Effects of a substance abuse prevention program on the locus of control and self-concept of 148 Hispanic and Anglo third and fourth grade children were evaluated. A 2 x 2 (race x group) multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was carried out using the Health Resources Inventory, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, and two roster and rating sociometric questionnaires. The results of the analysis revealed a significant effect of time and interactions between time and race and time and group. Mean scores on the Health Resources Inventory and both sociometric questionnaires increased from pre-test to post-test for all children. In addition, children's scores indicated a change toward an internal direction on the Locus of Control Scale. Only the sociometric questionnaire measuring the children's perception of their popularity showed a significant group effect. The experimental group, those whose teachers had used the prevention curriculum, increased their perception of how well they were liked by their classmates. However, their actual popularity as measured by the average of their classmates' rating did not change. Possible explanations and methodological shortcomings are discussed.

This study examined the psychometric properties for the Draw-A-Person (DAP) test (Naglieri, 1988). Data were collected from 191 children following the accepted procedure from an earlier study (Badger & Jones, 1988). Drawings were scored using both Harris' (1963) and Naglieri's (1988) scoring systems following the procedures outlined in the manuals. Basically, the DAP test demonstrated reliable and valid properties. The Naglieri's (1988) scoring system was favored in this study because it demonstrated more consistent internal consistency, higher inter- and intra-rater reliability and satisfactory construct validity. Positive and moderate high correlations with the scores obtained from Goodenough-Harris's scoring systems supported that the Naglieri's version measured the same concept as the old system. Psychometric properties of the DAP test support use in clinical and research settings to gather data from children about their general abilities.

This study employed a pretest/posttest control group design to investigate the achievement of second grade Hispanic students from a predominantly low socio-economic school in a large metropolitan city. The thirty Hispanic students with the lowest scores on the Gates MacGinitie Reading Test were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n =15) or the control group (n=15). The treatment consisted of 16, 30-minute sessions of play intervention--2 times per week for 8 weeks. The providers of play therapy were school personnel trained in the principles of child-centered play therapy including tracking, reflecting feelings, and setting limits. Instruments were administered to all subjects prior to the 8 week treatment period and in the two-week period following treatment and included the GMRT, the Joseph Pre-School Primary Self-Concept Test (JPPSCST) and the Child Behavior Checklist Teacher Report Form (CBCTRF). Statistical analyses included a (t-test; 2 tail; p > .05), discriminant analysis, and cross validation. The results indicated that children who received play therapy did not achieve notably higher mean scores in reading. However, play therapy did improve the experimental group's self-concept scores and their internal behavior scores, though not significantly. All differences between the experimental and the control groups were within 1 point except the JPPSCST self-concept mean scores were 1.53 in favor of the experimental group. The CBCTRF Internal behavior mean scores were 1.20 in favor of the experimental group indicating a positive trend. The CBCTRF External behavior scores were 2.74 in favor of the control group. None of the differences was statistically significant and the 4 null hypotheses were accepted. The sample size (N =30) suggests the need to exercise caution in interpreting these findings.Further research utilizing a longer time period between pretesting and posttesting is recommended and may provide more definite information regarding the impact of play therapy on children's reading, self-concept, and internal and external behavioral characteristics.

There are two principal definitions of response-reinforcer contingency in the current literature which Scott and Piatt (1985) have labeled the phi coefficient and Rescorla index. For both definitions, contingencies are sensitive to two conditional probabilities of reinforcement, that given the occurrence and that given the non-occurrence of the criterion response. However, phi coefficient is sensitive also to the probability of the criterion response. In order to examine the relationship between children's perceived contingencies of teacher reinforcements, as defined by the phi coefficient and Rescorla index, and the children's perceptions of competence and measures of their academic performances, 119 5th grade children (54 boys and 65 girls) were studied. Two variables derived specifically from the phi coefficient, the probability of children's responses and the probability of teacher reinforcements, were also examined in their relationship to perceived contingencies and academic performance. In general, children's perceptions of teachers as both contingently rewarding and punishing, as defined by the phi coefficient and Rescorla index, were predictive of good academic performance by the children and teachers rating them as academically competent. Childrens' perceptions of their academic competence were also predictive of their academic performances and teacher ratings. The children's perceptions of academic competence were related to their reporting themselves as likely to produce positive achievement behavior but unlikely to produce negative achievement behavior. No significant relationship was found between the children's perceived contingencies of teacher reinforcements and their perceptions of their own academic competence. These results were discussed as supporting Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Thus, expectations of reinforcement contingency and expectations of personal competence jointly determine actual competence. The contingency findings support the utility of the Children's Perceived Contingencies of Reinforcements Questionnaire as a measure of contingency in the applied setting.

