Values and Attitudes of Medical Students at an Australian University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feather, N. T.

1981-01-01

The results of an Australian study in which medical students at Flinders University were tested and retested to trace changes in their attitudes and values since their freshman year are reported. Specific attitude items concerned with federal government intervention in health insurance were measured. (Author/MLW)

Preservice Science Teachers' Attitudes towards Chemistry and Misconceptions about Chemical Kinetics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çam, Aylin; Topçu, Mustafa Sami; Sülün, Yusuf

2015-01-01

The present study investigates preservice science teachers' attitudes towards chemistry; their misconceptions about chemical kinetics; and relationships between pre-service science teachers' attitudes toward chemistry and misconceptions about chemical kinetics were examined. The sample of this study consisted of 81 freshman pre-service science…

Exploration of the Attitudes of Freshman Foreign Language Students toward Using Computers at a Turkish State University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akbulut, Yavuz

2008-01-01

The present study expands the design of Warschauer (1996) surveying freshman foreign language students at a Turkish university. Motivating aspects of computer assisted instruction in terms of writing and e-mailing are explored through an exploratory factor analysis conducted on the survey developed by Warschauer (1996). Findings suggest that…

Changes in Attitudes, Intentions, and Behaviors toward Tobacco and Marijuana during U.S. Students’ First Year of College

PubMed Central

Stewart, Mara W; Moreno, Megan A

2013-01-01

Tobacco and marijuana are commonly used by college students and have negative health effects. The purpose of this study was to understand how students’ attitudes, intentions, and behaviors toward tobacco and marijuana change during freshman year and to examine how attitude and intention predict use of these substances. 275 college students completed phone interviews before and after their freshman year. The identical interviews assessed students’ attitudes, intentions, and behaviors toward both substances. Attitudes and intentions increased significantly. 12.2% of participants initiated tobacco use and 13.5% initiated marijuana use. Only intention predicted tobacco initiation, while both attitude and intention predicted marijuana initiation. Overall, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors changed significantly toward favored use. Predictors of use varied by substance, suggesting that different prevention approaches may be beneficial. PMID:24761133

What do Seniors Remember from Freshman Physics?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrantes, Analia; Pawl, Andrew; Pritchard, David E.

2009-10-01

We have given a group of 56 MIT seniors who took mechanics as freshmen a written test similar to the final exam they took in their freshman course, plus the MBT and C-LASS standard instruments. Students in majors unrelated to physics scored 60% lower on the written analytic part of the final than they did as freshmen. The mean score of all students on conceptual multiple choice questions included on the final declined by approximately 50% relative to the scores of freshmen. The mean score of all participants on the MBT was insignificantly changed from the posttest taken as freshmen. More specifically, however, the students' performance on 9 of the 26 MBT items (with 6 of the 9 involving graphical kinematics) represents a gain over their freshman pretest score (a normalized gain of about 70%, double the gain achieved in the freshman course alone), while their performance on the remaining 17 questions is best characterized as a loss of approximately 50% of the material learned in the freshman course. Attitudinal survey results indicate that almost half the seniors feel the specific mechanics course content is unlikely to be useful to them, a significant majority (75-85%) feel that physics does teach valuable skills, and an overwhelming majority believe that mechanics should remain a required course at MIT.

A New Freshman Composition Pedagogy for Christian Colleges and Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Florin Crider, Amy Leigh

2017-01-01

Freshman composition instructors at Christian institutions face a disturbing predicament: competing pedagogies, administrative pressure to prove freshman composition's merit, public clamoring for greater return on the college investment, technology redefining what "writing" is, a postmodern audience, and most concerning, the challenge to…

Pre-Service Primary Education Teachers' Changing Attitudes towards Teaching: A Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tok, Sukran

2011-01-01

This study investigated the longitudinal changes in the attitudes of pre-service primary education teachers towards the teaching profession as they progressed through training. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in pre-service teachers' attitudes towards the profession between their freshman and senior years. Moreover, the…

Darwin, dogs and DNA: Freshman writing about biology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grant, Michael C.; Piirto, John

1994-12-01

We describe a successful interdepartmental program at a major research-oriented university that melds freshman writing with freshman biology to the significant benefit of both disciplines. Extensive, repeated feedback on individual student writing projects from two instructors, one a humanities professor, one a biology professor, appears to work synergistically so that learning by the students is significantly enhanced. Particulars derived from five years of experience with intensive, student-centered strategy are included.

[Attitudes of freshman medical students towards education in communication skills].

PubMed

Tóth, Ildikó; Bán, Ildikó; Füzesi, Zsuzsanna; Kesztyüs, Márk; Nagy, Lajos

2011-09-18

In their institute authors teach medical communication skills in three languages (Hungarian, English and German) for medical students in the first year of their studies. In order to improve teaching methods, authors wanted to explore the attitudes of students towards the communication skills learning. For this purpose authors applied the Communication Skills Attitudes Scale created by Rees et al., which is an internationally accepted and well adaptable instrument. In this survey authors wanted to validate the Hungarian and German version of the Communication Skills Attitudes Scale. In addition, their aim was to analyze possible differences between the attitudes of each of the three medical teaching programs. Questionnaires were filled anonymously at the beginning of the practices. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed to evaluate the attitudes using the SPSS 10.5 version for analysis. Authors created a model consisting of 7 factors. Factors were the following: 1: respect and interpersonal skills; 2: learning; 3: importance of communication within medical profession; 4: excuse; 5: counter; 6: exam; 7: overconfidence. It was found that students had mainly positive attitudes. Except the learning factor, all other factors showed significant differences between the three medical teaching programs. although students had mainly positive attitudes toward learning communication skills, there were negative attitudes which can be partly modified by improving the teaching methods. However, results may create a proper base for further research to help improving communication skills teaching methods of the authors.

College Retention Initiatives Meeting the Needs of Millennial Freshman Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turner, Patrick; Thompson, Elizabeth

2014-01-01

The qualitative study explored the opinions and perceptions of freshman, sophomores, and freshman students that dropped out of the university to understand the obstacles and enablers that millennial freshmen faced transitioning into a college environment. To understand these factors the study posed the question, how do the participants (i.e.,…

The Effects of a Freshman Seminar Paired with Supplemental Instruction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yockey, Frances A.; George, Archie A.

1998-01-01

A three-semester study investigated the effects on academic performance of a freshman seminar paired with a core sociology course. Students in the paired course achieved higher grades in the course and higher grade point averages for the semester of intervention than did nonparticipating control group students. After two years, freshman seminar…

Comprehensive Freshman Advising. The Ursinus College Freshman Advising Program: Three-Year Follow-Up.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chambliss, Catherine

In 1982, Ursinus College instituted a new Freshman Advising Program (FAP), involving: a greatly expanded role for the advisor; postponement of the declaration of major; greater emphasis on student-centered developmental advising; a focus on the transition needs of freshmen; a focus on the problem of false starts and student encounters with…

Does it matter how I perceive my nation? National symbols, national identification and attitudes toward immigrants.

PubMed

Finell, Eerika; Olakivi, Antero; Liebkind, Karmela; Lipsanen, Jari

2013-12-01

We examined how the ways of imagining one's own nation relate to the relationship between national identification and individuals' attitudes towards immigrants. National imagination is studied through two types of national symbols representing the nation in terms of confrontation between groups (i.e., war and sports) and a unique entity (i.e., nature and traditional culture). We found that national identification was positively associated with the degree to which individuals perceived their nation through a historical war and sports, which, in turn, enhanced negative attitudes toward immigrants. Unexpectedly, the degree to which individuals perceived their nation through nature and traditional culture was positively associated with positive intergroup attitudes. The results emphasize that the degree to which individuals perceive their nation through different national symbols is an important factor for understanding intergroup relations. © 2013 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

A Mixed Methods Explanatory Study of the Failure/Drop Rate for Freshman STEM Calculus Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worthley, Mary

2013-01-01

In a national context of high failure rates in freshman calculus courses, the purpose of this study was to understand who is struggling, and why. High failure rates are especially alarming given a local environment where students have access to a variety of academic, and personal, assistance. The sample consists of students at Colorado State…

Freshman seminars. Do they help pre-nursing students adjust to college life?

PubMed

Raingruber, Bonnie

2004-01-01

One purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify challenges pre-nursing students face as they enter college. A second purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Freshman seminar in helping students develop a sense of belonging on campus. An interpretive analysis was completed of 20 student essays focused on these challenges and the effectiveness of the Freshman seminar. Students reported that three major challenges confronted them as they transitioned from high school to college. These challenges were to "make the space on campus my own," "get used to the way things are done in college," and "get a sense of who I really am." The Freshman seminar helped pre-nursing students settle into a new environment and better prepare themselves for nursing school. Strategies used in the freshman seminar are also applicable to service delivery settings.

Measurement of student attitudes in first year engineering - A mixed methods approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malik, Qaiser Hameed

This research study focused on freshman attitudes towards engineering in a newly implemented cornerstone sequence that emphasized holistic design experiences. The students' initial attitudes and changes in these attitudes were examined with the explanatory mixed methods approach that allows a sequential examination of the target population with two methods, using two sets of data, to investigate the treatment effects. In the quantitative phase, the study compared changes in freshman attitude towards engineering, between the new 'design sequence' group (composed of freshmen in the cornerstone sequence) and the prior 'traditional sequence' group (composed of all other freshmen), over the course of one semester. The data were collected in fall 2008 at two time intervals and changes in the two groups' attitudes were examined with repeated measures analysis of covariance models. The analyses reported here include data from 389 students out of the total population of 722 freshmen. The analyses revealed that engineering freshmen joined the program with positive or strongly positive attitudes towards engineering. Those strong attitudes were durable and resistant to change. Students in the design sequence group had higher ACT scores, enjoyed math and science the most, and did not believe engineering to be an exact science. However, no appreciable time-group interaction was observed. To validate the quantitative results, an interview protocol was developed to investigate initial freshman attitudes and changes, if any, that took place as a result of the new cornerstone sequence. One-on-one interviews with a sample of ten students out of the population of 272 freshmen revealed that freshmen in the cornerstone sequence entered the program full of enthusiasm and idealism, and with strongly positive attitudes towards engineering. The strong motivational factors included parental/teacher influences, childhood motivations, and high school extra-curricular experiences. The

From Retention to Satisfaction: New Outcomes for Assessing the Freshman Experience. AIR 1994 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanders, Liz; And Others

To meet accountability challenges from a customer-satisfaction perspective, an urban institution of higher education has developed an integrated approach to studying the freshman year experience in order to develop comprehensive outcomes measures for assessing freshman success. Multiple sources of data (freshman satisfaction survey data,…

Changes in Attitudes, Intentions, and Behaviors toward Tobacco and Marijuana during U.S. Students' First Year of College.

PubMed

Stewart, Mara W; Moreno, Megan A

2013-04-16

Tobacco and marijuana are commonly used by college students and have negative health effects. The purpose of the study was to understand how students' attitudes, intentions, and behaviors toward tobacco and marijuana change during freshman year and to examine how attitude and intention predict use of these substances. College students completed phone interviews before and after freshman year. The identical interviews assessed students' attitudes, intentions, and behaviors toward both substances. Attitude was measured on a 0-6 scale (6 = most positive), intention on a 0-5 scale (5 = very likely to use), and behavior by lifetime use (yes or no) and current use (past-28-days). Overall, 275 participants completed both interviews. Attitudes increased (tobacco 0.9 to 1.2, p < 0.01; marijuana 1.9 to 2.3, p < 0.01). Intentions increased (tobacco 0.4 to 0.8, p = 0.03; marijuana 0.7 to 1.1, p < 0.01). 12.2% initiated tobacco, 13.5% initiated marijuana. Only intention predicted tobacco initiation, while both attitude and intention predicted marijuana initiation. Attitudes, intentions, and behaviors changed significantly towards favored use. Predictors of use varied by substance, suggesting that different prevention approaches may be beneficial.

The Influence of High School Academics on Freshman College Mathematics and Science Courses at SUNY Oswego

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayali, Tolga

2013-01-01

This study examined the relationship between 2011 freshman college mathematics and science grades and freshman students' high school academics and demographic data, exploring the factors that contribute to the success of first-year STEM majoring freshman students at State University of New York at Oswego. The variables were Gender, Race, SES,…

Using Demographic Subgroup and Dummy Variable Equations to Predict College Freshman Grade Average.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sawyer, Richard

1986-01-01

This study was designed to determine whether adjustments for the differential prediction observed among sex, racial/ethnic, or age subgroups in one freshman class at a college could be used to improve prediction accuracy for these subgroups in future freshman classes. (Author/LMO)

Strategies for Evaluating a Freshman Studies Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ketkar, Kusum; Bennett, Shelby D.

1989-01-01

The study developed an economic model for the evaluation of Seaton Hall University's freshman studies program. Two techniques used to evaluate the economic success of the program are break-even analysis and elasticity coefficient. (Author/MLW)

Job Attitudes of Air National Guard Personnel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-04-01

organizational behavior literature. 2. To compare OAP-measured demographic characteristics and job attitudes of Air National Guard personnel with the ...thought to represent official ideas, attitudes , or policies of any agency of the United States Government. The author has rot had special access to...day that they are drawn together as a total force. ANG commanders studying this report will see the job attitude strengths and weaknesses of ANG

An Annotated Review of the Investigations on Freshman Seminars and Extended Orientation Courses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rice, Robert L.; And Others

Accompanying the growth of freshman seminars and extended orientation courses has been a rich body of literature depicting the process and outcome aspects of the course. This paper provides an annotated review of the investigations on freshman seminar/extended orientation courses. The review is designed to provide faculty and administrators with…

How to Make Financial Aid "Freshman-Friendly"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pugh, Susan L.; Johnson, David B.

2011-01-01

Ultimately, making financial aid "freshman friendly" also makes financial aid "sophomore friendly," "junior friendly," and "senior friendly." Indiana University has in place an Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) model that includes focused financial aid packaging strategies complemented by unique contact…

The Intellectual Content of Freshman English.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lally, Tim D. P.

The intellectual content of freshman English includes both the subject of writing itself and the subject the student writes about. Writing has often focused on personal subjects with the assumption that the student knows himself or herself and that the student has developed a point of view allowing intelligent writing. A second source of subject…

A Comparison of Attitudes and Final Grades among Freshman Dental Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Mickey M.; And Others

1981-01-01

A study examined students' change in attitudes toward dental education, themselves, and gross anatomy based on their experience in a difficult anatomy course and their final grades. Change occurred only in their attitudes about dental education, but it is concluded that specific aspects of the environment can be used to predict a final grade. (MSE)

The Rhetoric of Satire: Analyzing in Freshman English.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Proctor, Betty Jane

1982-01-01

Presents a series of exercises designed to provide freshman composition students with a base for analyzing works rhetorically, to point out how language can be used persuasively, and to illustrate how satire functions. (FL)

Factors influencing environmental attitude: The relationship between environmental attitude defensibility and cognitive reasoning level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yount, James R.; Horton, Phillip B.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between factors believed to contribute to the formation of environmental attitudes by college nonscience majors. Key relationships addressed were the effects of a university environmental studies course on (a) environmental attitudes, (b) the amount of factual information that is brought to bear on an environmental attitude decision (defensibility), and (c) the linkages between the affective and the cognitive domains of freshman and sophomore students. When compared to the control group, the students who attended an environmental studies class did not significantly change their attitudes, but they did exhibit increases in their total [F(3, 132) = 5.91, p < 0.01] and count [F(3, 132) = 4.86, p < 0.01] levels of defensibility. These findings corroborate work performed by Kinsey (1978) and Kinsey and Wheatley (1980, 1984). In addition, students in the environmental studies course who had higher cognitive reasoning scores were more prone to increase defensibility [F(6, 129) = 3.78, p < 0.01]. These data imply a linkage between cognitive and affective domains in the environmental attitude decision-making process.

Impact of a Freshman Academy on Student Performance at a Comprehensive Public High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hernandez, Jose Angel, Jr.

2012-01-01

Previous high school research has highlighted the importance of students' freshman year. Limited research has supported the implementation of a smaller learning community, also known as a freshman academy. The theoretical framework of the study was based on stage environment fit, adolescence development and smaller learning community theories. The…

Freshman Ethics Course Influences Students' Basic Beliefs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appleton, James R.; Wong, Frank T.

1989-01-01

A freshman class called "Educational Odysseys" that bound together four themes and the concern for ethical living is described. The four themes included: the problem of identity; responses to good and evil; the search for success and surviving failure; and cultural diversity and a liberal education. (MLW)

The Anals of History: Unintentional Humor from Freshman Compositions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen, Kristine

1983-01-01

Presents examples of unintentional humor from college freshman composition courses. Suggests that by pointing out miscommunications, teachers can persuade students to use standard English more effectively. (MM)

Writing with a Byte. Computers: An Effective Teaching Methodology To Improve Freshman Writing Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williamson, Barbara L.

A study was conducted at Florida's Brevard Community College (BCC) to determine the effectiveness of using artificial intelligence software to teach Freshman Composition. At BCC, Freshman Composition is taught in the computer lab, with student using WordPerfect to type their essays and Writer's Helper to flag various writing deficiencies. The…

The Relationship of Teacher-Personality Type to Grading Freshman Composition Essays: An Empirical Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Covner, Thelma Crockin

To gain insight into the evaluation of college freshman compositions, a study explored the relationship between the personality type of the instructor and the grades assigned to essays written by freshman composition students. The sample comprised 23 college instructors who answered a short questionnaire, graded the same expository essay, and…

National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors : traffic tech.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration : conducts the National Survey of Drinking and Driving : Attitudes and Behaviors on a periodic basis to monitor the : publics attitudes, knowledge, and self-reported behavior : regarding drinking ...

Pre Business College Freshman Perception of Classroom Behavior: An Analysis among and between Genders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Melody W.; Mundrake, George A.; Brown, Betty J.

2009-01-01

The focus of this study was 1) to identify pre business college freshman observed classroom behavior (personal, technical, and collaborative behaviors) in high school versus college, and to compare by gender (male to male; female to female), and 2) to identify pre business college freshman perceptions of classroom behavior in college, and to…

National Freshman Attitudes Report, 2014: Special Focus on Career Decision-Making toward the Goal of College Completion. Ninth Annual National Research Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noel-Levitz, Inc., 2014

2014-01-01

This annual report goes beyond the usual metrics of standardized test scores and high school transcripts to explore a wide range of non-cognitive attitudes that influence student retention and college completion rates for today's entering college freshmen. Findings are reported separately for four-year and two-year institutions, private and…

Statistical Analysis Experiment for Freshman Chemistry Lab.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salzsieder, John C.

1995-01-01

Describes a laboratory experiment dissolving zinc from galvanized nails in which data can be gathered very quickly for statistical analysis. The data have sufficient significant figures and the experiment yields a nice distribution of random errors. Freshman students can gain an appreciation of the relationships between random error, number of…

Comparing University Athletes and Nonathletes on Attitudes and Perceptions. Research Report #5-97.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eiche, Keith; Sedlacek, William; Adams-Gaston, Javaune

With a goal of forming interventions and programs to address needs of student athletes (such as group and individual career interventions as well as time management training), this study compared attitudes of 73 freshman athletes and 73 nonathlete freshmen at the University of Maryland toward their college experience. A questionnaire concerning…

Increasing URM Undergraduate Student Success through Assessment-Driven Interventions: A Multiyear Study Using Freshman-Level General Biology as a Model System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmichael, Mary C.; St. Clair, Candace; Edwards, Andrea M.; Barrett, Peter; McFerrin, Harris; Davenport, Ian; Awad, Mohamed; Kundu, Anup; Ireland, Shubha Kale

2016-01-01

Xavier University of Louisiana leads the nation in awarding BS degrees in the biological sciences to African-American students. In this multiyear study with ~5500 participants, data-driven interventions were adopted to improve student academic performance in a freshman-level general biology course. The three hour-long exams were common and…

Freshmen Women and the "Freshman 15": Perspectives on Prevalence and Causes of College Weight Gain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith-Jackson, TeriSue; Reel, Justine J.

2012-01-01

Objective: Freshman weight gain has been assessed using quantitative inquiry, but this qualitative study allowed for an in-depth exploration of freshmen women's experiences surrounding body image, nutrition, and exercise. The purpose of this study was to better understand the impact and explanations for the "Freshman 15." Participants: Freshmen…

Calculus ABCs: A Gateway for Freshman Calculus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fulton, Scott R.

2003-01-01

This paper describes a gateway testing program designed to ensure that students acquire basic skills in freshman calculus. Students must demonstrate they have mastered standards for "Absolutely Basic Competency"--the Calculus ABCs--in order to pass the course with a grade of C or better. We describe the background, standards, and testing program.…

Impact of an Oncology Course on the Attitudes of Freshman Medical Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appel, Marilyn H.; And Others

Previous attempts to change the prevailing negative attitudes of health professionals toward cancer and cancer patients have consisted mainly of elective courses for small groups of students at advanced levels of medical training. In order to develop more positive attitudes, the Cancer Coordinating Committee at the Medical College of Pennsylvania…

The influence of high school academics on freshman college mathematics and science courses at SUNY Oswego

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayali, Tolga

This study examined the relationship between 2011 freshman college mathematics and science grades and freshman students' high school academics and demographic data, exploring the factors that contribute to the success of first-year STEM majoring freshman students at State University of New York at Oswego. The variables were Gender, Race, SES, School Size, Parent with College Education, High School Grade Point Average (HSGPA), Transfer Credit, SAT Composite Score, and New York State Regents Exam results, based on data from 237 freshman students entering college immediately following high school. The findings show HSGPA as a significant predictor of success in freshman College Mathematics and Sciences, Transfer Credit as a significant predictor in College Mathematics and College Chemistry, SES as a significant predictor in College Biology and College Chemistry, Parent with College Education as a significant predictor in College Biology and New York State Chemistry Regents Exam as a significant predictor in College Chemistry. Based on these findings, guidance counselors, science educators, and education institutions can develop a framework to determine which measurements are meaningful and advise students to focus on excellent performance in the Chemistry Regents Exams, take more college courses during high school, and maintain a high grade point average.

Quality of Student Experiences of Freshman Intercollegiate Athletes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stone, Jeffrey A.; Strange, C. Carney

1989-01-01

Examined impact of athletic participation during the freshman year of college on the quality of student athletes' experiences. Found administration of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire to male and female college freshmen athletes (N=118) revealed that athletes reported less involvement on campus than nonathletes. (Author/ABL)

Mistakes Made by Freshman Students of Science Teaching and Their Reasons during the Proving Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gökkurt, Burçin; Erdem, Emrullah; Basibüyük, Kani; Sahin, Ömer; Soylu, Yasin

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the mistakes made by freshman students of science teaching during the process of proving and the reasons for these mistakes. To this aim, the study, which was conducted via the case study method, was performed with 52 freshman students who were studying at the department of science teaching in a state…

Cybernetics and Rhetoric: Freshman English in an Overdetermined World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Comprone, Joseph

1975-01-01

Argues that freshman composition courses should incorporate the study of communications systems (Cybernetics) and the idea that a situation or subject cannot be explained by a single series of logical steps (Overdetermination) as part of their rationale. (RB)

The Case against Using Literature in Freshman Composition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindemann, Erika

To determine whether imaginative literature should be used in freshman composition courses, teachers must first determine what the purpose of a first-year writing course is. Historically, reading and writing about literature entered the curriculum when faculty became concerned with establishing English departments. Prior to this, instruction in…

Science and Cooking: Motivating the Study of Freshman Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weitz, David

2011-03-01

This talk will describe a course offered to Harvard undergraduates as a general education science course, meant to intrduce freshman-level science for non-science majors. The course was a collaboration between world-class chefs and science professors. The chefs introduced concepts of cooking and the professors used these to motivate scientific concepts. The lectures were designed to provide a coherent introduction to freshman physics, primarily through soft matter science. The lectures were supplemented by a lab experiments, designed by a team of very talented graduate students and post docs, that supplemented the science taught in lecture. The course was very successful in motivating non-science students to learn, and even enjoy, basic science concepts. This course depended on contributions from Michael Brenner, Otger Campas, Amy Rowat and a team of talented graduate student teaching fellows.

The Effectiveness of Peer Collaboration on the Writing of Female Freshman Composition Students: A Preliminary Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hasley, Linda

A study investigated the effect or lack of effect of peer collaboration on the writing of female freshman composition students. Four freshman composition classes conducted by two experienced instructors participated in a 3-week study. One instructor taught two classes by teacher-lecture and teacher-led discussions exclusively. Another instructor…

An Investigation of the Relationship between Language Learning Strategies and Learning Styles in Turkish Freshman Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balci, Özgül

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the language learning strategies of freshman students and their learning styles. This study is a descriptive research and employs a relational screening model. Participants of the study were 328 freshman students majoring in different fields at Necmettin Erbakan University Ahmet…

Teaching Freshman History to ESL Students: A Model.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carro, Gladys

This paper describes the evolution and implementation of an interdisciplinary freshman program in world civilization designed to integrate history content with advanced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) composition, focusing on academic language use. In it, a three-credit history course is paired with a six-credit ESL composition course. The…

Social and Emotional Learning in a Freshman Seminar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyatt, Jeannette B.; Bloemker, Geraldine A.

2013-01-01

First year college students are challenged both socially and academically in their transition to college life. The literature suggests that social and emotional competence skills can help with this transition. This article describes the course content for a University freshman seminar that teaches skills in social and emotional competence in order…

A Comparison of College Freshman Achievement in Remedial English Courses and in Freshman Composition Courses at a Two-Year College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Roger G.

A study was conducted at Snow College to compare the efficiency and effectiveness of college remedial courses with that of regular courses of study. The study compared the performance of 48 students in four sections of a remedial English class with that of 24 students with similar skill levels enrolled in a freshman composition course. The…

Personal and Clinical Exercise-Related Attitudes and Behaviors of Freshmen U.S. Medical Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frank, Erica; Galuska, Deborah A.; Elon, Lisa K.; Wright, Elsa H.

2004-01-01

To determine personal and clinical exercise-related attitudes and behaviors of freshmen U.S. medical students, we surveyed 1,906 entering freshman medical students (response rate=87%; average age=24 years) in 17 U.S. medical schools. Students reported a median of 45 min/day of exercise, 80 min/week each of mild and moderate exercise, and 100…

Another Dimension of Campus Date Rape: Assessing College Students' Attitudes. ASHE Annual Meeting Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korn, Jessica S.

This study examined the prevalence and impact of student attitudes tolerant toward or supportive of sexual aggression including date rape on college campuses. Data for the study come from the 1985 and 1989 Freshman Surveys involving a total of 89,070 male and female college students. Among the findings were the following: (1) students who oppose…

Literature and Shalom: Teaching Freshman Students to Read

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowen, Deborah C.

2008-01-01

Wolterstorff's argument for art as a form of action that enables us to anticipate shalom and Ricoeur's concept of the narrative intelligence developed in the reader of stories are tested out in a freshman non-specialist English class where the interpretation of literature, covered by the power of prayer, fosters both intellectual and moral…

Misconceptions on Classical Mechanics by Freshman University Students: A Case Study in a Physics Department in Greece

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stylos, George; Evangelakis, George A.; Kotsis, Konstantinos T.

2008-01-01

This paper presents results of an empirical research study on Newton's laws classical mechanics and its perceptions on freshman students at the Physics Department, University of Ioannina, Greece. Results and outcome measures reveal misconceptions on students' perceptions in consideration of the fundamental concepts in freshman Physics education.…

Freshman year alcohol and marijuana use prospectively predict time to college graduation and subsequent adult roles and independence.

PubMed

Wilhite, Emily R; Ashenhurst, James R; Marino, Elise N; Fromme, Kim

2017-01-01

This study examined how freshman year substance use prospectively predicted time to college graduation, and whether delayed graduation predicted postponed adoption of adult roles and future substance use. Participants were part of a longitudinal study that began in 2004. The first analyses focused on freshman year (N = 2,050). The second analyses corresponded to a subset of participants at age 27 (N = 575). Measures included self-reported substance use, adult role adoption, and university reported graduation dates. Results indicated that frequent binge drinking and marijuana use during freshman year predicted delayed college graduation. Those who took longer to graduate were more likely to have lower incomes and were less likely to obtain a graduate degree. Taking 5-6 years to graduate was associated with greater likelihood of alcohol-related problems. Findings support the importance of interventions during freshman year of college to decrease substance use and promote timely graduation.

Reorganizing Freshman Business Mathematics I: Background and Philosophy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Kris; Emerson, Allen

2008-01-01

This article is the first of the two-part discussion of the development of a new Freshman Business Mathematics (FBM) course at our college. Part I of the article describes the background and history behind the course, and provides a theoretical framework for the design of the course. This design involves students in learning and applying…

Inventory of Opinions and Expectations, 1971 Freshman Class.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

State Univ. of New York, Buffalo. Univ. Research Office.

This document reports the findings of the Inventory of Opinion and Expectation as administered to 1178 incoming freshmen at the State University of New York at Buffalo during the fall of 1971. It was found that the typical freshman at SUNY/B is a public high school graduate who found high school courses boring, repetitious and uninteresting, yet…

"Race, Gender, Class, and Culture": Freshman Seminar Ignites Controversy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heller, Scott

1992-01-01

The College of Wooster (Ohio) has instituted a required one-semester freshman seminar, designed to teach students critical writing and thinking skills, and focusing on racism and sexism in U.S. society. Critics see the seminar as a left-wing attempt to ensure "political correctness." (DB)

Focus on Freshman: Basic Instruction Programs Enhancing Physical Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curry, Jarred; Jenkins, Jayne M.; Weatherford, Jennifer

2015-01-01

Physical activity sharply decreases after different life stages, particularly high school graduation to beginning university education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a specifically designed university physical activity class, Exercise Planning for Freshman (EPF), on students' physical activity and group cohesion…

The Confluence of Race, Gender, and Class among Community College Students: Assessing Attitudes toward Affirmative Action in College Admissions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zamani-Gallaher, Eboni M.

2007-01-01

This article examines the attitudes of baccalaureate aspiring community college students with regard to affirmative action in college admissions. Using data from UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Annual Freshman Year Survey, the study assessed determinants of approval or disapproval of affirmative action for 20,339 community…

Promoting skill building and confidence in freshman nursing students with a "Skills-a-Thon".

PubMed

Roberts, Susan T; Vignato, Julie A; Moore, Joan L; Madden, Carol A

2009-08-01

Freshman nursing students returning for their second semester after summer break benefited by reviewing previously learned clinical skills presented in a Skills-a-Thon. Skills stations were established and facilitated by faculty and senior students. Senior students were first trained in mentoring and specific steps in skills competencies. Freshman students demonstrated skills in various mock clinical situations including catheter insertion, sterile dressings, medications, and physical assessment. The strategy reinforced learning and provided an opportunity for students to experience risk-free skills performance among peers. Freshman students gained proficiency and appreciated guidance by senior students without the pressures of testing. Seniors benefited from a condensed version of the program to review their own skills prior to the event. Responses were positive, with students reporting improved performance and confidence with hands-on application in a non-threatening environment. Nursing faculty observed improvement in skill performance and competence, and plan to offer future events. Copyright 2009, SLACK Incorporated.

