Browsing by Subject "Beliefs"
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Item Comparison of elementary education and music education majors’ efficacy beliefs in teaching music(Texas Tech University, 2008-08) Buckner, Jeremy J.; Killian, Janice; Wood, Bruce; Hughes, Thomas; Fehr, Dennis; Boye, AllisonThe purpose of this study was to compare elementary education and music education majors’ perceived efficacy beliefs in teaching music to determine what factor(s) contribute to these beliefs and to examine possible changes in self-efficacy after elementary education majors complete a course in music teaching methods. Participants (N=193) were elementary education majors (n=113) enrolled in a music methods course as part of their university certification program and music education majors (n=80) comprised of two groups. Data was collected through three surveys created for this study: the Music Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument, the Music Teacher Confidence Scale, and the Music Experience Survey. Results of this study indicated that music education majors’ expressed statistically significant higher degrees of confidence for making music (singing and playing an instrument) and teaching music; however, elementary education majors’ responses indicated higher confidence to integrate music with other curricular subjects. Further, elementary education majors’ responses indicated an increase in confidence to teach music after participation in a music methods course. Furthermore, results of the study indicated that personal music teaching efficacy and music teaching are two possible factors that contribute to elementary education and music education majors’ efficacy beliefs in teaching music.Item Examining hookah use among U.S. college students(2014-08) Chen, Yen Tzu; Loukas, Alexandra; Pasch, KerynHookah smoking has become a popular form of tobacco use among college students. However, there is limited research exploring the risk factors associated with hookah use among this population. This study examined two risk factors, harm perceptions and beliefs about government evaluation of hookah, associated with current use of hookah among 18-24 year old college students, and looked at differences between current hookah users and non-users on cigarette smoking status, various demographic characteristics, and the two risk factors (harm perceptions and beliefs). Participants were 5,028 university students aged 18-24 (M age = 20.5 years; 59.6% female) from seven public universities within a larger university system. Students completed an online survey, which assessed their knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to hookah use. In this sample, 10.8% of participants reported current or past 30-day hookah use. There were differences between current hookah users and non-users on cigarette smoking status, gender, race/ethnicity, harm perceptions, as well as beliefs about government evaluation of hookah. Cigarette smokers, males, non-Hispanic White students, students reporting lower harm perceptions regarding hookah use, and those who believed the government evaluates hookah for safety were significantly more likely than their peers to be current hookah users. Results from a logistic regression analysis indicated that after controlling for cigarette smoking status, gender, and race/ethnicity, harm perceptions of hookah use, but not beliefs about government safety evaluation of hookah, was associated with an increased likelihood of current hookah use. Cigarette smoking was the strongest correlate of current hookah use; current cigarette smokers were seven times more likely than non-smokers to have used hookah in the past 30 days. Findings point to the necessity of educating college students, particularly cigarette smokers, about the dangers of hookah use. Additionally, tobacco prevention and cessation programs should be implemented in order to reduce initiation and continued use, and it is important to educate college student smokers about the dangers of dual use of this product with cigarettes.Item Issues in Mexican American education: Addressing the academic needs of Mexican American students at the secondary level(2010-12) Alvarez, Ricky A; Benavides, Alfredo H.; Midobuche, EvaIn light of the growing number of ethnic minority adolescents in the United States, it has long been recognized that the level of educational attainment of Mexican-American students is below to that of other ethnic minority communities in the United States. From towering impoverishment rates, lower parental education, dilapidated neighborhoods and communities, to a clash of culture, marginalized education, and impersonal behaviors, Mexican-American students have endured an educational challenge that has become more difficult to win than imagined. Entailed by cultural identity, exceptionalities, language, gender, economic status, health, beliefs, values, and perceptions of education, this thesis will not only make possible recommendations for the plight among Mexican-American education, but will also investigate the socioeconomic, sociocultural, and the supplementary issues and factors that influence the academic advancement of Mexican-American students at the secondary level.Item Physical education teacher education (PETE) pre-service teachers' attitudes, values, and beliefs surrounding teaching physical education(2013-12) Wallace, Janice Lynne; Castelli, Darla M., 1967-; Harrison, Louis; Lambdin, Dolly; Keating, Xiaofen; Franquiz, MariaTeachers’ beliefs influence their perceptions and judgments about teaching and learning. Pre-service teachers (PSTs) often enter teacher preparation programs with preconceptions or beliefs that often affect their receptivity to teacher education. While there is widespread acceptance as to the importance of examining teacher belief structures, relatively few current studies have focused on the value orientations and self-efficacy beliefs of pre-service physical education teacher education (PETE) students. