Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 108 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-102).

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the first three years of a special ongoing intervention program on the academic performance and attitudes of 8th grade participants. Academic growth and current attitudes of students in the program were compared with academic growth and attitudes of a similar group of eighth-grade students. A third group of students was used for comparison purposes. All students involved in the study were eighth-grade students enrolled in a midwestern school district.Major conclusions derived from the findings included: Grade point averages for participants in a Special Intervention Program were significantly higher than CPA's for similar non-participants. In fact, CPA's for Program participants were not significantly different from CPA's for the completely random sample.California Achievement Test scores for participants in a Special Intervention Program were significantly higher than CAT scores for similar non-participants. In fact, CAT, scores for Program participants were not significantly different from CAT scores for the completely random sample.Participation in a Special Intervention Program did not significantly affect students' school attendance, punctuality, or Behavior Rating Profile Scores inasmuch as there were no significant differences between any of the groups studied for those variables. / Department of Educational Leadership

D.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between self-concept and study habits among different subgroups of 9th grade at-risk students. The study included the administration of two independent measures: The Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes. Other data were self-reported by the students. The five subgroups selected in this study were: (1) male and female, (2) white and non-white, (3) socioeconomic groups determined by eligibi1ity in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program, (4) retained and non-retained students, and (5) participants and non-participants in school activities. Raw scores from the self-concept scale and study habits survey were converted into percentile scores. A correlation coefficient was calculated for each subgroup. The significance of the two correlation coefficients was tested using Fisher's Zr transformation. Of the five hypotheses tested at the .05 level, all were rejected. Major findings of the study verify other research regarding characteristics of at-risk students. Also, more than half of the subjects had deficient study habits but only a small percentage (19,5V#) had signif icant ly low self-concept scores. In addition, at-risk students who participate in school activities had higher self-concept scores and study habits scores than non-participating at-risk students. It was concluded that low self-concept does not appear to be as significant a factor of students being at risk as does their poor study habits. Recommendations were made to encourage school districts to include self-concept and study habit evaluations for at-risk students and to involve more at-risk students in school activities.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Education, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology), University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, 1994 / In the light of deficits in the Black Education system, historically entrenched by the ruling political hegemony. Black education has been severely compromised in S.A. ln an attempt to redress the situation CEFSA, a non-governmental organisation, has set up a technical high school for adolescents, founded on the principles of Fcuersteins Instrumental Enrichment Programme. Five Instruments were taught in 1992. This study is an evaluation of the changes in the students over the year on dimensions of Cognitive Processes, Learning Styles, Creativity and Self-esteem. Changes were related to both the FIE programme, as well as to broader Mediated Learning Experience opportunities both within and outside the school. N = 114. Statistical procedures included a range of descriptive statistics, a stepwise regression and a principal components analysis. Results indicated that changes on the above dimensions occurred in both positive and negative directions. T-tests highlighted significant changes. Demographic variables were use to explain these changes in a stepwise regression procedure. Competence on Instruments were found to be significantly positively related to end of year academic results, irrespective of demographic variables. The Influences of the IE intervention were then discussed, both positive and negative in an attempt to gain understanding of future directions to be taken in teaching thinking skills within a rapidly changing socio-political context.

