This dissertation explores the effectiveness and consequences of three distinct education policies. The first chapter analyzes the effects of high school exit exams on graduation, employment and wage outcomes. We construct a state-graduation year cohort dataset using the Current Population Survey data, US Census data and information on the timing and difficulty of exit exams in different states. Using this dataset we analyze within-state variation in outcomes overtime. Overall, we find relatively modest effects of high school exit exams. We do not find consistent effects on graduation rates for exit exams that assess academic skills taught below the high school level; however, we find that more challenging standards-based exams reduce graduation rates. We also find that about one-half of the reduction in graduation rates associated with exit exams is offset by an increase in GED rates. Our analysis of labor market outcomes suggests that exit exams increase employment rates, but we find no effect of exit exams on the distribution of wages. Chapter two analyzes the institutional consequences of the California Class-Size Reduction (CSR) program. This program provides incentive funding if schools limit the class-size in grades K-3 to twenty or fewer students. We find that some schools and school districts limit their enrollment levels in order to maximize the CSR subsidy payment. In particular, the distribution of grade and district enrollments exhibits a prominent pattern of peaks that occur at multiples of twenty, where CSR payment is the largest. In order to achieve exact enrollment levels, schools must be reassigning students above the desired thresholds to nearby schools or nearby school districts. We also find that schools that limit their enrollments are well-performing schools with a low percentage of students who receive free or reduced price meals. The last chapter analyzes the academic consequences of the Texas Top 10 Percent Law. In 1998, state universities in Texas began using high school class rank as the sole factor in university admissions. This policy was implemented to increase enrollment of minority and economically disadvantaged students, but it generated criticism that such beneficiaries of rank-based admissions lack the academic preparation necessary to perform well in college. I test this claim by analyzing academic performance of rank-eligible students who attended UT Austin before and after the law. To account for grade inflation I use a difference-in-differences framework with students not eligible for rank-based admissions as controls. The difference-in-differences estimates may be overstated, however, because academic quality of the control group may have increased after the law. I use propensity score matching methods to correct for this. Finally, I correct for the confounding effects of GPA ceiling on the difference-in-differences estimates. Both the baseline and the adjusted estimates suggest that mean college GPA of rank-admitted students declined after the law.

Thesis studying instances of cheating in junior high school. According to the introduction, the purpose of the study is: 1. To determine the extent to which pupils in the junior high school grades will cheat when allowed to score their own examination papers. 2. To determine the relation between the professed attitude toward cheating on examinations and actual cheating behavior. 3. To determine some factors related to cheating (p. 1).

The purpose of this study was to observe college students’ behavior on five selftailored, multiple choice exams throughout a semester in relation to: a) metacognitive ability, b) self-efficacy expectations, and c) test anxiety. Additionally, the effect of a selftailoring procedure on exam scores and content validity of the tests was observed. Selftailored testing was defined as an option in which students selected up to five questions they wanted to omit from being scored on an exam. Students’ metacognitive ability was defined as the percentage of incorrectly answered questions out of the total number omitted. Ninety-nine college students from two sections of an educational psychology undergraduate course participated in this study. Eighty students completed the study; seventy-one used an option to omit questions on all exams. Before taking exam 1, students answered measures of self-efficacy and test anxiety. After completing each of the five course exams, students marked on the back of their answer sheet up to five questions they wanted to be omitted from scoring. After exam 5, students answered a questionnaire that addressed their perception of the self-tailoring procedure. MANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, Pearson correlations, t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted. Students made a statistically significant increase in their scores on all exams by using the questions omitting procedure. There was a statistically significant linear increase of percentages of incorrectly answered questions out of the total number omitted across five exams. Frequency of items that students omitted from scoring were significantly negatively correlated with item difficulty values. The content validity of the test was affected on two out of five exams based on cognitive level of items and on three out of five exams based on chapter coverage. Students’ self-efficacy expectations and test anxiety were not related to the likelihood to apply the self-tailoring procedure or to the degree of success students had in applying the procedure.The study provided a new perspective on self-tailored tests in college classroom with implications for teaching, assessment, and students’ metacognitive abilities.

