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published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-173).

abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an after-school music program on music underachievers' musical achievement, social development and self-esteem. A true-experimental pretest-posttest design was used and included 14 hours of treatment time. The subjects (N = 66), fifth-grade students were randomly selected from the lowest quartile of scores on Colwell's Music Achievement Test (MAT), which was administered to all fifth-grade students (N = 494) in three Korean elementary schools. The treatment group (n =33) experienced a movement-based after-school music program (MAMP); the control group (n = 33) did not receive the after-school music program. Measurements included sections of Colwell's Music Achievement Test (MAT), Kim's Social Development Scale (SDS), and Hare's Self-Esteem Scale (HSS). The researcher and music teachers of each school administered all measurements. Fourteen treatment lessons occurred over fourteen weeks. One-way analyses of covariance tests were used to test for post-test differences between groups. A significant difference was found in music achievement total scores of the MAT with the treatment group scoring higher scores than the control group. There were no significant differences for interval and meter discrimination tests of MAT. There were no significant differences between treatment and control groups in the post-test scores of the Social Development Scale (SDS) and the Self-Esteem Scale (HSS). However, for both tests, mean scores increased for the treatment group and decreased for the control group. Results from this study suggest that a movement-based after-school music program promotes music underachievers' musical growth and may also support music underachievers' social development and self-esteem. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Music Education 2011

This study utilized a Quasi-experimental Pretest-Posttest design to determine whether or not group counseling would improve the achievement (measured by grade point average), self-concept and locus of control (both measured by the <i>SAM</i>) of low-achieving and/or underachieving ninth grade students in an interdisciplinary alternative educational program. participants in this study were 66 students in an alternative educational program called IMAGESS who were computer-assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. Students who were in the treatment group participated in ten 45 minute group counseling sessions over a four month period of time. Concepts of reality therapy were utilized during the group sessions with an emphasis on goal setting, decision making and problem solving skills. Qualitative information was collected during the course of the study and utilized to formulate conclusions. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance utilizing parent participation, sex, group membership and the corresponding pretest as covariates. Once suitable predictors were identified, multiple linear regression was used to identify suitable models for future prediction. Although no significant findings could be identified to support group counseling analysis of covariance produced significant results with the post self-concept and post grade point average variables for parent participation and with the post self-concept variable for the interaction of parent participation and post grade point average. / Ed. D.

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

This study develops recommendations for school district administrators and policy makers regarding policies and programs for students at risk of school failure. The study develops a descriptive picture of policies and programs for at-risk students in Washington County school districts and evaluates those policies and programs against criteria for effective policies and programs in order to understand the degree to which such policies and programs implemented in Washington County school districts correspond to criteria associated with effective practices reported in the literature. The study identifies 23 such criteria and numerous indicators associated with each. Data collection, analysis and evaluation were guided by five research questions focusing on procedures used to identify at-risk students, policies and programs implemented to serve the needs of at-risk students, procedures used to evaluate at-risk students and programs, and the effectiveness of at-risk student programs and policies. D"",' were collected from the 13 Washington County school districts and other agencies using interview, document analysis, and survey techniques. Interviews were conducted with 11 school district administrators, 66 documents were examined, the 13 Washington County school district superintendents were surveyed, and 56 of 93 elementary, middle and high school principals completed and returned a 29 item survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and written descriptive summaries. The data were further analyzed by applying the program evaluation technique of comparison to a standard, using the criteria for effective policies and programs developed from the literature as standards. The results show nearly all schools and districts meet two of four criteria related to at-risk student identification. Identification practices vary from formal to informal. Most schools and districts meet both criteria related to the use of ineffective programs. Retention at grade level and diagnostic/prescriptive pullout programs are seldom used as an intervention with at-risk students. Most districts and schools meet one of four criteria regarding programs that prevent students becoming at risk. No district offers preschool programs. Few full-day kindergarten options are available. Tutorial reading programs are available at the primary grades in most schools. Three of 12 criteria regarding programs that serve identified at-risk students are met by nearly all schools and districts. A variety of classroom, schoolwide and alternative programs exist that partially meet criteria for effectiveness. Most programs serve secondary students. No district meets the criterion for supporting programs with written policy. Few policies specific to at-risk students or programs exist. In summary, nearly all Washington County schools and districts meet eight criteria for effective policies and programs for at-risk students. The remaining 15 criteria are either met by some schools and not others, partially met by some or all schools, or met by few or no schools at all. Other results show that little or no at-risk student or program evaluation occurs in most districts that administrators perceive resources for at-risk students and programs to be inadequate, and that coordination of at-risk programs both within and between schools and districts is varied and often minimal or lacking. Based upon these results, 52 specific recommendations are made to school districts administrators and policy makers.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

The purpose of this study was to determine if certain identified educational strategies would have an effect on the success of at-risk students at the secondary level. Specifically, would school involvement and a mentor program have an effect on students' attendance, grade point average, and self-esteem. An examination of related literature indicated no one factor or specific combination of factors clearly determined which student would be at-risk. The literature further indicated that most researchers agree on a general list of educational factors that can effect student success. The study group of ninth grade at-risk students was determined by the following criteria: 1) a grade point average of 2.0 or lower, 2) 15 days or more absences during their eighth grade year, 3) a California Aptitude Test score between 30 and 50 percentile in Math, and 4) a California Aptitude Test score between 30 and 50 percentile in Reading. This study's results determined that certain educational strategies did effect at-risk students' success. Analysis of the individual student results, showed improvement, in at least, one of the identified areas. In the area of attendance, four of the subjects showed marked improvement. Four subjects showed progress in grade point averages; six of the subjects showed a positive change towards school and concerning the subjects' attitudes towards home; five students made a positive transformation. However, inspite of some individual improvement, there was no statistical improvement in the group in toto. / Graduation date: 1993