This study has the purpose to compare the relationships between personality, environment, achievement, and intelligence and discover the effect, if any, of environment upon the personality, achievement, and intelligence of a group of fifth grade pupils.

School garden programs have become increasingly popular for their diverse, positive benefits. School gardens are often promoted as a relatively low cost means to offer hands-on learning opportunities that may foster academic achievement, particularly in the sciences, however only six studies have been published on the impact of garden education programs on science achievement. Five out of six of these studies focused on elementary age students. One study has identified motivational engagement as the mechanism responsible for fostering academic success. School gardens are more common in elementary schools. However, they may be most beneficial in a secondary school setting, when students tend to lose interest in academics and often perform poorly on national assessments of science. Thus, in this study we evaluated adolescent students at three schools with well-established garden education programs. We used pre-test and post-test measures to see how students' levels of various predictors of engagement (e.g. autonomy, competence, relatedness, and intrinsic motivation), actual engagement (in the realms of academics, science, and the garden), garden learning, and academic achievement measures (e.g. overall grade point average and science grade point average) would change over the course of this study. We also assessed how the different realms of engagement correlated with predictors of engagement, with garden learning, and with academic achievement measures. In addition, we examined correlations among the different realms of engagement. At one of the schools, a non-gardening group participated in the study as a control group. Thus, we also compared the gain scores in predictors of engagement, engagement, and academic achievement between the control and garden group from that school. At all three schools, academic or garden engagement significantly increased for the garden groups. Garden engagement was significantly correlated with academic engagement, science engagement, or both, at each of the three schools for post-test measures. Predictors of garden-based engagement were significantly correlated with academic and/or science engagement at each school, at least for post-test measures. These results show that gardening may have the potential to be a contributor to positive motivational changes that in turn can be related across academic domains. The non-gardening group showed significant gains in predictors of- and engagement itself, while the gardening group either marginally declined or maintained its level. However, the non-gardening group had significantly lower pre-test scores in comparison to the gardening group, which in part accounts for their comparative significant gain. The garden group showed significant increases in predictors of garden engagement and garden engagement itself. These results show that the garden group, comprised of at-risk students, are experiencing positive motivational benefits, which can possibly prevent further decline in their general performance. The lack of improvement in academic achievement suggests that the full academic benefit of garden education programs has yet to be consistently reached. We recommend that researchers use a more refined evaluation test and survey, specific to the garden program at hand and include qualitative measures. / Graduation date: 2013

This research study investigated the effectiveness of a filial therapy training model as a method to train fifth grade students in child-centered play therapy skills and procedures. Filial therapy is an intervention that focuses on strengthening and enhancing adult-child relationships. The fifth grade students were trained to be a therapeutic change agent for kindergarten children identified as having adjustment difficulties, by utilizing basic child-centered play therapy skills in weekly play sessions with the kindergarten children. Specifically, this research determined the effectiveness of filial therapy in increasing the fifth grade students': 1) empathic responses with kindergarten children; 2) communication of acceptance with kindergarten children; 3) allowance of self-direction with kindergarten children, and 4) involvement in play activities of kindergarten children. The experimental group of fifth grade students (N=12) received thirty-five minutes of training twice a week for 5 weeks and then once a week for the duration of the 10 weeks of play sessions. The control group (N=11) received no training during the 15 weeks of the project. Fifth grade student participants were videotaped playing with a kindergarten child identified as having adjustment difficulties in 20-minute play sessions before and after the training to measure empathic behavior in adult-child interactions. Analysis of Covariance on adjusted post test means revealed that fifth grade children in the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant increases in empathic responses, acceptance, and behavioral willingness to follow the kindergarten children's lead, and involvement. A measure of communication of acceptance of kindergarten children's feelings and behaviors although not statistically significant indicated a positive trend. This study supports the use of filial therapy as an effective training model for increasing fifth grade students' empathic behavior with kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties. Filial therapy offers significant possibilities for training fifth grade students in a developmentally appropriate model for working with kindergarten children, in order to prevent future problems. The observed power of the therapeutic relationship between the fifth grade students in the experimental group and the kindergarten children suggest the continued implementation of this innovative project.

The problem of this study is to determine the influence that Sunday school attendance has on behavior of children now enrolled in the elementary grades of North Texas State College Demonstration School of Denton, Texas.

The purpose of this study was to determine personality characteristics of students who are successful on traditional campuses and students who are successful on alternative campuses. With this knowledge, more students may be served on the traditional campus without the necessity for alternative education.

The purpose of this study was to identify the personality traits of effective elementary bilingual/ESL teachers, to identify the personality traits of effective traditional elementary teachers, and to compare the two groups.

