UNT Theses and Dissertations - 43 Matching Results

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The Extent of Autism Knowledge of Novice Alternatively Certified Special Education Teachers in Texas

Description: An increase in the prevalence rate of autism is not necessarily matched by a concurrent increase in the rate of highly qualified special education teachers. The low ratio of highly qualified teachers to the number of students with autism has resulted in chronic teacher shortages in this area. Alternative certification is used as a mechanism to alleviate the demand for highly qualified teachers in special education. However, alternative certification routes have often left novice teachers und… more
Date: December 2013
Creator: Alward, Jennifer A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

The Use of Evidence-based Practices in the Provision of Social Skills Training for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a National Survey of School Psychologists' Training, Attitudes, and Practices

Description: The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine school psychologists' use of evidence- based practices (EBP), in general, and more specifically in the area of social skills training (SST) for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Study participants, consisting of 498 school psychologists from across the nation, participated in an online survey that gathered information about their training, attitudes, and practices. The frequency with which specific EBP practices for social skill… more
Date: August 2011
Creator: Austin, Jennifer E.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying in Korean Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities: Examination of Contributing Factors

Description: Children and Adolescents with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) are often involved in aggression, acting out, bullying, violence, substance abuse, and juvenile crime. However, the limited Korean studies have focused primarily on bullying of students with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore contributing factors to traditional bullying and cyberbullying in Korean children and adolescents with EBD. The current study surve… more
Date: August 2015
Creator: Baek, Ji Eun
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Exploring General Education Pre-service Teachers’ Levels of Concern Regarding the Implementation of Response to Intervention

Description: Schools are increasingly challenged to respond to educational initiatives, implement accountability measures, and incorporate standards-driven curriculum changes introduced by laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. IDEIA signified a shift in the field of education and intensified practitioners’ concerns about the identification and instruction of students with learning disabilities (LD). The revisions to IDEIA proposed alternative models for … more
Date: August 2013
Creator: Barrio Renteria, Brenda Leticia
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Applied Use of Video Modeling in Educational and Clinical Settings: A Survey of Autism Professionals

Description: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display deficits in communication and social interaction that can impact their ability to function in daily environments. To remediate these deficits, it is critical for professionals to use effective interventions. While there are many evidence-based practices (EBPs) identified for ASD (e.g., video modeling), the adoption of these EBPs may not occur automatically. Existing research suggests professionals have a generally favorable impression o… more
Date: May 2017
Creator: Caldwell, Nicole K.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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A Study of Novice Special Education Teachers’ Preparation to Teach Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Description: The purpose of this study is to identify novice teachers’ perception of their preparedness to teach a class designed for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after graduation from a traditional university-based special education program or from a special education alternative certification program. Teacher preparedness and the need for highly qualified teachers of students with ASD are relevant topics, as the prevalence rate of ASD continues to increase. This phenomenological qualitat… more
Date: May 2014
Creator: Callaway, Stacey E.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Teacher Educators: What Motivates Them to Choose Academe?

Description: Currently, there is a shortage of professors preparing personnel to teach in high need areas (e.g., special education, English language learners) at institutions of higher education (IHE). The purpose of the present study was to examine the motivations or influencers that impelled individuals to pursue careers in IHEs as professors in personnel preparation. Data were collected using Motivations for Choosing Academia as a Profession (MCAP) and a 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Two hundr… more
Date: August 2012
Creator: Carrero, Kelly M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Culturally Competent Evaluations

Description: Significant growth in the number of English language learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools is anticipated to continue, demanding that educators and evaluators have the skills necessary to distinguishing language difference from disability and provide appropriate services to these students. However, little research exists examining the role of evaluator's cultural competence in evaluating ELLs for special education; furthermore, what does exist shows that many evaluators report low levels of self-eff… more
Date: May 2017
Creator: Chen, Cristina Rodríguez
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Examination of Contributing Factors for Successful Postsecondary Transitions to Institutions of Higher Education for Youth with High-incidence Disabilities

