Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-170). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

In this dissertation, the relationship of the junior primary hyperactive pupil and his or her teachers was researched, to investigate which behavioural aspects of hyperactive behaviour are present in children who are labelled as hyperactive. In the literature study, the researcher gathered information on hyperactivity and focused on the symptoms of hyperactivity. The relationships investigated. The of the junior primary researcher focused on school child were the teacher-pupil relationships and indicated the importance of trust: authority, understanding, experience and involvement in relationships. In the empirical research, a qualitative empirical study was undertaken. Three teachers and six children from the junior primary.phase were chosen to participate in the research study. Three children were identified as hyperactive and three children did not exhibit, according to their teachers, any behavioural disorders. The researcher implemented the Marschak Interaction Method to evaluate interaction between the teachers and the children. By using both semi-structured and unstructured questions, the researcher was able to gather data on teacher's knowledge and attitude about hyperactivity. The value of the study lies in the aspects which were identified regarding the interaction between teachers and hyperactive children. It was found that teachers interact differently with children who are hyperactive and with children who do not exhibit behaviour problems. The value of the study lies in the aspects which were identified regarding the interaction between teachers and hyperactive children. It was found that teachers interact differently with children who are hyperactive and with children who do not exhibit behaviour problems. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Once learners reach high school, they seem to lose focus and become less interested in fulfilling their educational goals. This leads to learner dropout in schools. Yet, the government expects all children to attend school daily and receive the best education so that they can have a bright future. Education prepares the child for life, if the child drops out, he or she will struggle to succeed in life. There are real social reasons that make it difficult for some learners to succeed and lead to them dropping out of school. For example, many learners in South Africa are extremely poor and they dropout because their parents cannot provide for their families. Dropout learners from poor backgrounds also tend to be involved in crime. Young people are under a lot of pressure and consequently, they end up using drugs, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol instead of going to school. Teenage stress also contributes to learner dropout. The transition from childhood to adulthood brings challenges, thus making teenagers vulnerable to physical and emotional stress. Many learners do not get the support they need when they are experiencing stress. The high stress levels experienced by learners tend to result in high levels of absenteeism. Pregnancy seems to be another contributing factor to the dropout of learners from school. Thus, learner dropout is a significant problem within the South African context. Not only is learner dropout a problem, but it is linked to many other issues that negatively affect society. This study has examined factors influencing learners to dropout. It employed a qualitative research methodology, using interviews and questionnaires to elicit and investigate the causal factors of learner dropouts. The researcher made use of non-probability sampling because it can be regarded as the only sampling method that makes possible representative sampling design. Purposive sampling was used for the research, because it was convenient for the researcher in terms of time. By using purposive sampling the researcher was able to include participants according to the relevant criteria based on the emerging research questions. The principal, one educator and 18 learners in each of the two high schools were chosen as participants of the study. These participants were coming from two high schools, which are located in King William‟s Town District. Learners who participated in the iv study were chosen from grade 10, 11 and 12. There were six learners chosen per grade. The sampling method used to select learners from grade 10 to 12 and educators was purposive sampling. This type of sampling was used because the researcher wanted rich information from participants and individuals who can express themselves very well about the reasons of learners dropping out at school and also who met the sampling criterion of having had the experience of dropping out of school. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors contributing to the dropout rate of learners at selected high schools in King William‟s Town District. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The study population was confined to two public high schools in the King William‟s Town District. Using qualitative methodologies, involving a sample of 36 learners, two educators and two principals, the study found multiple motives, associated with individual characteristics of dropouts and social problems emanating from their family background and influence of the community, prompting the learners to dropout. It emerged from the empirical findings of this study that learner dropout is inter alia caused by social factors such as teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, HIV or AIDS infection, gangsterism and learning barriers. These factors are complex issues, which should be handled by skilled people. As learners spend a great deal of their time in the school environment, the educator has become an important role-player to assist learners to alleviate social problems. It is essential that learners with social problems should at an early stage get professional help. The educators who are, due to circumstances, are obliged to help these learners, are not necessarily equipped to give the required assistance. Suggestions and recommendations are espoused to alleviate the situation.

The problem of this thesis is to make a study of some of the maladjusted children of the intermediate grades of the Stonewall Jackson School of Denton, Texas. The purpose of this study is to try to discover some of the causes of these maladjustments.

This research problem concerns a follow-up study of seventy-nine boys who have undergone extensive therapy and supervised training in group-living over an extended period of time at Camp Woodland Springs, Dallas, Texas. The problem under consideration is one of determining the operating efficiency of this institution in its main purpose of rehabilitating boys who have generally lacked the social and personal skills necessary to satisfactory adjustment in their respective environments.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

In an attempt to determine the effectiveness of a pretreatment assessment procedure known as the scatter plot (Touchette, MacDonald, & Langer, 1985), direct observational data was collected by 13 middle school teachers on four "problem" students. After four weeks of data collection, interobserver agreement probes were calculated and a visual analysis of the plotted data was performed to ascertain a possible pattern of problem behavior. Additionally, in an attempt to assess the teachers' perceptions of the scatter plot, the 13 teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire. Although a visual analysis of the plotted data suggested a possible pattern of problem behavior, interobserver agreement probes failed to achieve a desired overall reliability of 90% or higher. Despite a low IOA, results of the questionnaire administered to the 13 teachers generally supported the use of the scatter plot as a means of assessing student behavior. Possible reasons for failing to attain an IOA of 90% or higher include the total number of students in a class, the number of subjects observed per period, the teacher's location in the classroom, and the subjects ability to recognize if the teacher was "looking." Recommendations are provided regarding future research concerning the scatter plot and other more formal approaches to assessing student behavior.