Human Development & Quantitative Methodology
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2248
The departments within the College of Education were reorganized and renamed as of July 1, 2011. This department incorporates the former departments of Measurement, Statistics & Evaluation; Human Development; and the Institute for Child Study.
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Item Knowledge and Attitudes of Montessori Teachers of Young Children as a Context for Guiding the Normalization and Self-Construction Process(1994) Schaefer Zener, Rita; Flatter, Charles; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, MD)The purpose of this study was (1) to investigate the degree of agreement between AMI trained Montessori teachers' knowledge and attitudes and Montessori's recommendations for guiding the process of normalization among young children and (2) to discover the reasons for differences from those recommendations. Normalization is the central process in the Montessori method. Except for a study by this investigator (Zener, 1993) guiding the process of normalization had not been researched since Montessori's work some forty-five to eighty-five years ago. Therefore, this investigation also provided current teacher experiences of guiding the process of normalization. One hundred sixty five Montessori teachers attending various regional and national conferences were surveyed with knowledge and attitude scales. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10% of the participants. Mean scale scores from 4.0 to 5.0 on a five degree Likert scale and a SD less than 1.0 were projected as satisfactory levels of agreement with Montessori's recommendations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the scales, and content analysis was used to analyze the interviews. T-tests and ANOVAS indicated that demographic variables were not significant to the results.Item A SELF-SELECTED QUALITATIVE STUDY EXAMING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A FATHER AND HIS SON WHO HAS ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)(1996) Kilcarr, Patrick; Flatter, Charles; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, MD)The purpose of this interpretive study was to examine the relationship that exists between a father and his son Who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Since very little information is extant describing the relationship between a father and his son with ADHD, an interview format was developed to explore paternal perceptions, affect, and behaviors in relation to raising a son with ADHD. Sixteen fathers from an upper-middle class socioeconomic environment, participated in a one hour phone interview. These interviews were tape recorded and later transcribed. The interview attempted to answer the five research questions driving this study. The narrative data was interpreted by using a qualitative research method developed by Ranata Tesch. method involved extracting themes (specific participant responses) and collapsing the themes into larger-overarching categories called metathemes. Metathemes represent shared thoughts and perceptions held in common by all participants. Ten metathemes emerged from the data. The metathemes included such topics as a father's decision to place a child on medication and how and when to use behavior management strategies. Editorial comments from the author preceded response segments from participants (these segments were indented and single spaced). The data indicated that fathers share a unique relationship with sons who have ADHD. Prior to diagnosis, the majority of fathers described the relationship as tense, frustrating, and often unfulfilling. The relationship following diagnosis was described as significantly more Positive and rewarding. This was attributed to two specific changes: 1. the advent of education for fathers' regarding ADHD issues; and, 2. medication. Fathers agreed that the most effective behavior management strategy was to remain calm, educated, and realistic regarding their Childrens' behavior. The intention of this research was to generate further questions regarding the father-ADHD son relationship. The results of this study are not and cannot be generalized to other cultlures or social groups. Further research is needed which addresses the impact of race, class, and culture on the father and son with ADHD relationship.Item THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED PARENTAL SELF EFFICACY AMONG FIRST-TIME MOTHERS AND CHILDREARING BELIEFS, KNOWLEDGE OF INFANT DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPERIENCE WITH INFANTS(1993) Luebering, Anne; Tyler, Bonnie; Department of Human Development; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, MD)Perceived parental self- efficacy has been assumed to contribute positively toward maternal behavior among mothers of infants, but previous research has been inconclusive with regard to the link between self efficacy and behavior. Examination of Bandura's self efficacy theory points to the need to assess perceived parental self-efficacy in conjunction with other parenting cognitions before judgment can be made about its significance for good parenting. In particular, childrearing beliefs were thought to be essential to mothers ' ideas about what kinds of skills are necessary to be a good parent, and therefore to their evaluations of their parenting a b ilities. In the present study, two measu res of perceived parental self-efficacy were obtained from ll3 first-time mothers of 6 to l2-month - old infants, one measure tapping specific domains and tasks of parenting infants, and the other tappi ng a more general sense of how one was functioning as a parent . The relationship between these measures and childrearing beliefs, knowledge of