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This study uses the competing Burton Clark's "Cooling Out Theory" and Daniel Bell's "Theory of the Postindustrial Economy" to examine the function that for-profit colleges and universities (FPCUs) play in American higher education and how it is different from non-profit traditional colleges and universities (TCUs). This was done through three sections of analysis. The first examined if students who enroll at these FPCUs are less academically prepared than those attending non-profit traditional colleges or universities. The second tested if academic preparedness is associated with postsecondary performance at FPCUs to the same degree it is at TCUs. The final section of analysis looked at FPCU graduates to see if they have different short-term job outcomes when compared to traditional college graduates. This research utilizes The Beginning Postsecondary Survey 2009- a restricted-use longitudinal data set produced by the National Center for Education Statistics that followed 16,700 first-time college enrollees from 2003 until 2009. This data set includes information on student demographics, academic performance, enrollment history, and job outcomes. The results of this study indicated that when compared to traditional college students, FPCU students are less likely to be academically prepared for college and are more frequently characterized by risk factors that previous research has shown makes it less likely they will complete their degree. This research also found that unlike TCUs, high school academic performance is not associated with post-secondary performance or likelihood of degree attainment at FPCUs. Finally, it was observed that FPCU graduates were less likely to have jobs related to their degree and earned less income than TCU graduates, but had about the same degree of job satisfaction.

Föreliggande studie undersökte relationen mellan startålder och slutlig behärskning i fonologi och icke-fonologi (ett samlingsbegrepp för morfosyntaktisk och idiomatisk brytning). Deltagarna var 200 spansktalande andraspråkstalare av svenska, 20 modersmålstalare av svenska (kontrollgrupp) och 28 lyssnare med svenska som modersmål. Slutlig förmåga i fonologi och icke-fonologi mättes genom två brytningsbedömningar av lyssnargruppen, en där talarnas faktiska röster användes för att mäta fonologisk förmåga och en där en syntetisk röst användes för att mäta icke-fonologisk förmåga. Studiens resultat visade att det fanns en stark negativ korrelation mellan startålder och slutlig behärskning för både fonologisk och icke-fonologisk förmåga. Korrelationen var starkare för fonologi än för icke-fonologi. Starålder visades även vara den starkaste prediktorn för inföddlik slutlig behärskning, även efter kontroller av andra prediktorer som ålder, vistelsetid i Sverige och grad av andraspråksanvändning (% i förhållande till L1). Sannolikheten att tillägna sig en inföddlik slutlig behärskning var högre ju tidigare startålder talarna hade och endast talare med startålder mellan 1 och 16 uppvisade inföddlikhet i både fonologi och icke-fonologi. Fler talare uppvisade inföddlikhet i icke-fonologi än i fonologi, vilket kan bero på den unika motoriska begränsning tillägnande av fonologi har.

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The current language policy in education in Malawi allows pupils to be taught through local languages form Standard 1 to 4 and through English from Standard 5 upwards. However, classroom observation suggets that teachers use Chichewa as the language of learning even in areas where Chichewa is not the home language of the majority of pupils. Surveys indicate that generally parents feel that their children would be learning better if they started learning through English earlier than in Standard 5. This study was conducted with a view to finding out whether English is the most appropriate language of learning for senior primary school children in Malawi. The study specifically addressed the question of whether or not the use of English as the language of learning in Social Studies resulted in better academic performance among Standard 7 pupils in Malawi. The study also addressed the question of whether the use of English as the language of learning increased pupil participation in the learning process and whether the use of Chichewa as the language of learning favoured Chichewa home language pupils more than Chiyao home language pupils. The findings suggest that primary school children in Malawi are not linguistically prepared for instruction through the medium of English. Standard 7 pupils, the target of the study, found it difficult to learn Social Studies through English although they had had three years of English as the language of learing. Their participation in academic work was hampered by their limited mastery of the language. Pre-test and post-test results show that Standard 7 pupils receiving instruction through Chichewa obtained higher scores than those who were taught in English. When Yao and Chewa children were taught together through the Chichewa medium, the Yao children scored as well as their counterparts whose home language was Chichewa. Thus the study suggests that the use of Chichewa benefited both groups while the use of English seemed to retard their performance. These results imply that the language policy in Malawi and the way teachers are currently trained to teach English in primary schools need to be re-examined and reviewed. / English Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (English)

