The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the effects of using high-quality feedback (HQF) to train educators on an ACT-based intervention called cognitive defusion. Since there was limited acquisition using HQF as a training method, the participants were switched to BST to learn the remaining cognitive defusion task. A delayed multiple probe…

The multiple-choice (MC) item format has been widely used in educational assessments across diverse content domains. MC items purportedly allow for collecting richer diagnostic information. The effectiveness and economy of administering MC items may have further contributed to their popularity not just in educational assessment. The MC item format…

Monte Carlo methods are an accepted methodology in regards to generation critical values for a Maximum test. The same methods are also applicable to the evaluation of the robustness of the new created test. A table of critical values was created, and the robustness of the new maximum test was evaluated for five different distributions. Robustness…

With increased pressure for schools to demonstrate college and career readiness, it is crucial to explore the roles and activities of school counselors, the preservice training they receive, and how those college and career readiness concepts are integrated into their roles. The research questions were (1) What are the current roles and activities…

Response style, one common aberrancy in non-cognitive assessments in psychological fields, is problematic in terms of inaccurate estimation of item and person parameters, which leads to serious reliability, validity, and fairness issues (Baumgartner & Steenkamp, 2001; Bolt & Johnson, 2009; Bolt & Newton, 2011). Response style refers to…

We study flexible Bayesian methods that are amenable to a wide range of learning problems involving complex high dimensional data structures, with minimal tuning. We consider parametric and semiparametric Bayesian models, that are applicable to both static and dynamic data, arising from a multitude of areas such as economics, finance and…

I study the impact of novel game manipulations on user engagement using principled computational methods. Maximizing user engagement is important because it results in more profitable games in the commercial arena and better learning outcomes in the educational arena. It is then perhaps unsurprising that the study of user engagement is well…

Measurement invariance is crucial for an effective and valid measure of a construct. Invariance holds when the latent trait varies consistently across subgroups; in other words, the mean differences among subgroups are only due to true latent ability differences. Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when measurement invariance is violated.…

With the rapid increase of smartphones and tablets, security concerns have also been on the rise. Traditionally, Information Technology (IT) departments set up devices, apply security, and monitor them. Such approaches do not apply to today's mobile devices due to a phenomenon called Bring Your Own Device or BYOD. Employees find it desirable to…

This study examined the relationships amongst mindfulness, empathy, and intercultural sensitivity. Non-parametric analysis were conducted through Spearman and Hayes's PROCESS bootstrapping to examine the relationship between mindfulness and intercultural sensitivity, and whether empathy mediates the relationship between mindfulness and…

The research study was conducted with the primary purpose to evaluate the overall delivery of information conveyed to minority students who attended visitation programs at The Ohio State University and Purdue University. The sample population used in this study was 120 students who attend visitation programs at the two listed institutions. Survey…

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive research study was to examine the possibility of a correlation between peer mentoring programs and successful progression of K-12 teachers. The study encompassed teachers who had been in the profession five or fewer years and worked in a K-12 school district located in the southwestern region of the…

Utilizing a nonparametric statistical method, this secondary data analysis of the AASA, The School Superintendents Association (formerly the American Association of School Administrators) "American School Superintendent 2010 Decennial Study" on superintendents analyzes factors related to superintendent retention and turnover from a labor…

Working-class students face many struggles in attempting to complete a college degree. Two of the most prominent struggles faced by these students are the deficiency of financial aid available for those in the working-class and the lack of these students' social capital. Social capital, which is often passed down through families, may be…

This study addressed CPA perceptions about the need for human skill competencies as professional development. The problem was identified as the undetermined assessment of state level CPA perceptions about human skill competencies as developmental needs. CPAs and education providers may be impacted by this problem. The purpose of this study was to…