL ITEM RESPONSE THEORY MODELS WITH POLYTOMOUS RESPONSES USING LIMITED-INFORMATION STATISTICS." UKnowledge, 2019. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/edsc_etds/45.
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Under item response theory, three types of limited information goodness-of-fit test statistics – M2, Mord, and C2 – have been proposed to assess model-data fit when data are sparse. However, the evaluation of the performance of these GOF statistics under multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models with polytomous data is limited. The current study showed that M2 and C2 were well-calibrated under true model conditions and were powerful under misspecified model conditions. Mord were not well-calibrated when the number of response categories was more than three. RMSEA2 and RMSEAC2 are good tools to evaluate approximate fit.
The second study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10; Worthington et al., 2003) within the IRT framework and estimate C2 and its RMSEA to assess global model-fit. Results showed that the RCI-10 was best represented by a bifactor model. The scores from the RCI-10 could be scored as unidimensional notwithstanding the presence of multidimensionality. Two-factor correlational solution should not be used. Study two also showed that religious commitment is a risk factor of intimate partner violence, whereas spirituality was a protecting factor from the violence. More alcohol was related with more abusive behaviors. Implications of the two studies were discussed.
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Robinson, Ray Anthony. "Integrating Educational Technology to Increase Academic Performance of Sixth-Grade Mathematics Students." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2012. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/4.
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The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of educational software contributed to increasing the academic performance of 6th-grade students in mathematics. The specific programs used were the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Explorer and Promethean ActivBoard. This summative quantitative study was guided by 3 research questions:
1. What was the effect of technology, specifically the Promethean ActivBoard and the FCAT Explorer, on the achievement in mathematics of 6th-grade students, as measured by district benchmark assessments?
2. What was the difference in mathematics achievement, if any, between male and female 6th-grade students following the use of technology, specifically the Promethean ActivBoard and the FCAT Explorer, as measured by district benchmark assessments?
3. What was the effect of technology, specifically the Promethean ActivBoard and the FCAT Explorer, on the achievement in mathematics of African American 6th-grade students, as measured by district benchmark assessments?
Participants were 6th-grade teachers and students in the experimental and control groups. Participants were 59 students in the experimental group and 61 in the control group. Students who used FCAT Explorer and the Promethean ActivBoard showed better scores on a posttest and larger percentage increase in scores than the control group. Male students in the experimental group showed the greatest increase in scores. African American students who also used FCAT Explorer and the Promethean ActivBoard scored higher than those African American students who did not use any form of technology as a supplement to learning.
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Perry, Laura Melissa. "A Case Study Market Analysis of Acceleration Mechanisms in Florida: Dual Enrollment Positioning." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2013. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/9.
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This applied dissertation explored dual enrollment viability when compared to other acceleration mechanisms: (a) advanced placement, (b) advanced international certificate of education, (c) international baccalaureate, and (d) college-level examination program. This multicase, qualitative study explored the competitiveness of dual enrollment versus other acceleration mechanism using Porter’s model and the strengthsweaknessesopportunities- threats analysis as the theoretical frameworks. The study used one-on-one interviews to gather primary comparative information. Five groups were interviewed: (a) the vendors of the acceleration mechanisms, (b) state education officials, (c) district personnel, (d) high school representatives, and (e) higher education representatives. The acceleration mechanisms’ educational objectives, their positioning, and any acceleration mechanisms’ benefits to the various stakeholders were examined. Dual enrollment was compared to the other acceleration mechanisms to develop recommendations for improving the competitive positioning and viability of dual enrollment in Florida.
The study found that acceleration-mechanism options were complex and dynamic programs that were highly influenced by government policies and funding. Educational entities viewed the value of acceleration mechanisms differently, especially dual enrollment. All groups agreed that acceleration mechanisms provided rigorous curriculum for high school students to prepare for college. However, educational entities first wanted to protect their own interests and funding. In terms of dual enrollment, financial considerations remained a substantial motivation for the program. The study showed that all acceleration mechanisms offered benefits to participating students. However, the multifaceted and ever-changing nature of acceleration mechanisms provided no clear advantages or benefits for dual enrollment versus other acceleration mechanisms. Several recommendations are made that addressed concerns about the longterm value of dual enrollment for Florida institutions and students.
