This study investigated the predictive relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematics performance using a more sensitive measure of performance, fluency. Fourth and fifth grade students completed a seven-page packed which included a demographic questionnaire, the Mathematics Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), a mixed math probe measuring…

The United States has long struggled with retaining superintendents in public school districts, with a retention rate of only 32% to 43% over the past decade. The low retention rate is concerning as it can negatively impact the quality of education offered to students and staff morale. The twofold purpose of this research was to identify factors…

Distance learning is a growing educational delivery method for Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral students. At the time of this study, no research existed regarding the research self-efficacy (RSE) of distance learning CES doctoral students. Historically, the lack of RSE among counselor educators has been a chronic issue. However,…

This dissertation consists of a theoretical review and two empirical studies investigating college students' academic effort beliefs (AEB) and their relationship to academic functioning. The overarching goal of this project was to (a) better understand how college students think about effort as it relates to their academic endeavors, (b) develop a…

Social cognitive theory was developed to explain how individuals learn, in part, by witnessing the behavior of others. Self-efficacy is a construct within social cognitive theory which indicates the beliefs that an individual can be successful at a task under specific situational demands. The sources of self-efficacy include self-evaluating past…

Nonmusical factors affect the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) concert performances and subsequent assessment results; namely, school size, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. A comparison of ratings given by individual trained evaluators demonstrates interrater reliability. A comparison of final ratings given at…

Psychologists have become increasingly interested in the intra-individual variability of psychological measures as a meaningful distinguishing characteristic of persons. Assessments of intra-individual variability are frequently based on the repeated administration of self-report rating scale instruments, and extreme response style (ERS) has the…

This online study determined significant predictors of scores on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) using a convenience sample of college students (N = 403) with a mean age of 21.84 years (min 18, max 57, SD = 4.81), including 77.2% (n = 311) female (58.8% (n = 237) White, 22.1% (n = 89) Latino, and 14.4% (n = 58) African American. (Abstract…

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether and how teacher-child interactions, teacher-child relationships, children's self-control, parents' education levels, teachers' teaching experience and education levels, and classroom physical environment impact children's engagement levels. Preschoolers from Head Start programs and a university…

Past research has revealed that African American/Black boys are referred for special education evaluation at disproportionately higher rates than boys of other racial/ethnic groups. This correlational study used survey methodology to examine whether student and teacher demographic variables predicted how likely a teacher would refer boy students…

This research explores the impact of student use of energy psychology techniques in the classroom setting. The descriptive design quasi-experimental study also examines how energy psychology techniques used in the classroom are related to age and gender by use of the survey method. Questionnaire packets were administered to seventy-five college…

Purpose. Clinical communication influences health outcomes, so medical schools are charged to prepare future physicians with the skills they need to interact effectively with patients. Communication leaders at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNMSOM) developed The Essential Elements of Communication-Global Rating Scale (EEC-GRS) to…

Multiple predictors of academic outcomes in children have been identified and studied including gender, level of parental support, family structure, and age. Though the concepts of self-concept, self-esteem, and teacher perception of the student-teacher relationship have been studied in depth, their study as predictors of academic outcomes,…

Trends in higher education indicate a growing diversification of student populations. However, faculty racial and gender diversity lags behind the nation. Given this difference, this study proposed an exploration of multicultural competence among undergraduate faculty to offer insight into how higher education, and faculty in particular, might…

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument through facet-factorial analysis to assess high school marching band performance. Forty-one items were chosen to define subscales for the Marching Band Performance Rating Scale - Music and 31 items for the Marching Band Performance Rating Scale - Visual. To examine the stability…