This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS; Hopko, Bare, & Hunt, 2003) and the Math Anxiety Scale -- Revised (MAS-R; Bai, 2009) across race and gender as well as the extent to which race and gender predict learning math anxiety and math evaluation anxiety at both the secondary level, which…

Validity of a measurement refers to appropriate test score meanings, uses, and interpretations (Messick, 1989; Kane, 1992). There are different approaches to validity: an evidentiary aspect of validity is one requiring gathering statistical evidence to evaluate test score meaning. A common approach to validation is comparisons of test score equity…

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.…

Academic self-efficacy refers to a student's confidence in successfully performing academic tasks at a designated level. Empirical research in US students suggests academic self-efficacy is a positive predictor of university student academic performance and retention, two outcomes that need to be increased in Saudi students. Given the potential…

The Performance Expectations described in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) pose significant challenges for assessment design. Multiple models of assessments, including paper-and-pencil and hands-on based performance assessments, can be utilized to assess student competency while applying scientific and engineering practices, in the…

Divergent thinking (DT) tests are the most frequently used types of creativity assessment and have been administered in traditional paper and pencil format for more than a half century. With the prevalence of computer-based testing and increasing demands for large-scale, faster, and more flexible testing procedures, it is necessary to explore and…

Assessment is an integral part of learning as it is used to gather information about a test-taker. Those in the field of academia, such as educational policy makers, instructors, and administrators are able to use information gathered from tests to further instruction and learning decisions (Baker, 2006; Drianna, 2007; Kasper & Ross, 2013;…

This study was designed to investigate the predictive relationships of creative problem-solving attributes, which comprise divergent thinking, convergent thinking, motivation, general and domain knowledge and skills, and environment, with mathematical creativity of sixth grade students in Thai Nguyen City, Viet Nam. The study also aims to revise…

The purpose of this national, quantitative study was to (1) provide psychometrics for the ACUHO-I/EBI RA Survey, a joint project between between Educational Benchmarking, Inc (EBI) and The Association of College and University Housing Officers--International (ACUHO-I), and (2) explore the sophomore resident assistant (RA) experience. This study…

The purpose of this study was to create a valid and reliable instrument to measure teacher perceived barriers to the adoption of games and simulations in instruction. Previous research, interviews with educators, a focus group, an expert review, and a think aloud protocol were used to design a survey instrument. After finalization, the survey was…

There were three primary purposes for this study. First, I investigated the psychometric properties of the Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy (SMMSE) scale (Usher, 2007; Usher & Pajares, 2009) with high school students. Validation for expanded use of the SMMSE scale was achieved by assessing the instrument's psychometric…

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of alternative approaches to administering and scoring curriculum-based measurement for written expression. Specifically, three response durations (3, 5, and 7 minutes) and six score types (total words written, words spelled correctly, percent of words spelled correctly,…

The nutrition environment in schools can influence the risk for childhood overweight and obesity, which in turn can have life-long implications for risk of chronic disease. This dissertation aimed to examine the nutrition environment in primary public schools in California with regards to the amount of nutrition education provided in the…

The primary purpose of the current research was to determine whether low-income, high-risk young children's emergent literacy skills, including measures of oral language and letter knowledge, were related to their social competence. Other goals included determining the reliability of a social competence rating scale, the Social Competence…

Since the 1970's there has been a movement in the United States aimed at increasing the integration of students with disabilities among non-disabled peers in general education classes. The practice of inclusion--full integration of students regardless of the severity of disability--is not uniformly accepted. While many agree with the ideals and…