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Case, Karen E. "A Big Idea: The Rollout of Open SUNY." NSUWorks, 2016. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/959.
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Leveraging technology may be a viable solution in the higher education industry as enrollments decline and institutions have a hard time meeting their projected budgets. One innovative approach to mitigating this problem was approved in March of 2013 by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (SUNY). It is called Open SUNY. Open SUNY consists of nine components: the creation and expansion of online programs to meet workforce development needs, the development of online credit-bearing experiential learning experiences, support for training of faculty who opt to use emerging technologies, support for student access to online courses, the availability of prior learning assessment system-wide, the development of a research initiative to identify best practices and offer professional development, exploration of open education resources to bring down costs for students, support for expansion of online program development, and the creation and promotion of learning commons to facilitate communication and house content.
The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to observe the rollout of Open SUNY from the fall of 2014 through spring of 2015 in order to describe the experience of stakeholders at SUNY’s various campuses. To triangulate the data, multiple sources were used to observe the phenomenon such as interviews, documents and surveys. Purposeful sampling allowed for all institution types and geographic areas to be included in the population sample. Data were coded and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Three themes that arose from the data interpretation were: inclusiveness, systemness, and openness. An organizational structure model was used as a framework for making recommendations based on the research conclusions.
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Kelleher, Sheri Elizabeth. "A Case Study of the Perceptions of Faculty in a Formalized Mentoring Program at a Private 4-Year College." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2015. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/28.
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This qualitative case study was designed to investigate mentors and mentees and their relationships in a formal group-mentoring program. Results and findings were expected to contribute to the literature on how to best support future new faculty and senior faculty careers by providing data on the opinions of those who participated in the mentoring program. The study may also add to the limited literature on the successes and challenges of using a group mentoring model.
The researcher interviewed 20 faculty members who participated in a formal mentoring program. The interviews examined how and in what ways faculty mentors and mentees describe what they understand, integrate, and implement in their relationship after going through this program; the mentors’ and mentees’ perceptions of the materials and activities in the program in supporting their efforts in developing a mentoring relationship; and after completing the mentorship program, the success and challenges in sustaining an effective mentoring relationship. In addition to interviews, a focus group was conducted and archival documentation was reviewed.
The study site was a private 4-year college in the eastern region of the United States. Data collection included interviews, a focus group, and documents. Interpretation analysis was used to identify themes. An analysis of the data revealed the importance that experiences, resources, knowledge, trust, support, and feelings of connection to the institution have on an a successful mentoring relationship in a group mentoring model.
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Campbell, Bruce G. "Diffusion of Innovations of Videoconference Technology: An Instrumental Case Study Concerning Undergraduate Degree-Seeking Nontraditional Learners." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2015. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/5.
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This applied dissertation is an instrumental case study based on diffusion of innovations theory designed to gather student opinions regarding videoconference (VC) technology use in facilitating courses to undergraduate degree-seeking nursing students. The author of diffusion of innovations theory, Rogers (2003), recommended that more qualitative studies be conducted in education. Rogers and Jain (1968) recommended these studies should be conducted from the aspect of “receivers of innovation diffusion” (p.1) to provide feedback instrumental to implementation of technological innovations in academe. Further, Rogers stated that multiple data points should be used during the process of trialing an innovation. Therefore, a current VC course was selected from the nursing curriculum of a public state college hosting one of the largest nursing programs in the southeastern United States in which to conduct the study.
A total of 32 students participated divided equally between two sites: Main campus and Regional campus. Further divided, 22 personal interviews were conducted and two focus groups; one for each campus consisting 5 students each. Additionally, included in the data corpus were 40 hours of classroom observation plus, college provided end of course (EOC) summary statements. These data were triangulated to determine whether students would accept VC technology unchanged, accept with modifications, or reject VC technology based on first time exposure to the innovation during the 16-week semester. Student innovation decisions were: 6 students accepted unchanged, 14 students accepted with modifications, and 12 students rejected the innovation. Students who rejected the innovation were exclusively from the regional campus, which was the receiving site the majority of the semester.
