Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999. / Title from title page screen, viewed July 27, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Mark Swerdlik (chair), E. Paula Crowley, Daniel Graybill, Jeffry Kahn, Douglas H. Lamb. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-155) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1995. / Title from title page screen, viewed April 25, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Larry D. Kennedy (chair), John V. Godbold, John T. Goeldi, Barbara S. Heyl. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-136) and abstract. Also available in print.

This study describes my experience 111 the research 1 conducted in two Harare secondary schools in which the interpretive ethnographic qualitative research methodology was used. The objective of the research was to assess the infuence of ability grouping on learners, given that ability grouping is a common practice in Zimbabwean schools. In particular, this study sought to find out how this practice affected classroom instruction, learner performance and the social relationship among learners. This study was conducted over three months at each of the schools, during which time formal interviews with teachers, administrators and learners, were conducted. These were complemented with informal conversations, where relevant comments were noted. Observation and limited participation in the two schools were also employed as means of collecting data. Analysis of documents was also done to supply more data about the practice and how it was implemented. As customary with qualitative research, I, as the researcher, was the instrument for data collection. Data were analysed by identifying themes which emerged from the statements of the respondents, and interpretation was done using the mechanism of thick description of what the respondents said and did during the interviews and observation, and what the documents had to say about this practice. I, as researcher, concluded from this study that ability grouping had a negative effect on classroom instruction for the low ability groups, since teachers tended not to prepare thoroughly for them. There was also a tendency among high ability groups to look down upon the low ability groups and to stigmatise them as "those who do not want to learn." Naturally this created a counter reaction from the low ability groups, making social relationships between members of the groups sour. l, as researcher, recommend a re-examination of this practice by the schools, with a view to either discontinue it or to work out mechanisms to remove the negative factors. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

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This thesis discusses the pros and cons of grouping by ability in secondary English.

The primary purpose was to determine whether there were differences in the amount of change produced by two plans of elementary school organization for the instruction of rapid learners in order to develop a sound policy of organizing the elementary school. A secondary purpose was to determine the effects of the two plans on other pupils in the sections being studied.

"Teaching reading to girls and boys with different levels of ability and various backgrounds is a challenging task for any teacher to face. This task becomes even more difficult when the class is composed of pupils in two grades under the same teacher. The purpose of this experiment is to show the need for, and the benefits derived from, group instruction in teaching reading to a first and second grade, in the same room, under the same teacher"--Chapter 1. / Advisor: Robert C. Moon, Major Professor. / "A Paper." / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Includes bibliographical references.