Introduction : L’évaluation des apprentissages a une importance indéniable en pédagogie des sciences de la santé et l’utilisation d’examens écrits est omniprésente, notamment en médecine. Toutefois, l’élaboration d’évaluations de haute qualité est souvent un défi pour les rédacteurs et les programmes. Il est donc important d’identifier des stratégies qui pourraient faciliter le travail des rédacteurs tout en ayant un impact positif sur la qualité des questions écrites, notamment l’utilisation de consignes lors de la rédaction. Méthodologie : Nous avons élaboré une liste de consignes de rédaction de questions d’examens par un processus itératif et rigoureux. 14 consignes discriminantes ont été retenues. À l’aide d’une étude de cas multiples, nous avons exploré l’utilisation de ces consignes de rédaction de questions auprès de quatre rédacteurs pour des examens d’un programme préclinique de médecine. Un questionnaire et une entrevue individuelle semi-dirigée ont été effectués pré et post utilisation des consignes. Les unités d’analyses et de comparaison étaient : la qualité et les propriétés psychométriques des questions pré et post utilisation des consignes, l’acceptabilité et l’utilisation de celles-ci. Résultats : Pour tous les participants, les questions rédigées respectaient majoritairement les consignes de rédaction. Quoique non statistiquement significative, nous avons observé une légère augmentation du coefficient de discrimination chez les rédacteurs (2 sur 4) qui utilisaient les consignes de manière active. Nos résultats suggèrent que l’appropriation que font les rédacteurs des consignes semble influencer leur perception de l’utilité et de l’acceptabilité des consignes. Conclusion : Les résultats obtenus semblent suggérer que l’utilisation d’une liste circonscrite de consignes de rédaction offre une bonne stratégie à adopter pour améliorer la qualité des questions. Les rédacteurs de questions qui sont mieux outillés et qui semblent adopter pleinement l'utilisation des consignes de rédaction y voient les impacts positifs sur la qualité de leurs questions. / Abstract : Introduction : The assessment of learners has an undeniable importance in health professions education and the use of written exams is omnipresent, notably in medicine. However, developing high-quality assessment is often a challenge for administrators and exam developers. It is therefore important to identify strategies that could facilitate their work while having a positive impact on the quality of the written exam questions, including the use of guidelines when developing exams. Methodology : We created a list of item-writing guidelines through a rigorous and systematic process. We identified 14 discriminant guidelines. Using a multiple case study, we explored the use of those questions writing guidelines with four exam developers at the preclinical phase of an undergraduate medicine program. A questionnaire was completed and a semi-directed individual interview was carried out before and after the use of guidelines. The units of analysis and comparison were: the quality and psychometric properties of questions pre- and post-use of the guidelines, the acceptability and the use of these guidelines. Results : For all the participants, the written questions respected mostly the instructions of drafting. Although not statistically significant, we observed a slight increase in the coefficient of discrimination among editors who actively used the instructions. Our results suggest that participants’ appropriation of the item-writing guidelines seemed to influence their perception of the usefulness and acceptability of instructions. Conclusion : The results seem to suggest that the use of a narrow list of writting guidelines provides a good strategy for improving the quality of the questions. Exam developers that are better equipped and seem to fully adopt the use of drafting guidelines see the positive impacts on the quality of their questions.