Optimistiese self-evaluasies oor die vermoë om take uit te voer is belangrik vir sukses in verskeie aspekte van menswees. Wanneer mense sulke self-evaluasies doen en selfdoeltreffendheids-persepsies vorm maak hulle van inligting uit verskeie bronne gebruik. Volgens teorieë wat spesifiek verband hou met self-evaluasie is mense tydens die vorming van sulke persepsies omtrent die self veral afhanklik van inligting bekom deur sosiale vergelyking. Hierteenoor beklemtoon teorieë wat meer met selfdoeltreffendheid verband hou, die belangrikheid van self-verwysende inligting soos gevorm tydens prestasie-ervarings. Die doel met hierdie navorsing is om die ordening van die bronne van inligting, wat tydens die vorming van selfdoeltreffendheids-persepsies gebruik word, te ondersoek. Die resultate sal bydra om belangrike vrae te beantwoord oor die voorbereiding van mense vir die uitvoering van uitdagende take. In 'n eksperiment (N=1 723) wat op 'n Solomon-vier-groep-ontwerp geskoei is, is drie vorme van inligting wat persepsies kan beïnvloed aan drie eksperimentele groepe verskaf terwyl daar vyf kontrolegroepe was. Die effek van die ingrepe is met 'n vraelys gemeet. Die resultate toon dat selfdoeltreffendheidspersepsies meer deur selfverwysende inligting as deur sosiale vergelykings-inligting beïnvloed word. Dit is ook bevind dat die verskaffing van addisionele inligting nie 'n kumulatiewe effek tydens die vorming van selfdoeltreffendheidspersepsies het nie. Die implikasies van die resultate ten opsigte van die praktyk en teoretiese beskouinge is in die laaste instansie bespreek. / Optimistic self-evaluation regarding the ability to cany out tasks is important for success in various fields ofhuman endeavour. When people do such self-evaluations and fmm self-efficacy perceptions, they make use of information from various sources. According to theories related to self-evaluation, people engaged in forming such perceptions about themselves largely depend on information gained through social comparison. However, theories of self-efficacy emphasize the importance of self-referenced information, such as those formed through enactive attainments. The purpose of this research is to examine the collation of sources of information used in forming self-efficacy perceptions. The results will help to answer important questions about preparing people to perform challenging tasks. In an experiment (N=l 723) modelled on the Solomon Four Group Design, three types of information likely to influence perceptions were supplied to three experimental groups, while there were five control groups. The effects of the interventions were measured by means of a questionnaire. Results confirmed that perceptions of self-efficacy are more profoundly influenced by self-referenced information than by social comparisons. It was also found that additional information did not have a cumulative effect dming the forming of self -efficacy perceptions. The implications of the results with respect to practical and theoretical viewpoints are discussed in the final instance. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Sielkunde)

In this study, senior certificate (standard 10) pupils' attainment of the cognitive and affective aims and objectives of the senior certificate mathematics curriculum was investigated. With regard to the attainment of the cognitive objectives and aims, senior certificate pupils' performance in their mathematics examination, in terms of three broad categories of cognitive abilities (lower level, middle level and higher level mathematical abilities) was analysed and examined. As no norms (criteria) for mathematical attainment in respect of these three categories of cognitive abilities could be identified, these norms had to be firstly developed by the researcher. However, suitable standardised scales were identified and administered to determine senior certificate pupils' attainment of the affective aims and objectives (attitude towards and interest in mathematics). Besides the quantitative analysis, qualitative assessments of senior certificate pupils' attainment of the cognitive and affective aims and objectives were also made using information obtained, by way of a questionnaire, from teachers of senior certificate mathematics classes. The main findings that emerged from this investigation were: * The senior certificate pupils are attaining the desired proficiency levels in the cognitive objectives and aims of the senior certificate mathematics curriculum. However, these pupils are not adequately attaining the affective aims and objectives of the mathematics curriculum. * Qualitative information elicited from senior certificate teachers of mathematics tends to support the above findings which were obtained from the quantitative analysis. * There is a need for curriculum development in certain areas of the senior certificate mathematics curriculum, particularly in Euclidean geometry, for standard grade pupils. In terms of the general findings, certain recommendations were also formulated. In several ways, the present research is a pioneering effort in evaluating the efficacy of the cognitive and affective aims and objectives of the senior certificate mathematics curriculum. It is hoped that this study will serve as a catalyst for future research. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

