Theses and Dissertations from UMD
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New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a give thesis/dissertation in DRUM
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
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Item Pathways to Proficiency: Examining the Coherence of Initial Second Language Acquisition Patterns within the Language Difficulty Categorization Framework(2018) Masters, Megan; Ross, Steven J.; Second Language Acquisition and Application; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)It has perhaps never been clearer that in order to effectively communicate with global governments and develop reasoned foreign policy, the United States Intelligence Community requires the support of trained linguists. The development of foreign language proficiency is a complex process requiring a significant investment of time and resources. For learners involved in intensive foreign language training within the United States Government (USG), the Department of Defense (DoD) has developed various Language Difficulty Categorization (LDC) frameworks aimed at standardizing the amount of time learners are given to meet established proficiency criteria. Despite the widespread adoption of LDC frameworks over the past 60 years, few empirical studies have examined the systematicity in proficiency patterns for languages grouped within the same difficulty category. By situating the analysis within the framework of a logic model, data-mining techniques were used to statistically model, via path analysis, the relationships between program inputs, activities, and outcomes. Two main studies comprised the investigation. Study 1 employed a contrastive-analytic approach to examine the coherence with which both cognitive (e.g., general aptitude, language-specific aptitude, and average coursework outcomes) and non-cognitive (e.g., language preference self-assessment scores) variables contributed to the development of foreign language achievement and proficiency outcomes for three languages grouped within the same category. For Study 1, only learners who completed the entire foreign language-training program were included in the analysis. Results of Study 1 found a great deal of coherence in the role that language-specific aptitude and 300-level average coursework grades play in predicting end-of-program proficiency outcomes. To examine the potential hidden effects of non-random attrition, Study 2 followed the same methodological procedures as Study 1, but it imputed missing coursework and proficiency test score data for learners who attrited (that is, “dropped out”) during the intensive foreign language-training program. Results of the imputation procedure confirmed that language-specific aptitude plays a robust role in predicting average coursework outcomes across languages. Study 2 also revealed substantial differences in the role that cognitive and non-cognitive variables play in predicting end-of-program proficiency outcomes between the observed and imputed datasets as well as across languages and skills.Item An Experimental Evaluation of the Effects of a School-Based, Universal Prevention Program on Parent and Teacher Ratings of Student Behavior(2009) Nebbergall, Allison Joan; Gottfredson, Gary; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Meta-analyses of skills-based prevention interventions show moderate effect sizes for increasing social competencies and decreasing behavior problems. While the literature suggests that prevention programs can be effective, rigorous independent research is lacking regarding the efficacy of many specific programs. The present study is based on a randomized-control experiment evaluating Second Step in 12 Maryland public elementary schools to assess the effects of the program on parent and teacher ratings of student behavior. Ratings using the Social Competency Rating Form had previously been considered as a single global measure of student behavior, and had not been found to be affected by the intervention. Nonetheless, a re-consideration of the psychometric properties of the scale and its sensitivity to skills taught by the Second Step curriculum led to the speculation that separation of the global measure to reflect distinct ratings of social competency and problem behavior might reveal effects on the social competency component. Analyses show no effects on parent or teacher ratings of social competency or on teacher ratings of problem behavior. In some analyses, students in treatment schools had nearly twice the odds of being classified in a "problem" group according to ratings made by their parents than did students in control schools. Results were supported by sensitivity analyses using weights and imputation.Item Instrument Development For Continuing Medical Education Evaluation(2007-08-28) Tian, Jing; Atkinson, Nancy L; Portnoy, Barry; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The purpose of this study was to develop a valid, reliable and adaptable CME evaluation instrument to facilitate the future CME evaluation effort as well as contribute to the literature of CME evaluation studies. A generic instrument template was first developed addressing variables in the second evaluation level based on the TPB, i.e. attitude, behavioral belief, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention. The instrument was then adapted to a CME-related conference, Preoperative Therapy in Invasive Breast Cancer: Reviewing the State of the Science and Exploring New Research Directions. Data were collected at the conference. A total of 134 physicians returned their questionnaires. Principle axis factoring with oblique rotation was used to examine the underlying structure of the data and reduced the items in the instrument to six subscales: positive beliefs, negative beliefs, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention. Factor loadings supported the existence of six valid scales. The consistency between the a priori subscales and the factors emerged served as evidence for content validity of the instrument. Overall, all the subscales had sufficient reliability (alpha>= 0.70) for early stage instrument development showing the unidimensionality of the subscales. Scale modifications based on item analyses were conducted. The problematic items were eliminated, and the analyses were rerun. A 22-item instrument and a revised generic instrument template were finally developed. This study determined the adaptability of the theory based instrument template to the NCI CME conference and the feasibility of developing a content specific, valid and reliable CME evaluation instrument from the template assessing the changes in the concepts listed in the second evaluation level. The established and validated instrument could further be used to evaluate the effectiveness of other CME activities having the template adapted to different clinical domains addressed by each individual CME activity.Item Assessment of Social Competence and Problem Behavior: The Psychometric Properties of a Social Competency Rating Form(2007-06-26) Nebbergall, Allison Joan; Gottfredson, Gary D.; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Intervention programs commonly target the development of social competencies and the prevention of problem behaviors among children. Practical assessment measures are necessary for evaluating these interventions. Examination of popularly used instruments reveals the need for a brief rating scale that measures both social competencies and problem behaviors. The Social Competency Rating Form (Gottfredson et al., 2002) is a brief 29-item scale designed to be user-friendly and closely aligned with the objectives of cognitive-behavioral social skills training programs for adolescents. It also serves as a research tool in studying social competence and problem behaviors, especially in the context of evaluating intervention programs. This study shows an adaptation of the SCRF to be a reliable and valid measure for use with elementary school children.