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
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Item Moderating Effects of Difficulty on Individual Differences' Prediction of Intensive Second Language Proficiency Attainment(2024) Pulupa, Catherine Maria; Hui, Bronson; Second Language Acquisition and Application; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The United States government is perennially in need of employees with proficiency in critical foreign languages to communicate with foreign counterparts and maintain relationships worldwide. In order to fulfill this need, the government devotes significant resources training federal employees to advanced levels of language proficiency through intensive courses aimed at developing communicative language skills that reflect the work that employees will perform in their work advancing the interests of the United States abroad. Notable proportions of employees fail to meet proficiency goals at the end of training, and little is known about what learner individual differences drive whether or not employees will meet their proficiency goals in order to perform their work on behalf of the United States. To this aim, the current investigation utilizes multiple analyses to explore and explain the interrelationships between learner individual differences, language difficulty, and proficiency attainment throughout training. The investigation constitutes two related analyses. First, a path-analytic approach examines associations between a cognitive (aptitude) measure and non-cognitive (motivation, familiarity with curricula, previous advanced second language learning) measures with student proficiency achievement throughout training. A second analysis builds on the first: the path-analytic model incorporates a measure of difficulty of the language studied by the students to determine how difficulty influences language learning and ultimate attainment within the context of individual differences in L2 speaking and reading. Results demonstrated consistent influence of language aptitude on proficiency attainment, and notable influences of previous L2 acquisition and the alignment of training to individuals’ language use goals. L2 difficulty moderated the relationships between individual differences and proficiency assessment scores during several points in training. The findings support an understanding of adult L2 acquisition that more fully considers learners’ goals and previous L2 experiences and consideration of the impact that difficulty can have on individual learners’ abilities to achieve target proficiency goals.Item Evaluating Which Classroom and Student Variables in an Early Childhood Program Best Predict Student Language and Literacy Achievement(2011) Carlis, Lydia Janeva; Silverman, Rebecca D; Special Education; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Sufficient evidence exists that early intervention for students at-risk of school failure may prevent reading difficulties. In addition, research has identified several teacher, classroom, and student variables that correlate with students' academic progress in language and literacy domains. This research aimed to expand on existing research by analyzing the relationships between teacher and peer characteristics and language and literacy achievement, and change in achievement, for 431 three and four-year old children attending three Early Reading First funded public charter school programs in 29 Washington, DC classrooms. Four research questions were posed to answer the following: What are the peer and teacher variables that predict achievement, or change in achievement, on norm- or criterion-referenced language and literacy measures for children enrolled in a federally supported universal preschool program? Two-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was conducted with students nested in classrooms. Results from the HLM indicate that peer and teacher characteristics helped predict three and four-year olds' achievement on nationally normed standardized language and literacy assessments. Peer and teacher characteristics also predicted achievement and change in achievement on curriculum-based measures of language and literacy development. These findings expand the research on teacher and peer characteristics predictive of student language and literacy achievement. Implications from these findings, strengths and limitations of this dissertation research, and future research directions are discussed.Item Short-term Home-Delivered Meal Intervention and the Health, Nutrition and Functional Status of Hospital-discharged Older Adults(2008-11-21) Akobundu, Ucheoma Onyinyechi; Sahyoun, Nadine R; Nutrition; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Background: Following discharge from the hospital, homebound older adults remain at risk of poor dietary intake and adverse outcomes due to declines in health experienced during hospitalization. However, once home, timely receipt of in-home nutrition services by older adults is challenged by gaps in the continuum of care. Greater insight into the nutrition and wellness service needs of this population is needed to improve service coordination. Methods: Staff at six home-delivered meal (HDM) programs in six US states enrolled 566 hospital-discharged, homebound older adults into a five-month HDM intervention project. Sociodemographic, nutrition and health risk data were collected at baseline, at 2 months after the initial assessment or at termination of home delivered meal services, and at 5 months after the initial assessment. Statistical Analyses: Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine relationships between