本研究旨在了解國中英語教師對九年一貫課程之態度與實踐，以期了解基層英語教師如何看待九年一貫課程改革以及他們如何在教室中實施這套新課程。同時，本研究希望藉由國中英語教師對九年一貫課程之態度與實踐，再一次檢視九年一貫課程改革的現況。 本研究採取質的研究方法，以台北市2名公立國中英文教師為研究對象。研究過程採取觀察、訪談、文件分析等方式為主要資料蒐集來源。資料的涵蓋面向包含：(1) 教師對九年一貫課程之態度；(2) 教師對九年一貫英語課程之態度；(3) 教師對英語教科書之態度；(4) 考試及測驗對教師之影響；(5) 教師的教學技巧與能力；(6) 教師的專業發展。經由這些資料，本研究討論了三個與九年一貫相關的議題：(1) 教師的教學自主權；(2) 教師的專業發展；(3) 教科書的開放政策。 本研究並根據以上三個議題的討論結果，進一步提供相關建議，以作為教育行政單位、學校單位、國民中學英文領域教師及未來研究的參考。 / The purpose of this study is to present the results of junior high school EFL teachers’ attitudes toward Grade 1-9 Curriculum and their classroom practice. This study aims to reveal how junior high school EFL teachers view Grade 1-9 Curriculum and how they implement this new curriculum in their classrooms.This study also offers another chance to take a look at the current situation of the implementation of Grade 1-9 Curriculum. This study adopts a qualitative research method and selects two participant teachers in a well established junior high school to serve as cases which work for in-depth understanding of teachers’ attitudes and their classroom practice. In this case study, data-gathering methods include interview, observation, and document analysis. The collecting information is presented in six dimensions: (1) teachers’ attitudes toward Grade 1-9 Curriculum, (2) teachers’ attitudes toward Grade 1-9 English Curriculum, (3) teachers’ attitudes toward English textbooks, (4) the influence of examinations and tests on teaching, (5) teaching skills and abilities, and (6) teacher professional development. Based on the above information, this study discusses three concerns related to Grade 1-9 Curriculum: (1) teacher autonomy, (2) professionalism, and (3) the policy of liberation of textbooks. Finally, some pedagogical implications and suggestions stemmed from the previous discussions are proposed to serve as a reference for the central authority, school administrators, junior high school EFL teachers, and future research on Grade 1-9 Curriculum.

Determining the effects of military service on those who volunteer is of vital importance in an age when service may lead to the loss of bodily function or life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of military service with consideration for the demographic statuses of race, gender, and educational attainment on economic outcomes. Data for this study came from the Current Population Survey July 2010 with Veterans Supplement (N=83,000). Results from this study suggest that some veterans, namely those of minority racial status and lower educational attainment benefit from their military serve by achieving increased levels of household income as compared to similar non-veterans. Conversely, non-Hispanic White veterans and those with higher levels of educational attainment suffer negative consequences to levels of household income. Furthermore, differences among veterans were assessed. These results provide further insight into the experiences of veterans in the United States.

Cubans arrive in the U.S. with more formal education than other Latino immigrants, and they arrive to communities with long standing networks of support. Though their baccalaureate degree attainment is better than their non-Cuban Latina counterparts, Cuban women still lag behind White, non-Latina women. The qualitative study aims to explore the principal influences and non-academic factors that 15 adult Cuban non-native English-speaking women in South Florida attribute to the successful attainment of their baccalaureate degree. There are many differences among the various immigrant Latino communities in the U.S., and Cuban women are largely absent from the research. Nearly 75% of Cuban women who start Miami Dade College with English as a second language course-work drop out within one year of matriculation. Understanding the principal influences and non-academic factors related to the baccalaureate attainment rate of this group may assist educators and administrators in providing the support these women need to enhance their degree completion. The literature says that the baccalaureate degree attainment of Latinos is influenced by age-at-the-time-of-immigration, country of origin, and gender, yet little research was found on the degree attainment specifically of female Cubans who entered the U.S. having already completed most of their education in Cuba. My dissertation explores the journey of 15 Cuban women who arrived in the U.S. as teens during the 1990s and had to learn English as a second language at an urban community college prior to completing a baccalaureate degree. The purpose of the research is to describe the principal influences and non-academic factors that these women attribute to their baccalaureate degree attainment.