First and second-cycle analyses yielded 67 codes resulting in 5 categories, which further developed into 3 emerging themes: (a) Interaction with instructors, materials, and distant students are key elements affecting adoption decisions of students regarding VC technology; (b) Student adoption decisions are influenced by faculty members in their use of VC technology; and (c) Student opinions indicate that reinvention is necessary for VC technology to be fully adopted into the present nursing program. The five categories: Interaction, equipment, teaching methodology, instructor technology training, and student orientation provided ample detail from which to inform practice regarding recommendations for reinvention (modification) of VC technology during the implementation stage of Rogers’ five stages of the innovation-decision model. These modifications could assist the college in gaining parity between the two nursing sites, which reported an 18.53 percentage point difference in first time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam reported by the Florida Department of Health (Florida Health, 2015).
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DuPree, Yolanda. "Determinants of Intention to Use New Technology: An Investigation of Students in Higher Education." NSUWorks, 2015. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/69.
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The federal government continues to monitor the cost of paper texts as an essential component of postsecondary education expenses. The Higher Education Act (HEA), which was initially passed in 1965, was created to buttress the educational resources of colleges and universities. Along with addressing the benefits of financial aid in postsecondary and higher education, the act referenced the projected financial burdens of paper texts. The last 2008 reauthorization suggested that colleges and universities develop plans to reduce the costs of college. Congress is currently working to reauthorize the legislation. Based on this information, the problem identified in this study explored how to use the results of the study to develop a framework that may be used by universities. This framework could be used to consider the success (or failure) of the intention to use e-texts in student learning, given how the cost of textbooks contributes to the perceived high cost of college attendance. The primary goal of the study was to evaluate students’ perceptions of the usefulness of e-texts. The subordinate goal was to address the financial benefits of e-texts.
In this study, the author has explored the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and computer self-efficacy involved in the actual use of new technology such as textbooks in electronic format among undergraduate, postsecondary or university students. The main research questions for the study were: “How do the variables perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and computer self-efficacy impact the intention to use, which may be a predictor of actual use of new technology?” and “How will the results of this study assist institutions of higher education in planning for the successful acceptance of new technologies, which may or may not be a predictor of actual use?”
The researcher used a Web-based survey and selected a sample of 5,600 undergraduate students from two universities. There were 482 complete responses to the survey. The context of the study included two traditional, land-based, universities.
This was an exploratory, quantitative, qualitative research study. The research study measured the level of impact of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and computer self-efficacy on the intention to use that may or may not lead to the actual use of new technology. The researcher investigated the topic and provided a framework for identifying factors that may lead to the intention to use new technology, which may determine the actual use of technology (i.e., technology acceptance). The higher levels of students’ perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness of the e-texts, the more apt the student is to choose an e-text as opposed to a paper text. The lower costs of e-texts in comparison to paper texts would be a positive predictor of financial benefits for the students that choose to use e-texts. The financial gains in the purchasing of e-texts could lead to a positive impact on the total of college and education costs. The author also concluded that the market for recreational reading continues to grow for e-texts usage. Academic use of e-texts still represents a lesser portion of the market place.
This study contributed to the body of knowledge, profession, and overall literature in the field of study regarding intentions to use new technology, user acceptance research, and information systems. The results of the study have provided a framework for launching new technology within a postsecondary school environment.
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Kaul, Maya. "Deconstructing “Deviance” and “Disorder” as Systems of Domination: Chicago Public Schools as a Case Study of the Effects of Zero Tolerance Discipline Policies on Educational Outcomes in US Schools." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2017. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/184.
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The rise of “zero tolerance” discipline practices in US primary and secondary schools has become increasingly well documented by the media and empirical studies. Despite the extensive scholarship that has emerged from these conversations, many of these analyses are limited in their scope and do not connect the phenomena of zero tolerance in schools to the diverse, shifting forces at play within American politics and policy today. As such, the goal of this work is to synthesize ideas about zero tolerance across disciplines by integrating historical thought, philosophical frameworks of punishment, shifting policy goals within the US education system, the sociological constructions of “deviance” and “disorder” in the context of the US criminal justice system, and empirical data directly from a school district to develop particular policy recommendations accordingly. The primary research question of this analysis is: What are the effects of zero tolerance discipline policies on educational outcomes? To answer this question, Chicago Public Schools will be employed as a case study from which lessons for the nation at large will be drawn. Ultimately, this analysis ends up revealing the ways in which zero tolerance policies stem from much deeper forces at play between dominant and marginal groups, and what comes to be defined as “deviance” in relation to a socially constructed system of “order.”