The effect of explicit, inquiry instruction on freshman college science majors' understanding of the nature of science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenyon, Lisa Orvik

Reform efforts have placed strong emphasis on teaching practices that should help students learn about the nature of science. Researchers have examined two general instructional approaches, explicit and implicit, believed to be useful in teaching science. Of these two approaches, researchers emphasize explicit instruction as the more effective approach when enhancing students' views of the scientific endeavor (Abd-El-Khalick & Lederman, 2000; Bell, 2001; Billeh & Hasan, 1975; Carey & Stauss, 1968; Schwartz et al., 2000). Furthermore, recent studies (Schwartz et al ., 2000, 2001) indicate that teaching science inquiry through investigative activities and reflective discussions have demonstrated to be most effective for understanding science. The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of explicit, inquiry instruction on the understanding of freshman college science majors regarding the nature of science. Participants included 74 freshman college science majors, 50 students in the experimental group and 24 students in the control group. The experimental group was exposed to the treatment of the study, which took place in a Succeeding in Science course. The course content included explicit instruction on the nature of science, emphasizing scientific inquiry and the processes that scientists carry out in their work. The course reflected three aspects of inquiry-based science that are discussed in the Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards (2000) which are (1) to learn the principles and concepts of science; (2) to participate in scientific investigations; and (3) to reflect on the epistemology of science. The research design of this study used a pretest-posttest instrument, The Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire Form C (VNOS-C) (Lederman et al., 2001) and an essay paper at the end of the course to assess students' understanding about the nature of science. The results from the VNOS-C were analyzed using analysis of covariance in which the

Fuel Cell Car Design Project for Freshman Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duke, Steve R.; Davis, Virginia A.

2014-01-01

In the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University, we have integrated a semester long design project based on a toy fuel cell car into our freshman "Introduction to Chemical Engineering Class." The project provides the students a basic foundation in chemical reactions, energy, and dimensional analysis that facilitates…

Freshman English: The New Crisis and the Old Solutions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Ron

The new crisis in freshman English is reflected in recent resolutions by the Modern Language Association and by individual colleges and universities to reinstate composition requirements. Too many composition programs, however, are a waste of money and time which traps the composition teacher into accountability for students' success or failure.…

Freshman Year Alcohol and Marijuana Use Prospectively Predict Time to College Graduation and Subsequent Adult Roles and Independence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilhite, Emily R.; Ashenhurst, James R.; Marino, Elise N.; Fromme, Kim

2017-01-01

Objective: This study examined how freshman year substance use prospectively predicted time to college graduation, and whether delayed graduation predicted postponed adoption of adult roles and future substance use. Participants: Participants were part of a longitudinal study that began in 2004. The first analyses focused on freshman year (N =…

Impact of a Short Pre-Freshman Program on Retention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wischusen, Sheri M.; Wischusen, E. William; Pomarico, Steven M.

2011-01-01

The Biology Intensive Orientation for Students (BIOS) Program at Louisiana State University was designed to increase the success of incoming freshman biology majors in the first course in their major. The program combined content lectures and examinations for BIOL 1201-Introductory Biology for Science Majors, the first course in their major, as…

Attitudes about Addiction: A National Study of Addiction Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broadus, Angela D.; Hartje, Joyce A.; Roget, Nancy A.; Cahoon, Kristy L.; Clinkinbeard, Samantha S.

2010-01-01

The following study, funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), utilized the "Addiction Belief Inventory" (ABI; Luke, Ribisl, Walton, & Davidson, 2002) to examine addiction attitudes in a national sample of U.S. college/university faculty teaching addiction-specific courses (n = 215). Results suggest that addiction educators view…

An Investigation for the Future Educators' Attitudes towards the Environmental Issues in the Context of Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yumusak, Ahmet; Özbas, Serap; Sargin, Seyit Ahmet; Baltaci, Furkan

2016-01-01

In this study, it was revealed that the factors influencing the future educators' attitudes towards the environment. The survey was conducted between 2013-2014, on the freshman and the senior students studying in two different education faculties providing training within the boundaries of Turkish Cypriot. As a result, it has been found that…

National survey of pedestrian & bicyclist attitudes and behaviors : highlights report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-11-30

This report presents highlights of the 2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Tra...

The Freshman Odyssey: Classical Metaphors for Counseling College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sandoz, Jeff

This paper highlights the use of analogies and metaphors in counseling sessions with a focus on the college freshman experience as a living, contemporary example of how clients may experience mythic themes in their lives. Drawing from the ideas of Joseph Campbell, characters found in classical Greek mythology, as well as contemporary myths as…

Attitudes of Nigerian physicians toward a National Health Service.

PubMed

Umeh, J C; Freeman, R A; Garner, D D; Blevins, D E

1986-01-01

Despite efforts to improve health services in Nigeria, considerable problems in distribution and access persist. At present, the health care system in Nigeria is organized and financed at the states' level rather than at the national level. A severe maldistribution of resources exists, as does a lack of coordination among states. An alternative system, albeit expensive, is a National Health Service (NHS). The purpose of this research is to quantify physicians' attitudes towards the concept of NHS. Although physicians in Nigeria are mandated to provide government-funded support, a substantial private practice thrives. Accordingly, physicians' attitudes that may be transferred into behavior are a major determinate of a potential NHS' long term success. In summary, Hausa physicians from the north tended to be more favorable to NHS than did others. Also, younger physicians and those who believed Nigeria's present system to be inadequate favored NHS. There was no association between a physician's gender, locus of medical education, and source of support for medication education and attitude. Finally, physicians in private practice and those in urban areas held more negative attitudes. In spite of Nigeria's present difficulties, a NHS may become a viable alternative. At this point, the overall concept is not opposed by physicians.

A Survey of Gender Biases of Freshman Students toward Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaer, Barbara; And Others

1991-01-01

A survey of 724 freshman engineering orientation students investigated the significance of 5 literature-cited barriers to women's success in engineering--sexual discrimination, financial concerns, academic comfort, career awareness, and locus of control. Significant main effects were found for gender but not ethnic group. The instrument is…

The Relationship Between Responses to Science Concepts on a Semantic Differential Instrument and Achievement in Freshman Physics and Chemistry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothman, Arthur Israel

Students taking freshman physics and freshman chemistry at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNYAB) were administered a science-related semantic differential instrument. This same test was administered to physics and chemistry graduate students from SUNYAB and the University of Rochester. A scoring procedure was developed which…

College Freshman Stress and Weight Change: Differences by Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Economos, Christina D.; Hildebrandt, M. Lise; Hyatt, Raymond R.

2008-01-01

Objectives: To examine how stress and health-related behaviors affect freshman weight change by gender. Methods: Three hundred ninety-six freshmen completed a 40-item health behavior survey and height and weight were collected at baseline and follow-up. Results: Average weight change was 5.04 lbs for males, 5.49 lbs for females. Weight gain was…

Race on the Occoquan: A President's Second Freshman Year

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Roger H.

2008-01-01

In this article, the author relates his experiences as a second-time college freshman at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. The author is a college president over the age of 50. He was also a melanoma cancer survivor who had underwent a lung surgery and chemotherapy four summers earlier. Chris Nelson, president of St. John's, had agreed to…

2011 national survey of speeding attitudes and behaviors.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-12-01

The 2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behavior (NSSAB) is the third in a series of surveys on speeding that have provided data to help further the understanding of driving behavior and to contribute to the development of countermeasures ...

Using E-Mail in Computer Assisted Freshman Composition and Rhetoric.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dowden, Rebecca; Humphries, Sharon

1997-01-01

Describes teaching freshman composition and rhetoric via e-mail as a distance education course at Tomball Community College (Texas). Discusses student and instructor responsibilities, e-mail procedures, problems encountered (lack of time, and managing disk and mailbox space), and benefits (reduced paper use, typed corrections, accurate records,…

The Effects of College on Weight: Examining the "Freshman 15" Myth and Other Effects of College Over the Life Cycle.

PubMed

Baum, Charles L

2017-02-01

This study examines the effects of college on weight over much of the life cycle. I compare weights for college students with their weights before and after college and with the weights of noncollege peers using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). I also examine the longer-term effects of college measured almost three decades later. I find that college freshmen gain substantially less than the 15 pounds rumored to be typical for freshmen. Using difference models, individual-specific fixed-effects models, and instrumental variables models to control for various sources of potential bias, I find that freshman year college attendance is estimated to cause only about a one-pound increase. Supplemental results show that those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds gain more weight during the freshman college year. Longer term, having a college education consistently decreases weight. These negative effects have faded over the last 20 years, and they diminish as respondents approach middle age. These trends are more prevalent for whites and Hispanics than for blacks.

Learning-Centered Instruction of Engineering Graphics for Freshman Engineering Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pucha, Raghuram V.; Utschig, Tristan T.

2012-01-01

Teaching "Engineering Graphics" to freshman engineering students poses challenges to instructors as well as to students. While the instructors are confronted with a lack of material / text book that covers the broad scope of the subject matter, the students struggle to correlate newly developed skills to real-world engineering design problems…

Hot-Spots and Holiness: Faith-Based Topics in Freshman Composition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worth, Jan

For an instructor of freshman composition at the University of Michigan at Flint, faith-based writing topics offer particular challenges and sometimes intersect in troubling ways with her own prejudices and personal history as a teacher and as a person. But if handled correctly, she believes that a teacher's interaction with students about…

Values, Ethics, and Attitudes Toward National Forest Management: An Empirical Study

Treesearch

Robert Manning; William Valliere; Ben Minteer

1999-01-01

This study measures environmental values and ethics and explores their relationships to attitudes toward national forest management. The principal research methods were literature review and a survey of Vermont residents concerning management of the Green Mountain National Forest. Descriptive findings suggest respondents (1) favor nonmaterial values of national forests...

The Impact of a Freshman Academy on Science Performance of First-Time Ninth-Grade Students at One Georgia High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daniel, Vivian Summerour

2011-01-01

The purpose of this within-group experimental study was to find out to what extent ninth-grade students improved their science performance beyond their middle school science performance at one Georgia high school utilizing a freshman academy model. Freshman academies have been recognized as a useful tool for increasing academic performance among…

The structure of ethnic attitudes: the effects of target group, region, gender, and national identity.

PubMed

Verkuyten, M

1997-08-01

The present study was an assessment of attitudes of 410 ethnically Dutch adolescents toward three ethnic minority groups living in the Netherlands. Stereotypes, symbolic beliefs, affective associations, and the evaluation of possible interactions were used to predict the global evaluation of ethnic outgroups and accounted for much of the variance in ethnic attitudes. The relative importance of the four predictors varied by target group and location. Gender differences were found in the structure of attitudes; symbolic beliefs played a greater role in the attitudes of boys, whereas emotions played a more central role in the attitudes of girls. The evaluation of Dutch identity was related to the favorability of ethnic attitudes and also to the underlying structure. Respondents with a positive national identity had less favorable ethnic attitudes, and emotions were more predictive of their attitudes, whereas symbolic beliefs were most predictive among respondents with a less positive national identity.

A Monte Carlo Simulation of Brownian Motion in the Freshman Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anger, C. D.; Prescott, J. R.

1970-01-01

Describes a dry- lab" experiment for the college freshman laboratory, in which the essential features of Browian motion are given principles, using the Monte Carlo technique. Calculations principles, using the Monte Carlo technique. Calculations are carried out by a computation sheme based on computer language. Bibliography. (LC)

Freshman Learning Communities, College Performance, and Retention. Working Paper 2005-22

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hotchkiss, Julie L.; Moore, Robert E.; Pitts, M. Melinda

2005-01-01

This paper applies a standard treatment effects model to determine that participation in Freshman Learning Communities (FLCs) improves academic performance and retention. Not controlling for individual self-selection into FLC participation leads one to incorrectly conclude that the impact is the same across race and gender groups. Accurately…

National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors - 2015

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-03-01

The 2015 National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors (NSDDAB) is the third in a series of telephone surveys on distracted driving providing data to help further the understanding of driving behavior and to contribute to the developm...

Integration of Major Computer Program Packages into Experimental Courses: A Freshman Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lipschitz, Irving

1981-01-01

Describes the use of the Gaussian 70 computer programs to carry out quantum chemical calculations, including single calculations, geometry, optimization, and potential surface scans. Includes a summary of student activities and benefits for students in an honors freshman chemistry course. (SK)

National survey on distracted driving attitudes and behaviors : 2012.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

The 2012 National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors (NSDDAB) is the second in a series of : surveys on distracted driving that have provided data to help further the understanding of driving behavior and to : contribute to the deve...

National telephone survey on distracted driving attitudes and behaviors - 2012 : traffic tech.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted : its second national survey of distracted driving : to monitor the publics attitudes, knowledge, and self-reported : behavior about cell phones, texting, and driver : choices. The first...

Incorporating Solid Modeling and Team-Based Design into Freshman Engineering Graphics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchal, Ralph O.

2001-01-01

Describes the integration of these topics through a major team-based design and computer aided design (CAD) modeling project in freshman engineering graphics at the University of Western Ontario. Involves n=250 students working in teams of four to design and document an original Lego toy. Includes 12 references. (Author/YDS)

A Practical Model for Forecasting New Freshman Enrollment during the Application Period.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paulsen, Michael B.

1989-01-01

A simple and effective model for forecasting freshman enrollment during the application period is presented step by step. The model requires minimal and readily available information, uses a simple linear regression analysis on a personal computer, and provides updated monthly forecasts. (MSE)

Traffic Tech : National Telephone Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors - 2015

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-03-01

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted its third national telephone survey of distracted driving to monitor the public's attitudes, knowledge, and self-reported behavior about cell phone use and texting while driving, an...

[Depression and stress management in medical students. A comparative study between freshman and advanced medical students].

PubMed

Jurkat, H B; Richter, L; Cramer, M; Vetter, A; Bedau, S; Leweke, F; Milch, W

2011-05-01

International studies have indicated a high prevalence of depression and a lack of coping with stress in medical students. Freshman and advanced medical students were investigated using a specific questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) with a response rate of 100%. Of the subjects studied 81.1% did not have any depression, 13.1% slight and 5.8% clinically relevant symptoms of depression. The severity of symptoms was highly associated with subjective appraisal of stressors. Coping skills of first year students significantly influenced the depression symptoms calling for preventative measures even in freshman medical students.

A Comparison of Freshman and Transfer Student Attitudes and Behavior Toward Drugs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fago, David P.; Sedlacek, William E.

This study compares the attitudes of transfer students toward drugs with those of freshmen. An anonymous poll was administered to 170 new freshmen. Results indicate that transfer students had tried speed, mescaline, LSD, DMT, cocaine, wine and liquor more often than freshmen, and that transfers tend to be more regular useres of marijuana, cocaine,…

Tinkering self-efficacy and team interaction on freshman engineering design teams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richardson, Arlisa Labrie

This study utilizes Bandura's theory of self-efficacy as a framework to examine the development of tinkering skills white working on a freshman engineering design team. The four sources of self-efficacy were analyzed in the context of tinkering within the design team. The research question, 'Does tinkering self-efficacy change for female students during the Freshman Engineering Design class while working on mixed sex teams?', was addressed using quantitative data collection and field observations. Approximately 41 students enrolled in a freshman engineering design class at a public university in the southwest participated by providing self-reports about their tinkering involvement during each design project. In addition, three mixed-sex student teams were observed while working to complete the course design projects. An observation protocol based on Bandura's sources of self efficacy, was used to document tinkering interactions within the three observed teams. The results revealed that Bandura's sources of self-efficacy influenced tinkering involvement. The self-efficacy source, performance accomplishment measured through prior tinkering experience, was the most influential on tinkering involvement. Unlike Bandura's ranking of influence, verbal persuasion was shown to correlate with more tinkering behaviors than the observation of others. The number of females on a team had no impact on tinkering involvement. Tinkering involvement did not change as students progressed from one project to another. However, the competitive nature of the design project appeared to have a negative impact on tinkering involvement and the division of tasks within the team. In addition, a difference was found in the female students' perception of their tinkering involvement and observation of their tinkering involvement. The findings suggest that effective implementation of teamwork including teamwork preparation, more emphasis on the design process and the elimination of competition

Some Applications of Linguistic Concepts to the Teaching of Freshman Composition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maimon, Elaine P.

The problems which freshmen exhibit in using the written language extend beyond difficulties with mechanics to handicaps in using words to formulate and develop concepts. A linguistic approach to teaching freshman composition involves recognizing every linguistic act as creative and a word as having a history as well as a variety of meanings. In…

Introducing Past and Present Technical Writing into the Freshman Composition Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weaver, Laura H.

Using technical writing in the regular freshman composition course stimulates student interest by having the appeal of novelty and expands the horizons of students in the humanities and the pure and applied sciences. To begin the unit, one might stimulate interest in the content and style of technical writing of the past by using Robert M.…

National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behavior : 1995

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-08-01

This report presents findings from the first (1991), second (1993), and third (1995) surveys conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on attitudes and behaviors of the general public related to drinking and driving. The purpose...

College Freshman with Disabilities, 1999: A Biennial Statistical Profile. Statistical Year 1998.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, Cathy

This monograph presents information on college freshmen with disabilities based on data collected by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, a longitudinal study of the American higher education system that includes 469 institutions and 275,811 students. Section 1 presents highlights of the 1998 freshman survey and includes personal and…

Change in Diet, Physical Activity, and Body Weight in Female College Freshman

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butler, Scott M.; Black, David R.; Blue, Carolyn L.; Gretebeck, Randall J.

2004-01-01

Objective: To examine diet, physical activity, and body-weight changes associated with relocation from home to university. Methods: Diet, fitness/physical activity, body-weight parameters and self-efficacy were assessed among 54 freshman women upon college entry and 5 months later. Results: Although caloric intake significantly decreased, a…

Confident in Their College Prep

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torres, Amanda

2016-01-01

Every year, the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA conducts The Freshman Survey, a national longitudinal study that covers a wide range of student characteristics--from secondary school achievement and activities to educational and career plans to values, attitudes, beliefs, and self concept. To identify the academic and personal…

Correlates of Black and White University Student Grades Beyond the Freshman Year.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horowitz, Joseph L; And Others

The freshman, sophomore and junior year grades of 126 black and 178 white freshmen entering the University of Maryland were used as criterion measures in this study on prediction of academic achievement as reflected in grades. Predictors included the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), high school grade point average (HSGPA), the California…

What Johnny Can't Write: A University View of Freshman Writing Ability.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newkirk, Thomas R.; And Others

It is regularly claimed that the quality of writing done by college freshmen is declining. This study attempted, through the use of questionnaires and interviews, to determine what specific freshman writing problems English teaching assistants and English professors at the University of Texas viewed as most serious. Questionnaire results showed…

The College Choice Process: A Qualitative Review of the Role of Parents in Freshman, First Generation Scholarship Recipients' Access to Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hebert, Ronald Dudley, Jr.

2017-01-01

This dissertation explores the role of parents in freshman, first generation scholarship recipients' access to higher education. Three overarching goals guide the research: To gain knowledge and a better understanding of the college choice process of freshman, first generation scholarship recipients; to better understand the role of parents in the…

Problem drinking among at-risk college students: The examination of Greek involvement, freshman status, and history of mental health problems.

PubMed

Martinez, Haley S; Klanecky, Alicia K; McChargue, Dennis E

2018-02-06

Scarce research has examined the combined effect of mental health difficulties and demographic risk factors such as freshman status and Greek affiliation in understanding college problem drinking. The current study is interested in looking at the interaction among freshman status, Greek affiliation, and mental health difficulties. Undergraduate students (N = 413) from a private and public Midwestern university completed a large online survey battery between January 2009 and April 2013. Data from both schools were aggregated for the analyses. After accounting for gender, age, and school type, the three-way interaction indicated that the highest drinking levels were reported in freshman students who reported a history of mental health problems although were not involved in Greek life. Findings are discussed in the context of perceived social norms, as well as alcohol-related screenings and intervention opportunities on college campuses.

2011 national survey of speeding attitudes and behaviors : traffic tech.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-12-01

The 2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behavior : (NSSAB) is the third in a series of surveys on speeding that have : provided data to help further the understanding of driving : behavior and to contribute to the development of countermea...

National survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior. Volume 1, Summary report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-08-01

This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transpo...

National survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior. Volume 3, Methods report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-08-01

This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transpo...

National survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior. Volume 2, Findings report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-08-01

This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transpo...

Enhancing Academic Success: A Bilingual Freshman Year. AIR 1992 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ronco, Sharron

This paper provides an assessment of the Inter-American Science and Humanities Program, a program of the University of Texas, El Paso, which allowed students from northern Mexico to take their freshman level courses in Spanish while receiving instruction designed to rapidly enhance English language skills. The paper assesses the effectiveness of…

Changes in Life-Style Characteristics, Health, and Mood of Freshman Medical Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolf, Thomas M.; Kissling, Grace E.

1984-01-01

A questionnaire on life-style was completed by freshman medical students at orientation and again seven months later. Life-style changes were related to physical-psychological health and affect mood changes. There was an increase in perceived stress as the school year progressed and a tendency to improve coping effectiveness. (Author/MLW)

One Freshman Academy's Influence on Student Engagement in High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartley, Diane Plomaritis

2012-01-01

This study investigated the impact of one large suburban high school's ninth grade transition program, the freshman academy, on students' cognitive and affective engagement in high school. Participants of the study embodied tenth grade students who had completed their freshmen year in the academy and freshmen academy staff who also…

A Grounded Theory Investigation Into Sophomore Students' Recall of Depression During Their Freshman Year in College: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Brandy, Julie M; Kessler, Theresa A; Grabarek, Christina H

2018-04-17

Using a grounded theory approach, the current descriptive qualitative design was conducted with sophomore students to understand the meaning participants gave their freshman experiences with depression. Twelve participants were recruited using scripted class announcements across campus. After informed consent, interviews began with the question: What was the experience of your freshman year in college? All interviews were completed with the primary investigator and transcribed verbatim. Interviews were analyzed using constant comparative methodology. Data collection continued until saturation was achieved. Four major categories emerged, including the category of symptoms and emotions. This category included the subcategories expressions of stress, changes in eating habits, sleep issues, and procrastination. Descriptive examples of each were found throughout the interview data. With greater understanding of living with depression as a college freshman, health care and college student affairs professionals will have additional evidence to guide their practices. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x),xx-xx.]. Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.

Perceived social stigma and attitudes towards seeking therapy in training: a cross-national study.

PubMed

Digiuni, Malena; Jones, Fergal W; Camic, Paul M

2013-06-01

Given the potential value of undergoing psychological therapy when training as a therapist, it is important to understand what influences students' decisions regarding seeking therapy. The study examined the relationship between clinical psychology students' perception of the social stigma attached to receiving therapy and their attitudes toward seeking therapy. Students from Argentina (n = 121), England (n = 211), and the United States (n = 130) completed measures of demographic characteristics, perceived social stigma, attitudes, and other variables associated with therapy-seeking. The results revealed significant cross-national differences, with Argentinean students showing the lowest levels of perceived social stigma for receiving therapy, followed by English and Americans. English students showed relatively less positive attitudes toward seeking therapy than their Argentinean and American counterparts. Social stigma predicted students' attitudes toward seeking therapy among English and American but not Argentinean students. The relationship between perceived social stigma and attitudes was moderated by nationality. Implications for training are discussed, including English and American clinical psychology courses encouraging their students to reflect on the effect of perceived social stigma on their decision-making.

2012 national survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior : volume 3 : methodology report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-10-01

The 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior is the second survey on this topic conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data collection was conducted by Abt SRBI, Inc, a national resear...

2012 national survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior : volume 2 : findings report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-10-01

The 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior is the second survey on this topic conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data collection was conducted by Abt SRBI, Inc, a national resear...

2012 national survey of bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior : volume 1 : summary report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-10-01

The 2012 National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior is the second survey on this topic conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Data collection was conducted by Abt SRBI, Inc, a national resear...

FRESHMAN ENGLISH AT EIGHT UNIVERSITIES--SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (EDWARDSVILLE), TUFTS, AND WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS THE UNIVERSITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA, SANTA CLARA, SOUTH FLORIDA, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

NELSON, BONNIE E., COMP.

FOR A REPORT ON COLLEGE PROGRAMS IN FRESHMAN COMPOSITION, THE ASSOCIATION OF DEPARTMENTS OF ENGLISH OBTAINED SYLLABI AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FROM DIRECTORS OF FRESHMAN COMPOSITION AT 66 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. AMONG THE DATA ASSEMBLED FOR THE FULL REPORT (AVAILABLE AS TE 500 190) ARE THE DESCRIPTIONS OF FRESHMAN ENGLISH PROGRAMS AT EIGHT…

Reorganizing Freshman Business Mathematics II: Authentic Assessment in Mathematics through Professional Memos

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Kris; Emerson, Allen

2008-01-01

The first part of this two-part paper [see EJ787497] described the development of a new freshman business mathematics (FBM) course at our college. In this paper, we discuss our assessment tool, the business memo, as a venue for students to apply mathematical skills, via mathematical modelling, to realistic business problems. These memos have…

Changes in Weight and Health Behaviors from Freshman through Senior Year of College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Racette, Susan B.; Deusinger, Susan S.; Strube, Michael J.; Highstein, Gabrielle R.; Deusinger, Robert H.

2008-01-01

Objective: To assess weight changes, exercise and diet behaviors among college students from the beginning of freshman year until the end of senior year. Design: Longitudinal observational study. Setting: Private university in St. Louis, Missouri. Participants: College students (138 females, 66 males). Main Outcome Measures: Weight and height were…

Freshman year mental health symptoms and level of adaptation as predictors of Internet addiction: a retrospective nested case-control study of male Chinese college students.

PubMed

Yao, Bin; Han, Wei; Zeng, Lingxia; Guo, Xiong

2013-12-15

A retrospective nested case-control study was designed to explore whether freshman year mental health status and level of adaptation are predictors of Internet addiction. The study cohort was 977 college students at a university in northwest China. In the first college year, the students' mental health status and adaptation level were assessed using the Chinese College Student Mental Health Scale (CCSMHS) and the Chinese College Student Adjustment Scale (CCSAS). In the following 1-3 years, 62 Internet-addicted subjects were identified using Young's 8-item diagnostic questionnaire. Controls were matched for demographic characteristics. Using logistic regression analysis, freshman year mental health status, including factors such as somatization, anxiety, depression and self-contempt, and freshman year adaptive problems were found to be causal factors and predictors of Internet addiction. Freshman with features of depression, learning maladaptation and dissatisfaction could be an important target-intervention population for reducing Internet addiction. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Validity of the Musical Aptitude Profile for Predicting Grades in Freshman Music Theory.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Carole S.

1987-01-01

This study investigated the criterion-related validity of the Musical Aptitude Profile in relation to achievement in freshman music theory as determined by semester grades in the courses and by grades in three course components (paperwork, sight-singing and ear-training). (Author/BS)

Freshman Year Dropouts: Interactions between Student and School Characteristics and Student Dropout Status

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zvoch, Keith

2006-01-01

Data from a large school district in the southwestern United States were analyzed to investigate relations between student and school characteristics and high school freshman dropout patterns. Application of a multilevel logistic regression model to student dropout data revealed evidence of school-to-school differences in student dropout rates and…

Evaluation of Illinois Benedictine's Freshman Advising Program via the New Benedictine Advising Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iaccino, James F.

Many colleges and universities lack a formal evaluation system to assess their advising programs. Illinois Benedictine College, however, has consistently evaluated its Freshman Advising Program (FAP) on an annual basis ever since its inception. In 1986, the college decided to implement the new Benedictine Advising Survey in the exit interview…

Conservation Education and the Attitudes of Local Communities Living Adjacent to Mt. Elgon National Park, Uganda

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oonyu, Joseph C.

2009-01-01

A study of attitudes of 328 people living around Mt. Elgon National Park showed that more than three-quarters had favorable attitudes toward the conservation of the Park's forest and wildlife resources. They also had favorable attitudes toward the conservation education efforts of various agencies that operated in the area, particularly those of…

Attitudes of stakeholders towards the Podyji/Thaya River Basin National Park in the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Cihar, Martin; Stankova, Jindriska

2006-11-01

In August 2000, a survey of public opinion was carried out among visitors, local residents and representatives of local self-governments in the territory of the Podyji/Thaya River Basin National Park in the Czech Republic. The goal was to obtain stakeholders' opinions and attitudes towards nature conservation, the National Park and tourism within the territory which used to be closed to the public for 40 years due to the Iron Curtain. Without the knowledge of opinions of stakeholders it is not possible to manage nature conservation and development in the protected area properly. Using the method of direct interviews, 646 questionnaires where collected, of which 523 were from visitors and tourists, 115 from local residents and 8 from mayors of towns/villages. The questionnaires were analysed in order to detect differences in attitudes among the respondent groups in the following thematic areas: (a) the National Park, its environment and perception of it by respondents; (b) relationship of respondents to the territory; (c) tourism and attitudes towards recreational activities; (d) the Administration of the National Park and evaluation of its work; and (e) economic impact of tourism for local communities. One section of the study focused on comparing the attitudes between local inhabitants and mayors and the other section presents a collation of opinions from locals, mayors and tourists. Although a positive evaluation of the national park dominated the results, some negative attitudes and experiences were identified among locals. In addition, the situation also differed within communities. Results also indicated a relatively strong relationship to the territory by locals, but low job opportunities and income from tourism. The level of tourism intensity was perceived as an increasing and sometimes disturbing factor for local communities; motoring was observed as being the most negative activity for nature. The Administration of the Podyji/Thaya River Basin National

Integrating Factors of Grit in School Culture: Case Studies of Two Freshman Academies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coates, Margaret Marie

2017-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the cultural manifestation of grit in two freshman academy environments and describe factors of grit that support student success. This study used purposeful sampling to select sites and participants. Data were collected through: administration of Douglas' (1982) grid and group 24-question…

Weight Changes, Exercise, and Dietary Patterns during Freshman and Sophomore Years of College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Racette, Susan B.; Deusinger, Susan S.; Strube, Michael J.; Highstein, Gabrielle R.; Deusinger, Robert H.

2005-01-01

Weight gain and behavioral patterns during college may contribute to overweight and obesity in adulthood. The aims of this study were to assess weight, exercise, and dietary patterns of 764 college students (53% women, 47% men) during freshman and sophomore years. Students had their weight and height measured and completed questionnaires about…

National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors : 2008. Volume 1, summary report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

This report presents results from the eighth in a series of national telephone surveys conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety : Administration (NHTSA) to assess current status and trends regarding the publics attitudes, knowledge, and s...

National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors : 2008. Volume 2, findings report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

This report presents results from the eighth in a series of national telephone surveys conducted for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration : (NHTSA) to assess current status and trends regarding the publics attitudes, knowledge, and s...

Predicting Course Performance in Freshman and Sophomore Physics Courses: Women Are More Predictable than Men.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCammon, Susan; And Others

1988-01-01

Investigates the extent to which thinking skills and mathematical competency would predict the course performance of freshman and sophomore science majors enrolled in physics courses. Finds that algebra ability and critical thinking skills were the best predictors. (Author/YP)

National survey of drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors : 2008. Volume 3, methodology report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

This report presents the details of the methodology used for the 2008 National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors conducted by Gallup, Inc. for : the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This survey represents t...

