scholarly journals An evaluation of a precollege program on college success

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Merilee A. Krueger
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
College Success ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Act Scores ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
High School Grades ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Effective Program ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a precollege 07 program at Missouri University of Science and Technology known as Hit the Ground Running (HGR). It used a convergent mixed-methods research design, combining data from semi-structured interviews with HGR participants and institutional data on previous HGR participants (e.g., high school grades, ACT scores, math placement test scores, enrollment dates, graduation term). It was based on the theoretical frameworks of Vygotsky (1978) and Bandura (1997). Bandura proposes that self-efficacy is an important factor for college success. Vygotsky suggests that effective learning requires social interaction. While the study did not provide a comparison group, the quantitative data suggest that HGR is an effective program in term of graduation rate and retention. It also found that the primary reasons listed as to why HGR was helpful were that it facilitated the formation of friendship and increased their sense of preparedness, thus selfefficacy in college.

scholarly journals The “Parentification” Phenomenon as Applied to Adolescents Living Through Parental Military Deployments

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Harrison ◽  
Patrizia Albanese
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Sociological Approach ◽  
Clinical Literature ◽  
The Social ◽  
Adult Roles ◽  
Development Trajectories ◽  
The Impact

Many children and adolescents care for their family members in some form during their childhoods, but some take on adult roles and responsibilities beyond what is considered to be developmentally appropriate – a situation known in academic and clinical literature as parentification. Much of the literature on parentification comes from the disciplines of psychology and social work, and focuses on what are perceived to be “normal” or “abnormal” child development trajectories. The psychological literature mostly stresses the negative developmental processes that result from youth being prematurely and/or inappropriately exposed to adult roles and responsibilities.  In this paper, we consider the impact of parental deployments on the lives of adolescents growing up in military families on/near a large army base in Canada.  We use data from 61 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2009/10—part of a larger mixed methods research project—to assess the adolescents’ experiences of parental deployments in light of the concept of parentification. We depart from previous literature by taking a sociological approach, which shows that while adolescents take on more adult roles during parental deployments, the impact of this situation upon them varies according to their gender, their relationship with their undeployed parent, and their perception of the support they receive from their school.  For the most part, adolescents whose parents are deployed experience significant quality of life losses.  However, this is not true for every adolescent, and the impact of each loss depends upon the social context in which it occurs.

scholarly journals PRIMARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ ENGAGEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Thom Thom ◽  
Pham Thi Thanh Thuy
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Efl Teacher ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
The Impact

Teachers’ professional development (PD) is viewed as the center of educational reforms in many countries, and this topic has been widely researched by scholars such as Avalos (2011), Darling-Hammond & McLaughlin (2011), Le (2002), and Whitehouse (2011). However, primary English language teachers (PELTers)’ PD has been under-researched in Vietnamese contexts. This paper outlines a project researching PELTers’ PD in a period of ongoing educational transformation, initiated by the National Foreign Languages Project. The authors highlight a ‘mixed methods’ research design with data collected from 68 surveys and five individual semi-structured interviews in a province in North Vietnam. Both the impact of language policy on Vietnamese PELTers' PD and their responses to top-down PD requirements and provision are under investigation. Some initial findings are (i) PELTers' rationales for PD; (ii) their engagement in PD forms and topics; (iii) benefits of PD; (iv)their PD need areas; and (v) factors affecting PD engagement. PELTers' suggestions for improving PD in their contexts are also discussed. This paper offers significant insights for EFL researchers, policy-makers, EFL teacher training institutions and other educators.

scholarly journals Using Learning Centers to Improve the Language and Academic Skills of Preschool Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Ozgun Uyanik Aktulun ◽  
Gozde Inal Kiziltepe
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Academic Skills ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Centers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teacher Interview ◽  
Implementation Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