infant development, experience with infants, SES, maternal age, and ethnicity were assessed. The demographic variables and knowledge were unrelate d to e ither measure of self- efficacy. Ex perience with infants was moderately correlated with the task- based measure of self- efficacy, but weakly r elated to the general measure. Childrearing beliefs showed low but significant correlations with both self efficacy measures. Investigation of the subscales of the child rearing beli efs measure indicated that the dimension of enjoyment/aggravation regarding the parental role was most closely related to mothers ' feelings of self-efficacy. Subscales measuring encou ragement of autonomy, strictness, beliefs about spoiling , and beliefs in infants' need for warmth and affection were not related to either measure of perceived parental self- efficacy. The results of this study indicate that caution should be taken in r e asoning that perceived parental self- efficacy is associated with appropriate parenting skills and behaviors , since high self-efficacy can occur in conjunction with undesirable childrearing beliefs, and such beliefs may not be associated with positive maternal behavior.Item The Effects of Previous Adherence, Physical Fitness, Behavioral Intervention, and Exercise Self-Efficacy on Exercise Adherence(1994) Mince, Rosalie Veronica; Bennett, Stanley; Human Development; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)Since substantial research has shown that a physically active lifestyle is a fundamental component of health, there exists a need to investigate why the majority of individuals do not adhere to an exercise program on a long-term basis. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which previous adherence, physical fitness, behavioral intervention, and exercise self-efficacy predict exercise adherence. There were 52 male and 44 female participants in this study ranging in age from 19 to 72 years. All subjects completed the same written and physical evaluations and participated in the same fitness program. Subjects were divided into three groups (experimental: n=34, comparison: n=33, and control: n=29). The experimental group received behavioral intervention aimed at increasing exercise adherence. The comparison group received an intervention which was not aimed at influencing exercise adherence. The control group did not receive any additional intervention. Exercise adherence was determined from self-report of exercise activity for 24 weeks . The behavioral intervention took place during weeks 9 through 16. The 24 weeks were divided into 3 adherence periods: "before adherence" (weeks 1-8), "during adherence" (weeks 9-16), and "after adherence" (weeks 17-24). Pre- and post-treatment exercise self-efficacy was determined from subjects' completion of an Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. Pre- and post-testing physical fitness assessment included body composition and aerobic capacity measures. The investigator assisted the experimental group participants in identifying realistic goals. These participants met biweekly during the intervention period with the investigator to discuss problems and adjust workouts and goals to adapt to individual progress and personal needs. The results of this study support research studies which have found that previous exercise adherence is highly predictive of continued adherence. Based on a very stringent definition of adherence, on the average, the subjects were unable or unwilling to perform aerobic exercise the three times per week necessary to substantially improve cardiovascular fitness. This finding is consistent with the majority of previous adherence studies. According to the qualitative analyses, improved physical fitness was the primary reason why subjects adhered to aerobic exercise, and a loss of fitness was a strong motivator for participants to begin exercising again after a temporary lapse .Item An Investigation of Social Interaction Between Severely Autistic Adolescents and Mildly Handicapped Peers(1990) Allen, Robin Drew; Seefeldt, Carol; Human Development; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The purpose of this study was to examine social interactions between severely autistic adolescents and mildly handicapped peers in a segregated special education setting. This was accomplished by determining (1) the frequency of reciprocal social interactions between severely autistic adolescents and mildly handicapped peers; (2) the types of social behaviors most frequently exhibited by severely autistic adolescents; (3) the levels of initiations and responses made by severely autistic adolescents and mildly handicapped peers; and ( 4) the post-intervention social behaviors of the severely autistic adolescents. Three severely autistic adolescents were exposed to a peer social initiation intervention employed by three mildly handicapped peers over a period of three months. The peer social initiation intervention was used to increase social interaction between the autistic students and their mildly handicapped peers.The research design was a multiple baseline across subjects evaluation. It was used to assess the effects of the peer intervention on each subjects' reciprocal social interactions and specific social behaviors. The independent variable was exposure to a peer social initiation intervention designed to increase social interaction behaviors. The primary dependent variable was reciprocal social interaction, which was defined as one student's positive social initiation followed by another student's positive response within 3 seconds. Results of the study were: 1. The peer social initiation intervention increased the percentage of intervals in which reciprocal interactions occurred between severely autistic students and mildly handicapped peers. 