Raising the Bar in Freshman Science Education: Student Lectures, Scientific Papers, and Independent Experiments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Eva-Maria S.; Calhoun, Tessa R.

2014-01-01

This article presents the combination of three enhanced educational approaches for training future scientists. These methods incorporate skills generally not introduced in the freshman year: student-led blackboard introductions; the writing of scientific papers; and the design, execution, and presentation of an independent lab module. We tested…

Exploring Cystic Fibrosis Using Bioinformatics Tools: A Module Designed for the Freshman Biology Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Xiaorong

2011-01-01

We incorporated a bioinformatics component into the freshman biology course that allows students to explore cystic fibrosis (CF), a common genetic disorder, using bioinformatics tools and skills. Students learn about CF through searching genetic databases, analyzing genetic sequences, and observing the three-dimensional structures of proteins…

Teaching Freshman English to Native and Non-Native Students: Some Similarities and Some Differences.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macha, Dyne H.

This paper, intended for freshman English instructors who teach reading and writing to both native and non-native students, discusses basic differences and similarities affecting instruction for the two groups. For example, non-native linguistic differences encourage teachers to deal with syntactic interference in reading and with highly embedded…

Explaining attitudes about homosexuality in Confucian and non-Confucian nations: is there a 'cultural' influence?

PubMed

Adamczyk, Amy; Cheng, Yen-hsin Alice

2015-05-01

The majority of research on attitudes about homosexuality has concentrated on the global North and on Christian and Muslim majority nations. Little research attention has been given to the factors that shape tolerance in societies with a Confucian heritage. Residents of Confucian counties are less tolerant than Europeans and Americans. One reason given for this difference is the emphasis on Confucian values in many Asian societies. Using data from the World Values Survey, we examine whether values that could be described as Confucian influence attitudes in Confucian and non-Confucian nations. We find a unique Confucian cultural effect, which can partially be explained with concerns about keeping the family intact. Conversely, in Confucian societies values related to obedience, conformity, and filial piety are unrelated to attitudes. There is also a small Buddhist contextual effect, resulting in more tolerant attitudes, and the Confucian influence cannot be reduced to an Asian regional effect. Published by Elsevier Inc.

A Freshman Academy's Influence on Student Connectivity, Attendance, and Academic Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LoPresti, Nancy O.

2017-01-01

The transition from 8th to 9th grade, from middle school to high school, is considered one of the most challenging experiences in an adolescent's life. Ninth-grade transition programs, often referred to as freshman academies, have been developed and implemented over the last decade to address the needs of 9th grade students. The purpose of this…

Public attitudes toward forest management: a Shawnee National Forest example

Treesearch

Joanne Vining

2003-01-01

One of the fundamental problems of modern public lands management is the accurate and representative assessment of public opinion. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in perceptions and attitudes of Shawnee National Forest management activities and plans among members of local and regional publics. A survey was administered to members of the public in...

Student Drug Use, Attitudes, and Beliefs: National Trends 1975-1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnston, Lloyd D.; And Others

This report presents findings from the national research and reporting program, Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of the Lifestyle and Values of Youth, and is the sixth in an annual series reporting the drug use and related attitudes of high school seniors; the report covers the high school classes of 1975-1982. Two of the major topics…

A Comparative Study of Academic Achievement and Participation in a High School Freshman Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seng, Mark Patrick

2014-01-01

The transition to high school can be problematic for many ninth graders. Researchers and administrators have sought ways to improve academic performance and promotion rates while reducing dropout rates. A quantitative causal-comparative (ex post facto) and correlation study using a two-group design compared two freshman classes at separate…

Does Hamlet Belong in Freshman Composition? The Debatable Role of Canonical Literature in Composition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitzwilliam, Marie A.

2006-01-01

The question of whether "Hamlet" belongs in a freshman composition classroom is one that institutions are making easier to answer, though perhaps for political rather than pedagogical reasons. This article describes a project in which Marie Fitzwilliam and her colleagues were asked to engage in a dialogue with the administration on…

Project-Based Curriculum for Teaching Analytical Design to Freshman Engineering Students via Reconfigurable Trebuchets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herber, Daniel R.; Deshmukh, Anand P.; Mitchell, Marlon E.; Allison, James T.

2016-01-01

This paper presents an effort to revitalize a large introductory engineering course for incoming freshman students that teaches them analytical design through a project-based curriculum. This course was completely transformed from a seminar-based to a project-based course that integrates hands-on experimentation with analytical work. The project…

A Hands-On Freshman Survey Course to Steer Undergraduates into Microsystems Coursework and Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eddings, M. A.; Stephenson, J. C.; Harvey, I. R.

2009-01-01

Full class loads and inflexible schedules can be a significant obstacle in the implementation of freshman survey courses designed to guide engineering students into emerging research areas such as micro- and nanosystems. A hands-on, interactive course was developed to excite freshmen early in their engineering program to pursue research and…

Relationships between Grades in the Components of Freshman Music Theory and Selected Background Variables.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrison, Carole S.

1990-01-01

Determines how academic ability, music experience, and musical aptitude contribute to grade prediction in the written-work, ear-training, sight-singing, and keyboard-harmonics portions of two college freshman music theory courses. Finds Scholastic Aptitude Test mathematics scores the best predictor of grades in written work and ear training.…

The Paper Beam: Hands-On Design for Team Work Experience of Freshman in Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalkani, Efrossini C.; Boussiakou, Iris K.; Boussiakou, Leda G.

2005-01-01

The present research refers to the assigning of a hands-on group project to freshman engineering students, evaluating their performance, and deriving conclusions on student benefits and educational advances. The research procedure included action plans for the instructor and the students, instructions to the students on performing the work,…

Beating the Freshman 15

MedlinePlus

... some easy ways to adopt a healthy food attitude: avoid eating when stressed, while studying, or while ... water or skim milk Be aware of your attitude toward food. If you find yourself fixating on ...

Strategies Employed by Iranian EFL Freshman University Students in Extensive Listening: A Qualitative Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bidabadi, Farinaz Shirani; Yamat, Hamidah

2014-01-01

This paper discusses the findings of a qualitative study on the strategies employed by Iranian freshmen in extensive listening. A group of 12 freshman university students were purposefully selected based on their scores in the Oxford Placement Test administered. Four learners were identified as advanced, four as intermediate, and four as lower…

Development of a Maximum Admissions Index for Freshman Admissions to the University of Washington.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lunneborg, Clifford E.

A new technique has been developed for admitting new freshman students at the University of Washington. Previously, an Admissions Index (AI) was used, in which the high school grade point average (HSGPA) was assigned twice the weight of the composite verbal and quantitative scores from the Washington Pre-College Test Battery (WPC). To offset the…

Law and Society Perspectives in the Basic Law School Curriculum: Critique of an Interdisciplinary Experiment in Freshman Contracts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bard, Robert L.; Kurlantzick, Lewis

1977-01-01

Experience with an intensive effort to use interdisciplinary perspectives in a freshman legal contracts course to analyze door-to-door encyclopedia sales suggests that such programs are feasible. (Author/LBH)

2012 national survey on bicyclist and pedestrian attitudes and behavior : traffic tech : technology transfer series

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

In 2012, NHTSA conducted a national telephone survey to obtain a status report on attitudes, knowledge, and behavior related to outdoor walking and bicycling. This study updates national telephone survey data collected by NHTSA in 2002. The survey ad...

Career and Technical Education. National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Newsletter. Volume 20, Number 3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duckenfield, Marty, Ed.

2008-01-01

The "National Dropout Prevention Newsletter" is published quarterly by the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. This issue contains the following articles: (1) Why Do I Have to Learn This?; (2) 2008 NDPN Crystal Star Winners; (3) Effective Freshman Transition for School Improvement (David Livingston, John Greene, and Lindy Stahlman); (4)…

A Mixed-Methods Explanatory Study of the Failure Rate for Freshman STEM Calculus Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worthley, Mary R.; Gloeckner, Gene W.; Kennedy, Paul A.

2016-01-01

In this study we aimed to understand who was struggling in freshman calculus courses, and why. Concentrating on the Fall sections of the class, the best predictors for success (R[superscript 2] = 0.4) were placement test results, the student's own appraisal of the quality of mathematics teaching they received in high school, and the Motivated…

The Problem of Student Retention: The Bronx Community College Solution--The Freshman Year Initiative Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baron, Warren

In 1991, Bronx Community College, in New York, established the Freshman Year Initiative Program (FYIP), a comprehensive academic and counseling program designed to enhance academic achievement for a select group of first-semester students who require at least three remedial courses in English composition, reading, and/or mathematics. In order to…

National and State Attitudes of US Adults Toward Tobacco-Free School Grounds, 2009-2010.

PubMed

Kruger, Judy; Patel, Roshni; Kegler, Michelle C; Brener, Nancy D; King, Brian A

2015-12-31

Schools are an important environment for addressing tobacco use among youth. Tobacco-free school policies can help reduce the social acceptability of tobacco use and prevent tobacco initiation among youth. This study assessed attitudes toward tobacco-free school grounds among US adults. Data came from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a telephone survey of adults aged 18 or older in the 50 US states and District of Columbia. Respondents were considered to have a favorable attitude toward tobacco-free school grounds if they reported tobacco use should be completely banned on school grounds, including fields and parking lots, and at all school events. Data were assessed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression, overall and by tobacco use status. Correlates were sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, income, sexual orientation, US region, and whether respondent lived with any children aged 17 years or younger. Nationally, 86.1% of adults had a favorable attitude toward tobacco-free school grounds, with larger percentages among nontobacco users (91.9%) than current users (76.1%). State prevalence ranged from 80.0% (Kentucky) to 90.9% (Washington). Overall odds of favorable attitudes were higher among nontobacco users (referent, current users), women (referent, men), and adults aged 25 or older (referent, aged 18-24); odds were lower among residents of the South (referent, West) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender adults (referent, heterosexual or straight). Nearly 9 in 10 US adults have a favorable attitude toward tobacco-free school grounds, but attitudes vary across states and subpopulations. Opportunities exist to educate the public about the benefits of tobacco-free school grounds, which might help reduce tobacco use among youth.

Interactive Web-Based and Hands-On Engineering Education: A Freshman Aerospace Design Course at MIT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Dava J.

"Introduction to Aerospace and Design" is a 3-hour per week freshman elective course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that culminates in a Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) vehicle design competition, exposing freshmen to the excitement of aerospace engineering design typically taught in the junior or senior years. In addition to the…

Attitudes toward Bisexual Men and Women among a Nationally Representative Probability Sample of Adults in the United States.

PubMed

Dodge, Brian; Herbenick, Debby; Friedman, M Reuel; Schick, Vanessa; Fu, Tsung-Chieh Jane; Bostwick, Wendy; Bartelt, Elizabeth; Muñoz-Laboy, Miguel; Pletta, David; Reece, Michael; Sandfort, Theo G M

2016-01-01

As bisexual individuals in the United States (U.S.) face significant health disparities, researchers have posited that these differences may be fueled, at least in part, by negative attitudes, prejudice, stigma, and discrimination toward bisexual individuals from heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals. Previous studies of individual and social attitudes toward bisexual men and women have been conducted almost exclusively with convenience samples, with limited generalizability to the broader U.S. Our study provides an assessment of attitudes toward bisexual men and women among a nationally representative probability sample of heterosexual, gay, lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. Data were collected from the 2015 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), via an online questionnaire with a probability sample of adults (18 years and over) from throughout the U.S. We included two modified 5-item versions of the Bisexualities: Indiana Attitudes Scale (BIAS), validated sub-scales that were developed to measure attitudes toward bisexual men and women. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gamma regression, and paired t-tests. Gender, sexual identity, age, race/ethnicity, income, and educational attainment were all significantly associated with participants' attitudes toward bisexual individuals. In terms of responses to individual scale items, participants were most likely to "neither agree nor disagree" with all attitudinal statements. Across sexual identities, self-identified other participants reported the most positive attitudes, while heterosexual male participants reported the least positive attitudes. As in previous research on convenience samples, we found a wide range of demographic characteristics were related with attitudes toward bisexual individuals in our nationally-representative study of heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. In particular, gender emerged as a significant characteristic

The Nation and the Family: The Impact of National Identification and Perceived Importance of Family Values on Homophobic Attitudes in Lithuania and Scotland.

PubMed

Wakefield, Juliet R H; Kalinauskaite, Monika; Hopkins, Nick

The meanings attached to the nation can be consequential for group members' attitudes and beliefs. We examined how national identity definition can influence the extent of individuals' homophobia with 159 Lithuanian and 176 Scottish university students who completed a questionnaire which measured their national identification, homophobia, and the extent to which they felt traditional family values were central to their nation's identity. Consistent with nation-wide differences in the significance given to the family, Lithuanian participants perceived family values to be more important for their national identity and expressed higher levels of homophobia than did Scottish participants. Moreover, the relationship between level of national identification and homophobia was stronger in Lithuania than in Scotland. Analyses revealed that the perceived importance of family values helped explain the difference between homophobia levels in Lithuania and Scotland. In both sites we found an indirect effect of national identification on homophobia via the perceived importance of family values, but this effect was significantly stronger for Lithuanian participants. These findings illustrate the ways in which identification with the nation is relevant to attitudes concerning sexuality, and how this varies according to national context. Our work indicates that LGBT rights campaigns should be informed by the knowledge that homophobia may be perpetuated by national valorisation of the family.

Reaching Information Society Targets: Do National Culture Attitudes about ICT Acceptance and Use Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hannan, Daniel D.

2013-01-01

The purpose of the study was to address a gap in the scholarly literature about one of the factors related to the Global Digital Divide by expanding the body of generalizable knowledge about the relationship between national culture attitudes about information and communications technology (ICT) acceptance and use (A&U) and national ICT use…

Medical students' exposure to and attitudes about drug company interactions: a national survey.

PubMed

Sierles, Frederick S; Brodkey, Amy C; Cleary, Lynn M; McCurdy, Frederick A; Mintz, Matthew; Frank, Julia; Lynn, D Joanne; Chao, Jason; Morgenstern, Bruce Z; Shore, William; Woodard, John L

2005-09-07

While exposure to and attitudes about drug company interactions among residents have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about relationships between drug companies and medical students. To measure third-year medical students' exposure to and attitudes about drug company interactions. In 2003, we distributed a 64-item anonymous survey to 1143 third-year students at 8 US medical schools, exploring their exposure and response to drug company interactions. The schools' characteristics included a wide spectrum of ownership types, National Institutes of Health funding, and geographic locations. In 2005, we conducted a national survey of student affairs deans to measure the prevalence of school-wide policies on drug company-medical student interactions. Monthly frequency of students' exposure to various activities and gifts during clerkships, and attitudes about receiving gifts. Overall response rate was 826/1143 (72.3%), with range among schools of 30.9%-90.7%. Mean exposure for each student was 1 gift or sponsored activity per week. Of respondents, 762/818 (93.2%) were asked or required by a physician to attend at least 1 sponsored lunch. Regarding attitudes, 556/808 (68.8%) believed gifts would not influence their practices and 464/804 (57.7%) believed gifts would not affect colleagues' practices. Of the students, 553/604 (80.3%) believed that they were entitled to gifts. Of 183 students who thought a gift valued at less than $50 was inappropriate, 158 (86.3%) had accepted one. The number of students who simultaneously believed that sponsored grand rounds are educationally helpful and are likely to be biased was 452/758 (59.6%). Students at 1 school who had attended a seminar about drug company-physician relationships were no more likely than the nonattending classmates to show skepticism. Of the respondents, 704/822 (85.6%) did not know if their school had a policy on these relationships. In a national survey of student affairs deans, among the 99 who

A Randomized Trial Investigating the Effect of a Brief Lifestyle Intervention on Freshman-Year Weight Gain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Middleton, Kathryn R.; Perri, Michael G.

2014-01-01

Objective: The current study was a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of an innovative, short-term lifestyle intervention on weight gain in female freshman college students. Participants: Ninety-five freshmen were recruited from a large public university in the United States. Methods: Participants completed baseline assessments…

The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 1988.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astin, Alexander W.; And Others

The 23rd annual report of national normative data on the characteristics of students attending American colleges and universities as first-time, full-time freshmen is presented. This project of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program of the American Council on Education and the Graduate School of Education at the University of California,…

The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 1986.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astin, Alexander W.; And Others

National normative data on characteristics of students entering college as first-time, full-time freshmen are presented, based on results of the fall 1986 Cooperative Institutional Research Program survey. The data are weighted to represent the population of freshmen. Extensive statistical data are reported separately for women and men, and for 37…

The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 1991.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astin, Alexander W.; And Others

This report presents national normative data on the major trends and characteristics of 1.6 million students attending American colleges and universities as first-time, full-time freshmen. The normative data are reported separately for men and for women and for 35 different institutional groupings. Among the findings are the following: (1) student…

The American Freshman National Norms for Fall 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Astin, Alexander W.; And Others

This is the 22nd annual report of national normative data on the characteristics of students attending American colleges and universities as first-time, full-time freshmen. The normative data are reported separately for men and women, and for 35 groupings of institutions. The major stratifying factors are institutional race (predominantly black…

The Library in the Laboratory: Implementing an Online Library Tutorial in a Freshman Biology Lab

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barkley, Meg

2018-01-01

Online tutorials are a way many librarians connect with students. The main benefit is the ability to reach more students than traditional face-to-face instruction sessions. In 2016, the Life & Health Sciences Librarian received instruction session requests for a freshman biology lab to teach students how to search for articles and use proper…

The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 1999.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sax, Linda J.; Astin, Alexander W.; Korn, William S.; Mahoney, Kathryn M.

This 34th annual report of national normative data on college freshmen is part of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program's (CIRP) longitudinal study to assess the effects of college on students. Data for this study is based on 261,217 entering students at 462 U.S. two- and four-year colleges and universities, and is statistically adjusted…

Pros and Cons of a Group Webpage Design Project in a Freshman Anatomy and Physiology Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crisp, Kevin M.; Jensen, Murray; Moore, Randy

2007-01-01

To generate motivation and promote the development of written communication skills, students in a freshman-level anatomy and physiology course for nonmajors created group webpages describing historically important diseases. After the groups had been formed, each individual was assigned specific components of the disease (e.g., causes or…

Portals of Entry: University Colleges and Undergraduate Divisions. The Freshman Year Experience. Monograph Series Number 12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strommer, Diane W., Ed.

This monograph offers seven case studies and supporting papers on university colleges and undergraduate divisions and their role in shaping the freshman college experience. An introductory section offers a preface, information on the authors and a first chapter "University Colleges Today" by Diane W. Strommer which examines the…

Interest in Teaching Careers Rising; Technology and Nursing Careers Falling Sharply. 1987 Freshman Survey Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higher Education Research Inst., Inc., Los Angeles, CA.

According to the 22nd annual survey of entering freshmen in the United States, freshman interest in teaching careers has increased by more than two-thirds since 1982. However, this level of interest still falls short of the projected demand. The 1987 data also suggest potential problems with future supplies of certain technology and health care…

Attitudes of Employees of Provincial Directorates of National Education and School Administrators towards Strategic Planning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altinkurt, Yahya

2010-01-01

The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes of employees of Provincial Directorates of National Education and school administrators towards strategic planning. The research was designed as a survey model study. The population of the research consisted of employees of Provincial Directorate of National Education of Kutahya and school…

Attitudes toward Bisexual Men and Women among a Nationally Representative Probability Sample of Adults in the United States

PubMed Central

Herbenick, Debby; Friedman, M. Reuel; Schick, Vanessa; Fu, Tsung-Chieh (Jane); Bostwick, Wendy; Bartelt, Elizabeth; Muñoz-Laboy, Miguel; Pletta, David; Reece, Michael; Sandfort, Theo G. M.

2016-01-01

As bisexual individuals in the United States (U.S.) face significant health disparities, researchers have posited that these differences may be fueled, at least in part, by negative attitudes, prejudice, stigma, and discrimination toward bisexual individuals from heterosexual and gay/lesbian individuals. Previous studies of individual and social attitudes toward bisexual men and women have been conducted almost exclusively with convenience samples, with limited generalizability to the broader U.S. population. Our study provides an assessment of attitudes toward bisexual men and women among a nationally representative probability sample of heterosexual, gay, lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. Data were collected from the 2015 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), via an online questionnaire with a probability sample of adults (18 years and over) from throughout the U.S. We included two modified 5-item versions of the Bisexualities: Indiana Attitudes Scale (BIAS), validated sub-scales that were developed to measure attitudes toward bisexual men and women. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gamma regression, and paired t-tests. Gender, sexual identity, age, race/ethnicity, income, and educational attainment were all significantly associated with participants' attitudes toward bisexual individuals. In terms of responses to individual scale items, participants were most likely to “neither agree nor disagree” with all attitudinal statements. Across sexual identities, self-identified other participants reported the most positive attitudes, while heterosexual male participants reported the least positive attitudes. As in previous research on convenience samples, we found a wide range of demographic characteristics were related with attitudes toward bisexual individuals in our nationally-representative study of heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and other-identified adults in the U.S. In particular, gender emerged as a significant

Inquiry-Based Freshman Seminar on "What You Can (Or Should Not) Do to End Global Poverty"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kisaalita, William S.

2018-01-01

Offering first year seminars and experiences is well-established as one of the high-impact educational practices. An inquiry-based freshman seminar in which students conduct poverty simulation term projects has been offered for five years at the University of Georgia. The students have four project options of: dressing the part and panhandling…

The Effects of Process-Centered and Form-Centered Instruction on the Coherence of College Freshman Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Wesley K.

This comparative study evaluated the writing growth of 97 college freshman before and after instruction to determine if a process-centered mode of teaching had a more significant impact than a traditional form-centered mode of instruction on discourse coherence in composition. The study used a pretest/posttest, quasi-experimental design with both…

The National Report Card on Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors: The Seventh Annual Survey of Adult Americans.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, Washington, DC.

This study investigates environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among adult Americans. Public attitudes as they exist today and how they have changed over the past seven years are evaluated. A nationally representative sample of 2,000 Americans aged 18 and older were surveyed by Roper Starch Worldwide in May, 1998. Part 1 presents…

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VIII: Teens and Parents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Columbia Univ., New York, NY. National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

For eight years, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) has been engaged in the undertaking of surveying attitudes of teens and those who most influence them--parents, teachers and school principals. While other surveys seek to measure the extent of substance abuse in the population, the CASA back to school survey probes…

National survey of speeding and unsafe driving attitudes and behaviors : 2002. Volume 2, Findings

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-05-01

This report represents findings from a survey on speeding and unsafe driving attitudes and behaviors. The data come from a pair of studies undertaken by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to better understand drivers' behavior...

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2010

2010-01-01

This 15th annual "back-to-school survey" continues the unique effort of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University to track attitudes of teens and those, like parents, who influence them. Over a decade and a half, through this survey the researchers have identified factors that increase or decrease the…

Is Nursing a Viable Career for Blacks? (A Study of Black and White Freshman Nursing Students).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Michael H.

It has been suggested that underrepresentation of blacks in professional nursing results from insufficient black-nurse role models. This study of 331 black and white freshman nursing students in three, two year, associate degree programs argues that blacks are not professional nurses for reasons other than a lack of role models. The results show…

Environmental Nanoscience: Turning Outreach Activities into a College Freshman Seminar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, M. L.; Lau, B.

2017-12-01

Teaching nano concepts can be a daunting task due to the varying science backgrounds of the audience. Nonetheless, nanoscience education is important as nanotechnology expands. Our perspective is that nano education must be available at earlier stages than what is currently available. Through outreach activities, we examined how high school students and STEM middle/high school teachers approached answering questions about nanomaterials and the environment to design an effective freshman-level college seminar with achievable course goals. Specifically, participants were asked: 1) what color would you expect gold nanoparticles to be; 2) what are ways we can remove nanomaterials from the environment; and 3) what do you expect will happen to nanomaterials when salt is introduced into the system? Initial analysis showed STEM middle and high school teachers and high school students responded similarly. In response to question 1, the majority of the responses suggested color was a function of size. For question 2, both groups suggested the use of filters, magnets or a chemical reaction to remove the nanomaterials. For question 3, both groups expected a chemical reaction to occur. Understanding how foundational high school STEM concepts influenced responses could assist in the curriculum development for an introductory undergraduate nanoscience course. For example, familiar principles of physics and chemistry appeared to direct student responses. From these results, we developed three course goals to test in our college freshman seminar: 1) differentiate between properties of nanomaterials and conventional materials; 2) describe the role of nanomaterials in household items; and 3) form an opinion on the potential impacts of nanoscience and technology on the human health and the environment. Surveys from our first semester showed that the seminar was effective in achieving all course goals for the majority of students.

Freshman Seminars: Interdisciplinary Engagements in Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemenway, M. K.

2006-08-01

The Freshman Seminar program at the University of Texas is designed to allow groups of fifteen students an engaging introduction to the University. The seminars introduce students to the resources of the university and allow them to identify interesting subjects for further research or future careers. An emphasis on oral and written communication by the students provides these first-year students a transition to college-level writing and thinking. Seminar activities include field trips to an art museum, a research library, and the Humanities Research Center rare book collection. This paper will report on two seminars, each fifteen weeks in length. In "The Galileo Scandal" students examine Galileo's struggle with the church (including a mock trial). They perform activities that connect his use of the telescope and observations to astronomical concepts. In "Astronomy and the Humanities" students analyze various forms of human expression that have astronomical connections (art, drama, literature, music, poetry, and science fiction); they perform hands-on activities to reinforce the related astronomy concepts. Evaluation of the seminars indicates student engagement and improvement in communication skills. Many of the activities could be used independently to engage students enrolled in standard introductory astronomy classes.

Correlates of Academic Performance of Freshman Students at the College of Micronesia--Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamsis, Pablo H., Jr.

2010-01-01

The study aimed to correlate the performance of Pohnpei Campus freshman students in the College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia during the fall semester 2009 to students' socio-demographic characteristics, parents'/guardians' socio-demographic characteristics, and school characteristics. The Student Survey Questionnaire gathered data…

Systems of attitudes towards production in the pork industry. A cross-national study.

PubMed

Sørensen, Bjarne Taulo; Barcellos, Marcia Dutra de; Olsen, Nina Veflen; Verbeke, Wim; Scholderer, Joachim

2012-12-01

Existing research on public attitudes towards agricultural production systems is largely descriptive, abstracting from the processes through which members of the general public generate their evaluations of such systems. The present paper adopts a systems perspective on such evaluations, understanding them as embedded into a wider attitude system that consists of attitudes towards objects of different abstraction levels, ranging from personal value orientations over general socio-political attitudes to evaluations of specific characteristics of agricultural production systems. It is assumed that evaluative affect propagates through the system in such a way that the system becomes evaluatively consistent and operates as a schema for the generation of evaluative judgments. In the empirical part of the paper, the causal structure of an attitude system from which people derive their evaluations of pork production systems was modelled. The analysis was based on data from a cross-national survey involving 1931 participants from Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Poland. The survey questionnaire contained measures of personal value orientations and attitudes towards environment and nature, industrial food production, food and the environment, technological progress, animal welfare, local employment and local economy. In addition, the survey included a conjoint task by which participants' evaluations of the importance of production system attributes were measured. The data were analysed by means of causal search algorithms and structural equation models. The results suggest that evaluative judgments of the importance of pork production system attributes are generated in a schematic manner, driven by personal value orientations. The effect of personal value orientations was strong and largely unmediated by attitudes of an intermediate level of generality, suggesting that the dependent variables in the particular attitude system that was modelled here can be understood as value

The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS):Predictive invariance of Demographic Characteristics on Attitudes towards Alcohol across Hispanic National Groups#

PubMed Central

Mills, Britain A.; Caetano, Raul; Bernstein, Ira H.

2011-01-01

This study compares the demographic predictors of items assessing attitudes towards drinking across Hispanic national groups. Data were from the 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS), which used a multistage cluster sample design to interview 5,224 individuals randomly selected from the household population in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. Predictive invariance of demographic predictors of alcohol attitudes over four Hispanic national groups (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican, and South/Central Americans) was examined using multiple-group seemingly unrelated probit regression. The analyses examined whether the influence of various demographic predictors varied across the Hispanic national groups in their regression coefficients, item intercepts, and error correlations. The hypothesis of predictive invariance was supported. Hispanic groups did not differ in how demographic predictors related to individual attitudinal items (regression slopes were invariant). In addition, the groups did not differ in attitudinal endorsement rates once demographic covariates were taken into account (item intercepts were invariant). Although Hispanic groups have different attitudes about alcohol, the influence of multiple demographic characteristics on alcohol attitudes operates similarly across Hispanic groups. Future models of drinking behavior in adult Hispanics need not posit moderating effects of group on the relation between these background characteristics and attitudes. PMID:25379120

Virtual Academic Community: Online Education Instructors' Social Presence in Association with Freshman Composition Students' Critical Thinking and Argumentation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paquette, Paige Fuller

2009-01-01

There is much literature addressing challenges face-to-face freshman composition instructors encounter in developing college courses that foster critical thinking skills crucial to developing written argument. Composition instructors may face challenges in teaching students that writing is a means of making meaning, there are many different…

The Relationship between Listening Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Freshman University Students and Their Listening Proficiency Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bidabadi, Farinaz Shirani; Yamat, Hamidah

2011-01-01

The purpose of the current study was to identify Iranian EFL freshman university students' listening proficiency levels and the listening strategies they employed to investigate the relationship between these two variables. A total of 92 freshmen were involved in this study. The Oxford Placement Test was employed to identify the learners'…

The Chicken Soup Effect: The Role of Recreation and Intramural Participation in Boosting Freshman Grade Point Average

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbison, Godfrey A.; Henry, Tracyann L.; Perkins-Brown, Jayne

2011-01-01

Freshman grade point average, in particular first semester grade point average, is an important predictor of survival and eventual student success in college. As many institutions of higher learning are searching for ways to improve student success, one would hope that policies geared towards the success of freshmen have long term benefits…

National and State-Specific Attitudes toward Smoke-Free Parks among U.S. Adults

PubMed Central

Kruger, Judy; Jama, Amal; Kegler, Michelle; Marynak, Kristy; King, Brian

2016-01-01

Outdoor places, such as parks, remain a source of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. We assessed attitudes toward smoke-free parks among U.S. adults. Data came from the 2009–2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a landline and cellular telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥18 in the 50 U.S. states and D.C. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of attitudes toward smoke-free parks, overall and by current tobacco use. Overall, 38.5% of adults reported favorable attitudes toward complete smoke-free parks; prevalence ranged from 29.2% in Kentucky to 48.2% in Maine. Prevalence of favorable attitudes toward smoke-free parks was higher among nonusers of tobacco (44.6%) and noncombustible-only users (30.0%) than any combustible users (21.3%). The adjusted odds of having a favorable attitude were higher among: women; Hispanics and Black non-Hispanics, American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanics, and other non-Hispanics; those with an unspecified sexual orientation; and those with children aged ≤17 in the household, relative to each characteristics respective referent group. Odds were lower among: any combustible tobacco and noncombustible-only tobacco users; adults aged 45–64; and those with some college or an undergraduate degree. Opportunities exist to educate the public about the benefits of smoke-free outdoor environments. PMID:27589779

National and State-Specific Attitudes toward Smoke-Free Parks among U.S. Adults.