sociodemographic, social, nutritional, and health risk factors, and participant food shopping/meal preparation ability. In addition, associations between these risk factors, adverse changes in living arrangement and short-term HDM program participation were evaluated. An assessment of the food items and cooking appliances available in the home was also performed. Results: This dissertation suggests that among the hospital-discharged older adults studied: (a) many had a variety of foods available but reported being unable to prepare meals, (b) those who experienced adverse changes in living arrangement over the course of the intervention were more likely to report poor health and nutrition status, functional impairment, and social isolation following hospital discharge, and finally, (c) those who maintained or restored their ability to accomplish food-related instrumental activities of daily living such as shopping and preparing meals were shorter-term users of HDM compared to longer-term users. Conclusion: Homebound older adults can benefit from timely enrollment to community-based programs nutrition and wellness services like HDM, especially those who are unable to shop and prepare meals. There is also a need at discharge to identify social, functional and nutritional risk factors for adverse outcomes in older adult patients in order to provide appropriate referrals to nutrition and wellness services that can facilitate successful transitions from hospital to home.Item An Outcome Evaluation of the Brunswick Correctional Center Sex Offender Residential Treatment (SORT) Program(2007-12-05) Perez, Deanna Maria; Wellford, Charles F; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)There is much disagreement among clinicians, politicians, the general public, and researchers about how best to manage sex offenders. Many states have taken punitive approaches, enacting sex-offender registration and civil commitment statutes. Mental health professionals discourage these strategies and call for more treatment. The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) provided prison-based, cognitive-behavioral treatment within a relapse prevention framework to incarcerated sex offenders through the Sex Offender Residential Treatment (SORT) program. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of this program to reduce recidivism. Specifically, the study assessed whether participation in SORT (both treatment as assigned and treatment completion) reduced the likelihood of re-offending after release from incarceration. In addition, the study aimed to distinguish whether treatment had differential effects for two types of sex offenders - rapists and child molesters. This study compared a group of 97 male inmates who received sex offender treatment through DOC to a comparison group of 64 inmates who did not receive treatment. All subjects were released from prison during the period February 2001 through April 2004. The evaluation utilized existing data maintained by DOC. From this database, a variety of predictors of sex offender recidivism were measured, including the Static-99 to account for between-group differences in recidivism risk. Official reports of any new arrests and probation violations for a minimum of a 12-month follow-up period were used to measure recidivism. There was no indication that sex offender treatment decreased the probability of recidivism. Specifically, treatment participants had a greater prevalence of re-arrests for sex offenses, non-sex offenses, and a composite measure for any new offense, and a lower prevalence of probation violations, than controls. In the multivariate equations, treatment significantly reduced the likelihood of being violated on supervision during the follow-up period but this was only applicable to child molesters. Treatment completion did not substantially alter these findings. Rapists were significantly less likely to re-offend sexually than child molesters, whereas they were significantly more likely than child molesters to be re-arrested for a new non-sex crime. Several aspects related to the type of inmates sampled, the institutional program itself, and the community supervision component were discussed as potential explanations for the null finding that sex offender treatment was generally ineffective at reducing recidivism. This research suggested there are substantial differences in the criminogenic needs and responsivity of rapists and child molesters; however, current treatment for sex offenders was developed primarily for the latter and is inadequate to treat and manage primary rapists. Limitations of the research were discussed, including the small sample size and the short follow-up period. It was noted that correctional administrators should incorporate an evaluation design into the planning phase of treatment programs so that the processes of program implementation and operation can be monitored rigorously and appropriate data can be gathered consistently to establish program efficacy. Additionally, data on dynamic risk factors and community supervision processes should be collected to obtain a more accurate account of recidivism and the factors associated with these outcomes.Item An evaluation of Active Labor Market Policies in Developing Economies: The Mexican Case(2007-08-03) Cruz Aguayo, Yyannú; Reuter, Peter; Smith, Jeffrey; Public Policy; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)One of the major problems in developing countries is that of unemployment and underemployment. Thus the use of active labor market policies constitutes a very significant part of the policy debate. This dissertation analyzes the training component of one such policies in