Šiame darbe atlikta palyginamoji kiekybinė bei kokybinė 2004 – 2007 m. geografijos mokyklinių egzaminų analizė, apžvelgta istorinė geografijos mokslo raida, jos reikšmė ir ryšys su kitais mokslais, ypatingai su ekologija, taip pat brandos egzaminų raida. Įvardinti egzamino metu tikrintas mokyklinės geografijos kurso sritis bei gebėjimų grupes ir jų tarpusavio santykį. Įvertintas, remiantis statistinės informacijos analize, egzamino užduočių klausimų sunkumas ir skiriamoji geba. Išsiaiškinti geografinių žinių ir supratimų, žinių taikymo, vertinimo bei analizės praktinių gebėjimų formavimo trūkumai, dažniausiai pasitaikančios klaidos. Palyginamoji kiekybinė ir kokybinė geografijos egzaminų analizė sudarė prielaidą hipotezei, kad problemiškiausia egzaminų užduočių sritis - kartografinės užduotys. Kiti atlikti tyrimai – 2004 - 2007 m. geografijos mokyklinių egzaminų užduočių analizė ir Valkininkų vidurinės mokyklos 6-12 kl. mokinių kartografijos gebėjimų tyrimas patvirtino hipotezę ir leido pateikti atitinkamas rekomendacijas su geografijos egzaminais susijusiems pedagogams bei užduočių rengėjams. / In this work a comparative quantitative and qualitative 2004 - 2007 m. Geography of the maturity exam analysis, overview of the historical geography of scientific development, its significance and relationship to other sciences, particularly with the environment, as well as the evolution of the maturity exam. Identified during the test checks of school geography course as well as skills groups and their mutual relationship. Assessed on the basis of statistical information, analysis, test problems, questions of severity and resolution. To clarify the geographical knowledge and understanding, knowledge application, assessment and analysis of practical capacity building defects, most common error. Comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of geography exam was accepted hypothesis that the problematic examinations mission areas-cartographic tasks. Other studies - the 2004-2007 geography of school exams and the analysis of the tasks Valkininkų high school grades 6-12. mapping skills of pupils study confirmed the hypothesis, and permitted to submit appropriate recommendations to the tests of geography teachers and the problems associated promoters.

Class of 2017 Abstract / Objectives: To determine if the use of RxSkills effectively improves student scores on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)-based questions among third and fourth-year pharmacy students at the University of Arizona (UA) College of Pharmacy. Methods: This is a pre-post interventional study using a survey of volunteer students from the classes of 2016 and 2017 at the UA College of Pharmacy. An email calling for volunteers was sent using the listserv to students providing information regarding the study. Once the pre-test was completed, instructions for downloading the mobile application were sent to the students. After six weeks of RxSkills use, a link to the post-test was sent to the students for completion. Student scores on the NAPLEX-based questions, use of the application (frequency and duration) and helpfulness, and demographic data were collected. Results: The number of participants in the study from each class was similar with 15 students from the Class of 2016 (52%) and 14 from the Class of 2017 (48%). There was no correlation between how often RxSkills was used and improvement in scores. Overall, student score on the NAPLEX-based questions were significantly improved post-RxSkills use (mean 10.48, SD 2.49) compared to pre-RxSkills use (mean 9.68, SD 2.24) with a p-value of 0.03. Conclusions: The use of RxSkills resulted in an improvement in student scores on the NAPLEX-based questions, indicating its usefulness in studying for the NAPLEX. Students would benefit from using the application when studying for this exam.

It is the purpose of this study to review in brief the changes that have taken place since the turn of the century in content of mathematical studies in the high school and to examine theoretically the significance of such changes.

A especialidade da Cirurgia Plástica corresponde ao ramo da cirurgia que visa restaurar partes do organismo alteradas por deformidades congênitas ou adquiridas, bem como corrigir as desarmonias estéticas. Nos últimos anos houve um aumento expressivo no número de Cirurgias Plásticas Estéticas (CPE) realizadas no mundo e no Brasil. Entre os principais procedimentos cirúrgicos no Brasil encontram-se: a mamoplastia de aumento, a blefaroplastia, a lipoaspiração e a abdominoplastia, sendo as mulheres a grande maioria, além de serem mais insatisfeitas com a sua aparência em relação aos homens. Tal situação pode ser um dos principais motivos pela busca da CPE. A Imagem Corporal é representada por dimensões atitudinais e perceptivas, as quais se relacionam com a aparência dos indivíduos sofrendo influências socioculturais, dentre outros elementos do ambiente, que podem afetar o comportamento e atitudes destes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a IC e o Estado Nutricional de mulheres solicitantes de CPE, em um serviço de CPE particular, na cidade de Ribeirão Preto/SP. Uma amostra de 40 mulheres adultas divididas em dois grupos, Clínico