2. The peer social initiation intervention increased other vocal/verbal and other motor/gestural behaviors for the severely autistic students. 3. The levels of social responding by severely autistic adolescents increased as a result of the peer social initiation intervention. 4. Increases in reciprocal social interactions for two severely autistic adolescents generalized to a free play setting with trained and untrained peers.Item A Cross-Cultural Study on Variables Influencing Gender Differences in Mathematics Performance(1995) Takahira, Sayuri; Human Development; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate gender differences in mathematics cross culturally (Japan and the United States), and to find whether there are gender differences in their sex-stereotyped beliefs about mathematics, attitudes toward mathematics, learning patterns of mathematics, and problem solving strategics/ causes of mistakes and whether there are relationships among these variables. There were 2 studies. In Study 1, two performance variables, efficiency of problem solving strategics and seriousness of causes of mistakes, were developed through protocol analysis. In Study 2 , 207 10th grade Japanese high school students and 164 9th to 12th grade American high school students participated. Subjects were administered (1) 5 SAT-Math items, (2) solution strategy and causes of mistake questionnaire, (3) attitude toward mathematics questionnaire, and (4) learning patterns questionnaire. A 2 (sex) x 2 (nation) analysis of variance and separate within nation univariate analysis by gender were performed on the 12 variables, 3 in each of 4 areas (sex-stereotyped beliefs about math, other attitudes toward math, learning pattern of math, and performance). For Japanese sample, moderate to large gender differences were found in the sex-stereotyping and attitude variables. For the U.S. sample, gender differences were found in sex-stereotyping variables were opposite for the Japanese sample and for the American sample. Among the American sample, females held more egalitarian views toward mathematics than males. in contrast, in the Japanese sample, it is the females who held stronger sex-stereotyped beliefs about mathematics than males. Regardless of students' nationality, there were significant relationships between attitude variables and learning variables.Item LIFE SATISFACTION OF IMMIGRANT ASIAN INDIAN ELDERLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA(1990) Kalavar, Jyotsna Mirle; Seefeldt, Carol; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)This study explored life satisfaction among immigrant Asian Indian elderly men and women living in the United States, and examined the influence of selected variables on life satisfaction. Fifty Asian Indian immigrant elderly residents of the Washington metropolitan area who met the criteria for subject selection of (a) born outside the United States, (b) permanently settled in the United States since age fifty, or later (c) presently age sixty or above, (d) permanent residents of the United States since two or more years and (e) English speaking adults, participated in this study. Twenty- five men and twenty-five women, with an age range of 60 - 90 years were interviewed. Socio-demographic data, and information on self-assessed health, finance, living arrangement, transportation, and social interaction were obtained from the devised Interview Schedule. In addition to the indices of Life Satisfaction Index A and B, open-ended questions were used to determine satisfaction with life. Descriptive statistics were reported for all variables investigated. ANOVA procedure was used to test if the independent variables explain variance in life satisfaction. A Pearson correlation coefficient was established and a correlation matrix was constructed. In order to control for health, a multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the significance of other independent variables. The data obtained from open-ended questions was qualitatively analyzed. In this study, older Asian Indian men and women reported moderate levels of life satisfaction. Sex differences in life satisfaction were noted. In general, older men reported higher levels of life satisfaction than older women. Based on the results, it may be concluded that sex, reasons for coming to the United States, living arrangement (type of housing and living relationships), access to transportation, self- assessed health (health rating and present health evaluation), finance, number of friends, and frequency of meeting friends are important in explaining the variance found in life satisfaction. Self- assessed health is a strong predictor of life satisfaction. When controlled for health, other contributors to life satisfaction were reasons for corning to the United States, living arrangement, number of friends, and average meeting with friends.Item EFFECT OF INTRAFAMILIAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SELF-IMAGE OF FEMALE VICTIMS, AGES 8-15(1990) Thomas, Nainan; Flatter, Charles; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)This study was undertaken with two purposes: 1. to investigate the differences in self-image between girls who are victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse and a control group of non-abused girls; 2. to examine the within group self-image differences of abused girls by age abuse began, relationship of the offender to the victim, type of sexual activity, use of violence, and mother support. Seventy one girls, 37 abused and 34 non-abused, ages 8 -15, matched on age, race, socioeconomic status and the single or two parent status of the families were administered two standardized measures, one measuring their self-image and another one measuring their perception