A number of authors have suggested recently that the behavioral characteristics and self-perceptions of learning disabled and emotionally disturbed children are so similar as to negate the fruitfulness of trying to differentiate between these two groups. These characteristics are quite similar for the two special education groups when they have been compared independently of each other to regular education students. In order to provide support for these prior studies, the self-concepts and locus of control of 36 learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, and regular education students were compared. A significant difference was found between the LD and RE students in terms of self-concept only. No significant differences were noted between the ED and RE students. These results are discussed in relation to the somewhat conflicting results of prior studies with implications for future research.

This study investigated the self-concepts of five, six, and seven year old children after participation in organized and nonorganized play programs. The subjects were sixty boys and girls participating in Little League Tee-Ball programs and sixty boys and girls participating in the City Playground Program in the Fort Worth, Texas, area during the 1979 spring and summer season. The instrument used to measure self-concept was the Purdue Self-Concept Scale, Results indicated that the type of organization has little effect upon the self-concept of the children in this study.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of individual child-centered play therapy in the elementary school in: 1) enhancing the self-concept of kindergarten children who are experiencing adjustment difficulties; 2) decreasing the overall behavioral problems of kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties 3) decreasing externalizing behavior problems such as aggression and delinquency of kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties; 4) decreasing the internalizing behavior problems such as withdrawal, somatic complaints, anxiety and depression of kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties; 5) increasing parental perception of change in the problematic behaviors of kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties; and 6) enhancing self-control in kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties. A secondary objective was to compare the participants involved in individual child-centered play therapy with participants in a previous study who were involved in child-centered group play therapy on the above named dimensions. The experimental group, consisting of 14 kindergarten children experiencing adjustment difficulties, received 10-12, 30-minute individual play therapy sessions in a 12 week period in their elementary school. The comparison group, utilized from the 1999 McGuire study, consisted of 15 children with adjustment problems and received 12-14, 45-minute group play therapy sessions in 14 weeks in their elementary school. The control group, consisting of 13 children experiencing adjustment problems, received no play therapy intervention over a 12 week period. An Analysis of Covariance revealed significant findings in 1 of the 6 hypotheses and one subscale hypothesis examining the effectiveness of individual play therapy versus the wait list control group. Specifically, children with adjustment problems in the experimental group exhibited a significant reduction in total behavior problems and a significant reduction in externalizing behavior problems as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Form (CBCL). Additionally, an Analysis of Covariance revealed significant findings in 1 of the 6 hypotheses examining the comparison of the effectiveness of individual play therapy versus the group play therapy comparison group from McGuire (1999). Individual play therapy was significantly more effective than group play therapy in helping children maintain an acceptable level of classroom behaviors as perceived by teachers on the Early Childhood Behavior Scale (ECBS).

M.Ed. / Nowadays more and more emphasis is placed on the importance of the so called "Emotional Intelligence" which include aspects like social skills, purposefulness, persistence, self-motivation, reliability and solid interpersonal relationships. Goleman (1996: xii) mentions qualities such as "self-control, zeal and persistence" and says that these qualities can be taught and learned irrespective of the individual's intellectual potential. The modern working force requires people who are reliable, adaptable and flexible so that they can cope with various circumstances in a multi-cultural society that is characterized by diversity. The aspects mentioned here, manifest in the different dimensions of the self-concept of the individual and it is therefore important to investigate the nature and the quality of the self-concept and endeavour to determine how this self-concept is established. For this reason the meta-theoretical and theoretical assumptions concerning self-concept were discussed and serve as a theoretical frame of reference for this study. The aim of this study is to determine if similarities exist between the selfconcept of the child and the self-concept of the parent and to investigate whether the self-concept of the parent is reflected in the self-concept of the child. The research design and methods are discussed as well as the validity and reliability of the questionnaire and the test sample. A quasi-experimental research design was employed to enable the researcher to gather measurable data. This approach was used in order to make numerous comparisons between the different groups. In this way it would be possible to identify possible differences as well as possible similarities between the self-concept of children and the self-concept of their parents. The design that was followed, included the use of an existing questionnaire which provides for the measuring of he self-concept on eight different scales. These scales correspond with the different aspects of the self-concept and include: the intellectual (academic) self-concept, the general social selfviii concept, the role of the family, the value orientation of the learner and the educator, the physical aspect, self-confidence, religion and the experience of frustration. The self-concept ,questionnaire (consisting of 46 items) was issued to 100 children. These children were identified in conjunction with the guidance teacher and they were subdivided into two groups namely those with a predominantly high self-concept and children with a predominantly low selfconcept. Children had to complete a questionnaire and see to it that the respective parents also complete questionnaires. Questionnaire items were drawn up, based on existing literature and research findings...

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education