e de Comparação, com características etárias, educacionais e socioeconômicas semelhantes. As participantes responderam aos questionários de Caracterização da Amostra, Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil, Multidimensional sobre as Relações com o Próprio Corpo, Inventário de Esquemas sobre a Aparência e foram submetidas à Avaliação do Estado Nutricional por meio da Avaliação Antropométrica, Composição Corporal e Análise Bioquímica de sangue e urina. Os resultados obtidos para G1 foram: a maioria das participantes que apresentavam sobrepeso e obesidade, estavam insatisfeitas desde a infância/adolescência, realizavam tentativas de mudanças de hábitos alimentares seguindo blogs, revistas, utilização de dietas da moda e aplicativos, não faziam acompanhamento nutricional com nutricionista, apresentavam nível severo de preocupação com o seu Estado Nutricional de acordo com IMC e sofriam de ansiedade em relação ao sobrepeso. Também estavam mais motivadas e investiam demasiadamente nas crenças sobre a IC, uso frequente de psicotrópicos e acompanhamento psicoterapêutico. As participantes do G2 estavam Eutróficas na sua maioria, mais satisfeitas em relação ao G1, não haviam mudado seu comportamento alimentar nos últimos 30 dias, e também não realizavam acompanhamento nutricional, pois se preocupavam pouco com o Estado Nutricional. Também não investiam na mesma proporção em crenças relacionadas à IC, nem faziam acompanhamento psicoterapêutico e uso de psicotrópicos. Portanto, torna-se essencial uma maior atenção em relação ao EN e acompanhamento psicoterapêutico dessas mulheres direcionados às necessidades individuais. Neste sentido, a detecção e a prevenção precoces de possíveis riscos e futuras complicações provocados por deficiências nutricionais e comportamentos inadequados podem contribuir significativamente para a garantia de resultados cirúrgicos mais satisfatórios, além da diminuição dos dispêndios com Sistema Único de Saúde e de Saúde Complementar (convênios), assim como a redução do estresse emocional e possíveis execuções jurídicas de ambas as partes (médico-paciente). / The specialty of Plastic Surgery corresponds to the branch of surgery that aims to restore parts of the organism altered by congenital or acquired deformities, as well as, correct the aesthetic disharmony. In recent years, there has been an expressive increase in the number of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (APS) performed in the world and in Brazil. Among the main surgical procedures in Brazil are: breast augmentation, blepharoplasty, liposuction and abdominoplasty, with women being the majority, in addition to being more dissatisfied with their appearance in relation to men. This situation may be one of the main reasons for the pursuit of APS. Body Image (BI) is represented by attitudinal and perceptive dimensions, which are related to the appearance of individuals suffering socio-cultural influences, among other elements of the environment, that can affect their behavior and attitudes. The objective of the present study was to investigate Body Image (BI) and the Nutritional Status (NS) of women requesting APS in a private APS service in the city of Ribeirão Preto / SP. A sample of 40 adult women divided into two groups, Clinical and Comparative, with similar age, educational and socioeconomic characteristics. Participants answered the Sample Characterization Questionnaire, Brazil Economic Classification Criterion, Multidimensional body-self relation questionnaire- Appearance scale, Inventory of Schemes on Appearance- Revised, and performed an evaluation of nutritional status through anthropometric evaluation, body composition and biochemical analysis of blood and urine. The results obtained for G1 were: the majority of participants who were overweight and obese, were unsatisfied since childhood / adolescence, attempted changes in eating behavior following blogs, magazines, use of fad diets and applications, did not perform nutritional monitoring with nutritionist, had a severe level of concern about their Nutritional Status (NS) according to BMI and were anxious about being overweight. They were also more motivated and over-invested in beliefs about body image, frequent use of psychotropic drugs and psychotherapeutic follow-up. The G2 participants were mostly Eutrophic, more satisfied with G1, had not changed their eating behavior in the last 30 days, nor did they perform nutritional monitoring because they cared little about the Nutritional Status. They also did not invest in the same proportion in BI- related beliefs, nor did they follow psychotherapeutic and psychotropic use. Therefore, greater attention is needed in relation to NS and the psychotherapeutic follow-up of these women directed at individual needs. In this sense, the early detection and prevention of possible risks and future complications caused by nutritional deficiencies and inadequate behaviors can contribute significantly to the guarantee of more satisfactory surgical results, as well, as the reduction of expenditures with the Unified Health Sistem (SUS) and Complementary Health System ), as well as, the reduction of emotional stress and possible legal executions of both parties (doctor-patient).

