differences of mean scores on the preliminary scholastic aptitude test (psat)

152 Pages·2017·1.04 MB·English

DIFFERENCES OF MEAN SCORES ON THE PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE
TEST (PSAT) FOR CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS COMPARED TO
NON-CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

by
Christy Anne Vaughan
Liberty University

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education

Liberty University
2018
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DIFFERENCES OF MEAN SCORES ON THE PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE
TEST (PSAT) FOR CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS COMPARED TO
NON-CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
by Christy Anne Vaughan

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2018

APPROVED BY:
Leldon Nichols, Ed.D., Committee Chair
Roger Stiles, Ed.D., Committee Member
Eve Proffitt, Ed.D., Committee Member
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ABSTRACT
Christian education continues to play an important role in our society. The purpose of the present
quantitative study is to compare mean scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test
(PSAT) compared between Classical Christian schools and non-Classical Christian schools to
see if there are any significant differences in selected areas of academic performance. Classical
Christian schools are defined as private schools employing a distinct Christ-centered pedagogy
with an emphasis on the Greco-Roman Trivium. Non-Classical Christian schools are defined as
private schools with a Christ-centered pedagogy with no emphasis on the Greco-Roman Trivium.
A causal-comparative study was conducted to measure archival data that was randomly selected
from all schools answering a headmaster survey. The sample consisted of 4,486 mean scores
from the 2003-2004 through 2012-2013 school years: 3,768 mean scores from non-Classical
Christian Schools and 718 from Classical Christian schools each in reading and math and 3,768
mean scores from non-Classical Christian Schools and 701 from Classical Christian schools in
writing. Data was collected using a headmaster survey. Welch’s t-tests for unequal variances
compared school score means with an alpha set at .05 and then at .017 for Bonferroni correction
and returned statistically significant results for all three academic areas at both alpha levels.
Effect size measured by Cohen’s d and eta squared indicated Classical Christian methodology
should have a large, positive effect on PSAT scores. Future research, including field work for
demographics as well as associated correlational studies, is recommended.
Keywords: Christian education, Christian worldview, Classical Christian education,
private education, Essentialism, Greco-Roman Trivium.
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Acknowledgements
The researcher would like to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, the help of family,
church family, Liberty University faculty, my dissertation committee -- especially Chair Dr.
Leldon “Buddy” Nichols. Also, a special acknowledgement to John Morgan, mathematician and
consultant, without whom this study might not have seen completion. Thank you.
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Table of Contents
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 4
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 5
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. 9
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... 10
List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 12
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 12
Background ....................................................................................................................... 12
Problem Statement ............................................................................................................ 19
Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................. 20
Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 21
Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 23
Definitions......................................................................................................................... 23
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 26
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 26
Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 27
Related Literature.............................................................................................................. 33
Comparing Pedagogies ......................................................................................... 34
Social/Cognitive Development ............................................................................. 37
Mastery of Basic Knowledge ................................................................................ 43
Moral Development .............................................................................................. 77
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Parental Involvement ............................................................................................ 87
Integrated Curriculum ............................................................................................ 97
Latin Instruction ................................................................................................... 102
Summary ......................................................................................................................... 106
CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ............................................................................................... 108
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 108
Design ............................................................................................................................. 108
Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 109
Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................... 109
Participants and Setting................................................................................................... 110
Instrumentation ............................................................................................................... 111
Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 113
Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 114
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS .................................................................................................. 117
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 117
Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 117
Null Hypotheses .............................................................................................................. 117
Descriptive Statistics ....................................................................................................... 118
Results ............................................................................................................................. 120
Assumption Tests ................................................................................................ 120
Hypotheses .......................................................................................................... 122
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 125
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 125
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Discussion ....................................................................................................................... 125
Implications..................................................................................................................... 127
Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 128
Recommendations for Future Research .......................................................................... 129
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 130
APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................. 149
APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................. 150
APPENDIX C ............................................................................................................................. 151
APPENDIX D ............................................................................................................................. 152
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List of Tables
Table 1: Descriptive Statistics of PSAT Classical Christian School Means………………….118
Table 2: Levene’s Test Results………………………………………………………………..120
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Non-Classical Christian Boxplot ………………...…………………………………..119
Figure 2: Classical Christian Boxplot …………………………………………………………..119

Figure 3: Non-Classical Christian Histogram ……………...…………………………………..120
Figure 4: Classical Christian Histogram ………………...……………………………………...121