PubMed

Kruger, Judy; Jama, Amal; Kegler, Michelle; Marynak, Kristy; King, Brian

2016-08-31

Outdoor places, such as parks, remain a source of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. We assessed attitudes toward smoke-free parks among U.S. adults. Data came from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a landline and cellular telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥18 in the 50 U.S. states and D.C. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of attitudes toward smoke-free parks, overall and by current tobacco use. Overall, 38.5% of adults reported favorable attitudes toward complete smoke-free parks; prevalence ranged from 29.2% in Kentucky to 48.2% in Maine. Prevalence of favorable attitudes toward smoke-free parks was higher among nonusers of tobacco (44.6%) and noncombustible-only users (30.0%) than any combustible users (21.3%). The adjusted odds of having a favorable attitude were higher among: women; Hispanics and Black non-Hispanics, American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanics, and other non-Hispanics; those with an unspecified sexual orientation; and those with children aged ≤17 in the household, relative to each characteristics respective referent group. Odds were lower among: any combustible tobacco and noncombustible-only tobacco users; adults aged 45-64; and those with some college or an undergraduate degree. Opportunities exist to educate the public about the benefits of smoke-free outdoor environments.

Cross-National Attitudes and Perceptions Concerning Software Piracy: A Comparative Study of Students from the United States and China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rawlinson, David R.; Lupton, Robert A.

2007-01-01

Students' attitudes and perceptions regarding the use of unlicensed software are important to educators and businesses. Students have a proven propensity to pirate software and other intellectual property. By understanding how attitudes and perceptions toward software piracy differ among university students in a cross-national context, educators…

The Relationship of Learning Communities to Engineering Students' Perceptions of the Freshman Year Experience, Academic Performance, and Persistence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tolley, Patricia Ann Separ

2009-01-01

The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the effects of a residential learning community and enrollment in an introductory engineering course to engineering students' perceptions of the freshman year experience, academic performance, and persistence. The sample included students enrolled in a large, urban, public, research university…

Effectiveness of Three Case Studies and Associated Teamwork in Stimulating Freshman Interest in an Introduction to Engineering Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McIntyre, Joseph S.

2011-01-01

The effectiveness of three case studies and associated teamwork to stimulate interest of college freshman in engineering was investigated by observing students. Case studies were assigned as laboratory team exercises in an introduction to engineering course at Auburn University. Student interest in the case studies was evaluated qualitatively…

How Many Graduate? A Study of the Freshman Class of 1979 at San Juan High School. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallant, Steve; Housden, Theresa

The large number of dropouts estimated by the California State Department of Education has caused concern for educators, lawmakers, and the general public. A 1985 investigation of the graduation rate of the 1979 freshman class of San Juan High School was conducted which also sought to identify logistical problems with the collection of data needed…

The Impact of a Freshman Mentoring Program on Student Success within a Large Chicago Suburban High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Killeen, Jennifer

2017-01-01

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to determine the impact a freshman mentoring program will have on student achievement, student discipline and student attendance within a large suburban high school. There does not seem to be much previous research on this topic in particular, therefore much of the research focused on the transition…

Athletic trainers' attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes.

PubMed

Ensign, Kristine A; Yiamouyiannis, Athena; White, Kristi M; Ridpath, B David

2011-01-01

Researchers have investigated heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexuals, focusing on factors such as sex, race, religion, education, and contact experiences. However, in the context of sport, this research is deficient. We found no published literature investigating athletic trainers (ATs') attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual student-athletes (LGB). To determine heterosexual ATs' attitudes toward LGB student-athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Cross-sectional study. E-mailed survey. A total of 964 ATs employed at member institutions. We measured attitudes using the Attitudes Toward Lesbian, Gay Men, and Bisexuals (ATLGB) Scale. To determine the extent to which sex, religion, and whether having an LGB friend or family member had an effect on ATs' attitudes, we performed analysis of variance. To establish the effect of age on ATs' attitudes, we calculated a Pearson correlation. We used an independent t test to identify differences between ATs who reported working with LGB student-athletes and ATs who did not. With ATLGB score as the dependent factor, a main effect was noted for sex, religion, and having an LGB friend or family member (P < .01 for all comparisons). Age and total score were related (P < .01). A difference was seen in the ATLGB scores between ATs who were aware of LGB student-athletes on their teams and ATs who were not (P < .001). Many ATs hold positive attitudes toward LGB student-athletes, especially females, those who have an LGB friend or family member, and those who are aware of LGB student-athletes. Still, it is important to provide an open environment in the athletic training room for all student-athletes.

The Recreational Fee Demonstration Program on the national forests: and updated analysis of public attitudes and beliefs, 1996-2001.

Treesearch

David N. Bengston; David P. Fan

2002-01-01

Analyzes trends in favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program (RFDP) in the national forests, updating an earlier study using computer content analysis of the public debate. About 65 percent of the attitudes toward the RFDP were favorable, comparable to the findings of survey research.

Attitudes toward science among grades 3 through 12 Arab students in Qatar: findings from a cross-sectional national study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Said, Ziad; Summers, Ryan; Abd-El-Khalick, Fouad; Wang, Shuai

2016-03-01

This study assessed students' attitudes toward science in Qatar. A cross-sectional, nationwide probability sample representing all students enrolled in grades 3 through 12 in the various types of schools in Qatar completed the 'Arabic Speaking Students' Attitudes toward Science Survey' (ASSASS). The validity and reliability of the 32-item instrument, encompassing five sub-scales, have already been shown to be robust. The present analysis focused on responses from 1978 participants representing the students who completed the ASSASS in Arabic. Descriptive statistics were computed and a competing pair of multiple indicators multiple causes models is presented that attempt to link patterns in students' responses to the ASSASS with a set of indicators. The final model retained student age, gender, nationality (i.e. Qatari vs. Non-Qatari Arab), and school type as indicators. Findings from this study suggest that participants' attitudes toward science decrease with age, and that these attitudes and related preferences are influenced by students' nationality and the type of school they attend. Equally important, the often-reported advantages for male over female precollege students in terms of attitudes toward science were much less prominent in the present study.

The Impact of Career Workshops on Freshman College Students At-Risk for Dropout: An Action Research Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Donjanea F.

2012-01-01

College students on probation are generally considered at-risk for dropping out, as indicated by a wide range of literature. This article focuses on an action research study that explored the impact of a career workshop series on freshman students in a probation course at a medium-sized university located in the southeastern United States. The…

Inbound College Students Drink Heavily during the Summer before Their Freshman Year: Implications for Education and Prevention Efforts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Aaron; Swartzwelder, H. Scott

2009-01-01

Background: Alcohol misuse among college students remains a pervasive problem. Relatively little is known about alcohol consumption by incoming students during the summer between high school graduation and the start of the freshman year. It is possible that many students bring unhealthy drinking habits with them to college. Purpose: The present…

Asperger syndrome and DSM-5: a dilemma for a college freshman.

PubMed

Galligan, Meghan G; Feinstein, Carl; Sulkes, Stephen S; Bisagno, Joan M; Stein, Martin T

2013-09-01

Angela is an 18-year-old college freshman who made an appointment with her pediatrician because of academic and social difficulties at college. She was diagnosed with Asperger disorder at age 6 based on difficulties relating to adults and peers, perseverative patterns of interest, and normal language development.She received special education services in middle school to help follow directions and complete assignments. She reports feeling very isolated during this time. In freshman year of high school, she insisted on discontinuing special education and managed with weekly private individual psychotherapy.In sophomore year, Angela learned strategies to get additional help from her teachers about assignments, and her grades improved. Socially, she formed a close friendship with a classmate who was also on the autistic spectrum, and she found a group of friends through this individual. As a senior with an upward grade trajectory and good SAT scores, she was admitted to a competitive 4-year college. In a precollege consult 6 months ago, she was anxious about fitting in.Angela began college classes without accommodations, but she now describes a challenging semester. She has not made many friends. She finds her courses difficult and does not fully understand assignments. She believes her peers dislike her. She thinks she would benefit from receiving note-taking and other services and asks you to document her disability for the college so that she might obtain accommodations.You point out that the DSM-5 eliminates the Asperger category. Angela is concerned. She does not believe that her profile is consistent with autism spectrum disorder, and she fears that being labeled as autistic will be prejudicial at school. Yet she is worried about retaining eligibility for services on the basis of a disability. How do you counsel her?

Creating the Out-of-State University: Do Public Universities Increase Nonresident Freshman Enrollment in Response to Declining State Appropriations?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaquette, Ozan; Curs, Bradley R.

2015-01-01

This study investigates whether public universities respond to declines in state appropriations by increasing nonresident freshman enrollment. State higher education appropriations declined substantially during the 2000s, compelling public universities to become more dependent on net-tuition revenue. State policy controls often limit the growth of…

Public attitudes toward larger cigarette pack warnings: Results from a nationally representative U.S. sample

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

A large body of evidence supports the effectiveness of larger health warnings on cigarette packages. However, there is limited research examining attitudes toward such warning labels, which has potential implications for implementation of larger warning labels. The purpose of the current study was to examine attitudes toward larger warning sizes on cigarette packages and examine variables associated with more favorable attitudes. In a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 5,014), participants were randomized to different warning size conditions, assessing attitude toward “a health warning that covered (25, 50, 75) % of a cigarette pack.” SAS logistic regression survey procedures were used to account for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Across experimental groups, nearly three-quarters (72%) of adults had attitudes supportive of larger warning labels on cigarette packs. Among the full sample and smokers only (N = 1,511), most adults had favorable attitudes toward labels that covered 25% (78.2% and 75.2%, respectively), 50% (70% and 58.4%, respectively), and 75% (67.9% and 61%, respectively) of a cigarette pack. Young adults, females, racial/ethnic minorities, and non-smokers were more likely to have favorable attitudes toward larger warning sizes. Among smokers only, females and those with higher quit intentions held more favorable attitudes toward larger warning sizes. Widespread support exists for larger warning labels on cigarette packages among U.S. adults, including among smokers. Our findings support the implementation of larger health warnings on cigarette packs in the U.S. as required by the 2009 Tobacco Control Act. PMID:28253257

Implementation of Collaborative Learning as a High-Impact Practice in a Natural Resources Management Section of Freshman Seminar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McBroom, Matthew; Bullard, Steven; Kulhavy, David; Unger, Daniel

2015-01-01

Forestry and environmental science students enrolled in a one credit hour freshman seminar course participated in a land management evaluation and water quality sampling excursion using canoes and water sampling equipment. The purpose of this assessment was to engage students with hands-on, field based education in order to foster connections to…

A Study of Attitudes & Behavior Regarding Children's Education. The Third PTA National Education Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National PTA, Chicago, IL.

A national study assessed attitudes of minority and nonminority parents and nonparent adults on parent involvement and other educational issues. Telephone interviews with 1,148 adults, including 806 parents with at least one child in kindergarten through grade 12 and 342 adults (called "nonparents") who did not have children in those…

Entering Freshman Transfer and Career Students: A Comparison of Selected Educational Objectives with Recommendations for Transfer and Academic Advisement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Padula, Mary S.

The descriptive study investigated the extent to which entering freshman students and transfer students at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) are enrolled in degree programs that are compatible with their stated educational objectives, transfer intents, and degree intents. Subjects (N=376) enrolled in a mandatory orientation course were…

The Influence of a Freshman Orientation Course on the Academic Performance and Retention of New Community College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robles, Stacey Y.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a freshman orientation course on the academic performance and retention of new community college students. The study was designed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. A survey was distributed to students who attended Coral College (a pseudonym), California, from the fall of…

Emerging Realities of Text-to-Speech Software for Nonnative-English-Speaking Community College Students in the Freshman Year

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Fiona S.

2015-01-01

This study explores the expectations and early and subsequent realities of text-to-speech software for 24 nonnative-English-speaking college students who were experiencing reading difficulties in their freshman year of college. The study took place over two semesters in one academic year (from September to June) at a community college on the…

National standard setting for quality of care in general practice: attitudes of general practitioners and response to a set of standards.

PubMed Central

Grol, R

1990-01-01

The Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap (NHG), the college of general practitioners in the Netherlands, has begun a national programme of standard setting for the quality of care in general practice. When the standards have been drawn up and assessed they are disseminated via the journal Huisarts en Wetenschap. In a survey, carried out among a randomized sample of 10% of all general practitioners, attitudes towards national standard setting in general and to the first set of standards (diabetes care) were studied. The response was 70% (453 doctors). A majority of the respondents said they were well informed about the national standard setting initiatives instigated by the NHG (71%) and about the content of the first standards (77%). The general practitioners had a positive attitude towards the setting of national standards for quality of care, and this was particularly true for doctors who were members of the NHG. Although a large majority of doctors said they agreed with most of the guidelines in the diabetes standards fewer respondents were actually working to the guidelines and some of the standards are certain to meet with a lot of resistance. A better knowledge of the standards and a more positive attitude to the process of national standard setting correlated with a more positive attitude to the guidelines formulated in the diabetes standards. The results could serve as a starting point for an exchange of views about standard setting in general practice in other countries. PMID:2265001

Attitude to the subject of chemistry in undergraduate nursing students at Fiji National University and Federation University, Australia.

PubMed

Brown, Stephen; Wakeling, Lara; Peck, Blake; Naiker, Mani; Hill, Dolores; Naidu, Keshni

2015-01-01

Attitude to the subject of chemistry was quantified in first-year undergraduate nursing students, at two geographically distinct universities. A purpose-designed diagnostic instrument (ASCI) was given to students at Federation University, Australia (n= 114), and at Fiji National University, Fiji (n=160). Affective and cognitive sub-scales within ASCI showed reasonable internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha for the cognitive sub-scale was 0.786 and 0.630, and 0.787 and 0.788 for affective sub-scale for the Federation University and Fiji National University students, respectively. Mean (SD) score for the cognitive sub-scale was 10.5 (5.6) and 15.2 (4.1) for students at Federation University and Fiji National University, respectively (P<0.001, t-test). Mean (SD) score for the affective sub-scale was 13.1 (5.1) and 20.7 (4.3) for students at Federation University and Fiji National University, respectively (P < 0.001, t-test). An exploratory factor analysis (n=274) confirmed a two-factor solution consistent with affective and cognitive sub-scales, each with good internal consistency. Quantifying attitude to chemistry in undergraduate nursing students using ASCI may have utility in assessing the impact of novel teaching strategies used in the education of nursing students in areas of bioscience and chemistry. However, geographically distinct populations of undergraduate nurses may show very different attitudes to chemistry.

The Invisible Student: A Longitudinal Study of the Beginning Freshman Class of 1963 at the University of New Mexico.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winther, Sven F.; And Others

The 1963 Freshman class at the University of New Mexico was studied through June, 1968, for performance patterns in relation to overall performance, high school grade-point average, male-female, Spanish surnames and non-Spanish surnames. In addition to university furnished data, questionnaires were submitted to a stratified random sample of…

Comparing the AUDIT and 3 Drinking Indices as Predictors of Personal and Social Drinking Problems in Freshman First Offenders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Hare, Thomas

2005-01-01

The current study of 376 college freshman adjudicated the first time for breaking university drinking rules tested the predictive power of four alcohol consumption and problem drinking indices--recent changes in drinking (the Alcohol Change Index: ACI), heavy drinking, binge drinking index, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)…

An Exploration of How Involvement in a Freshman Retention Program Relates to Intention to Complete an Undergraduate Degree

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clounch, Teresa Lynn

2010-01-01

The study examined the relationship of the level and type of involvement of freshman students in the Hawk Link Retention Program, a first-year program at the University of Kansas, to intent to return and graduate. The study found that participants were retained at a high level but that their type and level of involvement were not related to…

[A four year study of the personal and interpersonal value systems of freshman nursing students at Yonsei University].

PubMed

Choi, Y S

1991-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the values of freshman nursing students and to determine changes each year over the four years of the study and to provide base data for curriculum and student guidance. The sample consisted of the freshman students who entered college of nursing from 1988 through 1991. The total sample was 358 students and data were collected during March of each of the four years. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation to examine the relationship between the subcategories of values and Duncan multiple range test to examine the relationship between the scores for each year and the demographic data. The instrument used in this study was the Survey of Personal Values and Interpersonal Values modified by UngYun Hwang and KyungHae Lee in accordance with L.V. Gordon's instrument. This tool provides scores on practical mindedness, achievement, variety, decisiveness, orderliness, goal orientation, support, conformity, recognition, independence, benevolence and leadership. The results of the study were as follows: 1. The nursing freshman students surveyed had the highest score for goal orientation (21.44) and the lowest for variety (17.13) on the SPV (Survey of Personal Values) and the highest score for benevolence (21.19) and lowest for leadership (17.00) on the SIV (Survey of Interpersonal Values). In accordance with the standardized scores for Gordon's SPV for other woman college students, the students in the study were between the 78%ile-97%ile and were in the 72%ile-97%ile for the SIV. 2. When t-test scores were compared, no significant variation was found between the years for each of the values (P less than .05). 3. A significant variation was found on variety, between 1989 and 1991 (P less than .05), and between 1988 and 1991. The highest score was in 1991 in both comparisons. Supporting was also higher for 1991 than for 1988 (P less than .05). 4. Religion and occupation of father did not show any significant

Collegiate Athletics: An Investigation into Athletic Persistence of Freshman Student-Athletes Participating in NCAA Division-III Varsity Athletic Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sombito, Lester Jamili

2015-01-01

Understanding of the persistence of student-athletes in athletics at the D-III level is complex. This research study investigated the issue of student-athlete retention by focusing on Division III (D-III) student-athlete persistence in athletics by asking the following research question, "To what extent do freshman student-athletes persist in…

1975 Manual of Freshman Profiles. Four-year Colleges and University Centers, State University of New York. 1976 Profile Supplement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

State Univ. of New York, Albany. Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Affairs.

The State University of New York compiles an information manual about freshman admission to the baccalaureate programs throughout the state. A profile summary for the four-year colleges and university centers is charted. An outline of costs and financial assistance available is provided to help the prospective student understand and prepare for…

Shock and Awe: Rapid-Fire Theory, Some Surprising Survey Results, and Triage Statistics in an Applied Freshman Research Seminar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kramer, Daniel Boyd; Schechter, Michael G.

2011-01-01

This article seeks to contribute to the evolving literature on the scholarship of teaching and learning. We do this by describing and then reflecting on what we have learned from a year-long freshman applied research seminar, "International Affairs Knowledge and U.S. Foreign Policy Opinions." After surveying the literature on public…

Attitudes on marriage and new relationships: Cross-national evidence on the deinstitutionalization of marriage

PubMed Central

Treas, Judith; Lui, Jonathan; Gubernskaya, Zoya

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND Consistent with the deinstitutionalization-of-marriage thesis, studies report a decline in support for marital conventions and increased approval of other relationship types. Generalizations are limited by the lack of cross-national research for a broad domain of attitudes on marriage and alternative arrangements, and by the lack of consensus on what counts as evidence. OBJECTIVE Acknowledging the conceptual distinction between expectations for behavior inside and outside marriage, we address the deinstitutionalization debate by testing whether support for marital conventions has declined for a range of attitudes across countries. METHODS Based on eleven International Social Survey Program items replicated between the late 1980s and the 2000s, OLS regressions evaluate attitude changes in up to 21 countries. RESULTS Consistent with the deinstitutionalization argument, disapproval declined for marital alternatives (cohabitation, unmarried parents, premarital and same-sex sex). For attitudes on the behavior of married people and the nature of marriage the results are mixed: despite a shift away from gender specialization, disapproval of extramarital sex increased over time. On most items, most countries changed as predicted by the deinstitutionalization thesis. CONCLUSIONS Attitude changes on ‘new relationships’ and marital alternatives are compatible with the deinstitutionalization of marriage. Beliefs arguably more central to the marital institution do not conform as neatly to this thesis. Because results are sensitive to the indicators used, the deinstitutionalization of marriage argument merits greater empirical and conceptual attention. PMID:26052248

Study of the Effectiveness of Multi-Cultural Education on the Attitude towards National Integration of High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perveen, Shaheen

2014-01-01

The present endeavour enables the students to gain information and knowledge about different sub-cultures as well as to develop positive attitude towards national integration. A country lives and thrives in its cultural heritage. Culture is a treasure to be preserved, perpetuated and promoted. Today's students will be the future nation builders.…

Compulsive Eating: The Emotional Link of Its Use as a Coping Mechanism for Resident Freshman Female College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beylerian, Nvair Kadian

An 18-year old's freshman year in college is not only a test of his or her intellect, but also a test in social skills, adaptability to new living situations, and other conditions. This study examined the link of emotions to compulsive eating and its use as a coping mechanism for female college students. It explores the stresses of the transition…

EPA Research and Development: National Exposure Research Laboratory

EPA Science Inventory

This course is for Biology majors, primarily those in the completed Freshman Biology. Students enrolled in the course are expected to have completed Freshman Biology. With some background in biology as a strt, students begin to think about doing some research as part of their u...

Relation between eating habits and a high body mass index among freshman students: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Gunes, Fatma Esra; Bekiroglu, Nural; Imeryuz, Nese; Agirbasli, Mehmet

2012-06-01

This study aimed to examine the relation between eating habits and a high body mass index (BMI) in first-year freshman university students and included 2525 freshman university students 18 to 22 years old from a Turkish population. İn this study, 48% of the students were men. They were asked to complete a questionnaire on their dietary habits including the frequency of their consumption of individual food items, demographic data, and smoking habit. The effects of eating habits on increased BMI (≥25) were analyzed. Of 2259 subjects included in the analyses, 322 were overweight or obese and 1937 had normal and thin BMI (<25). Multivariate analyses identified male gender, recent weight change, and high number of meals as independent predictors of obesity/overweight. Frequent consumptions of beer, alcoholic drinks other than beer and wine (e.g., spirits including whisky, gin, raki, vodka), coffee, tea, coke, red meat, variety meat, and eggs were associated with a significantly higher risk of obesity/overweight, whereas frequent consumption of snacks was associated with a low risk. Findings of further studies, possibly taking into consideration the absolute quantities of consumption along with cultural and local issues, would guide the adoption of healthier feeding behaviors in this particular age group.

A Feasibility Study to Determine the Possibility of Teaching Freshman Composition and Rhetoric with a Programmed Text. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lutz, William D.

The question of whether a significant amount of time could be saved if freshman composition were taught with a programed text was studied. Two sections of English I were randomly selected from the regular class schedule. Class A was taught using the usual syllabus and texts. Class B was taught using the same syllabus and texts with one exception.…

Improving physical activity, mental health outcomes, and academic retention in college students with Freshman 5 to Thrive: COPE/Healthy Lifestyles.

PubMed

Melnyk, Bernadette; Kelly, Stephanie; Jacobson, Diana; Arcoleo, Kimberly; Shaibi, Gabriel

2014-06-01

To assess the preliminary effects of a new course entitled Freshman 5 to Thrive/COPE Healthy Lifestyles on the cognitive beliefs, knowledge, mental health outcomes, healthy lifestyle choices, physical activity, and retention of college freshmen. Measures included demographics, nutrition knowledge, healthy lifestyle beliefs, healthy lifestyle perceived difficulty, healthy lifestyle choices, Beck Youth Inventories-II (anxiety, depression, anxiety, and destructive behavior), step count via pedometer, and college retention. The experimental COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) group had greater intentions to live a healthy lifestyle (p = .02) versus the comparison group. COPE students also significantly increased their physical activity (p = .003) from baseline to postintervention and had a higher college retention rate than students who did not take the course. In addition, there was a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms in COPE students whose baseline scores were elevated. The Freshman 5 to Thrive Course is a promising intervention that can be used to enhance healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve mental health outcomes in college freshmen. ©2013 The Author(s) ©2013 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Teaching Science in Engineering Freshman Class in Private University in Jordan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawarey, M. M.; Malkawi, M. I.

2012-04-01

A United Nations initiative for the Arab region that established and calculated National Intellectual Capital Index has shown that Jordan is the wealthiest Arab country in its National Human Capital Index (i.e. metrics: literacy rate, number of tertiary schools per capita, percentage of primary teachers with required qualifications, number of tertiary students per capita, cumulative tertiary graduates per capita, percentage of male grade 1 net intake, percentage of female grade 1 net intake) and National Market Capital Index (i.e. metrics: high-technology exports as a percentage of GDP, number of patents granted by USPTO per capita, number of meetings hosted per capita) despite its low ranking when it comes to National Financial Capital (i.e. metric: GDP per capita). The societal fabric in Jordan fully justifies this: the attention paid to education is extreme and sometimes is considered fanatic (e.g. marriage of a lot of couples needs to wait until both graduate from the university). Also, the low financial capital has forced a lot of people to become resourceful in order to provide decent living standard to their beloved ones. This reality is partially manifested in the sharp increase in the number of universities (i.e. 10 public and 20 private ones) relative to a population of around 6.5 million. Once in an engineering freshman classroom, it is totally up to the lecturers teaching science in private Jordanian universities to excel in their performance and find a way to inject the needed scientific concepts into the students' brains. For that, clips from movies that are relevant to the topics and truthful in their scientific essence have been tested (e.g. to explain the pressure on humans due to rapidly increasing "g" force, a clip from the movie "Armageddon" proved very helpful to Physics 101 students, and entertaining at the same time), plastic toys have also been tested to illustrate simple physical concepts to the same students (e.g. a set called The Junior

Assessing Peer and Parental Influence on the Religious Attitudes and Attendance of Young Churchgoers: Exploring the Australian National Church Life Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Francis, Leslie J.; Penny, Gemma; Powell, Ruth

2018-01-01

Drawing on data from the 2011 Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS), this study was designed to assess peer and parental influence on frequency of church attendance, attitude toward church, and attitude toward Christianity among a sample of 6256 young churchgoers between the ages of eight and 14 years, attending a range of denominations,…

'It sounds like a great idea but…': a qualitative study of GPs' attitudes towards the development of a national diabetes register.

PubMed

Mc Hugh, Sheena M; O'Mullane, Monica; Perry, Ivan J; Bradley, Colin

2014-11-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) to the development of a national diabetes register as a way of improving the quality of care. Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. General practice, Ireland. Purposive sample of 29 GPs and two practice nurses. Participants' practices varied by (a) location (rural/urban), (b) size (single-handed/group practice) and (c) extent of computerisation. The semistructured topic guide focused on experiences of change in the health system at a local and national level and attitudes towards the development of a national diabetes register. Analysis was conducted using the Framework approach. Participants were sceptical about the development of a national diabetes register. The main advantage was 'knowing the numbers' for epidemiological and policy purposes. However, participants questioned the benefits for their practice and patients. There were concerns that it would drain resources from other priorities and distract from patient management. These attitudes were strongly influenced by previous experience of change in the health system. Participants felt that remuneration would be necessary to ensure full engagement, reflecting wider frustrations with payment structures for general practice. There was a sense of wariness towards health service administration which was not specific to diabetes care but which coloured some participants' attitudes towards a national register. In contrast, participants referred to positive experiences of change at a local level, facilitated by a 'practice ethos' and professional leadership. This study highlights the growing sense of scepticism and inertia towards change within the health system. This inertia stems from previous experience and the competing demands of maintaining versus improving care in a system with dwindling resources. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence

National Trends in Pediatricians' Practices and Attitudes About Breastfeeding: 1995 to 2014.

PubMed

Feldman-Winter, Lori; Szucs, Kinga; Milano, Aubri; Gottschlich, Elizabeth; Sisk, Blake; Schanler, Richard J

2017-10-01

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has affirmed breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding; however, there has been little systematic examination of how pediatricians' recommendations, affiliated hospitals' policies, counseling practices, and attitudes toward breastfeeding have shifted over the past 2 decades. These trends were examined from 1995 to 2014. Data are from the Periodic Survey (PS) of Fellows, a nationally representative survey of AAP members. PS #30 (1995; response rate = 72%; N = 832), PS #57 (2004; response rate = 55%; N = 675), and PS #89 (2014; response rate = 51%; N = 620) collected demographics, patient and practice characteristics, and detailed responses on pediatricians' recommendations, affiliated hospitals' policies, counseling practices, and attitudes toward breastfeeding. By using bivariate statistics and logistic regression models, the analysis investigated changes over time with predicted values (PVs). From 1995 to 2014, more pediatricians reported their affiliated hospitals applied for "baby-friendly" designation (PV = 12% in 1995, PV = 56% in 2014; P < .05), and more reported that they recommend exclusive breastfeeding (65% to 76% [ P < .05]). However, fewer respondents indicated that mothers can be successful breastfeeding (PV = 70% in 1995, PV = 57% in 2014; P < .05) and that the benefits outweigh the difficulties (PV = 70% in 1995, PV = 50% in 2014; P < .05). Younger pediatricians were less confident than older pediatricians in managing breastfeeding problems ( P < .01). Pediatricians' recommendations and practices became more closely aligned with AAP policy from 1995 to 2014; however, their attitudes about the likelihood of breastfeeding success have worsened. These 2 divergent trends indicate that even as breastfeeding rates continue to rise, continued efforts to enhance pediatricians' training and attitudes about breastfeeding are necessary. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Attitudes and Opinions from the Nation's High Achieving Teens: 29th Annual Survey of High Achievers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Who's Who among American High School Students, Lake Forest, IL.

This report presents the 1998 statistical findings of the annual survey to determine the attitudes of national high school student leaders. Questionnaires were completed by 3,123 high school juniors and seniors, all of whom were selected for recognition in "Who's Who among American High School Students." In addition to demographic…

Attitudes of Major Soviet Nationalities. Volume IV. Central Asia. Kazakhstan, Kirgizistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan.

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-06-01

attitudes. IV. Demography Although Uzbekistan is somewhat smaller in area than neighboring Turkmenistan, it has nearly six times the population--close...Uzbekistan - Demography - 2 Table A.2. National Composition of Uzbek SSR 19 26a 19 39b 1959 c 1 970c T number % number % number % number % Total . Uzbek...Mullyadzbanov, Narodo naseleniye Ilzbekskoi SSR (Tashkent, 1967): 177. c Pravda Vostoka (April 28), 1971: 2. 4 Uzbekistan - Demography - 3 the extraordinary

Predicting course performance in freshman and sophomore physics courses: Women are more predictable than men

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCammon, Susan; Golden, Jeannie; Wuensch, Karl L.

This study investigated the extent to which thinking skills and mathematical competency would predict the course performance of freshman and sophomore science majors enrolled in physics courses. Multiple-regression equations revealed that algebra and critical thinking skills were the best overall predictors across several physics courses. Although arithmetic skills, math anxiety, and primary mental abilities scores also correlated with performance, they were redundant with the algebra and critical thinking. The most surprising finding of the study was the differential validity by sex; predictor variables were successful in predicting course performance for women but not for men.