A mixed-methods research design was employed to investigate the impact of use of learning centers to supportlanguage and academic skills of children aged 61–72 months. The sample of quantitative data of the study consistedof 70 children (35 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group). In the quantitative dimension of the study,data were collected using the “Kaufman Survey of Early Academic and Language Skills,” “Progress in Maths 6 Test,”and the “Control List for the Evaluation of the Print Awareness of Pre-School Children” scales. In the qualitativedimension of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the teachers of the experimental groupthrough the “Teacher Interview Form” developed by the researchers. During the implementation period, learningcenters were established and organized in such a way that the 35 children in the experimental group could use themfor about 75–90 minutes every day for eight weeks. The results obtained from the study reveal that arrangementsmade in the learning centers provide important contributions to the development of children’s language, literacy andmathematics skills.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF DEMENTIA TRAINING ON HOSPITAL STAFF’S KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S727-S727
Author(s):  
Julia Schneider ◽  
Birgit Teichmann ◽  
Andreas Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medical Assistants ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Baseline Test ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Older people with dementia are more frequently hospitalized and more strongly associated with negative outcomes. We examined the acceptance and the effect of a dementia training on attitudes and knowledge of the hospital staff. In the current study, we utilized a mixed-methods research design to examine a clinic group of six hospitals in Germany. Besides semi-structured interviews, we collected quantitative data with a questionnaire given before and three-months after the training. The questionnaire contained German translated versions of the Knowledge in Dementia (KIDE) Scale and the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS-D) to assess changes in attitudes. The participant population (N=60) consisted of nurses (n=35, 58%), medical assistants (n=13, 22%) and other medical professions. Satisfaction with the training was predominantly positive, 92% would recommend the training to their colleagues. At baseline, a small but significant correlation between the standardized questionnaires KIDE and DAS-D was evident (r(60)=.357, p=.005). The participants (n=32) showed a more positive attitude in the post-test (M=5.39, SD=0.64) than in the baseline-test (M=5.19, SD=0.66). This difference was significant (t(31)=-2.434, p=.021). However, we did not find any significant effects on the KIDE. The reason for this may be the use of a standardized questionnaire, which does not reflect the increase in knowledge, or there has been no increase in knowledge of dementia. The results are based on a small sample size. However, they have demonstrated that dementia training can positively influence attitudes toward people with dementia. A significant increase in knowledge was expected but could not be demonstrated.

Impact and Challenges of Centres for Education and Community Action in Cameroon’s North West Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-74
Author(s):  
Fonteh Athanasius Amungwa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
North West ◽  
West Region ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the impact of community education and challenges facing Centres for Education and Community Action as a rural development strategy in Cameroon. The study was conducted in the North-West Region of Cameroon, employing field observations, semi-structured interviews with key informants using a convenient sampling technique and through elaborate review of documents. These research instruments were blended into what is termed triangulation and the data collected was analysed descriptively. The main focus of qualitative analysis is to understand the ways in which people act and the accounts that people give for their actions. This paper posits that extreme dependence on the provision of Western formal education cannot solve the problems of a rapidly changing society like Cameroon, which is facing a long-term economic crisis and persistent unemployment issues of graduates. Consequently, education should be redefined in the context of the prevailing economic crisis to make it responsive to the aspirations of rural communities. Findings showed that community education had contributed towards rural development immensely but has suffered many challenges due to neglect of the field in the policy agenda. This paper recommends the integration of community education with formal education to facilitate group and community betterment in particular and rural transformation in general.

A general practice provider federation in a mixed health economy in England: a case study investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X696929
Author(s):  
Jill Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The North ◽  
Common Strategy ◽  
Common Purpose ◽  
Collaborative Working ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThere is an emerging debate that general practice in its current format is out-dated and there is a requirement to move to a federated model of provision where groups of Practices come together. The emergence of federations has developed over the past 5 years but the factors that influence how federations develop and the impact of this new model is an under researched area.AimThe study explored the rationale around why a group of independent GP practices opted to pursue an alternative business venture and the benefits that this strategy offered.MethodA single organisational case study of a federation in the North of England was conducted between 2011–2016. Mixed methods data collection included individual and group semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys.ResultsFederations promote collaborative working, relying on strategic coherence of multiple individual GP practices through a shared vision and common purpose. Findings revealed many complexities in implementing a common strategy across multiple independent businesses. The ability of the federation to gain legitimacy was two dimensional – externally and internally. The venture had mixed successes, but their approach to quality improvement proved innovative and demonstrated outcomes on a population basis. The study identified significant pressures that practices were experiencing and the need to seek alternative ways of working but there was no shared vision or inclination to relinquish individual practice autonomy.ConclusionOrganisational development support is critical to reform General Practice. Whether central funding through the GP Five Year Forward View will achieve the scale of change required is yet to be evidenced.