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Dalpiaz, Anthony. "Social Media Use, Media Literacy, and Anxiety in First-Year College Students." University of Dayton / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1597137716516134.
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Nyh, Johan. "From Snow White to Frozen : An evaluation of popular gender representation indicators applied to Disney’s princess films." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Institutionen för geografi, medier och kommunikation, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-36877.
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Simple content analysis methods, such as the Bechdel test and measuring percentage of female talk time or characters, have seen a surge of attention from mainstream media and in social media the last couple of years. Underlying assumptions are generally shared with the gender role socialization model and consequently, an importance is stated, due to a high degree to which impressions from media shape in particular young children’s identification processes. For young girls, the Disney Princesses franchise (with Frozen included) stands out as the number one player commercially as well as in customer awareness. The vertical lineup of Disney princesses spans from the passive and domestic working Snow White in 1937 to independent and super-power wielding princess Elsa in 2013, which makes the line of films an optimal test subject in evaluating above-mentioned simple content analysis methods. As a control, a meta-study has been conducted on previous academic studies on the same range of films. The sampled research, within fields spanning from qualitative content analysis and semiotics to coded content analysis, all come to the same conclusions regarding the general changes over time in representations of female characters. The objective of this thesis is to answer whether or not there is a correlation between these changes and those indicated by the simple content analysis methods, i.e. whether or not the simple popular methods are in general coherence with the more intricate academic methods.Betyg VG (skala IG-VG)
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Bekingalar, Lodoumgoto. "Examining Opinions and Perceptions Regarding Substitute Teachers and Their Impact on Student Learning." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2015. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/13.
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This applied study was designed to explore the opinions and perceptions of classroom teachers and school administrators toward substitute teachers in an urban religious school located in the mid-Atlantic United States. The researcher also investigated how these opinions and perceptions impacted the school’s culture and students’ learning abilities. The theoretical framework of the study was based on the social cognitive theory, which is based on the reciprocal causality that a strong sense of collective efficacy enhances teachers’ selfefficacy beliefs, whereas weak collective efficacy beliefs undermine teachers’ sense of efficacy and vice versa. Self-efficacy and collective efficacy shape the normative school environment in which teachers work and students can perform. Three research questions guided the present study: How do opinions or perceptions of substitute teachers from classroom teachers, school administrators, and district personnel affect the substitute teaching process and student learning continuity? What methods of collaboration and strategies can classroom teachers, school administrators, and district personnel use to enhance substitute teachers’ efficacy? How could the professional development of substitute teachers improve instruction?
This study used a qualitative approach that involved surveys and interviews as instruments to collect data. The study sample consisted of available regular classroom teachers, substitute teachers, and administrators from the research site. Traditional methods were used to analyze and synthesize the collected data. The validity of the findings was ensured through member checking, peer review, and triangulation.
Findings revealed that the leadership at the target institution has a philosophy and practice of integrated and comprehensive services both for substitute teachers and regular staff in the school system. Therefore, the general opinions and perceptions of the school administrators, classroom teachers, and substitute teachers about substitute teaching remain positive. That means substitute teachers are fully integrated into the target school system. Relationships between permanent staff members and substitutes also remain positive in that institution.
The productive teaching and learning process takes place when substitute teachers are in charge of the classrooms and their contributions positively impact the students continuing learning. These outcomes may contribute to the improvement of the views and practices of education policy makers, school leaders, classroom teachers, curriculum department, support staff, students, parents, community members, and school partners about substitute teachers and integrate their value into the school system toward the learning continuity of students.
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Falkenberg, Carol Ann. "The Effects of Self-monitoring on Homework Completion and Accuracy Rates of Students with Disabilities in an Inclusive General Education Classroom." FIU Digital Commons, 2010. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/298.
