The purpose of this study was to explore the county-level professional staff?s perceptions of how diversity was being addressed in practice within the MSU-ES. The population consisted of 169 Mississippi State University Extension Service county-level professional staff with 128 or 75.7% completing the survey. Fifty percent of the respondents were female and 41% were males. The majority (70.3%) of the county-level professional staff were White with 23% being Black, 3% other, and 4% not indicating their ethnicity. The majority (75.7%) were at least 41 years of age. This study utilized descriptive survey research design. Means were used to determine how strongly the respondents agreed or disagreed with MSU-ES practices. Standard deviations helped in understanding of how the responses varied. Frequencies and percentages were used to determine the number and proportion of the respondents who agreed with MSU-ES practices. Findings of this study presented evidence that county-level professional staff?s perceptions of diversity of the Mississippi State University Extension Service were positive. County-level professional staff agreed with the manner in which MSU-ES publicly embraced diversity. However, findings revealed that there was a significant difference between respondents and non-respondents in their perception to the manner MSU-ES publicly embraced diversity. County-level professional staff also agreed that the MSU-ES was successful in recruiting and retaining diverse staff or volunteers and MSU-ES provided a level of intercultural communication that fostered mutual learning with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. County-level professional staff perceived the MSU-ES was providing supportive climate for diversity that encouraged critical thinking and informed dialogue among members of a diverse community. County-level professional staff agreed or strongly agreed that the working environment within the MSU-ES was comfortable and secure and disagreed or strongly disagreed that the MSU-ES treated employees unfairly.

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of public school administrators toward technology effectiveness and adequacy in curriculum and instruction in the Golden Triangle Public Schools of Mississippi and the demographic variables that may affect the perceptions. The population consisted of 56 public school administrators for the 2008-2009 school year in the Starkville, Okitbbeha County, West Point, Clay County, Columbus, and Lowndes County school districts. The variables that were studied were the perceptions of the public school administrators toward technology effectiveness in curriculum and instruction, the perceptions of the public school administrators toward technology adequacy in curriculum and instruction, and the demographic variables such as race, age, administrator’s years of experience, school location, administrator’s educational level, gender, school level (elementary, middle, or high), school size, faculty size, and position (principal or assistant principal). A questionnaire of 36 items was sent out to the administrators to collect data on their perceptions toward technology effectiveness and adequacy in curriculum and instruction and their demographic information. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, and Pearson r correlations at the .05 alpha level were used to test the statistical significance of the public school administrators’ perceptions toward technology effectiveness and adequacy and the demographic variables. The findings resulted in the public school administrators “agreeing” that their teachers use technology effectively and adequate technology is available for the curriculum and instruction in their schools, but no statistically significant difference occurred between the perceptions of the administrators toward technology effectiveness or toward technology adequacy and the demographic variables. Also, there was no statistically significant relationship between the administrators’ perceptions toward technology effectiveness and the administrators’ demographics. The population for the study which included the Golden Triangle Public schools may have been too small and the demographics too limited.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Consumers of mental health services are recognized as experts due to their rich lived experiences. Because of their expert status, they are expected to play a vital role in the re-shaping of mental health systems by determining what culturally competent services look like and how services are provided to culturally diverse populations. Therefore, it is essential that the consumers' voices, choices and roles in transforming the mental health system are included in assessing the cultural competence of mental health counselors (New Freedom Commission, 2003). There is a significant gap in the literature regarding the consumers' unique perspective (Pope-Davis et al., 2002). There is a need for both qualitative studies and studies that focus on consumers to gain a deeper, richer insight of the consumers' perspective (Rubin & Rubin, 1995). A qualitative phenomenological design was used to give voice to three participants regarding their perceptions of cultural competence in the counseling relationship. Phenomenological interviews were used to explore in depth and with diversity the participants' subjective meaning of the lived experience (Denzin & Lincoln, 2003). Constant comparative research methods were used to analyze the data. Four themes naturally emerged from the data. Theme 1) Defining Cultural Competence was discussed as being inclusive of all differences; not focusing solely on race or ethnicity, including more than recognizing obvious differences, and counselors' willingness to raise and engage in the issue of culture. Theme 2) Counselor Attitude participants voiced that counselors' attitude plays a significant role in whether certain topics are broached and how much is shared about the topic. They reported what counselors convey through their attitude and interactions as being more important than what they convey verbally. Theme 3) The Counseling Relationship was discussed in regard to the importance of counseling relationships that fosters an environment of safety where sharing information and teaching and learning is reciprocal between counselor and consumer and Theme 4) Counselor Attributes were found to be more important than counseling techniques and theories. The findings are presented in a discussion of themes with narratives developed about each case. / Ph. D.