Attitudes and Opinions from the Nation's High Achieving Teens. 25th Annual Survey of High Achievers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Who's Who among American High School Students, Lake Forest, IL.

This survey was conducted during the spring of 1994 for the purpose of determining the attitudes of student leaders in the nation's high schools. Eight thousand surveys were sent out to students, of which 3177 were returned. All students surveyed were members of the junior or senior class during the 1993-94 academic year. They were selected for…

Hearings on Language and Literacy. Testimony Before The National Commission on Excellence in Education (Houston, Texas, April 1982).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lundy, Eileen T.

Conditions of language and literacy are considered by a Texas educator and presented at a 1982 hearing held by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. It is noted that a 1979 policy at the University of Texas system established a freshman-level remedial English course for credit. At the University of Texas, San Antonio, this course is…

The impact of a freshman academy on science performance of first-time ninth-grade students at one Georgia high school

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniel, Vivian Summerour

The purpose of this within-group experimental study was to find out to what extent ninth-grade students improved their science performance beyond their middle school science performance at one Georgia high school utilizing a freshman academy model. Freshman academies have been recognized as a useful tool for increasing academic performance among ninth-grade students because they address a range of academic support initiatives tailored to improve academic performance among ninth-grade students. The talent development model developed by Legters, Balfanz, Jordan, and McPartland (2002) has served as a foundational standard for many ninth grade academy programs. A cornerstone feature of this model is the creation of small learning communities used to increase ninth-grade student performance. Another recommendation was to offer credit recovery opportunities for ninth graders along with creating parent and community involvement activities to increase academic success among ninth-grade students. While the site's program included some of the initiatives outlined by the talent development model, it did not utilize all of them. The study concluded that the academy did not show a definitive increase in academic performance among ninth-grade students since most students stayed within their original performance category.

Evaluation of the Freshman Class To Determine Predictors for Academic Success at Panhandle State University. Emergence of Higher Education in America Seminar.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manning, Wayne

A study was done at Panhandle State University (Oklahoma) examining whether high school grade point averages or ACT (American College Testing) scores provided a better predictor of freshman academic success. Study procedures included a review of the literature, meetings with the academic vice president and five deans, as well as examination of…

The Influence of Institutional Culture on Institutional Choice and Post-Freshman Persistence of American Indian/Alaska Native Students at a Bible College.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saggio, Joseph J.

This study examined American Indian and Alaska Native students' college choice and persistence beyond the freshman year at American Indian College. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 29 students from 18 tribes attending American Indian College, a very small Bible college affiliated with the Assemblies of God and located in Phoenix,…

A Study on Freshman-Year Persistence among First-Generation College Students and Non-First-Generation College Students at Concordia University System Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vergara, Derek

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between first-generation college students' and non-first-generation college students' persistence from freshman year to sophomore year of college. The study investigated if race/ethnicity, family income, gender, and fathers' and mothers'…

Physiotherapists and General Practitioners attitudes towards 'Physio Direct' phone based musculoskeletal Physiotherapy services: a national survey.

PubMed

Harland, Nicholas; Blacklidge, Brian

2017-06-01

Physiotherapy phone based, "Physio Direct" (PD) musculoskeletal triage and treat services are a relatively new phenomena. This study explored Physiotherapist and GP attitudes towards PD services. Online national survey via cascade e-mail initiated by study leads. 488 Physiotherapists and 68 GPs completed the survey. The survey asked three negatively worded and three positively worded Likert scale questions regarding PD services. It also collected demographic data and more global attitudes including a version of the friends and family test. Overall both Physiotherapists and GP's have positive attitudes towards PD services. There was global agreement that PD triage was a good idea but in both groups the majority of respondents who expressed a definite opinion thought that patients would still eventually need to be seen face to face. The vast majority of all respondents also thought patients should be given a choice about first accessing PD services. Physiotherapists with experience of PD services had more positive and less negative attitudes than those without experience. More detailed results are discussed. Relevant clinical stakeholders have generally positive attitudes towards PD services, but more so when they have experience of them. Counter to research findings significant proportions of respondents believe patients accessing PD services will still need to be seen face to face. The significant majority of respondents believe patients should be given a choice whether they access PD services in the first instance or not. Copyright © 2016 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cross-national study of attitudes towards seeking professional help: Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arabs in Israel.

PubMed

Al-Krenawi, Alean; Graham, John R; Dean, Yasmin Z; Eltaiba, Nada

2004-06-01

Help-seeking processes provide critical links between the onset of mental health problems and the provision of professional care. But little is known about these processes in the Arab world, and still less in transnational, comparative terms. This is the first study to compare help-seeking processes among Muslim Arab female students in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The present study compares the attitudes of Arab Muslim female students from Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards mental health treatment. A convenience sample of 262 female Muslim-Arab undergraduate university students from Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arab students in Israel completed a modified Orientation for Seeking Professional Help (OSPH) Questionnaire. Data revealed that nationality was not statistically significant as a variable in a positive attitude towards seeking professional help; year of study, marital status and age were found to be significant predictors of a positive attitude towards seeking help. High proportions of respondents among the nationalities referred to God through prayer during times of psychological distress. The discussion considers implications for professional service delivery and programme development. Future research could extrapolate findings to other Arab countries and to Arab peoples living in the non-Arab world.

The effect of a national mastitis control program on the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of farmers in the Netherlands.

PubMed

Jansen, J; van Schaik, G; Renes, R J; Lam, T J G M

2010-12-01

Over the years, much effort has been put into implementing mastitis control programs in herds. To further improve utilization of such programs, there needs to be an understanding of the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of farmers regarding udder health, and the way this can be influenced by mastitis control programs. This study aimed to explore the effect of a national mastitis control program on Dutch farmers' attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis. A total of 378 dairy farmers completed a survey on attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis before the start of a national mastitis control program in 2004, and 204 completed a similar survey in the final year of the program (2009). Although the average annual bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) remained the same, the farmers' self-reported attitudes, knowledge, and behavior changed significantly. The problem level of BMSCC decreased from 285,000 cells/mL in 2004 to 271,000 cells/mL in 2009. More farmers perceived that they had sufficient knowledge about the prevention of mastitis (34% in 2004 vs. 53% in 2009) and they more often perceived that they knew the cause of a mastitis problem (25% in 2004 vs. 37% in 2009). The use of gloves for milking increased from 15 to 46%, the use of a standardized mastitis treatment protocol increased from 7 to 34%, and freestalls were cleaned more often (2.28 vs. 2.51 times/d) in 2009 compared with 2004. Most changes in attitudes, knowledge, and behavior did not differ between groups of dairy farmers whose herds had an initially low (≤ 162,000 cells/mL), medium (163,000 to 205,000 cells/mL), or high (>206,000 cells/mL) BMSCC. The high BMSCC group significantly decreased their annual BMSCC level by 15,000 cells/mL. Regression analysis showed that the decrease in BMSCC was associated with a change in farmers' perceptions (e.g., increased perceived knowledge about the effect of the milking machine on mastitis) and with a change in certain management

Development of a Study Skills Curriculum as a Component of the ACT I Extended Freshman Orientation Experience at Brenau: Curriculum and Program Planning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Patricia W.

The purpose of this practicum was to develop a study skills curriculum to be incorporated into the existing ACT I Extended Freshman Orientation program at Brenau College in Georgia, to assist underprepared students admitted under special admissions programs in achieving greater academic success. An eight-step curriculum development process was…

Student vs Faculty Curriculum Advising

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Coke R.; Myers, Rosemary

1975-01-01

Attitudes toward advisers and first-year academic progress were assessed for 223 freshman students at Idaho State University. Students advised by students had more positive attitudes toward their advisers and lower drop rates than those advised by faculty. No difference was observed for achieved GPA. Bases for evaluation are discussed. (Author)

Measuring Economic Attitudes in High School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walstad, William B.; Soper, John C.

1983-01-01

The instrument,"Survey on Economic Attitudes", developed to assess attitudes toward economics as a subject and attitudes toward economic issues, should find many uses in research or evaluation studies. Data on reliability, validity, and norms obtained from a national sample of high school students and college professors are discussed.…

Pre-service Mathematics Teachers' Knowledge of History of Mathematics and Their Attitudes and Beliefs Towards Using History of Mathematics in Mathematics Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alpaslan, Mustafa; Işıksal, Mine; Haser, Çiğdem

2014-01-01

This study examined pre-service mathematics teachers' knowledge of history of mathematics and their attitudes and beliefs towards using history of mathematics in mathematics education based on year level in teacher education program and gender. The sample included 1,593 freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior pre-service middle school (grades 4-8) mathematics teachers from nine universities in Turkey. Data were collected through Knowledge of History of Mathematics Test and Attitudes and Beliefs towards the Use of History of Mathematics in Mathematics Education Questionnaire. Results indicate that pre-service teachers have moderate knowledge of history of mathematics and positive attitudes and beliefs towards using history of mathematics. Their knowledge scores increase as the year level in teacher education program advanced. Males' knowledge scores are significantly higher than females' scores in the first 2 years. This situation reverses in the last 2 years, but it is not statistically significant. Pre-service teachers have more positive attitudes and availing beliefs towards using history of mathematics as they progress in their teacher education program. Females have greater attitudes and beliefs mean scores than males in each of the years. The results indicate that the teacher education program may have enhanced the pre-service teachers' knowledge of history of mathematics by related courses. However, the moderate knowledge scores indicate that there is a need for revision of these courses. The pre-service teachers' positive attitudes and beliefs towards using history of mathematics stress the importance of teacher education program in order to prepare them for implementing this alternative strategy in the future.

Attitudes toward Foreign Language Study and Requirements in American Schools and Colleges: Results of a National Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eddy, Peter A.

1979-01-01

Reports the results of a national survey conducted in the US to determine: (1) languages used in the home, (2) second languages learned, (3) current use of second language, (4) attitudes toward the worth of second language study, and (5) opinions about the opportunity and requirement to study languages at various educational levels. (AM)

A National Survey of the Public's Attitudes Toward Computers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Federation of Information Processing Societies, Montvale, NJ.

The general public's attitudes towards continually expanding computer usage is frequently speculated about but is far from understood. This study is aimed at providing objective data on the public's attitudes towards computers, their uses, their perceived impact on the American economy as well as on the individual, and their future uses. The…

A Cross-National Study of Students' Attitudes toward School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lai, Shu-Ling; Stevens, Carla; Martinez, Jorge; Ye, Renmin

2015-01-01

Using an international educational database, PISA 2009, this study investigates and analyzes 15-year-old students' attitudes toward school in 11 Asia-Pacific units (country, city, or area). For each unit, the study demonstrates four types of students' attitudes toward school, compares male and female students, and examines the relationships of the…

A national internet survey on midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity.

PubMed

Im, Eun-Ok; Chang, Sun Ju; Ko, Young; Chee, Wonshik; Stuifbergen, Alexa; Walker, Lorraine

2012-01-01

Despite an increasing number of studies of midlife women's physical activity, little is known about how attitudes toward physical activity of midlife women from diverse ethnic groups influence the women's physical activity. To explore ethnic differences in midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity and determine the relationships between the attitudes and their actual participation in physical activity while considering other influencing factors. The Midlife Women's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity model was used to guide the study. This was a cross-sectional Internet survey study of 542 midlife women. The instruments included questions on background characteristics and health and menopausal status; the Physical Activity Assessment Inventory; a modified Barriers to Health Activities Scale; the Questions on Attitudes Toward Physical Activity, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Behavioral Intention; and the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, and path analyses. There were significant ethnic differences in the attitude scores (F = 2.58, p < .05), but no ethnic differences in the physical activity scores. Interestingly, there were significant ethnic differences in the occupational physical activity scores (F = 5.68, p < .01). Attitude scores accounted for 5% of total variances of the physical activity scores (F(ch) = 43.52, p < .01). The direct paths from the attitude scores (p < .01), the self-efficacy scores (p < .01), and the barrier scores (p < .05) to the physical activity scores were statistically significant. Ethnic differences in the women's attitudes toward physical activity need to be considered in promoting physical activity of midlife women.

The relationship between perceptions of wilderness character and attitudes toward management intervention to adapt biophysical resources to a changing climate and nature restoration at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Treesearch

Alan Watson; Steve Martin; Neal Christensen; Gregg Fauth; Dan Williams

2015-01-01

In a recent national survey of federal wilderness managers, respondents identified the high priority need for scientific information about public attitudes toward biophysical intervention to adapt to climate change and attitudes of the public toward restoration of natural conditions. In a survey of visitors to one National Park wilderness in California, visitors...

Medical Student Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness Across Five Nations.

PubMed

Stefanovics, Elina A; Rosenheck, Robert A; He, Hongo; Ofori-Atta, Angela; Cavalcanti, Maria; Chiles, Catherine

2016-12-01

Negative attitudes toward people with mental illness are a widespread concern and may vary across countries. This study used a 36-item questionnaire to compare attitudes toward people with mental illness and beliefs about the causes of mental illness among medical students from the United States, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and China (N = 1131). Exploratory factor analysis identified the underlying factor structure of the questionnaire, and analysis of covariance was then used to compare factors representing four nonstigmatized attitudes across students from the five countries. US Medical students scored highest on all four factors, followed by those from Brazil. Nigerian and Ghanaian students scored lowest on nonsupernatural etiology of mental illness, and Chinese students showed the lowest score on personal social acceptance and public policy acceptance of people with mental illness. Differences in medical student attitudes between these five countries suggest underlying sociocultural differences in attitudes with the more stigmatized attitudes in developing countries.

Euthanasia: A National Survey of Attitudes toward Voluntary Termination of Life.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jorgenson, David E.; Neubecker, Ron C.

1980-01-01

A study on the attitudes of adults related to the voluntary termination of life showed that those persons with favorable attitudes toward suicide were also favorable toward euthanasia. Religiosity was negatively associated with pro-euthanasia attitudes. Whites and males were more favorable toward euthanasia than Blacks and females. (Author)

An Examination of Freshman Student Attrition from the Fall Semester to the Spring Semester as Related to William Glasser's Choice Theory and Basic Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Price, Erin S.

2010-01-01

Freshman student retention has become a major focus in higher education. The loss of incoming students is not only financially burdensome to the institution, but it can be academically and personally discouraging for students. Many theoretical constructs have been applied to the problem of student attrition, including the individual constructs of…

The information trail of the 'Freshman 15'--a systematic review of a health myth within the research and popular literature.

PubMed

Brown, Cecelia

2008-03-01

How does health misinformation become part of the American and Canadian vernacular? Twenty-three databases were searched for articles discussing university freshmen weight gain. Research articles were examined for methodology, number and gender of the participants and weight gain. Popular press articles were reviewed for the types of information published: expert/anecdotal, weight gain, nutrition, exercise, health and alcohol. A timeline of article publication dates was generated. Twenty peer-reviewed, 19 magazine, 146 newspaper, and 141 university newspaper articles were discovered. Appearance of media articles about the 'Freshman 15' mirrored the peer-reviewed articles, yet the information did not reliably depict the research. Research indicated a weight gain of less than five pounds (2.268 kg), while half of the popular press publications claimed a 15-pound (6.804 kg) weight gain. The misinformation was frequently accompanied by information about achieving weight control through diet, exercise, stress reduction and alcohol avoidance. Understanding of how the concept of the 'Freshman 15' developed indicates that remediation efforts are needed. Collaborative efforts between health science and academic librarians, faculty and journalists to construct new paradigms for the translation of scientific evidence into information that individuals can use for decisions about health and well-being is suggested.

Transcendental Spirituality and Acquaintance With the Activities of the Domestic National Transplant Center as Factors Shaping Attitudes Toward Organ Donation.

PubMed

Melnikov, Semyon; Ashkenazi, Tamar; Amara, Muhammad; Peles Bortz, Anat

2017-06-01

Organ donation has been shown to be perceived as inappropriate by religiously observant individuals. The impact of spirituality level on attitudes toward organ donation has not been broadly explored. To explore the contribution of ethnicity, spirituality, level of religious observance, and acquaintance with the activities of the Israel National Transplant Center (INTC) to forming attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel. A descriptive cross-sectional survey. Three hundred five (65.2%) Jewish and 163 (34.8%) Muslim Arab respondents living in Israel. Jewish respondents had more positive attitudes toward organ donation than Muslim Arabs. Muslim Arabs had a higher mean spirituality score than Jews. Gender, age, ethnicity, level of religious observance, education, 4 spirituality dimensions, and acquaintance with the activities of the INTC explained 41.5% of the variance in attitudes to organ donation. Transcendental spirituality, acquaintance with the activities of the INTC, and level of religious observance had the highest contribution to explaining attitudes to organ donation, while gender and age had a low contribution. Ethnicity, education, and the 3 other spirituality dimensions were not found to have a significant contribution. A multifaceted approach to improving attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel is important.

New Findings on the Effects of College. Current Issues in Higher Education, 1978.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solmon, Lewis C.; Ochsner, Nancy

The attitudes and behaviors of college graduates several years after graduation and the changes in their attitudes from their freshman year (1970) until the time of a followup survey (1977) were studied. The following areas were covered with the 9,000 respondents: life goals, religious preferences, how the college graduates spend their time,…

White Attitudes Toward Black Discrimination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Austin, B. William

1976-01-01

Reviews several national surveys of white racial attitudes done between 1963 and 1974 by Harris and Associates, the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, and Potomac Associates, focusing on perceptions of discrimination and attitudes towards housing, jobs, education, the police, legislation, and reverse discrimination. (JM)

Freshman year computer engineering students' experiences for flipped physics lab class: An action research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akı, Fatma Nur; Gürel, Zeynep

2017-02-01

The purpose of this research is to determine the university students' learning experiences about flipped-physics laboratory class. The research has been completed during the fall semester of 2015 at Computer Engineering Department of Istanbul Commerce University. In this research, also known as a teacher qualitative research design, action research method is preferred to use. The participants are ten people, including seven freshman and three junior year students of Computer Engineering Department. The research data was collected at the end of the semester with the focus group interview which includes structured and open-ended questions. And data was evaluated with categorical content analysis. According to the results, students have some similar and different learning experiences to flipped education method for physics laboratory class.

Economic Attitudes of High School Students: New Norms for the "Survey on Economic Attitudes."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soper, John C.; Walstad, William B.

1988-01-01

Explores the reliability and validity of an affective domain instrument, the "Survey on Economic Attitudes," by providing new norms and a discussion of the properties of the national sample of high school students used. Presents current information about the economic attitudes of U.S. high school students and raises some important…

Changes in Body Weight and Fat Mass of Men and Women in the First Year of College: A Study of the "Freshman 15"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Daniel J.; Policastro, Peggy; Quick, Virginia; Lee, Soo-Kyung

2006-01-01

Students entering their first year of college are faced with many stresses and changes, including changes in eating and exercise behavior. A common but often undocumented myth among college students is that there is a high risk of gaining 15 pounds of weight during freshman year. The objective of this study was to measure changes in body weight…

Sustaining "Truth": Changes in Youth Tobacco Attitudes and Smoking Intentions after 3 Years of a National Antismoking Campaign

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farrelly, Matthew C.; Davis, Kevin C.; Duke, Jennifer; Messeri, Peter

2009-01-01

This study examines how the American Legacy Foundation's "truth[R]" campaign and Philip Morris's "Think. Don't Smoke" (TDS) campaign have influenced youth's tobacco-related attitudes, beliefs and intentions during the first 3 years of the truth campaign. We use data from eight nationally representative cross-sectional telephone surveys of 35,074…

National attitudes concerning gun carrying in the United States

PubMed Central

Hemenway, D; Azrael, D; Miller, M

2001-01-01

Objectives—To determine public attitudes in the United States concerning gun carrying. Setting—In the past 15 years, many state legislatures have passed laws making it easier for United States citizens to carry concealed firearms, not only on the street but into various locations, including churches and government buildings. Methods—National random digit dial telephone surveys conducted in 1996 and 1999 asked questions concerning the public's feelings of safety as more people in their community carry firearms, and whether, in the language of the question, respondents believe "regular" citizens should be allowed to carry guns into public or government buildings. Results—Americans feel less safe rather than more safe as more people in their community begin to carry guns. By margins of at least nine to one, Americans do not believe that "regular" citizens should be allowed to bring their guns into restaurants, college campuses, sports stadiums, bars, hospitals, or government buildings. Conclusions—The public believes that increased gun carrying by others reduces rather than increases their safety. Overwhelmingly, the public believes that in many venues gun carrying should be prohibited. PMID:11770652

American Attitudes Toward the Land

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Charles A.

1975-01-01

The colonial attitude toward land depended on the climate of the area and the culture of the settlers. With independence came a national attitude that land represented economic and political freedom for the individual. Abundant land fostered unregulated lumbering, mining, and farming. Today environmental awareness has created the conservation…

Attitudes of pre-service elementary teachers towards science: A cross-national study between the United States of America and Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buldu, Nihal

Preservice elementary teachers' attitudes toward science have been the subject of investigation by science educators for decades. Many of the recent attempts pertaining to preservice elementary teachers by science educators have focused on the effects of science method courses on the attitudes and relationships between attitudes and other variables. The research literature lacks studies that compare attitudes of preservice elementary teachers toward science across two or more nations. The current study investigated the attitudes of preservice elementary teachers toward science in the U.S. and Turkey in order to see if there is a difference between the U.S. and Turkish preservice elementary teachers' attitudes toward science, and to investigate whether variables such as gender and the grade the preservice teachers wish to teach make a difference in preservice elementary teachers' attitudes towards science. The sample consisted of 1144 preservice elementary teachers. Of the 1144 preservice elementary teachers for whom complete information is available, it is known that 371 preservice elementary teachers were from the U.S. and 773 were from Turkey. The attitudes of preservice elementary teachers in the U.S. and Turkey were assessed by the data gathered using Turkish and American Preservice Elementary Teachers Attitude Scale (TAPETAS). This scale is a revised version of the Modified Fennema Sherman Attitude Scale (Doepken, Lawsky, and Padwa, 1999). Results of the current study indicated that both U.S. and Turkish preservice elementary teachers had positive attitudes toward science. However, U.S. preservice elementary teachers had more confidence in science. They found science more useful than their Turkish peers. They had more positive attitudes towards their previous science teachers and were less likely to stereotype science as a male domain. There were not any significant differences between the U.S. preservice elementary teachers due to gender and the grade they

Back to the Future: Freshman Admissions at the University of California, 1994 to the Present and Beyond. Research & Occasional Paper Series: CSHE.4.14

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Geiser, Saul

2014-01-01

The past five years have seen unprecedented changes in freshman admissions at the University of California, reflecting steep cuts in state funding that UC sustained during that period as well as changes in UC's definition of who is eligible to enter the university. The number of California applicants who were "not" admitted to the UC…

The Relationship between Perceived Career Barriers and Career Decision Self-Efficacy on Initial Career Choice among Low-Income, First Generation, Pre-Freshman, College-Bound Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pulliam, Nicole; Ieva, Kara P.; Burlew, Larry

2017-01-01

This study was an investigation of the predictive value of perceived career barriers and career decision self-efficacy on the certainty of initial career choice among low-income pre-freshman college students, an under-studied college population with respect to career development (Winograd & Shick Tryon, 2009). The moderating effects of certain…

Political Knowledge and Attitudes, 1971-1972. A Special Social Studies Report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marriner, Gerald L.; Crane, Robert

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is an information-gathering project which surveys the educational attainments of 9, 13, and 17-year-olds and adults in ten subject areas, with two areas assessed every year. The results of the 1971-72 assessment of political knowledge and attitudes are summarized in this report. Chapters 1-4 present…

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse II: Teens and Their Parents Conducted by Luntz Research Companies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Columbia Univ., New York, NY. National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Illegal drug use by adolescents is on the rise. This alarming trend was quantified in this national survey of the attitudes of teens and their parents (1,200 teens and 1,166 parents, including 819 sets of teens and parents from the same households) towards cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, LSD, cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs.…

Audit of healthcare professionals' attitudes towards patients who self-harm and adherence to national guidance in a UK burns and plastic surgery department.

PubMed

Heyward-Chaplin, Jessica; Shepherd, Laura; Arya, Reza; O'Boyle, Ciaran P

2018-01-01

Rates of self-harm injuries are considered to be increasing. The attitudes of healthcare staff towards patients who self-harm may be negative and a small amount of research specifically investigating burns and plastic surgery healthcare professionals has recently been conducted exploring this issue. This study aimed to determine attitudes towards and adherence to national guidance by healthcare professionals in a UK burns and plastic surgery department with respect to patients who self-harm. An audit questionnaire, completed in a designated Burns Unit and plastic surgery department, within a UK hospital with a major trauma centre. Data were obtained from 59 healthcare professionals. The majority of responders held positive attitudes towards those who had self-harmed. However, a significant minority held negative attitudes, stating that they found it difficult to be compassionate (10%; n = 6) and believing that patients usually self-harm to get attention (9%; n = 5). One-fifth (n = 12) agreed that, on a departmental level, conservative management (as opposed to surgery) was offered more frequently for self-harm injuries compared with accidental injuries, contrary to national guidance. Awareness of national guidance in relation to self-harm injuries was markedly lacking, in only 12% (n = 7/59) and the frequency of completing relevant training was low (34%, n = 20/59). Education among healthcare professionals is important, to ensure adherence to best practice. The findings of this study strongly suggest that many healthcare professionals do not know the current best practice. As a result, these highly vulnerable patients may be receiving sub-optimal care, with consequentially poor outcomes.

The Math Problem: Advertising Students' Attitudes toward Statistics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fullerton, Jami A.; Kendrick, Alice

2013-01-01

This study used the Students' Attitudes toward Statistics Scale (STATS) to measure attitude toward statistics among a national sample of advertising students. A factor analysis revealed four underlying factors make up the attitude toward statistics construct--"Interest & Future Applicability," "Confidence," "Statistical Tools," and "Initiative."…

Pregnant women's expectations about pain intensity during childbirth and their attitudes towards pain management: Findings from an Icelandic national study.

PubMed

Karlsdottir, Sigfridur Inga; Sveinsdottir, Herdis; Olafsdottir, Olof Asta; Kristjansdottir, Hildur

2015-12-01

Pregnant women expect childbirth to be painful. However, little is known about their expectations of the intensity of pain in childbirth (EIPC) and their attitudes to pain management. The design was a cross-sectional survey, with self-reported questionnaires used to collect data from low-risk pregnant women (N = 1111) early in pregnancy at 26 of the largest primary health care centres in Iceland. This consecutive national sample was stratified by residency. The mean score for the EIPC was 5.58 (SD = 1.38) measured on a 7 point scale. The strongest predictors of a high EIPC score were: negative attitude to the impending childbirth (OR = 2.39), low manifestation of a sense of security (OR = 1.80), and a positive attitude to pain management with medication (OR = 1.63). Women living outside the capital area were less likely to have a high EIPC (OR = 0.68). Most women (77%) had a positive attitude towards pain management without medication and 35% had a positive attitude to pain management with medication. The study detected multiple predictors of women's EIPC and attitude to pain management. Early and throughout pregnancy, midwives and health care professionals need to address these predictors in order to assist women to prepare themselves for the pain of labour. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Integration of a LITEE Case Study for a Freshman Level Mechanical Engineering Course at The University of Toledo

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Franchetti, Matthew

2011-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of the integration of a manufacturing case study to a freshman level mechanical engineering course at The University of Toledo. The approach to integrate this case study into the class was completed via weekly assignments analyzing the case, small group discussion, and weekly group discussion.…

Public attitudes about underage drinking policies: results from a national survey.

PubMed

Richter, Linda; Vaughan, Roger D; Foster, Susan E

2004-01-01

We conducted a national telephone survey of 900 adults in the United States to examine the attitudes of the adult public regarding underage drinking and a series of alcohol control policies aimed at reducing it. Three versions of the survey instrument were administered, each to one-third of the sample, with the versions varying in the stipulations of the policy options. Results showed high levels of public support for most of the alcohol control policies, with relatively lower support for those that would result in restrictions on adults' access to alcohol. Respondents' support of the policy options was significantly related to their sociodemographic and attitudinal characteristics, such as sex, age, drinking frequency, and level of concern about underage drinking. The findings provide important guidelines to policymakers interested in garnering support for policies aimed at curtailing underage drinking.

WWC Review of the Report "Freshman Year Financial Aid Nudges: An Experiment to Increase FAFSA Renewal and College Persistence." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

The 2014 study, Freshman Year Financial Aid Nudges: An Experiment to Increase FAFSA Renewal and College Persistence, measured the impact of sending text message reminders regarding annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) renewal to first-year college students who were already receiving financial aid. The study sample included 808…

Racial and ethnic group comparisons, national surveys of drinking and driving attitudes and behavior--1993, 1995 and 1997. Volume 1, Findings

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-08-01

Differences in drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors among diverse groups of persons, i.e., White, Black, Asian, American Indian/Eskimo and Hispanic, were examined by polling data from the 1993, 1995, and 1997 administrations of the National H...

Adolescent Attitudes and Cutaneous Health

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zeller, William W.

1970-01-01

In trying to understand the attitudes of adolescents about their skin or any other problem physicians must honestly examine attitudes toward the adolescent. Physicians must accept and understand that adolescence is the age of the final unfolding of the personality. Presented at the 12th National Conference on Physicians and Schools, Chicago, 1969.…

Students' Attitudes toward Socialism, Nationalism, and Perestroika.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKeehan, Irina V.

1993-01-01

Analyzes the results of sociological surveys conducted among thousands of students in higher education institutions in Russia and other republics of the former Soviet Union. Compares and contrasts student attitudes about such topics as economics, democratic values, ethnic groups, education, and students' perception of the future. (CFR)

Environmental Readiness for the 21st Century. The Eighth Annual National Report Card on Environmental Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, Washington, DC.

The results of this survey are widely distributed to educators, policymakers, business executives, and the media to help America's leaders and the general public better understand what Americans know about the environment and how that knowledge relates to their attitudes and daily actions. The 1999 National Report Card examines the results of a…

Linking Attitudes, Policy, and Forest Cover Change in Buffer Zone Communities of Chitwan National Park, Nepal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stapp, Jared R.; Lilieholm, Robert J.; Leahy, Jessica; Upadhaya, Suraj

2016-06-01

Deforestation in Nepal threatens the functioning of complex social-ecological systems, including rural populations that depend on forests for subsistence, as well as Nepal's biodiversity and other ecosystem services. Nepal's forests are particularly important to the nation's poorest inhabitants, as many depend upon them for daily survival. Two-thirds of Nepal's population relies on forests for sustenance, and these pressures are likely to increase in the future. This, coupled with high population densities and growth rates, highlights the importance of studying the relationship between human communities, forest cover trends through time, and forest management institutions. Here, we used surveys to explore how household attitudes associated with conservation-related behaviors in two rural communities—one that has experienced significant forest loss, and the other forest gain—compare with forest cover trends as indicated by satellite-derived forest-loss and -regeneration estimates between 2005 and 2013. Results found a significant difference in attitudes in the two areas, perhaps contributing to and reacting from current forest conditions. In both study sites, participation in community forestry strengthened support for conservation, forest conservation-related attitudes aligned with forest cover trends, and a negative relationship was found between economic status and having supportive forest conservation-related attitudes. In addition, on average, respondents were not satisfied with their district forest officers and did not feel that the current political climate in Nepal supported sustainable forestry. These findings are important as Nepal's Master Plan for the Forestry Sector has expired and the country is in the process of structuring a new Forestry Sector Strategy.