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This study investigated the effects of self-monitoring on the homework completion and accuracy rates of four, fourth-grade students with disabilities in an inclusive general education classroom. A multiple baseline across subjects design was utilized to examine four dependent variables: completion of spelling homework, accuracy of spelling homework, completion of math homework, accuracy of math homework. Data were collected and analyzed during baseline, three phases of intervention, and maintenance. Throughout baseline and all phases, participants followed typical classroom procedures, brought their homework to school each day and gave it to the general education teacher. During Phase I of the intervention, participants self-monitored with a daily sheet at home and on the computer at school in the morning using KidTools (Fitzgerald & Koury, 2003); a student friendly, self-monitoring program. They also participated in brief daily conferences to review their self-monitoring sheets with the investigator, their special education teacher. Phase II followed the same steps except conferencing was reduced to two days a week, which were randomly selected by the researcher and Phase III conferencing was one random day a week. Maintenance data were taken over a two-to-three week period subsequent to the end of the intervention. Results of this study demonstrated self-monitoring substantially improved spelling and math homework completion and accuracy rates of students with disabilities in an inclusive, general education classroom. On average, completion and accuracy rates were highest over baseline in Phase III. Self-monitoring led to higher percentages of completion and accuracy during each phase of the intervention compared to baseline, group percentages also rose slightly during maintenance. Therefore, results suggest self-monitoring leads to short-term maintenance in spelling and math homework completion and accuracy. This study adds to the existing literature by investigating the effects of self-monitoring of homework for students with disabilities included in general education classrooms. Future research should consider selecting participants with other demographic characteristics, using peers for conferencing instead of the teacher, and the use of self-monitoring with other academic subjects (e.g., science, history). Additionally, future research could investigate the effects of each of the two self-monitoring components used alone, with or without the conferencing.
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Burgos, Betsy B. "A Study of Assistive Technology Competencies of Specialists in Public Schools." NSUWorks, 2015. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/60.
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Despite the rapid proliferation of assistive technology implementation, studies have revealed that a number of professionals that provide assistive technology services do not have adequate competencies to recommend and deliver assistive technologies in school settings. The purpose of the study was to examine the competencies of assistive technology specialists in Florida K-12 public schools, and identify training opportunities that may have helped them achieve professional competence in the evaluation and provision of assistive technology devices and services across AT service providers from different preparations.
The study applied quantitative and qualitative methods to determine answers to the following six research questions: (1) to what extent does the perceived level of AT knowledge differ among AT specialists from different occupations in the Florida public school setting, (2) to what extent does the perceived level of AT skills differ among AT specialists from different occupations in the Florida public school setting, (3) what are the AT specialists’ perceptions about their AT knowledge and skill levels, (4) what common competency sets are needed for the AT specialist, regardless of their occupational role, (5) what are the training opportunities among AT specialists from different occupations in the Florida public schools setting, and (6) what type of training opportunities are essential among AT specialists from different occupations in the Florida school setting.
In order to gather data of breadth and depth, the researcher disseminated an online survey, which 39 AT providers from the five Florida school regions completed. Interviews were conducted with seven of the survey respondents to triangulate interview data with the survey data. Results suggested that assistive technology specialists possess different levels of assistive technology knowledge and skills. Assistive technology specialists from different professional backgrounds and years of experience identified a lack of competence in several areas where they currently provide AT services. Assistive technology specialists should seek continuous in-service training to increase their assistive technology knowledge in the evaluation and recommendation of AT equipment and services for students with special needs in schools. This training is vital to meet their students’ assistive technology needs and legislation requirements for assistive technology services for students with disabilities. Recommendations for the improvement of assistive technology professional practice in schools are included in the study.
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Cimentada, Jorge. "Educational institutions and their effect on inequality: three papers on educational systems and inequality of achievement and opportunity." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/667640.
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By placing particular attention to the socio-economic dimension, this thesis explores the role of three pillars of an educational system: decentralization, early education and curricular tracking. The first article focuses on an experiment in Mexico that aimed to increase parental empowerment in the school's decision-making. Results show that increased participation produced an increase in cognitive abilities, however, this was mediated by the SES of the student. The second article brings an international perspective by comparing the evolution of the achievement gap over time in 32 countries. The findings suggest that tracking and vocational enrollment are important explanatory mechanisms of the cross-country variability in achievement gaps. The third article studies whether early education is associated with adult outcomes but concentrating on a particularly vulnerable population in the United States: GED recipients. Results show that participation in early education is associated with greater odds of graduating high school over attaining a GED.Esta tesis explora el rol de tres pilares de un sistema educativo: descentralización, educación temprana y seguimiento curricular. El primer artículo estudia un experimento en México que tuvo como objetivo aumentar el empoderamiento de padres en la toma de decisiones en la escuela. Los resultados muestran que mayor participación de los padres aumentó las habilidades cognitivas de sus hijos. Sin embargo, esto fue mediado por el SES del estudiante. El segundo artículo compara la evolución de la brecha de logros en 32 países. Los hallazgos sugieren que el seguimiento curricular y los estudios vocacionales pueden ser mecanismos explicativos de la brecha. El tercer artículo estudia si la educación temprana está asociada con resultados positivos en la adultez en Estados Unidos. Los resultados muestran que la participación en educación temprana está asociado con mayores probabilidades de graduarse de la escuela secundaria en comparación con la obtención de un GED.
