Pilot testing a causal model that includes clusters of parent, child, teacher, and classroon variables, to explore the mechanisms underlying class size effects.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 298
Subjects: Class size -- Ontario.; Kindergarten -- Ontario.; Academic achievement -- Ontario.; Kindergarten teachers -- Ontario -- Attitudes.; Parents -- Ontario -- Attitudes.; Children -- Ontario -- Attitudes.
Description: The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of class size at the kindergarten level. The study began with the development of a systems-based, causal model that included clusters of parent, child, teacher, and classroom variables derived from the literature. Multiple Regressions were then used to test the 'fit' between the data collected for the study and the causal model. Data were provided by 9 kindergarten teachers from 16 classrooms in southern Ontario, 117 of their students (53.8% females), and their parents. Instruments used to collect data included teacher and parent questionnaires, the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (Harms, Clifford, & Cryer, 1998), Form L & M of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (Dunn & Dunn, 1981), and the transcribed responses to the statement, "tell me about kindergarten from the time you arrive at school till the time you leave" (Pelletier, 1999). The results showed that there was a better fit between the data and the paths in the causal model flowing from the clusters of teacher and classroom variables as compared to the parent and child variables. Results also illustrated the pervasive nature of class size effects. Not only did class size explain some variance in a number of variables contained within the causal model as predicted, class size subsequently interacted with those same variables to modify other variables. This trajectory of interactions suggests that class size effects are cumulative. Moreover, class size effects were found to be modified by other variables in the model. Given the small sample size, findings from the study should be regarded as a preliminary test of the proposed model.
Notes: Adviser: Carl Corter.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-10, Section: A, page: 3686.