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The purpose of the study was to compare the relative benefits of treating at-risk students, those considered to be potential dropouts, by separating them into special classes at a separate facility—a pullout program—versus having them remain in regular classes with periodic supplemental counseling based upon individual needs—a mainstream program. To carry out the purpose of the study, students enrolled in the two types of treatment programs were compared in respect to retention in school, attendance, academic achievement based upon pretest and posttest scores, report card grades, and attitude toward school.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation sought to understand the experience of six participants as members of a cluster group of socially marginalised youth in a farmworker community. Through a collaborative process, the study sought to reframe the perceptions around the behavioural outcomes of membership to such an outcast group. Theories of empowerment through active participation underpinned the whole study. The study was qualitative in nature and used a Participatory Action research methodology which created the space for creative exploration with enabling methodologies such as the Youth Engagement Cycle and Activity Theory. Data were collected through focus group- and semi-structured interviews; participant observation and participant generated artefacts. Six adolescent males who were part of an already established cluster group of socially marginalised youth at a school were purposively selected into the study. The analysis of data was an ongoing and iterative process informed by the theories that underpinned the study and through content analysis of emerging themes. The study revealed that the cluster group was not formed with delinquent intent. Instead, it was created as a space that allowed its members to feel a sense of belonging, security and being valued. However, the group dynamic caused individual self-efficacy to become so enmeshed with collective agency that if left unchecked, it had the potential to propel its members along a trajectory to delinquency. The dissertation recommends understanding cluster groups as unique heterogeneous entities that show insight and empathy into the challenges their cohorts experience. Recognising that this elevates the peer group's influence above that of adults the study recommends a collaborative, well-structured and strategic intervention that allows individuals to experience success and self-influence in attaining mastery within the group dynamic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling het ten doel gehad om ses deelnemers se ervaring as lede van 'n 'cluster' groep gemarginaliseerde jongmense binne 'n plaaswerker gemeenskap te probeer verstaan. Deur middel van 'n proses van samewerking, het die studie gepoog om die persepsies rakende die gedragsuitkomste van lidmaatskap binne so 'n geïsoleerde groep te herformuleer. Die hele studie is gebaseer op teorie van bemagtiging deur middel van aktiewe deelname. Die verhandeling was kwalitatief van aard en het gebruik gemaak van 'n Deelnemende Aksie Navorsingsmetodologie wat ruimte geskep het vir kreatiewe ontdekking met bemagtigende metodologieë soos bv. "Youth Engagement Cycle" en "Activity Theory". Data is ingesamel deur middel van 'n fokusgroep en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude; deelnemer waarneming en deelnemer gegenereerde artefakte. Ses adolessente mans wat reeds deel was van 'n gevestigde groep sosiaal-gemarginaliseerde jongmense by 'n skool, is doelbewus geselekteer vir die studie. Die analise van die data was 'n deurlopende en iteratiewe proses wat belig is deur die teorieë waarop die studie gebaseer was asook deur inhoudsanalise van die ontluikende temas. Die studie het getoon dat die 'cluster' groep nie gevorm is met misdaad as doel nie. Inteendeel, die groep het ontstaan as 'n ruimte wat sy lede toegelaat het om 'n mate van geborgenheid, sekuriteit en waardering te ervaar. Die groepsdinamiek het individuele self-doeltreffendheid toegelaat om so verbonde te raak met kollektiewe agentskap dat indien dit nie gekontroleer was nie, dit die potensiaal getoon het om sy lede op 'n trajek van jeugmisdaad te plaas. Die verhandeling beveel dus aan dat 'n 'cluster' groep gesien word as 'n unieke heterogene entiteit wat insig en empatie toon met die uitdagings wat lede ervaar. Op grond van die feit dat dit die portuurgroep se invloed bo die van die volwassenes verhef, wil die studie 'n samewerkende, goedgestruktureerde en strategiese bemiddeling aanbeveel wat die individu sal toelaat om sukses en selfgelding te ervaar met die bereiking van bemeestering binne die dinamiek van die groep.

The educational changes introduced by the South African democratic dispensation after 1994 were meant to address the apartheid imbalances. The self-governing regime sought to bring and safeguard quality education for all, and to amend the previous education inequalities among all racial groups. Hence, the new curriculum that was introduced by the National Department of Basic Education was meant to be a drastic departure from the school curricula of the apartheid administration. One critical innovation sought was to replace a teacher-centred curriculum with a learner-centred curriculum. The emphasis of this study, therefore, was to determine the level to which learner- centred teaching has been adopted by rural and underdeveloped schools. The selection of rural schools was informed by the obvious differences that still persist between the former Model C schools and those that were predominantly black and underdeveloped, particularly in terms of resources and the quality of teachers. Given the fact that the main feature of the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) that was introduced from 1996 is that it is resource-reliant, the main research question of the study was therefore: How do educators in rural and underdeveloped schools cope with a learner-centred teaching as part of the curriculum innovation? In order to riposte to the study’s main question, the researcher used qualitative research methods to discern data from Physical Sciences teachers, learners and Physical Sciences Heads of Departments (Hods) from the selected schools. In addition, the researcher conducted classroom teaching observations, analysed relevant documents and interviewed some participants to determine their views and experiences on using a learner-centred approach. The findings of the study revealed many challenges to rural schools in adopting and implementing a learner-centred approach. These include the lack of relevant resources, poor quality of teachers, insufficient and inappropriate teacher-support programmes for teachers as well as the rural environmental challenges. The overall conclusion of the study is that, after two decades since the introduction of a learner-centred approach in South Africa, rural schools have not yet managed to adopt and implement learner-centred pedagogy as an important part of the post-1994 educational innovations. The researcher finds it ironic that apartheid education was demonized for promoting inequality around racial lines. Sadly, the post-apartheid innovations have yet to address equality among the racial groups and areas of resident. The inability of rural schools to adopt and implement learner-centred approach is depriving black and rural learners of quality learning. They are still subjected to a teacher-centred learning which does not assist them to acquire required skills which can help them to compete with those learners who are attending affluent urban schools. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)