Magnet schools were developed in the early 1970s when a large number of urban school districts began seeking alternatives to court-ordered desegregation mandates (Levine and Steel, 1994). Since that time, numerous studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of magnet schools in providing a racially balanced learning environment as well as increasing academic achievement. The purpose of the causal-comparative study was to determine if the math and science magnet program at a middle school affected achievement, attendance, and parent perceptions. This study conducted three different analyses. A chi square analysis of the student population was conducted to determine racial balanced on attendance data from the school years 1993-94 through 1996-97, and if the racial balance of the magnet program mirrored that of the district. Three-way ANCOVA analyses, with a 2x2x2 factorial design were performed on attendance and the five components of the 1997 Stanford Achievement Test Form 9-TA results for the eighth grade population at the targeted middle school enrolled during the 1996-97 school year. Complete data for 177 eighth grade students was utilized. Attendance and achievement served as the dependent variables. The independent variables tested were group membership (magnet, non-magnet), gender (male, female), and race/ethnicity (black, white). Socio-economic status (SES) and Literacy Passport Test (LPT) scores served as the covariates in the study. A survey of school effectiveness was sent to a random sample of parents. A t-test was performed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the perceptions of parents of magnet students and parents of student not enrolled in the program on school effectiveness. The racial balance of the magnet program did not mirror that of the district. There was more of an equally distributed number of blacks and whites in the magnet program. Within the district, approximately 68% of the student enrollment was black, the white enrollment was approximately 31%. Magnet students achieved statistically significantly higher scores on each of the five components of the Stanford Achievement Test Form 9-TA than non-magnet students. Gender and race/ethnicity differences were statistically significant in science achievement in that male and white students achieved higher scores than female and black students. There was a statistically significant difference in attendance between magnet students and non-magnet students. Magnet students attended school more than non-magnet students. There was no significant difference in perceptions of parents of magnet and non-magnet students. Both groups felt that the school was very good. Implications for future avenues of research were also suggested. / Ed. D.

This study researched Virginia 's high school principals' educational background and knowledge related to special education, and, their perceptions of special education and their supervisory skills. Surveys using a Likert scale response format were mailed to 299 principals. Ninety-eight surveys were returned for a response rate of 32 percent. Each of the eight superintendent's regions was represented in the total. Results of the study indicated that principals with a special education degree or endorsement were able to respond appropriately to the scenarios based on the regulations. Their perceptions of special education were positive, as was their agreement that their supervisory ability related to special education was adequate. Principals without a degree or endorsement in special education did not perceive that their educational background had prepared them for supervising special education. They were able to apply their knowledge appropriately to scenarios based on special education regulations in most instances. However, their performance was not on the same level as their degreed colleagues. The information from this study has implications for local school divisions in planning staff development activities, state agencies that license principals and provide staff development for local school division, and universities in planning programs for future school administrators. / Ed. D.

Consumer spending accounts for over sixty-five percent of the Gross Domestic Product in the United States, greatly affecting the economy, as well as the retail sector. The consumer, rather than business or government, has become the dominant factor in shaping the course of the aggregate U.S. economy (Curtin, 1982). The purpose of this study is to examine whether the economy, as perceived by consumers, has any effect on the apparel purchase expenditures of consumers, and if so, how personal factors such as gender, age, income, educational attainment, race, and marital status contribute to their perceptions and decisions. A research model was created using consumers' current economic perceptions, future economic perceptions, and importance of fashion as predictors of apparel expenditures. Demographic variables were included to see if demographics had any significant influence on current and future perceptions, importance of fashion, and/or apparel expenditures. Data for this study was obtained by administering a paper and internet survey to 166 consumers in the stratified market of Roanoke, VA. One-way ANOVA analysis findings indicate that age had an influence on consumers' future economic expenditures. Age and education had an influence on consumers' importance of fashion, while marital status had an influence on apparel expenditures. Regression analysis indicated that consumers' perceptions of current and future economic conditions and importance of fashion were significant predictors of consumers' apparel expenditures. Recommendations include collecting real expenditure amounts, comparing perceived economic conditions data to real economic indicators, and comparing Consumer Expenditure Survey data with real economic indicators. / Master of Science

Achieving resilient outcomes in the water sector is an area of emerging policy and research focus in light of a combination of threats such as climate change, increasing demand, urbanisation, and population growth. Consequences of these threats require that in order to achieve these resilient outcomes, urban water management socio-technical systems require various interventions at different levels. This includes the water user level and highlights the need for greater understanding of households in implementing coping interventions to address extreme system failures of drought and flooding. A combination of methodological approaches, data collection and analytical methods have been used to develop detailed understanding of water service user perceptions and intentions towards drought and flood coping in order to engender action for resilient water management at the household and community levels. Practitioner interviews have provided insight into core issues of household and community level participatory approaches for addressing drought and flood resilience. These include cross-cutting themes relating to modes of communication and engagement, the influence of past experience, empowerment, and the influence of social networks. Results of a questionnaire survey within the framework of Protection Motivation Theory facilitated understanding of the linkages among threat, consequences, and coping intentions. The most significant indicators of behavioural intentions were the perceived effectiveness of coping response measures, consequences of drought or flooding, and costs. These variables were significant in defining sub-groups at three different decision-stages after Trans-theoretical Model. Households were at early decision stages with regards to flood coping, namely `Pre-contemplative' and `Contemplative'. Pre-contemplatives had low behavioural intentions and were driven by low efficacy and low consequences. Contemplatives had low-medium intentions, expected either that cost would be a limiting factor, measures ineffective, or consequences too low to warrant action. `Responsives', only found in relation to drought coping, had already implemented several coping measures. Despite low drought consequences, cost was not a limiting factor and measures were perceived to be effective, illustrating the potential for increased household drought coping or more sustainable water use practices. This study provides important baseline data on household perceptions and intentions to cope with droughts and floods not yet widely explored in the UK. The innovative use of cluster analysis to identify and explore decision-stages provides methodological contributions to the literature. Finally, the thesis has led to the development of an assessment and decision framework to promote action towards resilient water management at the household and community levels. This framework is the basis of a toolkit that was co-created with communities and practitioners with the outcome of communities developing action plans to address the consequences of drought and flooding.