The problem of this study was to compare the perceptions o£ Kansas state legislators, superintendents, and teachers toward the Arkansas Student Assessment Program. The purpose was to generate data which would benefit educational planners in Arkansas. Hypotheses which focused on current national issues in the statewide testing movement and on issues pertinent to the Arkansas program were constructed, and a questionnaire was developed to test the hypotheses. The questionnaire was mailed to all Arkansas state legislators and to the superintendent and a fourth-grade teacher in 100 randomly selected Arkansas school districts. Responses were received selected Arkansas school districts. 70 percent of superintendent from 50 percent of legislators, 70 per dents, and 74 per cent of teachers. The chi-square statistic was applied to individual questions in test for significance of difference between the groups, the Kruskal-Wallace one-way analysis of variance by ranks was applied to the hypotheses to test for significant differences between groups. In examining individual questions relating to legislators, superintendents, and teachers, significant differences were found on twenty three of the forty items on the questionnaire. A significant difference was found on each of the seven hypotheses, as follows: (1) superintendents and teachers understand the program better than legislators, (2, superintendents and teachers view the program as more adequate than legislators, (3) legislators and superintendents view the program as more fair than teachers; (4) superintendents and teachers are more positive than legislators concerning the use of the results; (5, legislators and superintendents more than teachers feel that the program has a greater impact; (6) legislators and superintendents are more positive about the public relations aspect of the testing program than are teachers; and (7) all three groups differ concerning improvements needed in the program.

M.Ed. / Although the language assessment procedures for South African Grade12 learners have been extensively investigated by language practitioners, additional research is required in order to enhance assessment procedures and questioning techniques so that attitudes, values and learners' observable knowledge be included in testing. This study addresses the deficiencies associated with the existing assessment and evaluation techniques as related to English Second Language examinations. In this regard all aspects of assessment Le. writing, language and literature have been critically analyzed. The gaps that exist between assessment theories and assessing English in practical use have also been investigated, including ways of closing these gaps. The focus of the argument in this research report is that the less effective questioning measures in Grade 12 examinations should be addressed by critically analyzing existing papers and by identifying alternative assessment techniques. An alternative assessment programme incorporating new techniques has thus been formulated, and a pilot project conducted. The results from the pilot project, including learners' critical analysis of current assessment practice and educator responses have been analyzed and documented. The major findings were that: ~ The examinations encouraged learners to write in only a limited range of genres. The tasks set were appropriate as there was an assessment of the knowledge and skills that learners require beyond the classroom. ~ The literature papers focused too narrowly on intensive reading of short extracts from text.

No description available.

The task of this study was to determine whether the twelve subtests of the Student Behavior Description Questionnaire (SBDQ) could distinguish behavioral problem from nonbehavioral problem students. The population consisted of all seventh and eighth grade students enrolled in five intermediate schools in a large suburban school system in Virginia. The sample consisted of two groups from each school. The first group was composed of students who have been referred for demonstrating negative behavior. The second group was selected from all other students who had not had discipline problems. The sample included 67 behavioral problem and 67 non-behavioral problem students. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used to determine the value of the SBDQ subtests in distinguishing behavioral problem from nonbehavioral problem students. Using the discriminant function prediction equation, the SBDQ was able to predict group membership (behavioral problem vs. nonbehavioral problem) with the use of the five subscales: Academic, Disinterest, Friendship, Participation, and Inclusion. The two measures used to assess the degree of congruence between predicted and actual classification of students were (1) the precentage of correct classifications and (2) tau, a measure of the reduction of error in group classification resulting from knowledge of a set of independent variables. In this study, the discriminant function correctly classified 76.1% of the students and tau indicated that use of the discriminant function in predicting whether a student would be a behavioral problem or not would reduce the number of errors in correct classification by 52%. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Med) -- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A problem facing many educators in inclusive classrooms is the process of assessment. This study explores the assessment process in an inclusive classroom (that is, classroom-based assessment) and the learners' experience of it. A qualitative research study was done at a private (community) primary school, using a case study approach. A combination of data collection and analysis methods was used. The qualitative nature and context of the study prohibit generalisations and confine findings largely to this study. Assessment is a broad subject touching almost all aspects of education. There have been many influences on assessment practice and the background to assessment was examined to identify these influences and the debates around assessment practice. What emerged was that assessment has many purposes linked mainly to the motivation for doing assessment and assumptions about learning. Essentially the debate centres on the purpose of assessment in education and the need to change the way it is viewed and used. Traditional assessment practice was influenced enormously by intelligence testing and historically its main role has been evaluating learning outcomes for the purpose of certification and selection. This purpose has obscured the role of assessment in facilitating learning. Recent research has indicated its importance in this respect. As our views of learning change, so the need to change our approach to assessment arises. Inclusion also challenges our education practices and the assumptions we make about the learning process. Learning is a complex process that is influenced by many factors including context. Assessment should thus be used in support of learning, rather than just indicating current or past achievement. Many learners especially those experiencing barriers to learning are frustrated with the assessment process, which often discriminates against them. Research shows that assessment is not just about grading and evaluation but also about understanding the individual and the process. Planning an effective education programme should thus include planning effective assessment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Assessering in die inklusiewe klaskamer is 'n bron van bekommernis vir baie opvoeders. Die assesseringsproses in 'n inklusiewe klas en leerders se belewenis daarvan word in hierdie werkstuk ondersoek. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie is in 'n privaat (gemeenskap) primêreskool deur middel van 'n gevallestudie gedoen om die assesseringsproses in 'n inklusiewe klas te verken. 'n Saamgestelde aantal dataversamelings- en ontledingsmetodes is gebruik. Die konteks en kwalitatiewe aard van die studie beperk die bevindinge en verhoed dus veralgemenings. Assessering dek 'n breë vakgebied wat heelwat aspekte van opvoeding aanraak. Daar was baie invloede op die assesseringspraktyk, en die agtergrond daarvan, asook die debatte hieromtrent is ondersoek. Wat voorgekom het, is dat daar heelwat redes aangevoer word om assessering te doen, wat meestal gekoppel is aan die motivering vir assessering, en/of vooropgestelde idees rondom die leerproses. Hoofsaaklik draai die debatte om die doel van assessering in opvoeding en die noodsaaklikheid daarvan om die sienswyse en gebruik daarvan te verander. Tradisionele assesseringspraktyke is heelwat deur intelligensietoetsing beïnvloed en was histories behep met evaluering van leeruitkomstes met die hoofdoelop sertifisering en keuring. Dié manier van assessering het die leerproses oorskadu en verduister. Onlangse navorsing dui op die belangrikheid hiervan. Soos ons sienswyse van leer verander, so ook moet ons benadering tot assessering verander. Insluiting bied 'n uitdaging aan ons onderwyspraktyk en ons voorveronderstellinge aangaande die leerproses. Leer is 'n ingewikkelde proses wat deur baie faktore, insluitend konteksverband, beïnvloed word. Assessering moet as ondersteuning vir die leerproses gebruik word en nie net om huidige en vorige prestasie aan te dui nie. Baie leerders, veral dié wat leerhindernisse ondervind, vind die assesseringsproses frustrerend en bevooroordeeld. Navorsing toon dat assessering nie net oor gradering en evaluering gaan nie, maar ook oor 'n begrip van die persoon en proses. Doeltreffende onderrigprogrambeplanning noodsaak dus ook effektiewe assesseringsbeplanning.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The purpose of the study is to determine if significant differences and relationships exist between students who enrolled late and those who enrolled on time at Tarleton State College between the years 1955-1962 inclusive. The study involves comparing the records of 325 freshman and sophomore students who registered late with those of 325 matched freshman and sophomore students who enrolled on time.