Mexico: PROBECAT-SICAT (P/S). First, we provide an overview of some of the institutional elements that are likely to have a bearing in the design, functioning and effects of P/S - in particular those related to the decentralized operation and funding of the program. We find that there is some room for a more explicit definition of the mechanisms that establish the checks and controls to reduce misuse of resources. We suggest the inclusion of indicators of job quality as a concrete objective of the program. In the second part of the dissertation, using semi-parametric techniques, we obtain the average treatment effect of the program on its participants. We use a set of variables that capture characteristics of job formality, and find evidence that male and female trainees do increase their probabilities of employment and of employment with health benefits. In addition, we find that, on average, female trainees tend to find employment in more informal jobs than their male counterparts. The last part of the dissertation consists of an impact evaluation of P/S by training type. We find evidence that participating in mixed training in medium increases the trainees' probability of employment per se and employment with desirable 'formal' characteristics, such as health and housing benefits, a written contract, etc., with respect to any other training type. Secondly, the mixed training in micro and small enterprises is superior to the training for self-employment and in-classroom training. Moreover, we find evidence that female participants increase their chances of obtaining jobs with informal characteristics if they choose to participate in training for self-employment with respect to participation in-classroom training. We conclude that even with institutional shortcomings, the program seems to have positive effects that justify its original creation and permanency.Item First-year Self-Report Outcomes of a Character Education Experiment with Elementary Students(2006-12-10) Harak, Elise Touris; Gottfredson, Gary D; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Instruction in social competence in elementary grades may provide a means of preventing later problem behaviors. Previous studies indicate that school-based social competency curricula sometimes lead to decreases in problem behaviors. This randomized, controlled trial measures the efficacy of the Second Step program in twelve schools. The assessment of efficacy is based on 11 scales in a pre- and post- test, student self-report survey. These scales measure: (a) outcomes directly targeted by the curriculum, (b) school climate, and (c) other related outcomes. Results for students in six intervention schools are compared to students in six randomly equivalent control schools. After the first of three years of intervention, there is a statistically significant main effect for treatment on Engagement in Learning, an interaction of treatment with individual characteristics on Sense of School as a Community and Self-Restraint, and positive but not significant effect sizes on Self-Restraint and Hostile Attribution Bias.Item THE IMPACT OF ENTERPRISE ZONES ON RESIDENT EMPLOYMENT: AN EVALUATION OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAMS OF CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA(2004-08-04) Elvery, Joel A; Hellerstein, Judith K; Economics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This dissertation estimates the impact of two geographically targeted economic development programs on the employment of people living in the targeted areas. This question is difficult to address for a number of reasons. Unlike in most program evaluation problems, the process that determines the outcome of interest (resident employment) happens at a lower level of aggregation than the process that determines selection for treatment. Therefore, standard program evaluation techniques have to be modified to address this issue. The programs I study, the enterprise zone programs of California and Florida, were designated at a very detailed level of geography, making it hard to measure the location and the characteristics of the zones. I develop a methodology to address the unusual selection process of these programs. The first step of the methodology is to create a neighborhood-level measure of the component of residents' employment probabilities explained by the neighborhood that is conditional on the characteristics of area residents. To do this, I estimate the component of employment probability correlated with residential neighborhoods, which I call tracts' conditional employment probabilities. The next step is to estimate the effect of enterprise zones on resident employment by comparing the conditional employment probabilities of neighborhoods containing enterprise zones with those of comparable areas. I do this with tract-level propensity score matching. I also carefully measure the location and attributes of enterprise zones. I find that a substantial portion of the variation across neighborhoods in employment rates can be explained by controlling for the attributes of residents. This indicates that it is important to control for resident characteristics when making cross-neighborhood comparisons. Using propensity score matching, I find a large pool of non-zone tracts that are observationally similar to tracts containing enterprise zones. I use these non-zone tracts to create an estimate of what the conditional employment probabilities in zone tracts would have been in the absence of the programs. Even though I focus on two very targeted and generous enterprise zone programs, I find no evidence that the programs impacted the employment of zone residents.