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Vũ, John Huân. "Software Internationalization: A Framework Validated Against Industry Requirements for Computer Science and Software Engineering Programs." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2010. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/248.
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View John Huân Vũ's thesis presentation at http://youtu.be/y3bzNmkTr-c.
In 2001, the ACM and IEEE Computing Curriculum stated that it was necessary to address "the need to develop implementation models that are international in scope and could be practiced in universities around the world." With increasing connectivity through the internet, the move towards a global economy and growing use of technology places software internationalization as a more important concern for developers. However, there has been a "clear shortage in terms of numbers of trained persons applying for entry-level positions" in this area. Eric Brechner, Director of Microsoft Development Training, suggested five new courses to add to the computer science curriculum due to the growing "gap between what college graduates in any field are taught and what they need to know to work in industry." He concludes that "globalization and accessibility should be part of any course of introductory programming," stating:
A course on globalization and accessibility is long overdue on college campuses. It is embarrassing to take graduates from a college with a diverse student population and have to teach them how to write software for a diverse set of customers. This should be part of introductory software development. Anything less is insulting to students, their family, and the peoples of the world.
There is very little research into how the subject of software internationalization should be taught to meet the major requirements of the industry. The research question of the thesis is thus, "Is there a framework for software internationalization that has been validated against industry requirements?" The answer is no. The framework "would promote communication between academia and industry ... that could serve as a common reference point in discussions." Since no such framework for software internationalization currently exists, one will be developed here. The contribution of this thesis includes a provisional framework to prepare graduates to internationalize software and a validation of the framework against industry requirements. The requirement of this framework is to provide a portable and standardized set of requirements for computer science and software engineering programs to teach future graduates.
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Zhu, Shixiong. "Quantitative evaluation and interpretation of polymer-polymer interactions." 2003. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/fullcit?p3116244.
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hsu, chi-sheng, and 徐基生. "Applications of Quantitative Techniques in the Evaluation of Large Research Organizations." Thesis, 2004. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/ttvg5c.
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博士國立交通大學
工業工程與管理系所
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Science and technology development is known to be a significant factor in a country’s economical strength. The government-funded research organizations can play an important role in promoting economical growth. Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a notable example. Taiwan’s government has placed increasing importance on not-for-profit research organizations, based on the ITRI model, to help moderate-sized industries that cannot afford R&D on their own. As such organizations proliferate, a systematic method to measure their performance is highly desirable in order to make best use of the limited resources. The same method can also help research organizations monitor their effectiveness and make management decisions. However, there is no generally agreement on the method to be used, although some tools are available. This study focuses on ITRI, beginning with a comparison with a number of large research organizations in several nations. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) method is then used to evaluate organizational structure and efficiencies of various ITRI departments. The contributions to industries are separately verified. This analysis can improve communications between research organizations and their funding agencies. This approach also makes the management decisions and communications within the organization easier. A factor analysis is performed to find characteristics and roles of various research divisions. The subsequent cluster analysis identifies five main types: Innovative R&D, Visionary technology, Technical Services, Technology Acquisition and Collaborative R&D, and Information Service. Further analysis based on Canonical Correlation yields relative coefficients and relations among various input/output elements, pointing the way for improving the organizational performance. Depending on the weighting factors, there is certain flexibility in allocating resource for the most desired result. For example, more capital investment may be called for in some cases, but not in others. The basic missions and goals of large research organizations are similar in essence. The method and findings for ITRI here are expected to be applicable in other organizations.
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Zhang, Qiu Mu, and 張秋木. "The research of quantitative evaluation on park developing decisions:take Hsin-Chu urban park as examples." Thesis, 1996. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27134413494218751580.
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