Linking Attitudes, Policy, and Forest Cover Change in Buffer Zone Communities of Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

PubMed

Stapp, Jared R; Lilieholm, Robert J; Leahy, Jessica; Upadhaya, Suraj

2016-06-01

Deforestation in Nepal threatens the functioning of complex social-ecological systems, including rural populations that depend on forests for subsistence, as well as Nepal's biodiversity and other ecosystem services. Nepal's forests are particularly important to the nation's poorest inhabitants, as many depend upon them for daily survival. Two-thirds of Nepal's population relies on forests for sustenance, and these pressures are likely to increase in the future. This, coupled with high population densities and growth rates, highlights the importance of studying the relationship between human communities, forest cover trends through time, and forest management institutions. Here, we used surveys to explore how household attitudes associated with conservation-related behaviors in two rural communities-one that has experienced significant forest loss, and the other forest gain-compare with forest cover trends as indicated by satellite-derived forest-loss and -regeneration estimates between 2005 and 2013. Results found a significant difference in attitudes in the two areas, perhaps contributing to and reacting from current forest conditions. In both study sites, participation in community forestry strengthened support for conservation, forest conservation-related attitudes aligned with forest cover trends, and a negative relationship was found between economic status and having supportive forest conservation-related attitudes. In addition, on average, respondents were not satisfied with their district forest officers and did not feel that the current political climate in Nepal supported sustainable forestry. These findings are important as Nepal's Master Plan for the Forestry Sector has expired and the country is in the process of structuring a new Forestry Sector Strategy.

Sexuality: measures of partnerships, practices, attitudes, and problems in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Study.

PubMed

Waite, Linda J; Laumann, Edward O; Das, Aniruddha; Schumm, L Philip

2009-11-01

The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) was designed to examine the relationship between sexual behavior, sexual problems, and health among older women and men. We describe measures of sexual partnerships, sexual practices, sexual problems, attitudes toward sex, and nonsexual intimacy in the first wave of NSHAP. We compare measures of sexuality for those 57-85 years old, by age, separately for men and women. We construct scales of sexual mores, sexual interest, and relationship satisfaction and discuss properties of each scale. Sexuality among older adults tends to vary with age and gender. At all ages in this study, men are more likely than women to have a partner, more likely to be sexually active with that partner, and tend to have more positive and permissive attitudes toward sex. The proportions in a sexual partnership, behavior, problems, and attitudes all differ substantially by age. And these age patterns often differ for men and women. Data obtained in the NSHAP can be used to construct key measures of sexuality among older adults; to examine sexuality itself; and to explore the link between sexuality, health, well-being, and other dimensions of the lives of older adults.

Audit of healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards patients who self-harm and adherence to national guidance in a UK burns and plastic surgery department

PubMed Central

Heyward-Chaplin, Jessica; Shepherd, Laura; Arya, Reza; O’Boyle, Ciaran P

2018-01-01

Background: Rates of self-harm injuries are considered to be increasing. The attitudes of healthcare staff towards patients who self-harm may be negative and a small amount of research specifically investigating burns and plastic surgery healthcare professionals has recently been conducted exploring this issue. This study aimed to determine attitudes towards and adherence to national guidance by healthcare professionals in a UK burns and plastic surgery department with respect to patients who self-harm. Method: An audit questionnaire, completed in a designated Burns Unit and plastic surgery department, within a UK hospital with a major trauma centre. Results: Data were obtained from 59 healthcare professionals. The majority of responders held positive attitudes towards those who had self-harmed. However, a significant minority held negative attitudes, stating that they found it difficult to be compassionate (10%; n = 6) and believing that patients usually self-harm to get attention (9%; n = 5). One-fifth (n = 12) agreed that, on a departmental level, conservative management (as opposed to surgery) was offered more frequently for self-harm injuries compared with accidental injuries, contrary to national guidance. Awareness of national guidance in relation to self-harm injuries was markedly lacking, in only 12% (n = 7/59) and the frequency of completing relevant training was low (34%, n = 20/59). Conclusion: Education among healthcare professionals is important, to ensure adherence to best practice. The findings of this study strongly suggest that many healthcare professionals do not know the current best practice. As a result, these highly vulnerable patients may be receiving sub-optimal care, with consequentially poor outcomes. PMID:29873329

The Freshman Year in Science and Engineering: Old Problems, New Perspectives for Research Universities. Report of a Conference (Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 6-7, 1990).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wineke, William R.; Certain, Phillip

The goal of the conference reported in this document was to initiate major revitalization of freshman science by bringing together individuals who have been working to improve introductory courses with research faculty who may or may not have been actively involved in the teaching of these courses. This report tries to capture the spirit and the…

Integrating social marketing into sustainable resource management at Padre Island National Seashore: an attitude-based segmentation approach.

PubMed

Lai, Po-Hsin; Sorice, Michael G; Nepal, Sanjay K; Cheng, Chia-Kuen

2009-06-01

High demand for outdoor recreation and increasing diversity in outdoor recreation participants have imposed a great challenge on the National Park Service (NPS), which is tasked with the mission to provide open access for quality outdoor recreation and maintain the ecological integrity of the park system. In addition to management practices of education and restrictions, building a sense of natural resource stewardship among visitors may also facilitate the NPS ability to react to this challenge. The purpose of our study is to suggest a segmentation approach that is built on the social marketing framework and aimed at influencing visitor behaviors to support conservation. Attitude toward natural resource management, an indicator of natural resource stewardship, is used as the basis for segmenting park visitors. This segmentation approach is examined based on a survey of 987 visitors to the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) in Texas in 2003. Results of the K-means cluster analysis identify three visitor segments: Conservation-Oriented, Development-Oriented, and Status Quo visitors. This segmentation solution is verified using respondents' socio-demographic backgrounds, use patterns, experience preferences, and attitudes toward a proposed regulation. Suggestions are provided to better target the three visitor segments and facilitate a sense of natural resource stewardship among them.

Developing a Tool to Evaluate Differences in Beliefs about Science Teaching and Learning among Freshman Science Student Teachers from Different Science Teaching Domains: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markic, Silvija; Eilks, Ingo; Valanides, Nicos

2008-01-01

This paper presents a pilot case study on developing a qualitative tool to evaluate science student teachers' beliefs concerning science teaching and learning. The study is based on student teachers' drawings of themselves in a typical classroom situation and four open questions. Data was collected from 104 freshman science student teachers, and…

Personal attitudes towards smoking in a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers and recent quitters.

PubMed

Nicholson, Anna K; Borland, Ron; Bennet, Pele T; van der Sterren, Anke E; Stevens, Matthew; Thomas, David P

2015-06-01

To describe attitudes towards smoking in a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers and recent quitters and assess how they are associated with quitting, and to compare these attitudes with those of smokers in the general Australian population. The Talking About The Smokes project used a quota sampling design to recruit participants from communities served by 34 Aboriginal community-controlled health services and one community in the Torres Strait. We surveyed 1392 daily smokers, 251 non-daily smokers and 78 recent quitters from April 2012 to October 2013. Personal attitudes towards smoking and quitting, wanting to quit, and attempting to quit in the past year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander daily smokers were less likely than daily smokers in the general Australian population to report enjoying smoking (65% v 81%) and more likely to disagree that smoking is an important part of their life (49% v 38%); other attitudes were similar between the two groups. In the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample, non-daily smokers generally held less positive attitudes towards smoking compared with daily smokers, and ex-smokers who had quit within the past year reported positive views about quitting. Among the daily smokers, 78% reported regretting starting to smoke and 81% reported spending too much money on cigarettes, both of which were positively associated with wanting and attempting to quit; 32% perceived smoking to be an important part of their life, which was negatively associated with both quit outcomes; and 83% agreed that smoking calms them down when stressed, which was not associated with the quitting outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers were less likely than those in the general population to report positive reasons to smoke and held similar views about the negative aspects, suggesting that factors other than personal attitudes may be responsible for the high continuing smoking rate in this population.

National and ethnic identification, intergroup attitudes, and sport participation in the context of the London Olympics.

PubMed

Lam, Virginia L; Corson, Eliza-Jane

2013-11-01

In the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, the sense of national identity was salient. We tested children (N = 401) aged 5-15 years living near the Olympic site on national (British) and ethnic identification, national ingroup and outgroup attitudes, and sport participation. It was found that the strength of British identification peaked at age 9 years, but the strength of ethnic identification remained stable with age. Both liking for, and stereotyping of, different national groups diverged from age 9 years, but whilst stereotyping remained diverged liking converged by 15 years. The in group was one of the most liked, but one of the least positively stereotyped groups. Sport participation declined with age and was higher among boys, whilst the lowest socio-economic group showed the greatest discrepancy between normal and recent reported participation. The strength of British identification was associated with liking for, and stereotyping of, the British as well as sport participation, but the degree of associations varied between different groups of children. © 2013 The British Psychological Society.

Korean national athletes' knowledge, practices, and attitudes of doping: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Kim, Taegyu; Kim, Young Hoon

2017-02-14

Despite the efforts of the World Anti-Doping Agency and national anti-doping agencies at the international level, a relatively low and steady rate of positive doping tests still persists all over the world. Evidence on adolescents using doping substances exists, and the proportion of adolescents engaging in doping practices is small but significant. In relation to the international research trends on anti-doping, this study aims to evaluate doping knowledge, practices, and attitudes among Korean adult and adolescent elite athletes to provide effective information on anti-doping policies and education programs. This study was a cross-sectional study of 454 Korean elite athletes (249 adults in 23 events and 205 adolescents in 22 events). Data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire containing items regarding doping practices and knowledge, brief definitions of performance-enhancing substances/methods and recreational substances, and the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS). Adolescent (47.3%) and adult (57.0%) athletes received information on banned substances of their respective sports from the Korea Anti-Doping Agency, and 39.0 and 53.4% of adolescents and adults, respectively, had knowledge of banned substances and had permissive attitudes toward doping compared to those who were unaware. Adolescent and adult athletes have inadvertently (1.5 and 3.6%, respectively) or knowingly (1.0 and 2.8%, respectively) taken banned performance-enhancing substances, and 2.4 and 3.2%, respectively, knew someone who had taken banned substances. And the adolescent athletes in motor skill category (PEAS: 40.24 ± 10.91) were more permissive toward doping than those in team category (PEAS: 35.08 ± 10.21). An in-depth anti-doping education for Korean athletes should be more widely implemented, and effective anti-doping policy should meet the athletes' demographic characteristics, personalities, and values.

Attitudes and beliefs of sports medicine providers to sickle cell trait screening of student athletes.

PubMed

Acharya, Kruti; Benjamin, Holly J; Clayton, Ellen W; Ross, Lainie F

2011-11-01

To describe the attitudes of members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) toward the new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) policy to require all Division I student athletes be screened for sickle cell trait (SCT), have prior evidence of testing, or sign a waiver. Cross-sectional survey of members of the AMSSM electronic mailing list was conducted. Descriptive, McNemar, and χ2 statistics were performed. Internet survey. Of the 1765 AMSSM e-mail list members, 370 returned partial or completed surveys. Dependent variables included familiarity with the NCAA policy, support of universal or targeted screening programs, preferences regarding screening methodologies, and athletic restrictions or modifications for student athletes identified with SCT. Respondents' gender, race/ethnicity, and involvement as an NCAA team physician were independent variables. Of the respondents, 76% were men, 85% were whites, and 53% served as NCAA Division I team physicians. Ninety percent were aware of the policy. There was greater support for targeted (76%, 267 of 353) compared with universal (39%, 137 of 353; P < 0.01) screening, with targeting based on race/ethnicity and sport. Respondents supported targeted screening of varsity and freshman athletes in all NCAA divisions, but most (88%) also supported waivers. Respondents favored using existing medical records (73%) or Sickledex screening (71%) methodologies despite concerns about inaccuracies (16% for each methodology). Most respondents agreed that there is discrimination in athletic participation and obtaining insurance. There is lack of consensus within the AMSSM regarding the current NCAA SCT screening policy. Implementation must take into consideration potential discrimination.

Racial and ethnic group comparisons, national surveys of drinking and driving attitudes and behavior--1993, 1995 and 1997. Volume 2, Methods report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-08-01

Differences in drinking and driving attitudes and behaviors among diverse groups of persons, i.e., White, Black, Asian, American Indian/Eskimo and Hispanic, were examined by pooling data from the 1993, 1995, and 1997 administrations of the National H...

Stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental disorders: findings from an Australian National Survey of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma.

PubMed

Reavley, Nicola J; Jorm, Anthony F

2011-12-01

This paper reports findings from a national survey on stigmatizing attitudes towards people with depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia/psychosis. In 2011 telephone interviews were carried out with 6019 Australians aged 15 or over. Participants were presented with a case vignette describing either depression, depression with suicidal thoughts, early schizophrenia, chronic schizophrenia, social phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder. Questions were asked about stigmatizing attitudes, including perceptions of discrimination, personal and perceived stigma and desire for social distance. Chronic schizophrenia was most likely to be associated with dangerousness, unpredictability and a preference for not employing someone with the problem, while social phobia was most likely to be seen as due to personal weakness. Attitudes concerning dangerousness and social distance were greater in relation to men with mental disorders compared to women. Other people were perceived as more likely to hold stigmatizing attitudes than the respondents reported for themselves. Anti-stigma interventions are more likely to be successful if they focus on individual disorders rather than on 'mental illness' in general. Such interventions may need to address perceptions of social phobia as being due to weakness and those of dangerousness in people with more severe disorders. Such interventions should also focus on bringing beliefs about public perceptions in line with personal beliefs.

Sexuality: Measures of Partnerships, Practices, Attitudes, and Problems in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Study

PubMed Central

Laumann, Edward O.; Das, Aniruddha; Schumm, L. Philip

2009-01-01

Objectives The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) was designed to examine the relationship between sexual behavior, sexual problems, and health among older women and men. We describe measures of sexual partnerships, sexual practices, sexual problems, attitudes toward sex, and nonsexual intimacy in the first wave of NSHAP. Methods We compare measures of sexuality for those 57–85 years old, by age, separately for men and women. We construct scales of sexual mores, sexual interest, and relationship satisfaction and discuss properties of each scale. Results Sexuality among older adults tends to vary with age and gender. At all ages in this study, men are more likely than women to have a partner, more likely to be sexually active with that partner, and tend to have more positive and permissive attitudes toward sex. The proportions in a sexual partnership, behavior, problems, and attitudes all differ substantially by age. And these age patterns often differ for men and women. Discussion Data obtained in the NSHAP can be used to construct key measures of sexuality among older adults; to examine sexuality itself; and to explore the link between sexuality, health, well-being, and other dimensions of the lives of older adults. PMID:19497930

Sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of U.S. medical students.

PubMed

Frank, Erica; Coughlin, Steven S; Elon, Lisa

2008-08-01

To understand the personal and clinical safe-sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices of U.S. medical students. Sixteen medical schools were selected to survey the class of 2003 based on their characteristics similar to the national average. Students were surveyed at freshman orientation, at entrance to wards, and during their senior year. The primary personal outcome was the response to the question, "Are you currently trying to practice safe sex when sexually involved? (no, not applicable/no, not trying/yes, low priority/yes, high priority)." The primary professional outcomes were answers to: 1) "How relevant do you think talking to patients about safe sex will be in your intended practice? (not at all/somewhat/highly)," and 2) "With a typical general medicine patient, how often do you actually talk about safe sex? (never-rarely/sometimes/usually-always)." A total of 2,316 students provided data, and the response rate was 80%. Personally practicing safe-sex habits was a high priority for 75% of the sexually active, single medical students, especially for women, African Americans, and those earlier in their medical education. Among seniors, 41% reported extensive training in discussing safe sex with patients, and 57% were highly confident about conducting such discussions. Overall, 55% of students believed it would be highly relevant to counsel patients about safe sex (59% of freshmen, 62% of those at entry to wards, and 41% of seniors); 73% answered all four true/false questions on human papillomavirus correctly. About half of U.S. medical students believed that counseling their patients about safe sex will not be highly relevant to their practice. These findings should be considered by those trying to interest a new generation of physicians in helping patients have safe-sex practices.

Exploring racial influences on flu vaccine attitudes and behavior: Results of a national survey of White and African American adults.

PubMed

Quinn, Sandra Crouse; Jamison, Amelia; Freimuth, Vicki S; An, Ji; Hancock, Gregory R; Musa, Donald

2017-02-22

Racial disparities in adult flu vaccination rates persist with African Americans falling below Whites in vaccine acceptance. Although the literature has examined traditional variables including barriers, access, attitudes, among others, there has been virtually no examination of the extent to which racial factors including racial consciousness, fairness, and discrimination may affect vaccine attitudes and behaviors. We contracted with GfK to conduct an online, nationally representative survey with 819 African American and 838 White respondents. Measures included risk perception, trust, vaccine attitudes, hesitancy and confidence, novel measures on racial factors, and vaccine behavior. There were significant racial differences in vaccine attitudes, risk perception, trust, hesitancy and confidence. For both groups, racial fairness had stronger direct effects on the vaccine-related variables with more positive coefficients associated with more positive vaccine attitudes. Racial consciousness in a health care setting emerged as a more powerful influence on attitudes and beliefs, particularly for African Americans, with higher scores on racial consciousness associated with lower trust in the vaccine and the vaccine process, higher perceived vaccine risk, less knowledge of flu vaccine, greater vaccine hesitancy, and less confidence in the flu vaccine. The effect of racial fairness on vaccine behavior was mediated by trust in the flu vaccine for African Americans only (i.e., higher racial fairness increased trust in the vaccine process and thus the probability of getting a flu vaccine). The effect of racial consciousness and discrimination for African Americans on vaccine uptake was mediated by perceived vaccine risk and flu vaccine knowledge. Racial factors can be a useful new tool for understanding and addressing attitudes toward the flu vaccine and actual vaccine behavior. These new concepts can facilitate more effective tailored and targeted vaccine communications

Changes in attitudes, intended behaviour, and mental health literacy in the Swedish population 2009-2014: an evaluation of a national antistigma programme.

PubMed

Hansson, L; Stjernswärd, S; Svensson, B

2016-08-01

Public stigma of mental illness is still a major problem where numerous population studies during the last decade have mainly shown no improvements. A Swedish national antistigma campaign has been running 2010-2014. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in public stigma during this period as compared to baseline in 2009. Yearly population surveys were made between 2009 and 2014 including assessments of mental health literacy, attitudes, and intended future behaviour. Two surveys were made, one including a nationally representative sample and one including a representative sample from three original campaign regions. Multiple regression analyses, also including age, gender, education, and familiarity with mental illness were made to investigate yearly changes in public stigma compared to baseline. Mental health literacy improved significantly in the campaign regions between 2009 and 2014, as did intended future behaviour. Attitudes toward mental illness also improved significantly. Improvements were also shown in the national population surveys, but the time pattern of these compared to that of the original campaign regions indicated that these changes took place mainly after the campaign had been extended to a further five Swedish regions. The results of our surveys suggest that a campaign primarily based on social contact theory and involving people with lived experience of mental illness may, even in a rather short-term perspective, have a significant positive impact on mental health literacy, attitudes, and intentions of social contact with people with mental illness. © 2016 The Authors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Tobacco smoking in Mongolia: findings of a national knowledge, attitudes and practices study.

PubMed

Demaio, Alessandro R; Nehme, Jessica; Otgontuya, Dugee; Meyrowitsch, Dan Wolf; Enkhtuya, Palam

2014-02-28

In 2009, 48% of males aged 15 or over in Mongolia consumed tobacco, placing Mongolia among the countries with the highest prevalence of male smokers in the world. Importantly, tobacco use is one of the four major risk factors contributing to the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - the leading cause of mortality in Mongolia. However, the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the Mongolian population with regards to smoking are largely unmeasured. In this context, a national NCDs knowledge, attitudes and practices survey focusing, among other things, on NCD risk factors was implemented in Mongolia in late 2010 to complement the previous WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance Survey (STEPS) findings from 2009. This publication explores the smoking-related findings of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey (KAPS). A nationally representative sample size was calculated using methodologies aligned with the WHO STEPS surveys. As a result, 3450 people from across Mongolia were selected using a multi-stage, random cluster sampling method from permanent residents aged between 15 and 64 years. The KAP survey questionnaire was interviewer-administered on a door-to-door basis. In Mongolia at 2010, 46.3% of males and 6.8% of females were smokers. This practice was especially dominant among males and urban dwellers (MOR 2.2), and more so among the middle-aged (45-54) (MOR 2.1) while still displaying a high prevalence among Mongolian youth (15.5%). The probability of smoking was independent of the level of education. Although the level of awareness of the health hazards related to tobacco smoking was generally very high in the population, this was influenced by the level of education as more people with a primary and secondary level of education believed that smoking at least one pack of cigarette per day was required to harm one's health (MOR 5.8 for primary education and 2.5 for secondary). Finally, this knowledge did not necessarily translate into a

Impact of The Real Cost Campaign on Adolescents’ Recall, Attitudes, and Risk Perceptions about Tobacco Use: A National Study

PubMed Central

Huang, Li-Ling; Lazard, Allison J.; Pepper, Jessica K.; Noar, Seth M.; Ranney, Leah M.; Goldstein, Adam O.

2017-01-01

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) The Real Cost campaign advertisements (ads) have targeted U.S. youth with messages designed to prevent and reduce tobacco use. This study examined exposure to The Real Cost campaign, including ad and slogan recall, and associations with attitudes and risk perceptions among U.S. adolescents. We analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (n = 1125) surveyed by phone from October 2014 to June 2015. We assessed aided recall of and attitudes toward four campaign ads and the one slogan. Logistic regression models assessed whether aided recall of The Real Cost ads or slogan was associated with perceived likelihood of serious health consequences of cigarette smoking. Most (88%) adolescents reported seeing or hearing at least one of four ads for The Real Cost, and 54% recalled The Real Cost slogan. The majority of adolescents reported more negative attitudes toward tobacco products after seeing or hearing the ads. Recall of any The Real Cost ad was significantly associated with greater perceptions of serious health consequences of cigarette smoking (Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR) = 5.58, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.20–25.90). The FDA’s The Real Cost campaign has achieved very high reach and is associated with more negative attitudes toward tobacco products and greater risk perceptions of cigarette smoking among U.S. adolescents. PMID:28054993

Increasing URM Undergraduate Student Success through Assessment-Driven Interventions: A Multiyear Study Using Freshman-Level General Biology as a Model System

PubMed Central

Carmichael, Mary C.; St. Clair, Candace; Edwards, Andrea M.; Barrett, Peter; McFerrin, Harris; Davenport, Ian; Awad, Mohamed; Kundu, Anup; Ireland, Shubha Kale

2016-01-01

Xavier University of Louisiana leads the nation in awarding BS degrees in the biological sciences to African-American students. In this multiyear study with ∼5500 participants, data-driven interventions were adopted to improve student academic performance in a freshman-level general biology course. The three hour-long exams were common and administered concurrently to all students. New exam questions were developed using Bloom’s taxonomy, and exam results were analyzed statistically with validated assessment tools. All but the comprehensive final exam were returned to students for self-evaluation and remediation. Among other approaches, course rigor was monitored by using an identical set of 60 questions on the final exam across 10 semesters. Analysis of the identical sets of 60 final exam questions revealed that overall averages increased from 72.9% (2010) to 83.5% (2015). Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between high-risk students and their averages on the 60 questions. Additional analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements for at least one letter grade from midterm to final and a 20% increase in the course pass rates over time, also for the high-risk population. These results support the hypothesis that our data-driven interventions and assessment techniques are successful in improving student retention, particularly for our academically at-risk students. PMID:27543637

Participation in national celebrations and commemorations: The role of socialization and nationalism in the Dutch context.

PubMed

Lubbers, Marcel; Meuleman, Roza

2016-01-01

National celebrations and commemorations are believed to increase national cohesion. It is unknown however who participates in these activities. In this contribution, we address to what extent socialization by the parents and school, and integration into religious intermediary groups affect participation in national celebrations and commemorations. With the strong reference to the relevance of the nation in national days, we also hypothesize about the association between nationalist attitudes and national day participation. We chose the Netherlands as test case, with its institutionalized national days to remember war victims, to celebrate freedom and to celebrate the Monarchy. Relying on a national survey (LISS; N = 4559), our findings show that the transmission of parental behaviours is crucial for taking part in national celebrations and commemorative events. Schooling and integration in religious groups only affect specific forms of national celebrations and commemorations. In line with US based research on flagging the Stars and Stripes, we find that national day participation in this European country is affected by patriotic attitudes rather than by chauvinistic attitudes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The organizational social context of mental health services and clinician attitudes toward evidence-based practice: a United States national study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Evidence-based practices have not been routinely adopted in community mental health organizations despite the support of scientific evidence and in some cases even legislative or regulatory action. We examined the association of clinician attitudes toward evidence-based practice with organizational culture, climate, and other characteristics in a nationally representative sample of mental health organizations in the United States. Methods In-person, group-administered surveys were conducted with a sample of 1,112 mental health service providers in a nationwide sample of 100 mental health service institutions in 26 states in the United States. The study examines these associations with a two-level Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) analysis of responses to the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) at the individual clinician level as a function of the Organizational Social Context (OSC) measure at the organizational level, controlling for other organization and clinician characteristics. Results We found that more proficient organizational cultures and more engaged and less stressful organizational climates were associated with positive clinician attitudes toward adopting evidence-based practice. Conclusions The findings suggest that organizational intervention strategies for improving the organizational social context of mental health services may contribute to the success of evidence-based practice dissemination and implementation efforts by influencing clinician attitudes. PMID:22726759

What We Are Really Doing with ICT in Physical Education: A National Audit of Equipment, Use, Teacher Attitudes, Support, and Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Andrew; Stratton, Gareth

2006-01-01

This paper reports on the results from a detailed national audit of information communication technology (ICT) in physical education (PE), examining attitudes, training, numbers of pieces of equipment and hardware owned, and its employment and use across nine Local Education Authorities, six types of schools, and four types of Specialist College.…

Future of Chemical Engineering: Integrating Biology into the Undergraduate ChE Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mosto, Patricia; Savelski, Mariano; Farrell, Stephanie H.; Hecht, Gregory B.

2007-01-01

Integrating biology in the chemical engineering curriculum seems to be the future for chemical engineering programs nation and worldwide. Rowan University's efforts to address this need include a unique chemical engineering curriculum with an intensive biology component integrated throughout from freshman to senior years. Freshman and Sophomore…

Examination of Attitude and Interest Measures for 4-H Science Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Kendra M.; Worker, Steven M.

2015-01-01

Science education research has demonstrated the influence of affect on learning. The National 4-H Science Logic Model outlines outcomes from youth participation in 4-H science programs, which includes attitude and interest outcomes. The associated measure, the National 4-H Science Common Measure, assesses these attitude constructs and not other…

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of youths in the US hemophilia population: results of a national survey.

PubMed

Nazzaro, Ann-Marie; Owens, Sally; Hoots, W Keith; Larson, Kelly L

2006-09-01

The National Hemophilia Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a national survey focusing on knowledge about, attitudes toward, and behaviors associated with key prevention activities among youths with hemophilia and used the data gathered to design a health promotion campaign. A national, random sample of 459 patients was drawn from 20 hemophilia treatment centers and 8 hemophilia associations; 110 (24%) of the respondents were young people. A telephone questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, behaviors, and barriers to prevention. Thirty-six percent of the youth respondents believed that joint disease cannot be prevented; 60% managed hemophilia by avoiding physical activity. Only 31% of the respondents treated bleeding episodes within 1 hour. Although hepatitis was a clear threat to this hemophilic cohort, 78% did now know transmission routes for hepatitis C, and 67% did not know transmission routes for hepatitis B. Young people with chronic disorders need help understanding that they can prevent complications. We identified key messages for a hemophilia prevention campaign, including exercising to ensure healthy joints and treating bleeding episodes early and adequately.

Health Care Reform: Understanding Individuals' Attitudes and Information Sources

PubMed Central

Shue, Carolyn K.; McGeary, Kerry Anne; Reid, Ian; Fan, Maoyong

2014-01-01

Since passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Barrack Obama, little is known about state-level perceptions of residents on the ACA. Perceptions about the act could potentially affect implementation of the law to the fullest extent. This 3-year survey study explored attitudes about the ACA, the types of information sources that individuals rely on when creating those attitudes, and the predictors of these attitudes among state of Indiana residents. The respondents were split between favorable and unfavorable views of the ACA, yet the majority of respondents strongly supported individual components of the act. National TV news, websites, family members, and individuals' own reading of the ACA legislation were identified as the most influential information sources. After controlling for potential confounders, the respondent's political affiliation, age, sex, and obtaining ACA information from watching national television news were the most important predictors of attitudes about the ACA and its components. These results mirror national-level findings. Implications for implementing health care reform at the state-level are discussed. PMID:25045705

Cohort Changes in Attitudes About Legalized Abortion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutler, Stephen J.; And Others

Cohort changes in attitudes about the availability of legal abortions are traced over a 12-year period using data from seven national surveys. Contrary to the aging-conservatism hypothesis, trends in the direction of increasingly favorable attitudes between 1965 and 1973 and general stability thereafter characterize all cohorts. On this issue,…

Roads On The U.S. nation Forests: An Analysis of Public Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values Expressed in the News Media

Treesearch

David N. Bengston; David P. Fan

1999-01-01

Public attitudes, beliefs, and underlying values about roads on the U.S. national forests expressed in more than 4,000 on-line news stories during a 3-year period are analyzed by using computer methods. The belief that forest roads provide access for recreation was expressed most frequently, accounting for about 40% of all beliefs expressed. The belief that roads cause...

HIV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Young People in Iran: Findings of a National Population-Based Survey in 2013.

PubMed

Shokoohi, Mostafa; Karamouzian, Mohammad; Mirzazadeh, Ali; Haghdoost, AliAkbar; Rafierad, Ali-Ahmad; Sedaghat, Abbas; Sharifi, Hamid

2016-01-01

The evidence is mixed on the HIV knowledge, attitude, and practices of youth in Iran. The aim of the current study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iranian youth towards HIV through a national survey. Through a cross-sectional study with multistage cluster sampling, we administered a pilot-tested standard questionnaire to assess the levels of HIV knowledge, attitudes and practices of individuals aged 15-29 years old. Participants were recruited from 13 provinces in Iran and consisted of 2456 men and 2412 women. Only 37.3% of the participants had a high knowledge score. Most participants knew the main routes of HIV transmission; however, misconceptions existed about the transmission of HIV through mosquito bites across all age groups (31.7% correct response). Positive levels of attitude wereobserved among 20.7% of the participants. Most participants believed that people living with HIV (PLHIV) should be supported (88.3%) while only 46.3% were ready to share a table with them. Among those aged 19-29 years old, the main source of HIV information was mass media (69.1%), only 13.1% had ever tested for HIV, around 20.8% had ever had extramarital sex (31.7% male vs. 9.6% female),1.8% ever injected drugs (2.9% male vs. and 0.7% female). Among sexually active subjects in this age group, only 21.8% (26.1% male vs. 7.1% female) were consistent condom users. The findings showed that Iranian youth and young adults have relatively insufficient overall knowledge and negative attitudes about HIV and PLHIV. Novel strategies involving schools and youth's networks could be employed to deliver a culturally sensitive sexual health program.