A Research Dissertation Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The Department of Psychology School of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand May, 2017 / Utilizing the theories of change and social development, this study analyzes the extent to which participation in cross-national learning assessments has influenced educational policy and curriculum reforms in three African countries: Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. The study also interrogates structural reforms and exchange of technical capacities and evaluates the culture of learning assessment in these countries. To collect data, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants drawn from the Ministries of Basic Education, national examinations councils, civil society organizations and curriculum development institutions in the three countries. In total, 17 key informant interviews were conducted (five in Kenya and six a piece in Tanzania and South Africa). The interviews were complemented by summative content review of policy/strategic papers. This study shows that overall, at least 18 policy/official strategic documents were formulated in these three countries (seven in Kenya and six in Tanzania and five South Africa) as a consequence of participating in the cross-national learning assessments. Five curriculum reforms attributable to the participation in the cross-national learning assessments are also recorded. However, the findings of the current study suggest that these curriculum reviews have not critically considered learning outcomes and are limited in relation to content, design, delivery mechanisms and assessment of literacy and numeracy programmes. As far as teacher capacity is concerned, the study has established that teachers in these countries lack skills in measurement mainly due to the limited training or lack of coverage on psychometrics in the teacher training curricula. Capacity to implement own national learning assessments is varied across the three countries. South Africa and to some extent Kenya have demonstrated improved capacities to implement independent large-scale learning assessments. Much progress has however been made by South Africa in resourcing and implementing independent large-scale learning assessments, an indication of commitment to sustain the culture of monitoring of learning outcomes. There is also much variation in policy and programme formulation and resource investment in literacy programmes across the three countries; at least three programmes/initiatives in South Africa and one each in Kenya and Tanzania have been launched to respond to learning challenges especially in lower grades, with at least $USD 645.2 million invested between 2010-2015. However, the programmes in Kenya and Tanzania are technically and financially donor driven. In terms of structures, South Africa and Kenya have put in place official structures that could support the sustainability of the system of monitoring learning outcomes. For sustainability, a recommendation is made that learning assessments be decentralized and collaboratively managed with stakeholders at the provincial and county/local council levels. The study concludes by discussing the social development implications of these findings. / MT 2018

No description available.

The study examined dimensions of the family context associated with variations in parent involvement and parent perceptions of children's school achievement using data from 1,085 male and 2,239 female respondents with a child between the ages of 5 and 18 years collected in the 1987-88 National Survey of Families and Households. Small but significant differences in parent perceptions of school achievement were found in favor of children being raised in a first-married two-parent home. Negative effects on school outcomes were centered on children who experienced family disruption. Living in a one-parent household with a parent who was previous married was associated with parent reports of poorer performance for elementary school children and lower grades for adolescents. Neither living in a one-parent household with a continuously single parent nor living in a stepfamily was significantly related to achievement. Parent employment status was not directly related to children's achievement but did have indirect effects through parent involvement both at home and school. Parent involvement at school and in child-centered home activities was associated with perceptions of improved school performance for elementary school children and higher grades for adolescents. Mothers were more likely to be involved in children's schooling than fathers. Single and cohabiting mothers were less involved at school than first-married mothers, but single fathers tended to be more likely to participate than their first-married counterparts. There were no significant differences between the home involvement of single mothers and their first-married counterparts but single fathers were more involved at home than first-married fathers. For both mothers and fathers, receiving tangible aid from a wide network of relatives and friends was associated with higher levels of school and home involvement. Findings suggest that educators who have negative beliefs about single parents' engagement in school-family partnerships may be influenced by these parents' low presence at school. Recognizing that single parents are as involved with their children at home as parents in traditional families can lead to educational practices that support home involvement and result in positive effects on children's academic progress. / Graduation date: 1994