Determining the factors that contribute to mental toughness development in athletes has become a focus for researchers as coaches, athletes, and others extol its influence on performance success. In this study we examined a model of mental toughness development based on achievement goal theory, assessing the relations between motivational climates, goal orientations, and mental toughness. Five hundred ninety-nine varsity athletes, representing 13 different sports from six different high schools in a southwestern United States school district, participated in the study. Athletes completed self-report measures assessing parent, peer, and coach motivational climates, goal orientations, and their mental toughness. Initially, I examined the measurement model and found it fit the data well both in the exploratory (SRMR = .06; CFI = .94) and confirmatory (SRMR = .06; CFI = .95) samples. Second, the structural model was examined and found to fit the data well in both the exploratory (SRMR = .08; CFI = .93) and confirmatory samples (SRMR = .07, CFI = .95). Parent task-involving climate, (β = .55; p < .05) and coach task-involving climate (β = .32; p < .05), but not peer task-involving climate (β = .05), were associated with task goal orientation (R2 = .57). Ego goal orientation (R2 = .32) was explained by peer ego-involving climate (β = .15; p < .05), parent ego-involving climate (β = .39; p < .05), and coach ego-involving climate (β = .16; p < .05). Finally, only task goal orientation (β = .75; p < .05) was related to the athletes’ mental toughness (R2 = .56); the ego goal orientation pathway was not significant (β = .04). These results speak to the potential positive influence of parents and coaches on athletes’ mental toughness through their endorsement of task-involving messages and pursuits leading to the development of a task goal orientation.

郁之虹. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 335-354). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Yu Zhihong.

by Wong Ding Pang. / Includes questionaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.A.Ed.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-120). / LIST OF TABLES --- p.v / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter I. --- Background of the Study --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- Purpose of the Study --- p.4 / Chapter III. --- Significance of the Study --- p.5 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE --- p.8 / Chapter I. --- Attributional Theory --- p.8 / Chapter A. --- Weiner's Model --- p.8 / Chapter B. --- Specific Causal Ascriptions and Causal Dimensions --- p.10 / Chapter C. --- An Attributional Approach to Expectancy Change --- p.12 / Chapter D. --- Attributions and Academic Behavior --- p.13 / Chapter II. --- Causal Attributions and Affective Reactions --- p.17 / Chapter A. --- The Cognition-Emotion Process --- p.17 / Chapter B. --- Specific Causes and Affective Reactions --- p.19 / Chapter C. --- Causal Dimensions and Affective Reactions --- p.20 / Chapter D. --- Guilt versus Shame --- p.21 / Chapter E. --- Anger and Pity --- p.26 / Chapter F. --- Pride --- p.28 / Chapter G. --- Gender Differences in Emotional Responses --- p.30 / Chapter H. --- Specific Causes versus Causal Dimensions --- p.31 / Chapter III. --- Depression --- p.33 / Chapter A. --- Cognitive Theories of Depression --- p.33 / Chapter B. --- Depressogenic Style --- p.35 / Chapter C. --- Hopelessness Theory of Depression --- p.38 / Chapter D. --- Measurement of Depression --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.43 / Chapter I. --- Definition of Variables --- p.43 / Chapter II. --- Theoretical Framework --- p.45 / Chapter III. --- Hypotheses --- p.46 / Chapter IV. --- Instrumentation --- p.48 / Chapter V. --- Sampling and Procedures --- p.52 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- RESULTS --- p.54 / Chapter I. --- Psychometric Properties of Instruments --- p.54 / Chapter II. --- "Relations among Performance, Attributions, Expectancy and Affects" --- p.62 / Chapter III. --- Gender Differences --- p.69 / Chapter IV. --- Relations between Attributions and Affects --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.94 / Chapter I. --- Attribution and Affect --- p.95 / Chapter II. --- Causal Cognitions and Behavior --- p.97 / Chapter III. --- Cultural Differences --- p.99 / Chapter IV. --- Gender Differences --- p.103 / Chapter V. --- Limitations and Further Researches --- p.104 / REFERENCES --- p.107 / APPENDICES --- p.121 / Chapter I. --- Beck Depression Inventory (Chinese Version) --- p.121 / Chapter II. --- Actual Attainment and Perceptions of Performance and Success on Mathematics Final Examination --- p.124 / Chapter III. --- Examination Attribution Questionnaire --- p.125 / Chapter IV. --- Causal Dimension Scale --- p.126 / Chapter V. --- Affect Scales --- p.127 / Chapter VI. --- Expectancies and Approach Towards Mathematics --- p.128

Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals." Although studied in relation to various outcomes, such as retention and academic performance, few studies have examined variables that may contribute to grit's development. Further, few studies have examined this construct in relation to sport performance or within athletic environments, despite its clear connection to sport-related constructs like mental toughness and resilience. Thus, based in achievement motivation theory, this study examined the relations of the perceived motivational climate as defined by athletes' perceptions of the coaches' behaviors (task vs. ego), athletes' perceptions of their achievement goal orientation (task vs. ego), athletes' perceptions of their implicit theory (i.e., fundamental beliefs regarding whether or not ability can change; growth vs. fixed), and athletes' perception of their level of grit. Male varsity soccer players (N = 81; Mage = 15.80 ± .81) from a large metropolitan area in the south central U.S. completed questionnaires measuring these achievement motivation constructs. The full regression model was significant, accounting for 18% of the grit variance, F(6, 74) = 2.77, p = .017. Within the full model, having a growth mindset (β = .25, p = .035) and endorsing a task goal orientation (β = .36, p = .004) predicted higher levels of grit for the athletes. Neither the coach-created motivational climate, nor the athletes' ego orientation or fixed mindset, were significantly predicted their grit scores. Consistent with Dweck and Duckworth, components of achievement motivation theory, particularly related to a task or growth perspective, may play an important role in athletes' developing a perspective that allows them to work effectively and diligently toward long-term goals.