Gender differences in licit and illicit substance use reported by incoming freshman college students.

PubMed

Mostert, Christy Harwell; Eisen, Stan

2008-11-01

College-aged students use both licit and illicit drugs, with adverse physiological and societal effects. The time period when people begin to enter college is known as emerging adulthood, and it offers more opportunities for young people to obtain and use drugs, especially alcohol. However, some drugs are used more often by one gender than the other. This study surveyed 813 students enrolled in a freshman orientation class at Christian Brothers University from 2000-2003. The participants were asked to rank their use of certain drugs on a scale showing how often they have used that drug during their life. A total of 18 licit and illicit drugs were included on the survey. Charts were made for each year depicting the average amount of use of the drugs by males and females. The composite chart showed males tended to use cigarettes, chewing tobacco, beer, hard liquor, marijuana, inhalants, and anabolic steroids more often than women. However, women drank more wine coolers than men.

The Theory of Planned Behavior as it predicts potential intention to seek mental health services for depression among college students.

PubMed

Bohon, Lisa M; Cotter, Kelly A; Kravitz, Richard L; Cello, Philip C; Fernandez Y Garcia, Erik

2016-01-01

Between 9.5% and 31.3% of college students suffer from depression (American college health association national college health assessment II: reference group executive summary spring 2013. Amer. Coll. Health Assoc. 2013; Eagan K, Stolzenberg EB, Ramirez JJ, Aragon, MC, Suchard, RS, Hurtado S. The American freshman: national norms fall 2014. Higher Educ. Res. Inst.; 2015). Universities need to understand the factors that relate to care-seeking behavior. Across 3 studies, to relate attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control to intention to seek mental health services, and to investigate barriers to care-seeking. University college students (N = 845, 64% female, 26% male, and 10% unspecified). New measures were created in Studies 1 and 2, and were examined using structural equation modeling in Study 3. Partially consistent with the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, I, Fishbein, M. Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall; 1980), a model with an excellent fit revealed that more positive attitudes about care and higher perceived behavioral control directly predicted higher intention to seek mental health services. Educating college students about mental health disorders and treatments, enhancing knowledge about available services, and addressing limited access to long-term care might improve treatment rates for students suffering from depression.

Comparing Freshman and doctoral engineering students in design: mapping with a descriptive framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carmona Marques, P.

2017-11-01

This paper reports the results of a study of engineering students' approaches to an open-ended design problem. To carry out this, sketches and interviews were collected from 9 freshmen (first year) and 10 doctoral engineering students, when they designed solutions for orange squeezers. Sketches and interviews were analysed and mapped with a descriptive 'ideation framework' (IF) of the design process, to document and compare their design creativity (Carmona Marques, P., A. Silva, E. Henriques, and C. Magee. 2014. "A Descriptive Framework of the Design Process from a Dual Cognitive Engineering Perspective." International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation 2 (3): 142-164). The results show that the designers worked in a manner largely consistent with the IF for generalisation and specialisation loops. Also, doctoral students produced more alternative solutions during the ideation process. In addition, compared to freshman, doctoral used the generalisation loop of the IF, working at higher levels of abstraction. The iterative nature of design is highlighted during this study - a potential contribution to decrease the gap between both groups in engineering education.

Attitude of medical students towards occupational safety and health: a multi-national study.

PubMed

Bhardwaj, M; Arteta, M; Batmunkh, T; Briceno Leonardo, L; Caraballo, Y; Carvalho, D; Dan, W; Erdogan, S; Brborovic, H; Gudrun, K; Ilse, U; Ingle, G K; Joshi, S K; Kishore, J; Khan, Z; Retneswari, M; Menses, C; Moraga, D; Njan, A; Okonkwo, F O; Ozlem, K; Ravichandran, S; Rosales, J; Rybacki, M; Sainnyambuu, M; Shathanapriya, K; Radon, K

2015-01-01

Work-related diseases contribute immensely to the global burden of diseases. Better understanding of attitudes of health care workers towards occupational safety and health (OSH) is important for planning. To assess the attitude of medical students towards OSH around the globe. A questionnaire assessing the attitude towards OSH was administered to medical and paramedical students of 21 Medical Universities across the globe. In the current study 1895 students, aged 18-36 years, from 17 countries were included. After having performed a principal components analysis, the associations of interest between the identified components and other socio demographic characteristics were assessed by multivariate linear regression. Principal component analysis revealed 3 components. Students from lower and lower-middle-income countries had a more positive attitude towards OSH, but the importance of OSH was still rated higher by students from upper-income countries. Although students from Asian and African continents showed high interest for OSH, European and South-Central American students comparatively rated importance of OSH to be higher. Paramedical students had more positive attitude towards OSH than medical students. The attitude of students from lower-income and lower-middle-income towards importance of OSH is negative. This attitude could be changed by recommending modifications to OSH courses that reflect the importance of OSH. Since paramedical students showed more interest in OSH than medical students, modifications in existing health care system with major role of paramedics in OSH service delivery is recommended.

Removing Remediation Requirements: Effectiveness of Intervention Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fine, Anne; Duggan, Mickle; Braddy, Linda

2009-01-01

Remediation of incoming college freshman students is a national concern because remediated students are at higher risk of failing to complete their degrees. Some Oklahoma higher education institutions are working to assist K-12 systems in finding ways to reduce the number of incoming college freshman students requiring remediation. This study…

The Connection between Success in a Freshman Chemistry Class and a Student's Jungian Personality Type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Gale J.; Riley, Wayne D.

2001-10-01

This paper explores the connection between a student's performance in a freshman chemistry class and his or her personality type. Performance was gauged by the final percentage grade earned in class and personality type was based on Carl G. Jung's personality typology as assessed by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Performance and personality type were correlated using ANOVA statistics. The results show that only one of the 16 personality types had a class average that was significantly higher than 14 of the other 15 types. The lowest-scoring type was also significantly lower than 3 other personality types. This research shows that characteristics of personality types may be a basis for assisting or deterring success in a general chemistry class. Data on the personality types of 23 chemistry professors suggest that a success bias may be amplified by similar personality traits in the instructors.

Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gays among American and Dutch Adolescents

PubMed Central

Collier, Kate L.; Horn, Stacey S.; Bos, Henny M. W.; Sandfort, Theo G. M.

2014-01-01

Attitudes toward lesbians and gays vary across national populations, and previous research has found relatively more accepting attitudes in the Netherlands as compared to the U.S. In this study, we compared beliefs about and attitudes toward lesbians and gays in samples of Dutch and American heterosexual adolescents, utilizing survey data from 1,080 American adolescents (mean age = 15.86 years) attending two schools and from 1,391 Dutch adolescents (mean age = 16.27 years) attending eight schools. Findings indicated the Dutch participants were more tolerant of lesbians and gays, after adjusting for the gender, age, and racial/ethnic minority status of the participants. However, between-country differences were attenuated by accounting for the beliefs about lesbians and gays that participants used to justify their attitudes. American participants were more likely to justify their attitudes using beliefs related to social norms and religious opposition, while the Dutch participants were more likely to justify their attitudes using beliefs related to individual rights and the biological/genetic basis of homosexuality. The results suggest that the relative importance of particular beliefs about lesbians and gays to attitudes at the group level may be context-dependent but also that certain beliefs are salient to attitudes across national contexts. PMID:24512056

Racial Attitudes of PreK-12 and Postsecondary Educators: Descriptive Evidence from Nationally Representative Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quinn, David M.

2017-01-01

PreK-12 and postsecondary educators' racial attitudes have important consequences for students' learning and development, yet we know little about educators' racial attitudes overall, how their attitudes might differ from those of noneducators, or how attitudes might be changing over time. I investigate these questions using the nationally…

Monitoring Freshman College Experience Through Content Analysis of Tweets: Observational Study

PubMed Central

Zhu, Miaoqi; Young, Sean D

2018-01-01

Background Freshman experiences can greatly influence students’ success. Traditional methods of monitoring the freshman experience, such as conducting surveys, can be resource intensive and time consuming. Social media, such as Twitter, enable users to share their daily experiences. Thus, it may be possible to use Twitter to monitor students’ postsecondary experience. Objective Our objectives were to (1) describe the proportion of content posted on Twitter by college students relating to academic studies, personal health, and social life throughout the semester; and (2) examine whether the proportion of content differed by demographics and during nonexam versus exam periods. Methods Between October 5 and December 11, 2015, we collected tweets from 170 freshmen attending the University of California Los Angeles, California, USA, aged 18 to 20 years. We categorized the tweets into topics related to academic, personal health, and social life using keyword searches. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests examined whether the content posted differed by sex, ethnicity, and major. The Friedman test determined whether the total number of tweets and percentage of tweets related to academic studies, personal health, and social life differed between nonexam (weeks 1-8) and final exam (weeks 9 and 10) periods. Results Participants posted 24,421 tweets during the fall semester. Academic-related tweets (n=3433, 14.06%) were the most prevalent during the entire semester, compared with tweets related to personal health (n=2483, 10.17%) and social life (n=1646, 6.74%). The proportion of academic-related tweets increased during final-exam compared with nonexam periods (mean rank 68.9, mean 18%, standard error (SE) 0.1% vs mean rank 80.7, mean 21%, SE 0.2%; Z=–2.1, P=.04). Meanwhile, the proportion of tweets related to social life decreased during final exams compared with nonexam periods (mean rank 70.2, mean 5.4%, SE 0.01% vs mean rank 81.8, mean 7.4%, SE 0.01%; Z=–4

Victim-Blaming Tendency toward People with AIDS among College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Motoko Y.; Campbell, Alphonso R.; Mulford, Charles L.

1999-01-01

Examines the victim-blaming tendency toward people with AIDS among college students in relation to gender, fraternity-sorority affiliation, classification (freshman versus others), religion (Catholic versus others), and academic major (business college versus others). Suggests that attitudes toward gay men and lesbians must change for attitudes…

Noncognitive Variables as Predictors of Achievement in Freshmen English. AIR 1996 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

House, J. Daniel; Prion, Susan K.

This study investigated the correlation between noncognitive variables and academic success in a freshman composition course. A sample of 257 freshmen taking an introductory English course completed a survey assessing their attitudes and achievement expectancies. The questionnaire measured self-ratings of overall academic ability, drive to…

General Chemistry and Self-Efficacy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smist, Julianne M.

Several researchers have argued that the underrepresentation of women and minorities in professional occupations results from negative beliefs or attitudes, particularly self-efficacy expectations. A Science Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) was designed and later administered to 430 students (all were enrolled in freshman general chemistry and…

Writing Response Groups: From Power Trips to Empowerment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Draper, Virginia

A study examined the effectiveness of writing response groups in changing the power relationships students maintain to empowering relationships in which students challenge authoritarian attitudes and generalizations. Subjects were three students in a freshman composition class at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Recorded conversations…

Political Identity of First-Year College Students: An Analysis of Student Characteristics Using Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulberry, Stella L.

2010-01-01

This quantitative study utilized secondary self-reported data from the 2008 administration of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey from two Texas public universities to investigate the pre-college demographic, academic, attitude, behavioral, and familial factors that may relate to students' self-reported political…

HIV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Young People in Iran: Findings of a National Population-Based Survey in 2013

PubMed Central

Shokoohi, Mostafa; Karamouzian, Mohammad; Mirzazadeh, Ali; Haghdoost, AliAkbar; Rafierad, Ali-Ahmad; Sedaghat, Abbas; Sharifi, Hamid

2016-01-01

Introduction The evidence is mixed on the HIV knowledge, attitude, and practices of youth in Iran. The aim of the current study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Iranian youth towards HIV through a national survey. Materials and Methods Through a cross-sectional study with multistage cluster sampling, we administered a pilot-tested standard questionnaire to assess the levels of HIV knowledge, attitudes and practices of individuals aged 15–29 years old. Participants were recruited from 13 provinces in Iran and consisted of 2456 men and 2412 women. Results Only 37.3% of the participants had a high knowledge score. Most participants knew the main routes of HIV transmission; however, misconceptions existed about the transmission of HIV through mosquito bites across all age groups (31.7% correct response). Positive levels of attitude wereobserved among 20.7% of the participants. Most participants believed that people living with HIV (PLHIV) should be supported (88.3%) while only 46.3% were ready to share a table with them. Among those aged 19–29 years old, the main source of HIV information was mass media (69.1%), only 13.1% had ever tested for HIV, around 20.8% had ever had extramarital sex (31.7% male vs. 9.6% female),1.8% ever injected drugs (2.9% male vs. and 0.7% female). Among sexually active subjects in this age group, only 21.8% (26.1% male vs. 7.1% female) were consistent condom users. Conclusions The findings showed that Iranian youth and young adults have relatively insufficient overall knowledge and negative attitudes about HIV and PLHIV. Novel strategies involving schools and youth’s networks could be employed to deliver a culturally sensitive sexual health program. PMID:27626638

Attitudes and attitude change.

PubMed

Petty, R E; Wegener, D T; Fabrigar, L R

1997-01-01

We review empirical and conceptual developments over the past four years (1992-1995) on attitudes and persuasion. A voluminous amount of material was produced concerning attitude structure, attitude change, and the consequences of holding attitudes. In the structure area, particular attention is paid to work on attitude accessibility, ambivalence, and the affective versus cognitive bases of attitudes. In persuasion, our review examines research that has focused on high effort cognitive processes (central route), low effort processes (peripheral route), and the multiple roles by which variables can have an impact on attitudes. Special emphasis is given to work on cognitive dissonance and other biases in message processing, and on the multiple processes by which mood influences evaluations. Work on the consequences of attitudes focuses on the impact of attitudes on behavior and social judgments.

A Profile of Entering Freshmen, North Carolina State University, Fall, 1975.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Council, Kathryn A.

This profile of entering freshmen at North Carolina State University for fall 1975 presents statistical data and a descriptive summary of the data. Information is presented on the following: new freshman headcount enrollment by field of study by sex (1969-75) and by residence (in-state, national, or international); new freshman black enrollment…

Public Attitudes to Technological Progress.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, Eliot

1979-01-01

Discusses the probable changes in public attitudes toward science and technology as a result of the engineering accidents of 1979. Results of national polls conducted to identify public confidence in technological progress are included. (HM)

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Youths in the US Hemophilia Population: Results of a National Survey

PubMed Central

Nazzaro, Ann-Marie; Owens, Sally; Hoots, W. Keith; Larson, Kelly L.

2006-01-01

Objectives. The National Hemophilia Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a national survey focusing on knowledge about, attitudes toward, and behaviors associated with key prevention activities among youths with hemophilia and used the data gathered to design a health promotion campaign. Methods. A national, random sample of 459 patients was drawn from 20 hemophilia treatment centers and 8 hemophilia associations; 110 (24%) of the respondents were young people. A telephone questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, behaviors, and barriers to prevention. Results. Thirty-six percent of the youth respondents believed that joint disease cannot be prevented; 60% managed hemophilia by avoiding physical activity. Only 31% of the respondents treated bleeding episodes within 1 hour. Although hepatitis was a clear threat to this hemophilic cohort, 78% did now know transmission routes for hepatitis C, and 67% did not know transmission routes for hepatitis B. Conclusions. Young people with chronic disorders need help understanding that they can prevent complications. We identified key messages for a hemophilia prevention campaign, including exercising to ensure healthy joints and treating bleeding episodes early and adequately. PMID:16873741

Attitudes and behaviour of general practitioners and their prescribing costs: a national cross sectional survey.

PubMed

Watkins, C; Harvey, I; Carthy, P; Moore, L; Robinson, E; Brawn, R

2003-02-01

General practitioner (GP) prescribing accounts for about 10% of NHS expenditure. GPs at the top of the range have annual prescribing costs that are almost twice as much as those at the bottom of the range. This variation cannot be accounted for purely in terms of differences in underlying need for health care. To describe the relationship between GPs' prescribing costs and their attitudes towards prescribing decisions and prescribing information sources, and to identify potentially modifiable attitudinal and behavioural factors associated with high cost prescribing. A postal questionnaire was designed on the basis of hypotheses developed from a literature search and an earlier qualitative survey. This questionnaire was sent to a national sample of GPs with equal numbers of practices in the upper, middle, and lowest quintile of prescribing costs. GP practices in England. 1714 GPs in NHS practice. GPs' self-reported practices, attitudes and personal characteristics. There was a 64% response rate. Responders were more likely to be from larger practices, in less deprived areas, and with lower prescribing costs than were non-responders. Multivariable analysis showed that GPs with high prescribing costs were significantly more likely to work in dispensing practices, in practices with low income populations, in single handed practices, and in practices without a GP trainer. They were also significantly more likely to see drug company representatives more frequently, to prescribe newly available drugs more freely, to prescribe more readily to patients who expect a prescription, to report high levels of frustration from lack of time in the consultation, to find unsatisfactory those consultations which ended in advice only, and to express dissatisfaction with their review methods for repeat prescribing. They were significantly less likely to find useful criticism of prescribing habits by colleagues, and to check the BNF rather than other sources when uncertain about an

Public attitudes toward passive restraints

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-08-01

Author's abstract: The U. S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsored a major survey to examine public attitudes toward automobile safety. The survey used a scientifically selected sample of 2,016 adult A...

Attitudes and attitude change.

PubMed

Bohner, Gerd; Dickel, Nina

2011-01-01

Attitudes and attitude change remain core topics of contemporary social psychology. This selective review emphasizes work published from 2005 to 2009. It addresses constructionist and stable-entity conceptualizations of attitude, the distinction between implicit and explicit measures of attitude, and implications of the foregoing for attitude change. Associative and propositional processes in attitude change are considered at a general level and in relation to evaluative conditioning. The role of bodily states and physical perceptions in attitude change is reviewed. This is followed by an integrative perspective on processing models of persuasion and the consideration of meta-cognitions in persuasion. Finally, effects of attitudes on information processing, social memory, and behavior are highlighted. Core themes cutting across the areas reviewed are attempts at integrative theorizing bringing together formerly disparate phenomena and viewpoints.

Science Anxiety, Science Attitudes, and Constructivism: A Binational Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bryant, Fred B.; Kastrup, Helge; Udo, Maria; Hislop, Nelda; Shefner, Rachel; Mallow, Jeffry

2013-01-01

Students' attitudes and anxieties about science were measured by responses to two self-report questionnaires. The cohorts were Danish and American students at the upper secondary- and university-levels. Relationships between and among science attitudes, science anxiety, gender, and nationality were examined. Particular attention was paid to…

Benefits of Service-Learning for Freshmen College Students and Elementary School Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eppler, Marion A.; Ironsmith, Marsha; Dingle, Stephanie H.; Errickson, Marissa A.

2011-01-01

Freshman honors students in a service-learning course tutored low-income English Language Learning kindergartners, first-, and second-graders in reading. We conducted two separate data collections, one assessing college students' attitudes and motives (Study 1) and one exploring the benefits for elementary school children (Study 2). We measured…

Spatial assessment of attitudes toward tigers in Nepal.

PubMed

Carter, Neil H; Riley, Shawn J; Shortridge, Ashton; Shrestha, Binoj K; Liu, Jianguo

2014-03-01

In many regions around the world, wildlife impacts on people (e.g., crop raiding, attacks on people) engender negative attitudes toward wildlife. Negative attitudes predict behaviors that undermine wildlife management and conservation efforts (e.g., by exacerbating retaliatory killing of wildlife). Our study (1) evaluated attitudes of local people toward the globally endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) in Nepal's Chitwan National Park; and (2) modeled and mapped spatial clusters of attitudes toward tigers. Factors characterizing a person's position in society (i.e., socioeconomic and cultural factors) influenced attitudes toward tigers more than past experiences with tigers (e.g., livestock attacks). A spatial cluster of negative attitudes toward tigers was associated with concentrations of people with less formal education, people from marginalized ethnic groups, and tiger attacks on people. Our study provides insights and descriptions of techniques to improve attitudes toward wildlife in Chitwan and many regions around the world with similar conservation challenges.

Measuring and Modeling Intercultural Attitudes among Adolescents across Europe: A Multi-Level, Multiple-Group Analysis Examining Student Attitudes, Intergroup Contact, and School Climate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higdon, Julia Dianne

2015-01-01

European nations, built on democratic foundations, rely on participation that is inclusive of all groups. Among efforts to support social cohesion in Europe, investigating the development of intercultural attitudes--attitudes toward others on the basis of their intersecting group memberships--is a crucial area of research. Further, examining…

A Study of the Relative Effectiveness of Content and Process Centered Biology Laboratories for College Freshmen.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Glenn Wayne

The relative effectiveness of "content-centered" and "process-centered" biology laboratory courses in a freshman general biology course was investigated by administering the Nelson Biology Test, Science Attitude Scale, EPS II (a problem solving test), and an Interest Inventory at the beginning and end of the one quarter course. Course examination…

Attitudes and Attitude Change.

PubMed

Albarracin, Dolores; Shavitt, Sharon

2018-01-04

This review covers research on attitudes and attitude change published between 2010 and 2017. We characterize this period as one of significant progress toward an understanding of how attitudes form and change in three critical contexts. The first context is the person, as attitudes change in connection to values, general goals, language, emotions, and human development. The second context is social relationships, which link attitude change to the communicator of persuasive messages, social media, and culture. The third context is sociohistorical and highlights the influence of unique events, including sociopolitical, economic, and climatic occurrences. In conclusion, many important recent findings reflect the fact that holism, with a focus on situating attitudes within their personal, social, and historical contexts, has become the zeitgeist of attitude research during this period.

Gender and attitudes toward work.

PubMed

Maurer, A; Oszustowicz, B; Stocki, R

1994-01-01

This study examines gender differences in attitudes towards work in Poland and Germany and considers the implications of these findings for counseling. The study opens with a review of the following theories dealing with the relationship between psychological attitude and economic growth: Weber on the Protestant work ethic, Schumpeter on competitiveness, McClelland on achievement motivation, and Wiener on low valuation of business (the status of different occupations as an important factor affecting economic growth). This study, part of a larger research project, involved administering questionnaires to 300 Polish students (150 male) and 306 German students. Data were collected on work ethic, achievement motivation, mastery (a concern for excellence), competitiveness, achievement via conformity, money beliefs, attitude towards saving, and occupational preferences. Results were tabulated for men in each country, for women in each country, and for gender differences in each country. National differences were found in work ethic, achievement motivation, competitiveness, and achievement via conformity with results higher for Poland than Germany (with the exception that women in Poland were less interested in saving money). German men and women preferred the occupations of doctor and social worker, German women preferred being a country landowner and farmer. Polish men preferred being a small business owner and Polish women preferred being a teacher. The men generally had higher scores than the women for most occupations. Consideration of these results in light of the economic achievements of both countries would challenge theories of attitude and economic growth. This discrepancy may be a function of the different political systems in each country at the time of the survey. Counselors, therefore, should be sensitive to national and regional environments as well as to the importance of counseling parents to create a supportive environment to foster appropriate attitudes

Monitoring Freshman College Experience Through Content Analysis of Tweets: Observational Study.

PubMed

Liu, Sam; Zhu, Miaoqi; Young, Sean D

2018-01-11

Freshman experiences can greatly influence students' success. Traditional methods of monitoring the freshman experience, such as conducting surveys, can be resource intensive and time consuming. Social media, such as Twitter, enable users to share their daily experiences. Thus, it may be possible to use Twitter to monitor students' postsecondary experience. Our objectives were to (1) describe the proportion of content posted on Twitter by college students relating to academic studies, personal health, and social life throughout the semester; and (2) examine whether the proportion of content differed by demographics and during nonexam versus exam periods. Between October 5 and December 11, 2015, we collected tweets from 170 freshmen attending the University of California Los Angeles, California, USA, aged 18 to 20 years. We categorized the tweets into topics related to academic, personal health, and social life using keyword searches. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests examined whether the content posted differed by sex, ethnicity, and major. The Friedman test determined whether the total number of tweets and percentage of tweets related to academic studies, personal health, and social life differed between nonexam (weeks 1-8) and final exam (weeks 9 and 10) periods. Participants posted 24,421 tweets during the fall semester. Academic-related tweets (n=3433, 14.06%) were the most prevalent during the entire semester, compared with tweets related to personal health (n=2483, 10.17%) and social life (n=1646, 6.74%). The proportion of academic-related tweets increased during final-exam compared with nonexam periods (mean rank 68.9, mean 18%, standard error (SE) 0.1% vs mean rank 80.7, mean 21%, SE 0.2%; Z=-2.1, P=.04). Meanwhile, the proportion of tweets related to social life decreased during final exams compared with nonexam periods (mean rank 70.2, mean 5.4%, SE 0.01% vs mean rank 81.8, mean 7.4%, SE 0.01%; Z=-4.8, P<.001). Women tweeted more often than men

Examining Student Attitudes in Introductory Physics via the Math Attitude and Expectations Survey (MAX)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemingway, Deborah; Eichenlaub, Mark; Losert, Wolfgang; Redish, Edward F.

2017-01-01

Student often face difficulties with using math in science, and this exploratory project seeks to address the underlying mechanisms that lead to these difficulties. This mixed-methods project includes the creation of two novel assessment surveys, the Mathematical Epistemic Games Survey (MEGS) and the Math Attitude and Expectations Survey (MAX). The MAX, a 30-question Likert-scale survey, focuses on the attitudes towards using mathematics of the students in a reformed introductory physics course for the life sciences (IPLS) which is part of the National Experiment in Undergraduate Education (NEXUS/Physics) developed at the University of Maryland (UMD). Preliminary results from the MAX are discussed with specific attention given to students' attitudes towards math and physics, opinions about interdisciplinarity, and the usefulness of physics in academic settings as well as in professional biological research and modern medicine settings.

Urbanism and Racial Attitudes: A Test of Some Urban Theories.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Thomas C.

1984-01-01

National survey data are used to test the relationship between urbanism and racial attitudes among Whites, and a liberalizing effect of urbanism is found. It appears that urbanism liberalizes racial attitudes by increasing equal-status, cooperative, and relatively personal contact between members of racial subcultures. (Author/RDN)

Patterns of Welfare Attitudes in the Australian Population.

PubMed

Schofield, Timothy P; Butterworth, Peter

2015-01-01

The study of community attitudes toward welfare and welfare recipients is an area of increasing interest. This is not only because negative attitudes can lead to stigmatization and discrimination, but because of the relevance of social attitudes to policy decisions. We quantify the attitudes toward welfare in the Australian population using attitude data from a nationally representative survey (N = 3243). Although there was broad support for the social welfare system, negative attitudes are held toward those who receive welfare benefits. Using canonical correlation analysis we identify multivariate associations between welfare attitudes and respondent demographic characteristics. A primary attitudinal dimension of welfare positivity was found amongst those with higher levels of education, life instability, and personal exposure to the welfare system. Other patterns of negative welfare attitudes appeared to be motivated by beliefs that the respondent's personal circumstances indicate their deservingness. Moreover, a previously unidentified and unconsidered subset of respondents was identified. This group had positive attitudes toward receiving government benefits despite having no recent experience of welfare. They did, however, possess many of the characteristics that frequently lead to welfare receipt. These results provide insights into not only how attitudinal patterns segment across the population, but are of relevance to policy makers considering how to align welfare reform with community attitudes.

Patterns of Welfare Attitudes in the Australian Population

PubMed Central

Schofield, Timothy P.; Butterworth, Peter

2015-01-01

The study of community attitudes toward welfare and welfare recipients is an area of increasing interest. This is not only because negative attitudes can lead to stigmatization and discrimination, but because of the relevance of social attitudes to policy decisions. We quantify the attitudes toward welfare in the Australian population using attitude data from a nationally representative survey (N = 3243). Although there was broad support for the social welfare system, negative attitudes are held toward those who receive welfare benefits. Using canonical correlation analysis we identify multivariate associations between welfare attitudes and respondent demographic characteristics. A primary attitudinal dimension of welfare positivity was found amongst those with higher levels of education, life instability, and personal exposure to the welfare system. Other patterns of negative welfare attitudes appeared to be motivated by beliefs that the respondent’s personal circumstances indicate their deservingness. Moreover, a previously unidentified and unconsidered subset of respondents was identified. This group had positive attitudes toward receiving government benefits despite having no recent experience of welfare. They did, however, possess many of the characteristics that frequently lead to welfare receipt. These results provide insights into not only how attitudinal patterns segment across the population, but are of relevance to policy makers considering how to align welfare reform with community attitudes. PMID:26554361

A Model For Creating Innovators Through Freshman Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winget, Donald E.; Montgomery, M. H.

2013-01-01

Students come to the College of Natural Sciences because they want to do research, not because they want to sit in the classroom. The University of Texas Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) is designed to leverage this desire. It motivates, stimulates and educates the next generation of scientists by getting them directly involved in cutting edge research in their first year of college. They initially contribute to a group project designed for them to build the skills needed for research. Within the first year they develop a more independent project. After four years with the Astronomy Stream of the FRI, our first group has graduated. Three of the six have produced honors theses and a fourth is working on one this fall. Three were Dean's Honored Graduates. Of these two were female and one male. Two are in graduate programs and one is admitted to medical school. One won the George Mitchell Award as the outstanding undergraduate student at the University of Texas. Subsequent classes hold similar promise. The success at recruiting and retaining these students, with minorities and women well represented, is traceable to at least three key factors. First, the research introduces them to the transformative and addictive joy of knowing something about the universe that no one, past or present, has ever known before. Second it gives them a context for the knowledge they gain in the classroom. Third it allows them to develop a network of peers and mentors. The mentors are layered, with upper division undergraduates serving as the first line, then graduate students, post docs and faculty. They always have access to help in their research and in their class work. The end result is that they perform significantly better in the classroom than their peers that are not involved in an FRI stream. We will discuss future plans for the FRI: how we plan to expand to larger groups and how the concept can be exported to other universities.

The Use of Synectics as an Aid to Invention in College Composition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heavilin, Barbara Anne

A research project examined whether students in an English 104 freshman composition class would develop the ability to think analogically and divergently by using synectics as an aid to invention in composition, and whether these students would develop a more positive attitude toward writing. (Synectics is a highly structured group activity based…

The Relationship between Attitude toward Physical Education and Leisure-Time Exercise in High School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, Min-hau; Phillips, D. Allen

2002-01-01

Investigated the relationship between U.S. and Taiwanese high school students' attitudes toward physical education and leisure time exercise, noting the influence of nationality and gender. Student surveys indicated significant relationships between attitudes toward physical education and leisure time exercise, regardless of nationality or gender.…

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes, Provisional Data from the National Health Interview Survey: United States, August 1987. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics. No. 146.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dawson, Deborah A.; And Others

This document presents provisional data for all Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) questionnaire items from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for August 1987. It notes that the AIDS questionnaire was designed to provide baseline estimates of public knowledge and attitudes about AIDS transmission, the prevention of AIDS virus…

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

MedlinePlus

... FEPC) National Data Set (NDS) Survey of Team Attitudes and Relationships (STAR) Quality Reporting QAPI Resources Quality ... moments my.nhpco Episode 27: Survey of Team Attitudes and Relationships High quality education that comes right ...