Introdução: A colonoscopia é um dos métodos mais completos de investigação das doenças colorretais, com vantagens por proporcionar a observação da mucosa intestinal, em tempo único e de forma direta e também por ser a técnica de maior acurácia para o diagnóstico de lesões estruturais. Salienta-se que o paciente, ao se deparar com a indicação da colonoscopia, interpreta-a como sendo um exame que provoca desconforto e desencadeia sentimentos de vulnerabilidade, vergonha, medo e ansiedade. Perante estas emoções, o procedimento poderá ser percebido como um fator estresse importante ao paciente e que requer a utilização de estratégias para o enfrentamento da situação de desafio. Objetivo: analisar a percepção de estresse e os estilos de coping em pacientes no período que antecede o procedimento colonoscópico, conforme as variáveis biossociais e clínicas. Material e método: tratase de um estudo descritivo, transversal, exploratório e de campo, com abordagem quantitativa, desenvolvido no Serviço de Endoscopia do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (HU-USP). Foram entrevistados 100 pacientes em período de complementação de preparo, adultos, com solicitação formal para a realização do procedimento colonoscópico. Para esta análise, foram utilizados os instrumentos Escala de Estresse Percebido (PSS 10), o Inventário de Estratégias de Enfrentamento de Folkman e Lazarus (1985) e um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada para caracterização da população do estudo. Resultados: o perfil biossocial da amostra foi, predominantemente, de mulheres (73%), idade superior a 65 anos (50%), casados ou com companheiros (90%), com pelo menos um filho (38%), com escolaridade superior a oito anos de estudos (33%), que pertenciam as religiões evangélica e católica (48% e 45%, respectivamente), em sua maioria aposentados (48%), com antecedentes clínicos de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (90%) e familiar de câncer de colón (68%); 59% dos pacientes em período de preparo revelaram um nível médio de estresse percebido e os estilos de coping com maiores médias foram o Suporte Social (6,43±1,54), Aceitação da Responsabilidade (5,70±2,41) e Reavaliação Positiva (5,64±1,41). As variáveis sexo, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, tipo de preparo e número de exames realizados previamente foram determinadas, como fatores preditores de estresse nessa população. As correlações estatisticamente significativas deste estudo compreenderam a associação entre o PSS-10 e as estratégias de enfrentamento Confronto, Afastamento, Suporte Social, Aceitação da Responsabilidade e Reavaliação Positiva. Entre estes preditores, houve associação do sexo feminino, da idade superior a 65 anos, dos casados ou com namorado, dos não letrados ou daqueles com 2° grau completo/incompleto, do tipo de preparo ambulatorial e dos pacientes com pelo menos um exame realizado com o PSS-10 e os domínios selecionados. Conclusão: a análise da colonoscopia como fator de estresse é pouco estudada em nosso meio, assim como a associação dos processos de enfrentamento. A percepção de estresse foi maior entre os indivíduos da população da pesquisa quando comparados com a população do estudo de tradução e validação do instrumento. Quanto aos estilos de coping foram observados predomínios dos domínios com foco na emoção. Os resultados desta pesquisa permitiram o desenvolvimento de intervenções voltadas para a diminuição do estresse desses pacientes e que os estilos de enfrentamento encontrados nesta análise sejam utilizados para a melhoria da prática assistencial. / Introduction: Colonoscopy is one of the most complete methods of investigation for colorectal diseases, with several advantages. One is that it makes possible the observation of bowel mucus, directly and in a single session. Another is that it is one of the most accurate ways of diagnosing structural lesions in bowel. It is important to understand that patients who face this procedure interpret the exam as one that provokes discomfort, which leads to feelings of vulnerability, shame, fear and anxiety. In light of the emotional factors involved, the procedure may be viewed as a source of stress for the patient, and so, requires the implementation of strategies for approaching such a challenging situation. Objective: To analyze the perception of stress, according to bio-social and clinical variables, and coping styles of patients during the period preceding a colonoscopy procedure. Methods: This is a descriptive, transversal, field study with a quantitative approach developed by the Endoscopy Service of São Paulo Hospital University (HU-USP). One hundred patients in the preparatory stages were interviewed, of whom 100% were adults who had received a formal referral for the colonoscopy