Description: Transitions are a natural part of life. Youth grow and develop physically, socially, psychologically, and intellectually during primary and secondary school years. The transition from secondary to postsecondary education is an important transition as youth not only move from high school to college, but also from adolescence to young adulthood. It is a time when young adults naturally desire to become more independent in pursuit of their personal dreams and aspirations. The purpose of this study… more
Date: August 2013
Creator: Collins, Emerald R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Special Education Teachers Self-Reported Use of Evidence-Based Practices for Students with Autism in Texas Public Schools

Description: Currently there is extensive literature on evidence-based practices (EBP) for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is limited research on whether or not these practices are implemented in the classroom by teachers serving students with ASD. Special education teachers are responsible for the learning outcomes of students across a range of ages and disabilities. This study investigated teachers' self-reported use of EBP and what factors influence implementation. Partic… more
Date: December 2016
Creator: Cowan, Angela K.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Comparing the Effects of Home Versus Clinic-Based Parent Training for Children with Autism

Description: Research with parents on managing child problem behavior typically measures either child or parent behavior. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of training parents to implement a function-based behavior intervention plan (BIP) in a non-trained natural environment utilizing a Multiple Probe Design across Participants. Participants included four parent-child dyads. Measurement variables included parents' use of effective and ineffective strategies and child problem behavior. In… more
Date: May 2010
Creator: Crone, Regina M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Service Provisions for Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Description: Youth with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) have poorer outcomes compared to their peers with and without disabilities. As a result, the federal government has mandated transition services to improve supports and ultimately student outcomes. Using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS-2), this secondary analysis looked at services provided to youth with EBD (n = 410). The purpose of the study was to show a relationship between utilization of multiple services and t… more
Date: August 2012
Creator: Dean, Latoya Lavan
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Computer Assisted Instruction to Improve Theory of Mind in Children with Autism

Description: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show significant deficits in communication, emotion recognition, perspective taking, and social skills. One intervention gaining increased attention is the use of computer assisted instruction (CAI) to teach social, emotional and perspective-taking skills to individuals with ASD with the purpose of improving theory of mind skills. This study evaluated the effectiveness of CAI for improving theory of mind skills in four children with high functionin… more
Date: December 2014
Creator: Eason, Lindsey R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Measurement of Fidelity and Social Validity: Caregiver Application of Trial-Based Functional Analysis Procedures

Description: The present study utilized multiple-baseline and multi-probe across participants designs to measure both fidelity and efficacy of caregivers as primary interventionists when using trial-based functional analysis (TBFA) procedures. Participants included any caregiver of a child with a medical or educational diagnosis of autism and challenging behavior. Caregiver fidelity of implementation of TBFA procedures was measured across three phases: baseline, training, and independent implementation or g… more
Date: August 2018
Creator: Feldman, Sara P.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries

Complex-Restricted Repetitive Patterns of Vocal Behavior of Individuals with High Functioning Autism: An Innovative Intervention

Description: Repetitive verbal patterns of speech are a trait associated with high-functioning autism (HFA). For some, this higher-order restricted, repetitive behavior impedes learning, social opportunities, and access to work environments. Despite emerging motivation for establishing social relationships, some individuals with HFA lack the behavioral prerequisites to establish meaningful relationships. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of teaching interaction to decrease hig… more
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Date: May 2019
Creator: Flatt, Kimberlee Kay
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Effects of a Prototypical Training Program on the Implementation of Systematic Observational Data Collection on Iep Objectives for the Core Deficits of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Description: Legal mandates and best practice recommendations for the education of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) emphasize the importance of systematic, ongoing observational data collection in order to monitor progress and demonstrate accountability. The absence of such documentation in decision-making on instructional objectives indicates a weakness in bridging the research-to-practice gap in special education. Utilizing a multiple baseline design across participants, the current study e… more
Date: May 2013
Creator: Harkins, Jessica L.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Programming for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: The Importance, Usage and Preparedness for Implementation of Evidence-Based Interventions Based on Practitioner Perceptions