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine PSTs’ beliefs regarding teaching physical education on entry into to a PETE program and throughout various phases of the pedagogical sequence. Methods: The current study employed mixed-methodologies in an attempt to capture information from three different cohorts of PSTs at multiple time points within their PETE program. Data were collected during the semester using a demographic survey, the Value Orientation Inventory-2, the Physical Education Teaching Efficacy Scale (PETES), and semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed inductively by data source and deductively when comparing all data sources. Profiles were created for each class cohort in an attempt to identify the value orientations, level of self-efficacy, change in value orientations and attitudes over a semester, and the change in self-efficacy over a semester. Results: Descriptive analysis of the VOI-2 survey showed cohort one and two were unsure of their value orientations while cohort three PSTs who were enrolled in the student teaching practicum exhibited a high priority for the Discipline Mastery value orientation. Repeated measures ANOVA of the PETES scale revealed significant differences over time for all cohorts but not between cohorts. Qualitative results revealed all three cohorts exhibited defined attitudes and perceptions of physical education and gained efficacy in teaching over the course of the semester. Discussion: This case study of PETE within a single program suggested that there are specific attractors and repellers for those who elect to major in physical education and these ideas affect their beliefs. Accordingly, targeted recruitment strategies should be employed to entice the most qualified individuals into this profession. Findings suggested that PSTs perceived secondary physical education as non-academic and therefore teacher educators need to question their effectiveness of altering PSTs’ apprenticeship of observation and associated subjective warrants, despite evidence of some evolution. Teacher educators also need to address the tensions between focusing on sport-oriented content or health-oriented content, as the teacher and coaching role conflict continues to plague future teachers.Item Relationship between Teachers? Beliefs and Student Achievement in Middle School Mathematics(2014-12-08) Balzer, Jill FranceneThe purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between teachers? beliefs and student achievement in middle school mathematics. A total of 35 teachers chose to participate from nine separate middle schools in an urban school district in Texas. Additionally, 1,095 data from students from economically disadvantaged households were analyzed in conjunction with their teacher?s data. The independent variables were two surveys that measured teachers? beliefs about intelligence and classroom goal orientation. The dependent variables were students? scores and yearly progress made on the state math exam (STAAR). Data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlations for both dependent variables. Results of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between a teacher?s beliefs and their student?s yearly progress in math. However, no significant relationship was found between a teacher?s beliefs and their students scale scores on the STAAR math exam. Further results revealed that there was a statistically significant negative relationship between a teacher?s classroom goal orientation and student scale scores and progress made in math in one year. These findings show that the beliefs that teachers hold about intelligence and approaches to instruction may be related to student achievement levels in middle school math. The study concludes with implications and limitations of the study and makes recommendations for future research on teacher beliefs and student achievement.Item The impact of religious beliefs on the labor force participation of black wives(2011-08) Milkowski, Stephen; Vargas, Andres; Von Ende, TerryWhile the effects of religious beliefs on the labor supply of many ethnic groups have been studied, black wives in the United States have not, because of a lack of suitable data. Many black wives are very religious and church centered, but has been found to supply more labor than other female ethnic groups within the United States. The religious tradition of black wives in the United States differs from that of other ethnic groups due to the fact that the "Black Church" which shaped the religious views of black wives, originated in slavery, an institution that oppressed black Americans. The tradition of the "Black Church" includes a mixture of African traditions and traditional Christian teaching, creating something different and unique in America. I have measured the effect of religiosity on the labor supply of black wives with a logistic regression and the National Survey of Black Americans. The results are somewhat mixed and show that while religiosity is negatively correlated with labor supply, church membership, children?s attendance, and participating in church activities is positively correlated with labor supply due to the social functions of the "Black Church".Item Wildlife rehabilitation centers: Survey of rehabilitators’ attitudes, motivations, and knowledge & study of animal admittance to the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center(2012-08) Mcgaughey, Kathleen; Perry, Gad; Wallace, Mark C.; Farmer, MichaelWildlife rehabilitation centers and wildlife rehabilitators rehabilitate and release injured, sick, displaced, and orphaned wildlife. To study the wildlife aspect of wildlife rehabilitation, mammal and herpetofauna admittance records for the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (SPWRC) from the years of 1991-2010 were recorded and examined. These admittance data can be used to better manage similar human-wildlife interactions, offer solutions to common rehabilitation problems, and assist in successful release and survival of rehabilitated wildlife. To study the human aspect of wildlife rehabilitation, a survey was conducted of wildlife rehabilitators in Texas in order to study rehabilitators’ characteristics, knowledge and beliefs of some basic wildlife and rehabilitation issues, attitudes towards animals, reasons for rehabilitating, as well as how these things impact their desire and ability to properly educate the public about wildlife, specifically in urban areas.