Psychosocial competencies; such as prosocial behaviors, compliance with authority, attention regulation, independence, and emotional regulation; play a crucial role in child development. Higher levels of these competencies in childhood are linked to fewer behavior problems, while deficits in these competencies can predict future problem behaviors.…

This multiple-manuscript dissertation explored the measurement invariance (MI) testing with multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) approach from different perspectives. Study 1 explored MI from a theoretical perspective by conducting a systematic review study on MI practices in education. The findings of this study indicated…

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) often display externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression and defiance) and experience internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression). When left untreated, these difficulties can result in negative outcomes for students in school and beyond. Cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) offer…

This study assesses the utility of the U.S. version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) teacher form as a screener for mental health and behavior concerns. The SDQ was administered to a community sample of 391 culturally and linguistically diverse students in grades K-6. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.…

There has been an increased interest among researchers, policymakers, and educators in climate as an indicator of the health and functioning of a school. Climate is a complex, multidimensional construct that can be examined at the school, classroom, and individual levels. There are currently few open-access, brief measures of classroom climate,…

The relationship between experience and learning is a growing phenomenon of interest to scholars of teaching and learning. In 1938, John Dewey stated that, "all genuine education comes about through experience." Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own capabilities to produce clear levels of performance around certain tasks. Virtual…

Investigating the psychometric properties of a screening instrument for young children is necessary to ascertain its quality and accuracy. In light of the important role culture plays on human beliefs and parenting styles, a newly translated and adapted test needs to be studied. Evaluating outcomes on a translated version of a test may reveal…

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the representation of African American and Hispanic students in gifted education programs, professional development and teacher training in gifted education, and teacher referral of these students to gifted programs. Administrators, general education teachers, and gifted education…

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is chronic disorder that contributes to multiple physiological and psychological conditions. Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to high rates of morbidity and mortality and has substantial impacts on both health care costs and the quality of life for affected individuals and their families. Healthcare…

This study was conducted to determine if a growing, urban school district was adequately addressing the academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. McKinney-Vento eligible students were compared to non-homeless virtual twins. Each twin was created through averaging three…

This study was conducted to determine if a growing, urban school district was adequately addressing the academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. McKinney-Vento eligible students were compared to non-homeless virtual twins. Each twin was created through averaging three…

This study was conducted to determine if a growing, urban school district was adequately addressing the academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. McKinney-Vento eligible students were compared to non-homeless virtual twins. Each twin was created through averaging three…

Little is known about the decision-making styles of active-duty police officers or what the consequences of not understanding those decision-making styles may be. The purpose of the study was to describe the demographics and decision-making profiles of active-duty police officers, as well as any relationships that may exist among these variables,…

With the recent influx of Latinos into the United States, it is essential to understand how their backgrounds and cultures will affect the way they view their children's emotional, social, and educational development. Researchers continue to evaluate the psychometrics of various screening instruments in order to ensure a reliable and valid…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between professional learning community (PLC) factors, components of an implementation of response to intervention (RTI) and student learning in mathematics at the middle and high school level. This study was designed to answer three questions: Is there a correlation between PLC…