Description: Implementation of evidence-based practices in Texas schools was examined through a survey disseminated through 495 special education directors in 20 state educational service centers. The district-level directors were asked to forward the survey to all personnel providing direct or indirect services to students with EBD. Survey participants were asked to rate 27 evidence-based interventions for students with EBD in three categories on a 5-point Likert scale: (a) importance of the interventio… more
Date: August 2010
Creator: Hathcote, Andrea Raye Dubre
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Alternative Certification: A Comparison of Factors Affecting the Motivations of General and Special Educators

Description: This study was developed to examine the motivations of individuals who chose alternative routes to teacher certification and what they believe were the strengths and weaknesses of their alternative certification preparation (ACP). Data accrued from this study were based on a 55-item online survey and participant information from an online focus group. The study compared the differences between general and special educators in regards to the motivating factors affecting the decision to become a… more
Date: August 2010
Creator: Hogan, Kathleen Ann
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Knowledge and Training in Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Special Education Administrators.

Description: A significant rise in the number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) served in today's schools requires special education administrators to possess knowledge in this area. The purpose of this study was to determine the general knowledge of special education administrators concerning ASD and knowledge of educational programming, to explore their educational training and professional development experiences in ASD, to identify the training needs of special education administrators in… more
Date: December 2010
Creator: Hughes, Heather L.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

The Effects of Participant Motivation on the Effectiveness of Video Modeling

Description: Video modeling interventions have been mostly effective for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in teaching social communication skills. However, differences in the effectiveness of these interventions have been noted. Participant motivation was suggested as one of the factors that can influence the effectiveness of video modeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participant motivation on video modeling for teaching social communication skills to individu… more
Date: August 2019
Creator: Hur, Sang
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Saudi Mothers' Perspectives on the Influence of Acculturation on their Childrearing Beliefs and Behaviors of their Children

Description: There are a considerable number of Saudi Arabian students who attend U.S. schools. To date, no published studies exist that relate to the Saudi Arabian students, their families, and how they acculturate to the American society. Acculturation affects parents and children in different ways, and it can affect the way parents raise their children. Using semi–structured interviews, this study examined Saudi mothers' perspectives on acculturation to American society and how those perspectives affect … more
Date: August 2017
Creator: Kherais, Walaa
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

The Effects of Graphic Organizers on Building Comprehension in Students on the Autism Spectrum

Description: Many students on the autism spectrum display a strong ability to process and comprehend information at elevated levels when presented with it visually. Despite this, students who have autism are increasingly being educated in general education content classrooms that utilize lessons directed to whole groups of students and limit the use of visually presented material. For some students with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this presentation introduces difficulties related to attention as well… more
Date: December 2018
Creator: Kliemann, Karen Karin Ruth
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Teacher Perceptions of Inclusionary Practices for Students with Emotional/behavioral Disorders

Description: The present study examined variables affecting teachers’ perceptions of inclusionary practices for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) in three areas: inclusion of students with E/BD, behaviors of students with E/BD, and teacher efficacy. Teachers listed in the database of one Education Service Center located in north central Texas which represented 66 school districts, completed the online Survey on Teacher Perceptions of Inclusionary Practices for Students with Emotional/B… more
Date: August 2012
Creator: Lee, Yu-Wen Grace
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Personnel Preparation in Special Education: An Exploration of Autism Spectrum Disorders Programmatic Changes in Institutions of Higher Education Teacher Training Programs

Description: Programmatic change related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) training in special education teacher education programs across the U.S. and institutional variables that influenced change were examined. Variables included institutions’ current coverage of autism content in coursework and institution enrollment. One faculty member from each identified institution was invited to participate in the study. Data were collected from 136 special education faculty using an exploratory survey instrumen… more
Date: August 2011
Creator: Lett-Stallworth, Tawana
Item Type: Refine your search to only Thesis or Dissertation
Partner: UNT Libraries
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