Browsing by Subject "efficacy"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    An Examination of the Role of Leaders in Special Education Teachers' Implementation of High-Leverage Instructional Practices
    (2020-06) Schaller, Melissa
    This study investigated leaders’ influence and impact on the efficacy of special education teachers’ implementation of high-leverage instructional practices. The study considered the preparation of leaders and teachers to implement the practices, and the beliefs or self-efficacy of both leaders and teachers that implementing high-leverage instructional practices can have a positive association on student growth. The study is not a study of the fidelity of implementation of high-leverage instructional practices, nor of student outcomes when those practices are used. Rather, it is a study of levels of preparedness or knowledge, the beliefs that using those strategies have a positive association on learning, and the degree of confidence or self-efficacy that teachers have to improve their instructional skills by using them. This study collected survey data from leaders and teachers, and interview data from leaders which allowed them to elaborate on their survey responses. Findings from the study reveal, that when high-leverage instructional practices for which preparation has been provided, leaders and teachers are more likely to believe those practices are important and that they can be implemented. The study also found that teachers perceived a greater degree of implementation of high-leverage instructional practices than did leaders. It appears that while leaders intend to use classroom observation to monitor implementation, they are not observing often enough to judge the frequency of implementation and rely, instead, on written documentation, such as lesson plans submitted by the teachers. The findings suggest that leaders may need to develop a structured observation protocol to ensure they are sufficiently monitoring implementation.
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    Managing Halyomorpha halys: Effects of cold tolerance, insecticides, and linguistic uncertainty
    (2017-06) Cira, Theresa
    Managing pests effectively and efficiently requires knowledge about their biology. Likewise, clear communication about scientific research pertaining to management is needed for managers to make well-informed decisions. My research pertains to the biology of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys and communication between scientists about insecticidal categorization. Halyomorpha halys is an exotic invasive species in North America. Many horticultural and agricultural plants in North America are at risk for economic damage due to the highly polyphagous nature of this species. Additionally, H. halys has become a serious nuisance pest in human-made structures in some areas when, in preparation for winter, they aggregate in sheltered structures. Therefore, factors such as cold and insecticides, which affect H. halys distribution and ability to cause crop injury are of particular interest to develop management plans. I first conducted several studies of cold tolerance on H. halys in North America. I found that H. halys exhibits a chill-intolerant cold tolerance strategy, that season, sex, and acclimation location affect cold tolerance (i.e., supercooling points), and that laboratory assays of lethal temperature were able to accurately forecast winter mortality in the field. Second, I studied H. halys diapause in more depth. I present a protocol for rearing diapausing H. halys in the laboratory that exhibit similar cold tolerance (i.e., supercooling points and lower lethal temperatures) as individuals with field-induced diapause. I found that H. halys diapause confers greater cold tolerance than a non-diapausing state, and appears to be necessary to survive overwintering. Additionally, I showed diapausing H. halys actively feed for at least three weeks post-diapause induction, but feeding is mediated by temperature and adult age. Third, I investigated and critiqued the current paradigm for determining insecticidal efficacy on H. halys. I highlighted important sublethal effects of insecticides on feeding that can significantly reduce crop injury without the necessity of high direct mortality to H. halys. Lastly, using an interdisciplinary lens I examined linguistic uncertainty as it pertains to categories and descriptors of insecticides. I demonstrated the presence and consequences of linguistically uncertain terms associated with insecticides and encouraged entomologists to more adequately acknowledge and address these uncertainties in future research.
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    There is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications in acute cough.
    (2010-07-21) Miller, Ben
    Over-the-counter cough suppressants and expectorants are frequently recommended by physicians to treat acute cough and have been widely used by symptomatic patients for decades. However, there continues to be little data to support their efficacy, and more studies are needed to evaluate their effectiveness.