of mother support. An abuse case information checklist completed by the abused girls' caseworker provided information on the abuse characteristics. Data were analyzed using ANOVAs and Correlational analysis. Five subscales of the self-image measure, body image, emotional tone, psychopathology, family relationships and vocational educational goals were selected as the final outcome variables. Abused girls showed significantly poorer body image and marginally poorer emotional tone and psychopathology compared to non-abused girls. There were no significant interactional effects for age and mother support; however, among the abused girls, there was a significant negative correlation of age with mother support and family relationships, and this correlation was marginally different from the controls. Within group analysis of self-image differences of abused girls showed significantly better self-image on family relationships when the offenders were male relatives other than their biological fathers or stepfathers. Surprisingly, girls who experienced vaginal/ anal penetration showed significantly better self-image on family relationships and body image and marginal differences on psychopathology and emotional tone, compared to those who experienced fondling and kissing. Abused girls who had higher mother support had better self-image in family relationships and vocational educational goals. No difference in self-image was found by age abuse began, duration of abuse and use of violence. Findings, as they relate to and differ from the previous studies are discussed along with the implications of the findings for theory, practice and research.Item Addiction Beliefs of Treatment Providers: Factors Explaining Variance(1993) Schaler, Jeffrey Alfred; Huebner, Robert W.; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)This study investigated factors accounting for variance in beliefs among addiction-treatment providers regarding the etiology of addiction (N=295). A survey was mailed to members of three national treatment provider organizations. The 18-item Addiction Belief Scale (ABS) assessed strength of belief in the disease versus free-will model of addiction (a==.91). Scores on an eight-item Spiritual Belief Scale assessing spiritual thinking based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) philosophy (a=.92), the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales, and demographic questions were used to predict scores on the ABS. These variables together accounted for 62 percent of the variance in addiction beliefs, (p<.001). Spiritual thinking explained 42 percent of the variance, (p<.001). The findings support the idea that spiritual thinking, health locus-of- control orientation, professional-group affiliation, gender, and the number of alcoholic drinks and/ or mood-altering drugs consumed, are each significant in their ability to explain variance in addiction beliefs. Treatment providers who believed in a metaphysical power that can influence personal experience, and those who attributed responsibility for their experience of health and illness to powerful others, believed in the disease model of addiction, as did females. Treatment providers not inclined to be spiritual thinkers, and not inclined to attribute responsibility for health and illness to powerful others, believed in the free-will model of addiction, as did males. The more drinks and/or drugs consumed per week, the more likely the treatment provider believed in the free-will model of addiction. The less drinks/ drugs consumed, the stronger the belief in the disease model. Addiction beliefs also varied significantly by religious affiliation. Catholics were more likely to believe in the disease model of addiction, followed by Protestants and then Jews. Atheists believed more strongly in the free-will model, followed by agnostics. Factor analysis of the ABS showed that beliefs regarding personal power, dichotomous-thinking, and beliefs regarding addiction as a way of coping with life are core issues in what has come to be known as "the disease-model controversy." Implications for clinical and public policy are discussed.Item Understanding Attributional Motivations, Emotions and Sport Type in Male College Athletes(1990) Barton, William Elliott; Bennett, Stanley; Human Development & Quantitative Methodology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)sports and sport type were used as a vehicle for examining attributions for success/failure, pride and anxiety of 111 college-aged athletes. It was shown that both individual-team sport athletes and team sport athletes differ little in their emotional reactions and attributions to outcome. Internal and external attributions were shown to be two separate factors. Experienced college-aged athletes exhibited both high internality and high externality for success and both low internality and low externality for failure. As expected, level of pride was found to be greater for success than failure. Greater anxiety occurred after failure than success, but postcompetition anxiety reactions were shown to be attribution independent emotions. Previous research on self-serving, self-enhancing and self-protecting biases was found to be inadequate in explaining the intricacies and diversity of attributional responses present in this field study. It is suggested that differences in findings across studies regarding attributional biases may be based on the methodologies and instruments used, limitations on the number of attributions available to subjects, differences between subject populations tested, the way in which researchers conceive of attributional findings and finally the way in which attributions are defined. The findings lend support to the cognition or "information processing" theoretical viewpoint.