The effects of computer assisted instruction and structured curriculum on struggling mathematics students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different instructional types used in a mathematics intervention setting. In recent years, school staff have implemented mathematics intervention programs to aid struggling students and improve student achievement. Advancements in technology have enticed many school staff to purchase computer-based instructional products that are used for mathematics intervention. Often computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is the only mathematics intervention students receive, however staff in the school of this study used a structured curriculum (SC) along with CAI Therefore, this study examined the effects of CAI compared to a SC delivered by a teacher. This study used a three-group pre/post-test design, which examined the effects of CAI, SC, and CAI with SC on mathematics achievement and students\u27 attitudes towards mathematics. The follow research questions guided data analyses: 1) Is there a significant instructional type effect on mathematics achievement? 2) Is there a significant instructional type effect on mathematics attitude? 3) What is the factor structure of mathematics attitude scores of struggling learners? Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no statistically significant instructional type effects on mathematics achievement or attitude towards mathematics. However, factor analyses of pre-survey attitude scores revealed a factor structure different from the one found in current research. Meanwhile, factor analyses of post attitude survey scores resulted in a factor structure resembling that found in current literature, which suggested a shift in struggling students\u27 mathematics attitude structures after they participated in mathematics intervention. The results of this study provided information about how school leaders and administrators can design and implement mathematics intervention programs as well as the role of CAI in intervention programs. Additionally, lapses in fidelity of program implementation may have influenced results of the study and provide recommendations for teacher professional development and monitoring in order to maintain high levels of fidelity when implementing an intervention program. Finally, the results of this study suggested that struggling learners\u27 attitude structure might be different than that of students in the larger population. The researcher discussed implications these differences may have on the design of mathematics intervention programs

Differential Response Policy and Child Maltreatment Re-report

Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue. The decisions made by Child Protective Services (CPS) in response to reports of maltreatment may influence a child\u27s risk of subsequent maltreatment. Studies have found a direct relationship between adverse childhood events (ACEs), (e.g., experiencing maltreatment, exposure to violence) and negative health outcomes across the lifespan (e.g., disease, developmental delays, suicidality, injury and death). Traditional CPS investigations focus on determining details of abuse events, and use that information to assess child safety and risk of future harm. The introduction of differential response policy provides supportive and preventive services to mitigate the risk of maltreatment without a full investigation. It is unclear how the introduction of this policy alters child risk for consequent maltreatment. This dissertation examines and compares the risk of child maltreatment re-report, a measure of the effectiveness of CPS efforts, in children who received either a traditional investigation or a differential response. Using constructs of Family Systems Theory, we conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate these associations. Results suggest that children receiving differential response experience equal or lesser risk of re-report than do children receiving investigation. However, our results also revealed discrepancies in data quality that introduced bias in our results. Improvements in data collection and CPS implementation are needed to accurately describe the relationship between policy and maltreatment re-report

A Middle-Class Mother\u27s Journey on Navigating the Educational System: The Impact of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and Class in Schools

This is a qualitative autoethnographic study of a Black mother in the Midwest region as she navigates the educational system for her children. This is a research document that informs the reader of the impact of racism and the intersectional identity of race, gender, and motherhood. The importance of intersectionality is highlighted in this research, and so it is that the mother is middle-class to articulate that poverty, access to resources, or the educational attainment of the mother are not necessarily mitigating factors for the treatment she receives within the educational setting. Moreover, is serves as a guide for other Black mothers and teachers who care about Black families to call for a change (e.g., shift, deconstruction, and reconstruction) in the educational system at large

Structured mayhem: personal experiences of the Crown Court

Synopsis: A CJA briefing on the sometimes harrowing experiences of victims, witnesses and defendants in a wide-ranging series of Crown Court cases. Structured Mayhem is a digest of a remarkable piece of research carried by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research. Featuring extensive interviews with court users it furnishes a stark reminder that, for all the progress made in recent years, our courts all too often still cause huge frustration and distress to victims and witnesses, and also defendants

Joint enterprise: righting a wrong turn?

This report presents the findings of an exploratory study of joint enterprise, undertaken by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, in partnership with the Prison Reform Trust, and within funding from the Nuffield Foundation. Joint enterprise is a doctrine of the criminal law which permits multiple defendants to be convicted of the same criminal offence even where they had different types or levels of involvement. It has been the source of great controversy in recent years. The study looks at the application of the doctrine of joint enterprise in the prosecution of serious cases, and considers the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling on joint enterprise, which determined that the law had taken ‘a wrong turn’ and required ‘correction’. The report argues that there is an urgent need for greater clarity and transparency in the way in which cases involving multiple defendants are prosecuted and sentenced in the future

Out of the shadows: victims' and witnesses' experiences of attending the Crown Court

This report presents the findings of research examining the experiences of 44 victims and witnesses who attended the Crown Court. These were victims and prosecution witnesses in cases covering a range of crimes, including violent and sexual offences. All interviewees were asked to describe the experience of attending court, and for their views on the fairness or otherwise of the court process and outcomes. The study findings should help inform improvements to both policy and practice aimed at supporting victims and witnesses through the court process

Effective participation or passive acceptance: How can defendants participate more effectively in the court process?

This paper presents the findings of a 20 month Economic and Social Research Council funded study into the public’s experiences of the Crown Court. The aim of the study was to examine victims ’ , witnesses ’ and defendants ’ (court users ’ ) levels of understanding and perceptions of the treatment they received at the Crown Court , and to assess the extent to which they regard court processes and outcomes as fair and legitimate. The study also explored the nature of the interplay between the different players – including legal professionals and court users – in the courtroom. There were three strands to the research: interviews with criminal justice professionals and practitioners, interviews with court users and obs ervations. A key finding that emerged through the research was the apparent limit of defendants’ ‘effective participation’ at court. This issue is the focus of the paper

Judicial perceptions of the quality of criminal advocacy: report of research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board

Report presents findings of 50 qualitative interviews with Circuit and High Court Judges in England and Wales about their perceptions of the quality of criminal advocacy in the Crown Court. The study aimed to understand the views of the judiciary on the quality of criminal advocacy; establish how good/competent advocacy was defined; and address perceptions and any issues of regulatory concern that may require further investigation. Findings highlighted some consensus about qualities required of good advocacy - excellent communication, persuasiveness, succinctness, and courtesy, alongside good legal knowledge. A range of concerns were also highlighted, including inexperienced advocates, poor case preparation and unfocussed questioning of witnesses. Further, interviewees identified a number of systemic barriers to good advocacy such as declining levels of remuneration in criminal advocacy, and associated low levels of morale within the profession