Team Member: Dr. Jacqueline Specht

Director
Faculty of Education
Phone: (519) 661-2111 ext. 88876
Email: jspecht@uwo.ca

Dr. Jacqueline Specht graduated with a Ph.D. in educational psychology in 1994. She is a tenured associate professor at the Faculty of Education and an adjunct professor with the Psychology Department at UWO. She teaches courses in educational psychology and special education at the graduate and undergraduate level. She is an investigator with the Research Alliance for Children With Special Needs (www.racsn.ca) and the Canadian and Language Literacy Research Network (www.cllrnet.ca). She has background in both quantitative and qualitative methodology and analyses.

Research Interests

Jacqueline's research in the paediatric rehabilitation field has included investigations into resilience, social skills, and self-esteem. Research in the area of literacy has spanned reading and writing strategies and, more recently, computer literacy in early childhood. The focus of her research is the pedagogical issues surrounding the participation of children in the school system.

Current Projects

Current research projects include:

Evidence of Effective High School Inclusion: Research, Resources and Inspiration. Project's Executive Summary.
School-role participation: Perspectives of the child, the parents and the teachers. Complete Project Description.
Teachers' use of computers in the classroom.
The use of assistive technology in the writing process of children with learning disabilities.

Selected Publications

DeWit, D.J., Chandler-Coutts, M., Offord, D.R., King, G., McDougall, J., Specht, J., & Stewart, S. (2005). Gender differences in the effects of family adversity on the risk of onset of DSM-III-R Social Phobia. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 19, 479-502.

King, G., Willoughby, C. Specht, J. & Brown, E. (2006). Social support processes and the adaptation of individuals with chronic disabilities. Qualitative Health Research,16(7), 902-925.

King, G., Currie, M., Rosenbaum, P., Law, M., Kertoy, M., & Specht, J. (2005). A model of impacts or research partnerships in health and social services. Evaluation and Program Planning, 28, 400-412.

Mueller, J., Wood, E., Willoughby, T., Ross, C., & Specht, J. (2008). Identifying discriminating variables between teachers who fully integrate computers and teachers with limited integration. Computers and Education, 51, 1523-1537.

Specht, J., Howell, G., & Young, G. (2007). Students with special education needs and their use of assistive technology during transition to secondary school. Childhood Education , 83(6), 385-389.

Specht, J.A. (2005). Leisure as a coping mechanism. In A.V. Lee (Ed.), Psychology of coping (pp. 187-199). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers Inc.

Specht, J.A., King, G., Willoughby, C., Brown, E. & Smith, L. (2005) Spirituality: A coping mechanism in the lives of adults with congenital disabilities. Counseling and Values, 50, 51-62.

Wood, E., Specht, J.A., Willoughby, T., & Mueller, J. (2008). Integrating computer technology in early childhood education environments: Issues raised by Early Childhood Educators. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 54,210-226.

Wood, E., Mueller, J., Willoughby, T., Specht, J., & DeYoung, T. (2005). Educators' perceptions: Barriers and supports to using technology in the classroom. Education, Communication, and Information, 5, 183-206.

Dr. Jacqueline Specht's abstracts of selected articles published before 2005

Papers Presented at Scholarly Gatherings (*refereed)

*Howell, G., Specht, J., McIssac, S., & Young, G (2006, May). Effects of school transitions on adolescents with learning disabilities: Barriers and facilitators for students using assistive technology accommodations. Presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE), Toronto, ON.

*Rumbold, R., Specht, J., & Klein, P. (2007, April). Writing workshop for students with ADHD. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Specht, J., & Dolmage, M. (2008, November). Evidence-based practice: Research and resources that inform effective inclusive education in secondary schools. Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children (OCEC) provincial conference, London, ON.

Specht, J., Spencer, T., Servais, M., Kertoy, M. Young, G., Pompeo, M., Cressman, C., & Puskarich, M. (2008, November). School participation: How educators can help. Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children (OCEC) provincial conference, London, ON.

Specht, J., Servais, M., Kertoy, M., Spencer, T., King, G.A., Cressman, C., Pompeo, M. & Young, G. (2008, August). School participation: Opportunities, enhancers, and limiters. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Boston, MA.

Specht, J. (2007, November). Special needs and lifelong education. Presented at the Assisting Parents of Special Needs Students Conference, London, ON.

Specht, J. & Spencer, T. (2007, November). School role participation study and strategies for inclusive education: Information Night. Presentation to the London District Catholic School Board, London, ON.

Specht, J., & Rodger. (2007, October). Transitioning youth with disabilities. Presented at the Ministry of Community and Social Services Forum on Community Inclusion. Toronto, ON.

Specht, J., & Rodger, S. (2007, September). Effective strategies to improve memory and concentration. Workshop for Across Languages Professional Development Day. London, ON.

*Williams. A., Specht, J., & Edmunds, A. (2006, May). Attitudes towards the inclusion of exceptional students: A comparison between preservice teachers and preservice educational assistants. Presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE), Toronto, ON.

*Williams, A., Specht, J., & Edmunds, A. (2006, April) Preservice teachers' attitudes towards inclusion. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, CA.

Young, G., Specht, J., & Nowicki, E. (2008, June). Can the use of assistive technology impact on students with learning disabilities' perceptions of academic achievement and self-esteem? Presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE), Vancouver, BC.

Young, G., Specht, J., & Nowicki, E.A. (2008, May). Can the use of assistive technology impact on students with learning disabilities' perceptions of academic achievement and self-esteem? Presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE), Vancouver, BC.

Young, G., Specht, J., & Nowicki, E. (2008, March). The effect of assistive technology on students with learning disabilities' perceptions of academic achievement and self-esteem. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). New York, NY.

Young, G., & Specht, J. (2007, April). Effect of assistive technology on perceptions' of achievement and self-esteem. Poster presented at the Faculty of Education Research Day, University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

*Young, G., Specht, J., & Nowicki, E. (2007, November). Assistive Technology: One school's success story. Presentation to the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario conference, Mississauga, ON.

*Young, G. D., Specht, J., & Nowicki, E. (2007, March). The Effect of Assistive Technology on Perceptions of Academic Achievement and Self-Esteem. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

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