In clinical and forensic evaluations, clinical neuropsychologists measure performance validity using standalone and embedded measures. Given the need to capture neuropsychological functioning through a variety of cognitive tests, newer, more sensitive measures should be evaluated for their utility in comparison to already established measures.…

This study created and validated the Early Language Leadership Attitude instrument in order to understand elementary principals' attitudes towards early start language programs in the state of Connecticut. The Early Language Leadership Attitude instrument assesses attitudes towards early start language programming with 8 items. The 5-point Likert…

This dissertation comprises three cross-disciplinary essays on information systems, marketing, and financial outcomes research for nonprofit service organizations. In our first essay, we explore service quality impacts on the constructs of positive and negative word of mouth, developing and validating a new measurement scale, testing it…

Assessing higher-level verbal repertoires of individuals with autism and related intellectual disabilities is crucial due to the language and cognitive deficits experienced by this population as well as is the need for valid assessment tools for data-driven and individualized treatment. In addition to, curricula or instructional protocols that…

Magnet schools have been a main tool or innovation in urban education settings in the United States, originating in the early 1970's and expanding into most large urban districts today (Blank, 1989). While some magnet schools do not rely on a specific criterion to determine entry, many do. This study focuses on such a setting where students must…

In educational measurement, Item Response Theory (IRT) provides a means of quantifying student knowledge. Specifically, IRT models the probability of a student answering a particular item correctly as a function of the student's continuous-valued latent abilities [theta] (e.g. add, subtract, multiply, divide) and parameters associated with the…

Intelligence tests are important tools in psychology and education; however, the stability of scores and use of intelligence tests has always been surrounded by some controversy. Since its conception in 1905, intelligence testing has become one of the most prominent tasks for school psychologists worldwide. Today's need for frequent use of…

Each year many students take college admissions exams (i.e., SAT® and ACT®), hoping to demonstrate their ability to perform at a collegiate level and gain admission to desired universities. However, a growing movement encourages colleges and universities to abandon this practice in their admissions protocol and instead consider alternative…

Given the paucity of research on factors associated with motivation in learning disabled college students, the present study investigated the motivation levels in college students with learning disabilities. The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) has been validated cross-nationally and across all educational age groups of students having various…

This study examines the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT V2.0) for use as a formative faculty development tool. The MSCEIT was designed to measure emotional intelligence abilities as defined by Mayer-Salovey's EI Ability model. Individuals can deliberately develop emotional intelligence skills; a formative assessment of EI…

Children's social emotional competence affects school achievement as well as later job success. Social emotional competence can be promoted when appropriate social emotional interventions are provided. To provide quality intervention, it is essential to use measures that include functional skills, promote team collaboration, and monitor changes in…

Interdisciplinary research clearly indicates the significance of emotional intelligence and emotional skills to student academic achievement and personal well-being (Epstein, 2001; Nelson & Low, 2003). The purpose of this study provides a focus on the effects of an EI skills program on the academic performance of first year Hispanic college…

Although much educational research has investigated the relative effectiveness of different educational interventions and policies, little is known about the absolute net benefits of K-12 schooling independent of growth due to chronological age and out-of-school experience. The nearly universal policy of age tracking in schools makes this a…

Emotional intelligence in relationships can be developed and enhanced through the use of an assessment instrument within a mentoring or counseling relationship. The Relationship Skills Map (RSM) has been created for this purpose. This study concerns the validation of the Relationship Skills Map. Participants in this study included members of a…

Comprehensive academic achievement tests are routinely used by school psychologists in psycho-educational assessment batteries to identify learning disabled students. A variety of assessment measures are used across age groups to determine if a discrepancy exists between academic achievement and intellectual functioning; however, among the most…