Serving the People in Long Beach, California: Advancing Justice for Southeast Asian Youth through Community University Research Partnerships

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
R. Varisa Patraporn
Keyword(s):  
Asian American ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Youth Empowerment ◽  
Long Beach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Partnerships ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
The People ◽  
The Impact

Khmer Girl’s in Action is a nonprofit that successfully utilizes community-based participatory research (CBPR) with university partners to create social change for youth in Long Beach, CA. Based on semi-structured interviews and content analysis of news articles, I explore the impact and sustainability of this research work and the research partnerships. Findings highlight impacts such as youth empowerment, heightened awareness around community needs, policy change, and CBPR curriculum improvements in the field as impacts. Sustainability requires integrating research into program funding, utilizing a tailored training curriculum, building on community members prior relationships, and selecting partners that share common goals, levels of commitment, and flexibility. As funders demand more data to justify community needs, understanding more examples of such work in the Asian American community will be useful for informing future partnerships.

Optimizing electronic capture of patient-reported outcome measures in oncology clinical trials: lessons learned from a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 1195-1204
Author(s):  
Florence D Mowlem ◽  
Brad Sanderson ◽  
Jill V Platko ◽  
Bill Byrom
Keyword(s):  
Patient Reported Outcome Measures ◽  
Patient Reported Outcome ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Oncology Clinical Trials ◽  
Anticancer Treatment ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Electronic Implementation

Aim: To understand the impact of anticancer treatment on oncology patients’ ability to use electronic solutions for completing patient-reported outcomes (ePRO). Materials & methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven individuals who had experienced a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Results: Participants reported that the following would impact the ability to interact with an ePRO solution: peripheral neuropathy of the hands (4/7), fatigue and/or concentration and memory issues (6/7), where they are in a treatment cycle (5/7). Approaches to improve usability included: larger, well-spaced buttons to deal with finger numbness, the ability to pause a survey and complete at a later point and presenting the recall period with every question to reduce reliance on memory. Conclusion: Symptoms associated with cancers and anticancer treatments can impact the use of technologies. The recommendations for optimizing the electronic implementation of patient-reported outcome instruments in this population provides the potential to improve data quality in oncology trials and places patient needs at the forefront to ensure ‘fit-for-purpose’ solutions.

scholarly journals Mediating Factor of Emotional Intelligence in Intercultural Competence and Work Productivity of Volunteers

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolita Vveinhardt ◽  
Rita Bendaraviciene ◽  
Ingrida Vinickyte
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Intercultural Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mediating Factor ◽  
The Impact

Volunteering, the volunteer’s intercultural competence and emotional intelligence contribute to intercultural education and sustainability in various societies of today. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of emotional intelligence and intercultural competence on work productivity of volunteers. The first part of the article substantiates theoretical associations between emotional intelligence, intercultural competence and work productivity. Based on theoretical insights, empirical research methodology was prepared, which consisted of four categories divided into sub-categories that provided the structure of the question groups. The empirical research involved seven informants working in Lithuania, who welcomed volunteers from abroad. The research was conducted using the method of semi-structured interviews. The conclusions present a systematic perspective towards the role of emotional intelligence in the intercultural competence and work productivity of volunteers. In this context, emotional intelligence works as a mediating factor. The contributing role of volunteer-receiving organisations in the development of the volunteers’ emotional intelligence is also highlighted.

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