procedure. For the analysis, the following were employed: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Ways of Coping Questionare of Folkman and Lazarus (1985), as well as a semi-structured interview guide whose aim was to characterize the study population. Results: The bio-social profile of the sample population was predominantly female (73%), 65 years or older (50%), married or with a partner (90%) with at least one child (38%). The sample population also consisted of individuals with an eighth-grade or above level of education (33%), who professed a Faith of either Catholic or Evangelical (48% and 45%, respectively), for the most part retired (48%), with a history of hypertension (90%) and a family member with colon cancer (68%); 59% of the patients undergoing preparations revealed a medium level of perceived stress and the coping styles most utilized by these patients were the Social Support style (6,43±1,54), Acceptance of Responsibility Style (5,70±2,41) and Positive Reappraisal style (5,64±1,41). The variables of gender, age, marital status, schooling, type of preparation, and number of exams previously realized proved to be predictive factors of stress among this population. The statistically significant correlations within this study revealed themselves to be an association between PSS-10 and the coping strategies of Confrontive Coping, Distancing, Seeking Social Support, Acceptance of Responsibility and Positive Reappraisal. Among these predictors, an association of female, 65 years, married or with a partner, secondary schooling either complete or incomplete, with a outpatients preparation and patients with at least one procedure conducted style of PSS-10. Conclusion: The analysis of stress in the realization of colonoscopy exams is a little studied area in our field, as is the association of coping processes. The perception of stress was greater among the participants of the study, when compared with the instrument validation population. In terms of coping mechanisms, it was observed that those that focus on emotion were prevalent. The results of this study allow for a development of interventions that focus on diminishing stress in these patients. The results also permit that the coping mechanisms encountered in this analysis be utilized to better the work of care practitioners.

O tema desta dissertação trata do envolvimento da academia de Direito de São Paulo do século XIX na formação da cultura jurídica brasileira, em especial, na área do Direito Administrativo. Esta discussão parte da análise do perfil histórico do bacharel desenvolvido pela literatura tradicional e de como haveria meios, nesse ambiente de ensino, para apreender um raciocínio jurídico definido. Assim, estudam-se documentos históricos atinentes ao cotidiano de ensino que permitem auxiliar na compreensão do complexo processo de desenvolvimento da metodologia da faculdade de São Paulo e, também, da estruturação da cadeira de Direito Administrativo, de forma a configurar esta hipótese de formação de pensamento jurídico. Por fim, para tratar de um caso concreto que ilustre esta dinâmica do ensino e a cultura jurídica administrativa, realizase a análise geral e também específica de algumas dissertações de Direito Administrativo elaboradas pelos estudantes da faculdade de São Paulo, particularmente, entre os anos de 1857 e 1870. Dessa forma, será possível determinar a hipótese de construção de um pensamento jurídico definido, dogmático, ativo, coerente com o contexto da formação das ideias do Brasil imperial. / The subject of the present dissertation embraces the role of the law academy of São Paulo at the nineteenth century on the composing of the Brazilian legal culture, especially at the administrative law. This discussion starts from the analysis of the students profile already developed by the traditional literature and of how there would be means at his educational environment to learn a define juridical argument. Therefore, there is the study of historian documents of the law school routine which allows understanding the complex process of the methodology development at the academia of São Paulo and also the organization of the chair of administrative law so the hypothesis of the generation of a judicial thinking could be configure. At long last, to conceive the exam of a case that illustrate this dynamic of the education and the administrative judicial culture, its performed the general and specific analysis of exams of administrative law by the students of the academy of São Paulo, particularly at the years of 1857 and 1870. Thereby, it will be possible to define the hypothesis of the construction of a judicial reasoning which is definite, dogmatic, active and consistent with the Brazilian contest of the develop of the ideas at that century.