Two Linguists on Freshman English: Pressure from Below.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Francis, W. Nelson

1964-01-01

The importance of improving English instructors' attitudes toward three broadly classified forms of language expression is examined. The author notes an increased interest in languages among college freshmen and defines the differences between (1) artistic, (2) playful, and (3) intellectual expression. Pressure resulting from advanced teaching…

Progress Report Phase I: Use, access, and fire/fuels management attitudes and preferences of user groups concerning the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) and adjacent areas

Treesearch

Kurt F. Anschuetz; Carol B. Raish

2010-01-01

This document represents a progress report of activities completed during Phase I of the study titled, Use, Access, and Fire/Fuels Management Attitudes and Preferences of User Groups Concerning the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) and Adjacent Areas, and the preliminary findings of this work.

Critical attitudes and beliefs towards guidelines amongst palliative care professionals - results from a national survey.

PubMed

Kalies, Helen; Schöttmer, Rieke; Simon, Steffen T; Voltz, Raymond; Crispin, Alexander; Bausewein, Claudia

2017-03-21

Little is known about palliative care professionals' attitudes towards guidelines. In 2015, the German Association for Palliative Medicine (DGP) published an evidence based guideline for palliative care in adults with incurable cancer. Before publication we conducted a national survey among members of the DGP to detect possible barriers and facilitators for its implementation. The aim of the present publication was to evaluate critical attitudes and beliefs which could hinder the effective implementation of the new guideline and to evaluate differences within professional groups and medical specialisations. This web-based online survey was addressed to all members of the DGP in summer 2014. Twenty-one questions concerning attitudes and beliefs towards guidelines were a priori developed to represent the following topics: scepticism regarding the quality of guidelines, doubts about the implementation of guidelines, restrictions in treatment options through guidelines, discrepancy between palliative care values and guidelines. Differences within professions and specialisations were tested using Kruskal-Wallis tests. All 4.786 members with known email address were invited, 1.181 followed the link, 1.138 began to answer the questionnaire and 1.031 completed the questionnaire. More than half of participating members were physicians and one third nurses. Scepticism regarding the quality of existing guidelines was high (range 12.8-73.2%). Doubts regarding practical aspects of guidelines were less prevalent but still high (range 21.8-57.6%). About one third (range 5.4-31.4%) think that guidelines restrict their treatment options. In addition, 38.8% believed that guidelines are a kind of cookbook and restrict the flexibility of individual patient care. The majority saw no or little discrepancy between palliative care values and guidelines (range 68.4-82.6%). There were relatively small but significant differences between professions and specialisations. The person

Absence Excuses in Freshman College Classes and Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Song, Pengfei

2013-01-01

Class attendance is directly tied to student learning and student-faculty satisfaction. Although learning style and attitudes have evolved in college students of the internet generation, the reasons why students skip classes and assignments, and measures to improve the situation have not been comprehensively studied. Increased numbers of students…

Four-year follow-up of smoke exposure, attitudes and smoking behaviour following enactment of Finland's national smoke-free work-place law.

PubMed

Heloma, Antero; Jaakkola, Maritta S

2003-08-01

This study evaluated the possible impact of national smoke-free work-place legislation on employee exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), employee smoking habits and attitudes on work-place smoking regulations. Repeated cross-sectional questionnaire surveys and indoor air nicotine measurements were carried out before, and 1 and 3 years after the law had come into effect. Industrial, service sector and office work-places from the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland. A total of 880, 940 and 659 employees (response rates 70%, 75% and 75%) in eight work-places selected from a register kept by the Uusimaa Regional Institute of Occupational Health to represent various sectors of public and private work-places. Reported exposure to ETS, smoking habits, attitudes on smoking at work and measurements of indoor air nicotine concentration. Employee exposure to ETS for at least 1 hour daily decreased steadily during the 4-year follow-up, from 51% in 1994 to 17% in 1995 and 12% in 1998. Respondents' daily smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption diminished 1 year after the enforcement of legislation from 30% to 25%, and remained at 25% in the last survey 3 years later. Long-term reduction in smoking was confined to men. Both smokers' and non-smokers' attitudes shifted gradually towards favouring a total ban on smoking at work. Median indoor airborne nicotine concentrations decreased from 0.9 micro g/m3 in 1994-95 to 0.1 micro g/m3 in 1995-96 and 1998. This is the first follow-up study on a nationally implemented smoke-free work-place law. We found that such legislation is associated with steadily reducing ETS exposure at work, particularly at work-places, where the voluntary smoking regulations have failed to reduce exposure. The implementation of the law also seemed to encourage smokers to accept a non-smoking work-place as the norm.

Quantifying Attitude to Chemistry in Students at the University of the South Pacific

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, S. J.; Sharma, B. N.; Wakeling, L.; Naiker, M.; Chandra, S.; Gopalan, R. D.; Bilimoria, V. B.

2014-01-01

The attitude towards the study of chemistry for new entrant chemistry students from a multi-national, regional, tertiary educational institution in the South Pacific was investigated using a purpose-designed diagnostic instrument. The Attitude toward the Study of Chemistry Inventory (ASCI) was used to quantify attitude in a cohort of first year…

National survey of Ebola-related knowledge, attitudes and practices before the outbreak peak in Sierra Leone: August 2014

PubMed Central

Jalloh, Mohamed F; Sengeh, Paul; Monasch, Roeland; Jalloh, Mohammad B; DeLuca, Nickolas; Dyson, Meredith; Golfa, Sheku; Sakurai, Yukiko; Conteh, Lansana; Sesay, Samuel; Brown, Vance; Li, Wenshu; Mermin, Jonathan; Bunnell, Rebecca

2017-01-01

Background The 2014–2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was the largest ever to occur. In the early phases, little was known about public knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to Ebola virus disease (Ebola). Data were needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to address gaps in knowledge and practice. Methods In August 2014, we conducted interviews with 1413 randomly selected respondents from 9 out of 14 districts in Sierra Leone using multistage cluster sampling. Where suitable, Ebola-related KAP questions were adapted from other internationally validated questionnaires related to infectious diseases. Results All respondents were aware of Ebola. When asked unprompted, 60% of respondents could correctly cite fever, diarrhoea and vomiting as signs/symptoms of Ebola. A majority of respondents knew that avoiding infected blood and bodily fluids (87%) and contact with an infected corpse (85%) could prevent Ebola. However, there were also widespread misconceptions such as the belief that Ebola can be prevented by washing with salt and hot water (41%). Almost everyone interviewed (95%) expressed at least one discriminatory attitude towards Ebola survivors. Unprompted, self-reported actions taken to avoid Ebola infection included handwashing with soap (66%) and avoiding physical contact with patients with suspected Ebola (40%). Conclusion Three months into the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, our findings suggest there was high awareness of the disease but misconceptions and discriminatory attitudes toward survivors remained common. These findings directly informed the development of a national social mobilisation strategy and demonstrated the importance of KAP assessment early in an epidemic. PMID:29259820

The Relationship Between Perceptions of Wilderness Character and Attitudes Toward Management Intervention to Adapt Biophysical Resources to a Changing Climate and Nature Restoration at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, Alan; Martin, Steve; Christensen, Neal; Fauth, Gregg; Williams, Dan

2015-09-01

In a recent national survey of federal wilderness managers, respondents identified the high priority need for scientific information about public attitudes toward biophysical intervention to adapt to climate change and attitudes of the public toward restoration of natural conditions. In a survey of visitors to one National Park wilderness in California, visitors revealed that they largely do not support biophysical intervention in wilderness to mitigate the effects of climate change, but broad support for activities that restore natural conditions exists. In an attempt to understand how these attitudes vary among visitors, it was found that those visitors who most value naturalness aspects of wilderness character also most positively support restoration and are most negative toward climate change intervention practices. More information about visitor-defined wilderness character attributes is needed and strategic planning to guide intervention decisions and restoration should be a priority. In this study, it was found that wilderness character is largely defined by visitors based on its wildness attributes, which include natural sounds, low density of people, pure water, clean air, and the presence of humans substantially unnoticeable.

The Relationship Between Perceptions of Wilderness Character and Attitudes Toward Management Intervention to Adapt Biophysical Resources to a Changing Climate and Nature Restoration at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

PubMed

Watson, Alan; Martin, Steve; Christensen, Neal; Fauth, Gregg; Williams, Dan

2015-09-01

In a recent national survey of federal wilderness managers, respondents identified the high priority need for scientific information about public attitudes toward biophysical intervention to adapt to climate change and attitudes of the public toward restoration of natural conditions. In a survey of visitors to one National Park wilderness in California, visitors revealed that they largely do not support biophysical intervention in wilderness to mitigate the effects of climate change, but broad support for activities that restore natural conditions exists. In an attempt to understand how these attitudes vary among visitors, it was found that those visitors who most value naturalness aspects of wilderness character also most positively support restoration and are most negative toward climate change intervention practices. More information about visitor-defined wilderness character attributes is needed and strategic planning to guide intervention decisions and restoration should be a priority. In this study, it was found that wilderness character is largely defined by visitors based on its wildness attributes, which include natural sounds, low density of people, pure water, clean air, and the presence of humans substantially unnoticeable.

Shaping attitudes about homosexuality: the role of religion and cultural context.

PubMed

Adamczyk, Amy; Pitt, Cassady

2009-06-01

Across the globe, the debate over homosexuality continues, with great variation in public opinion about the acceptability of homosexuality, laws regulating same-sex unions and penalties for homosexual sex behaviors. Religion is often seen as an important predictor of attitudes about homosexuality. However, cross-national differences in cultural orientations suggest that the role religion has in explaining homosexual attitudes may depend on a nation's cultural context. In this study, we merge ideas from cultural sociology and religious contextual effects to explain cross-national variation in public opinion about homosexuality. Using data from the fourth wave of the World Values Survey and Hierarchical Modeling techniques, we find support for the micro and macro effects of religion and a survival vs. self-expressive cultural orientation. Moreover, we find that personal religious beliefs have a greater effect on attitudes about homosexuality in countries like the United States, which have a strong self-expressive cultural orientation.

The Impact of Freshman Year Learning Community Participation on Students' Self-Reported Sense of Meaning in Life, Academic Self-Efficacy and Commitment to Academic Major at the Beginning of the Second Academic Year

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pruett, Karen Ann

2011-01-01

Student retention is one of the most studied areas in higher education. Much of the focus has been on providing services to aid in retention efforts from the first to the second academic year. Freshman seminar classes as well as learning community programs have become common on college campuses to provide students with the resources and support to…

Attitudes towards globalization and cosmopolitanism: cultural diversity, personal consumption and the national economy.

PubMed

Woodward, Ian; Skrbis, Zlatko; Bean, Clive

2008-06-01

One of the widely accepted consequences of globalization is the development of individual outlooks, behaviours and feelings that transcend local and national boundaries. This has encouraged a re-assessment of important assumptions about the nature of community, personal attachment and belonging in the face of unprecedented opportunities for culture, identities and politics to shape, and be shaped by, global events and processes. Recently, the upsurge of interest in the concept of cosmopolitanism has provided a promising new framework for understanding the nexus between cosmopolitan dispositions and global interconnectedness across cultural, political and economic realms. Using data from a representative social survey of Australians this paper investigates the negotiation of belonging under the conditions of globalization. The data tap into attitudes and behaviours associated with a broad gamut of cosmopolitan traits in the domains of culture, consumption, human rights, citizenship, and international governance. They show how cosmopolitan outlooks are shaped by social structural factors, and how forms of identification with humanity and the globe are fractured by boundaries of self and others, threats and opportunities, and the value of things global and local.

NATIONAL ALCOHOL SURVEY (NAS)

EPA Science Inventory

National Alcohol Survey (NAS) is designed to assess the trends in drinking practices and problems in the national population, including attitudes, norms, treatment and experiences and adverse consequences. It also studies the effects of public policy on drinking practices (i.e., ...

RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES IN REPORTED ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ALSTON, JON P.; GLENN, NORVAL D.

TO EXAMINE A NUMBER OF STEREOTYPES AND IMPRESSIONS HELD BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN RURAL-URBAN ATTITUDES, THIS RESEARCH ANALYZED THE RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FROM 20 NATIONAL OPINION POLLS CONDUCTED BY THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION AND THE NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER FROM 1953 TO 1965. COMPARISONS WERE MADE BETWEEN THE RESPONSES OF…

Attitudes about Childlessness in the United States: Correlates of Positive, Neutral, and Negative Responses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koropeckyj-Cox, Tanya; Pendell, Gretchen

2007-01-01

The study used cross-sectional analyses of the National Survey of Families and Households (1987-1988, 1992-1994) to examine attitudes about childlessness in the United States. It (a) assesses prevalence of positive, neutral, and negative attitudes about childlessness and (b) identifies the correlates of different attitudes in the population. About…

On the Attitude of Secondary 1 Students towards Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuppan, L.; Munirah, S. K.; Foong, S. K.; Yeung, A. S.

2010-07-01

The understanding of students' attitude towards science will give a sense of direction when designing pedagogical approaches and lesson packages so that reasons for not liking science is arrested and eventually the nation's need for science oriented workforce is addressed in the future. This study is part of a 3-year research project entitled PbI1@School: A large scale study on the effect of "Physics by Inquiry" pedagogy on Secondary One students' attitude and aptitude in science, involving school, National Institute of Education (NIE) Singapore, University of Washington at Seattle and the Ministry of Education (MOE) of Singapore. The results from a survey conducted on a sample size of 215 secondary 1 students indicate that fun in studying science is a major reason for their interest towards the subject. Those who do not like science dislike the idea of surface learning such as memorizing facts and information. Besides, all these students in our sample appear to be inquisitive. We believe that the teaching and learning system needs to be modified to increase or at least sustain the students' interest in science and capitalize on students' inquisitiveness. Although the results obtained are interesting and give an insight on secondary 1 students' attitude towards science, we intend to carry out a more rigorous study to identify correlations between students' responses for different attitude questions to understand deeply their attitude towards science.

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Attitudes Toward Smoke-Free Workplaces Among Employed U.S. Adults: Findings From the National Adult Tobacco Survey

PubMed Central

King, Brian A.; Homa, David M.; Dube, Shanta R.; Babb, Stephen D.

2015-01-01

Introduction This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and attitudes toward smoke-free workplaces among employed U.S. adults. Methods Data came from the 2009–2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a landline and cellular telephone survey of adults aged ≥18 years in the United States and the District of Columbia. National and state estimates of past 7-day workplace SHS exposure and attitudes toward indoor and outdoor smoke-free workplaces were assessed among employed adults. National estimates were calculated by sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, annual household income, sexual orientation, U.S. region, and smoking status. Results Among employed adults who did not smoke cigarettes, 20.4% reported past 7-day SHS exposure at their workplace (state range: 12.4% [Maine] to 30.8% [Nevada]). Nationally, prevalence of exposure was higher among males, those aged 18–44 years, non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska natives compared to non-Hispanic Whites, those with less education and income, those in the western United States, and those with no smoke-free workplace policy. Among all employed adults, 83.8% and 23.2% believed smoking should never be allowed in indoor and outdoor areas of workplaces, respectively. Conclusions One-fifth of employed U.S. adult nonsmokers are exposed to SHS in the workplace, and disparities in exposure exist across states and subpopulations. Most employed adults believe indoor areas of workplaces should be smoke free, and nearly one-quarter believe outdoor areas should be smoke free. Efforts to protect employees from SHS exposure and to educate the public about the dangers of SHS and benefits of smoke-free workplaces could be beneficial. PMID:24812025

An Exploratory Study on Initial STEM Classes and African American Freshman Males Who Are STEM Majors at a Large Mid-Atlantic State University: Factors Affecting Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Persistence in the STEM Pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calhoun, William Jason

The purpose of this study was to test how well social cognitive career theory (SCCT) explains the effects of an introductory freshman year science course on the career perspectives of African American males at a large, public mid-Atlantic state university. Embracing SCCT as the foundation of this project, the dissertation intended to gather data from these young men to develop insight into how and in what ways their self-efficacy throughout the semester was influenced by their first science course, and changing their outlook on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers while in school and after graduation. To a small number of freshman African American male students who have declared themselves STEM majors, I utilized a qualitative study investigating this phenomenon. The major findings detailed themes that affected these young men including concerns about mathmatics preparation, isolation, balance, microagression, and help-seeking. Results indicate that there was an impact on the confidence, achievement, and goal setting for these young men due to these factors and that social cognitive career theory was an appropriate framework from which to test these questions.

77 FR 37387 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Understanding Recreational Angler Attitudes and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-21

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Understanding Recreational Angler Attitudes and Preferences for Saltwater... survey will be to understand the range of attitudes, preferences, and concerns that recreational anglers...

A National Investigation of School Psychology Trainers' Attitudes and Beliefs about Evidence- Based Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reddy, Linda A.; Forman, Susan G.; Stoiber, Karen C.; Gonzalez, Jorge E.

2017-01-01

The present investigation examined 460 school psychology trainers' attitudes and beliefs about the conditions for the education and training of evidence-based practices (i.e., assessments and interventions) in training programs in the United States and Canada using an online survey. Trainer attitudes and beliefs about education and training in…

Development and Validation of the Human Papillomavirus Attitudes and Beliefs Scale in a National Canadian Sample.

PubMed

Perez, Samara; Shapiro, Gilla K; Tatar, Ovidiu; Joyal-Desmarais, Keven; Rosberger, Zeev

2016-10-01

Parents' human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination decision-making is strongly influenced by their attitudes and beliefs toward vaccination. To date, psychometrically evaluated HPV vaccination attitudes scales have been narrow in their range of measured beliefs and often limited to attitudes surrounding female HPV vaccination. The study aimed to develop a comprehensive, validated and reliable HPV vaccination attitudes and beliefs scale among parents of boys. Data were collected from Canadian parents of 9- to 16-year-old boys using an online questionnaire completed in 2 waves with a 7-month interval. Based on existing vaccination attitudes scales, a set of 61 attitude and belief items were developed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's α and stability over time with intraclass correlations. The HPV Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (HABS) was informed by 3117 responses at time 1 and 1427 at time 2. The HABS contains 46 items organized in 9 factors: Benefits (10 items), Threat (3 items), Influence (8 items), Harms (6 items), Risk (3 items), Affordability (3 items), Communication (5 items), Accessibility (4 items), and General Vaccination Attitudes (4 items). Model fit at time 2 were: χ/df = 3.13, standardized root mean square residual = 0.056, root mean square error approximation (confidence interval) = 0.039 (0.037-0.04), comparative fit index = 0.962 and Tucker-Lewis index = 0.957. Cronbach's αs were greater than 0.8 and intraclass correlations of factors were greater than 0.6. The HABS is the first psychometrically-tested scale of HPV attitude and beliefs among parents of boys available for use in English and French. Further testing among parents of girls and young adults and assessing predictive validity are warranted.

Student Attitudes on Animal Sentience and Use of Animals in Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, C. J. C.; McCulloch, S.

2005-01-01

Cultural differences in students' attitudes towards animals need to be better understood and respected in order to promote tolerance in multicultural biological education. A cross-cultural study was conducted to investigate the beliefs of 425 students of different nationalities on animal sentience and attitudes towards the uses of animals.…

Ambivalent Sexism and Attitudes toward Wife Abuse in Turkey and Brazil

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glick, Peter; Sakalli-Ugurlu, Nuray; Ferreira, Maria Cristina; de Souza, Marcos Aguiar

2002-01-01

Men and women in Turkey and Brazil completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and measures of attitudes about wife abuse. In both nations hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent sexism (BS) positively correlated with attitudes that legitimize abuse. Regression analyses revealed that HS accounted for unique variance, but BS…

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VI: Teens.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Columbia Univ., New York, NY. National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

This report describes research undertaken to assess the attitudes of teenagers and those who most influence them--their parents, teachers, and school principals. The research attempted to identify factors that could increase or diminish the likelihood teenagers would use cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs. Parents were identified as the key to…

Attitudes Toward Genetic Modification Research: An Analysis of the Views of the Sputnik Generation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Jon D.

1982-01-01

Utilizing data from the 1977 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) survey of young adults, summarizes attitudes toward genetic modification research and the demographic, educational, and occupational correlates of these attitudes. (Author/SK)

A national study of Chinese youths' attitudes towards students with intellectual disabilities.

PubMed

Siperstein, G N; Parker, R C; Norins, J; Widaman, K F

2011-04-01

In recent years, there has been a global effort to support the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) in schools and classrooms. China in particular has recently enacted laws that provide for inclusive educational opportunities for students with ID. There are many barriers, however, to successfully including students with ID in regular education schools and classrooms, one of which is negative attitudes. Over the past decade, much research has focused on documenting the attitudes of the adult public; however, adults only represent one segment of society as it is youth who play a critical role in the successful inclusion and acceptance of students with ID in schools and classrooms. The aim of this study was to replicate a previous study of middle school-aged youths' attitudes towards the inclusion of peers with ID conducted with youth in the USA with similar aged youth in China. A survey was conducted with a random sample of 4059 middle school-aged youth in China on their attitudes towards students with ID. Students' attitudes were measured in terms of their perceptions of the capabilities of students with ID, their beliefs about and expectations regarding the inclusion of students with ID and their willingness to interact with students with ID both in and out of school. The findings indicated that youth in China (1) perceive students with ID as moderately, rather than mildly, impaired; (2) believe that students with ID can not participate in their academic classes; (3) view inclusion as having both positive and negative effects on them personally; and (4) do not want to interact with a peer with ID in school, particularly on academic tasks. Structural equation modelling showed that youths' perceptions of the competence of students with ID significantly influenced their willingness to interact with these students and their support of inclusion. The findings replicated previous research conducted with middle school-aged youth in the USA and are

The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): predictors of alcohol attitudes and expectancies in Hispanic national groups.

PubMed

Mills, Britain A; Caetano, Raul

2010-05-01

Multiple theoretical frameworks identify attitudes and expectancies as important predictors of alcohol behavior. Few studies have examined demographic predictors of these evaluative and belief-based cognitive mediators in the general population, and none have examined them in large-scale studies of Hispanics, a group at higher risk for drinking behavior and problems. This study probes the extent to which dimensions of attitudes and expectancies share common demographic predictors in a large sample of Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and South/Central Americans. The 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS) used a multistage cluster sample design to interview 5,224 individuals randomly selected from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. This study focused on 2,773 respondents self-identified as current drinkers. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of positive and negative dimensions of attitudes and expectancies, controlling for various background variables. Religious affiliation selectively predicted alcohol attitudes, with Catholics having more positive and fewer negative attitudes than other religious groups. Hispanic group selectively predicted alcohol expectancies, with Cuban-Americans having less positive and less negative expectancies than other groups. Being U.S.-born or male predicted more positive attitudes and expectancies, but birthplace and gender did not predict negative dimensions of attitudes or expectancies. Higher acculturation and more education were linked to a decreased tendency to agree with any item. Age was positively and negatively associated with negative expectancies and positive attitudes, respectively, and having never been married, higher income, and unemployment were each linked to fewer negative attitudes. Although there is some overlap, attitudes and expectancies are influenced by different sociodemographic variables. Positive and negative

Using Innovative Technical Solutions as an Intervention for at Risk Students: A Meta-Cognitive Statistical Analysis to Determine the Impact of Ninth Grade Freshman Academies, Centers, and Center Models upon Minority Student Retention and Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Osler, James Edward; Waden, Carl

2012-01-01

This paper provides an active discourse on the use of innovative solutions to conduct an in-depth investigation on the success and viability of 9th Grade Freshman Academies, Centers, and Center Models to aid in the retention of at risk students. These types of academic programs provide an active solution for the retention and projected completion…

Income, egalitarianism and attitudes towards healthcare policy: a study on public attitudes in 29 countries.

PubMed

Azar, A; Maldonado, L; Castillo, J C; Atria, J

2018-01-01

To evaluate the relationship between income and egalitarian values and attitudes towards healthcare policy. Cross-sectional and cross-national study. Data for 29 countries from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2011 were used. The dependent variables are a general attitude towards government involvement in healthcare provision and two attitudes regarding specific policies (taxes and public funding). Income and egalitarianism were also measured by using ISSP. Data were analysed using regression models that account for individual and country-level characteristics, and country-fixed effects. The effect of income is small and non-significant for attitudes towards government involvement and public funding. For willingness to pay (WTP) taxes to improve healthcare services, we find a positive association with income. Results for egalitarianism suggest a positive association with government involvement in healthcare provision and significant interactions with WTP taxes. The distinction of dimensions and mechanisms underlying policy attitudes appears as relevant. Citizens across socioeconomic groups are motivated to support state-funded healthcare, favouring the design of non-selfish policies. These findings suggest that there is space for policymakers who seek to increase healthcare spending encouraging either policies for specific groups or broader institutional changes. Copyright © 2017 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Middle School Students' Attitudes toward Science, Scientists, Science Teachers and Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kapici, Hasan Özgür; Akçay, Hakan

2016-01-01

It is an indispensable fact that having a positive attitude towards science is one of the important factors that promotes students for studying in science. The study is a kind of national study that aims to investigate middle school students', from different regions of Turkey, attitudes toward science, scientists and science classes. The study was…

Saudi Arabian ICU safety culture and nurses' attitudes.

PubMed

Alayed, Abdulrahman S; Lööf, Helena; Johansson, Unn-Britt

2014-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to examine nurses' attitudes towards safety culture in six Saudi Arabian intensive care units (ICUs). The study is descriptive with a cross-sectional design. The Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ)-ICU version was distributed and 216 completed questionnaires were returned. The findings provide a basis for further research on Saudi Arabian ICU safety culture. This study showed that the SAQ-ICU can be used to measure safety climate to identify areas for improvement according to nurse attitudes and perceptions. Findings indicate that ICU safety culture is an important issue that hospital managers should prioritise. The SAQ-ICU questionnaire, used to measure safety climate in Saudi Arabian ICUs, identifies service strengths and improvement areas according to attitudes and perceptions. To the knowledge, this is the first study to use SAQ to examine nurses' safety culture attitudes in Saudi Arabian ICUs. The present findings provide a baseline and further details about Saudi Arabian ICU safety. Study participants represented nine nationalities, indicating the nursing workforce's diversity, which is expected to continue in the future. Such a nursing cultural heterogeneity calls for further studies to examine and evaluate attitudes and values to improve ICU safety culture.

The Relation Between Death Attitude and Distress: Tolerance, Aggression, and Anger.

PubMed

Esnaashari, Fatemeh; Kargar, Flor Rezaei

2018-06-01

The aim of this research was to determine the relation between death attitude and distress tolerance and aggression and anger. For this, 135 subjects among 7,535 professional and specialist members of the Iran National Library were selected using convenience sampling method. They replied to Death Attitudes Profile-Revised, distress tolerance questionnaire, and aggression questionnaire. The results showed that the attitudes of approach acceptance, neutral acceptance, and escape acceptance had positive relation to distress tolerance and negative relation to aggression and anger while the attitudes of fear of death and death avoidance had negative relation to distress tolerance and positive relation to aggression and anger. Furthermore, all death attitudes predicted distress tolerance. But only the attitudes of approach acceptance, escape acceptance, fear of death, and death avoidance predicted aggression, and only approach acceptance, neutral acceptance, fear of death, and death avoidance predicted anger.

75 FR 4042 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Public Perceptions and Attitudes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-26

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Public Perceptions and Attitudes About Hawaiian Monk Seals AGENCY..., attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors regarding the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The information...

Rehabilitation Counseling Master's Students: Beliefs and Attitudes about Domestic Violence toward Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Dytisha Monicke

2013-01-01

Domestic violence is a national concern that affects women of all ages and ethnicities, as well as women with disabilities. Although there is literature focusing on attitudes about domestic violence toward women, the literature review provided no studies that investigated attitudes about domestic violence toward women in relation to domestic…

Knowledge, Affection and Basic Attitudes Toward Animals in American Society. Phase III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kellert, Stephen R.; Berry, Joyce K.

This paper, third in a series of five reports on results of a national study of American attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors toward wildlife and natural habitats, focuses on the American public's attitudes, perceptions, and understanding of animals. Data were derived from questionnaires administered to 3,107 randomly selected Americans (18 years…

E-Psychology: Consumers' Attitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jordanova, Malina; Vasileva, Lidia; Rasheva, Maximka; Bojinova, Rumiana

Securing psychological supervision, consultations and help during long lasting flights is vital condition for success. That's why, knowing in details consumers (clients) attitude toward virtual psychology services is essential. Knowledge gained during nowadays studies on Earth will definitely help in the preparation for the future. The presentation focuses on results of a longitudinal survey assessing clients' attitudes toward e-psychology service. The first part of the survey was performed in spring 2006, while the second - in 2008. The study is part of an ongoing project OHN 1514/2005, funded by National Science Fund, Bulgaria. Project's strategic goal is to develop and offer a virtual high quality psychological service to people from remotes areas that have no contact with licensed psychologist. The project enables experts to communicate directly with clients and perform remote consultations, supervision, etc. The objective of this presentation is to report changes and trends in clients' attitude towards innovative virtual psychology care. Both parts of the survey involved men and women between 19 and 70 year, who defend various opinions on the application of virtual technologies for healthcare. The sample is stratifies for age, gender, education level.

Aging and Attitudes about Sexual Morality.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutler, Stephen J.

Available evidence does not support the notion that aging is associated with increasingly conservative social and political attitudes, or the idea that attitudinal rigidity is the norm among older cohorts. To examine whether aging is associated with attitudinal rigidity, nine surveys from the National Opinion Research Center were analyzed to…

Ambivalence and pregnancy: adolescents' attitudes, contraceptive use and pregnancy.

PubMed

Bruckner, Hannah; Martin, Anne; Bearman, Peter S

2004-01-01

It is often argued that adolescents who become pregnant do not sufficiently appreciate the negative consequences, and that prevention programs should target participants' attitudes toward pregnancy. Data from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to examine whether 15-19-year-old females' attitudes toward pregnancy influence their contraceptive consistency and their risk of pregnancy. Characteristics and attitudes associated with pregnancy and contraceptive use were assessed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Twenty percent of female adolescents were defined as having antipregnancy attitudes, 8% as having propregnancy attitudes and 14% as being ambivalent toward pregnancy; the remainder were considered to have mainstream attitudes. Among sexually experienced adolescents, having an attitude toward pregnancy was not associated with risk of pregnancy. However, those who were ambivalent about pregnancy had reduced odds of using contraceptives consistently and inconsistently rather than not practicing contraception at all (odds ratios, 0.5 and 0.4, respectively). Antipregnancy respondents did not differ from proprepregancy respondents in terms of their contraceptive consistency. However, having a positive attitude toward contraception was associated with increased likelihood of inconsistent and consistent contraceptive use compared with nonuse (1.6 and 2.1, respectively). Programs designed to prevent pregnancy need to give young women information about pregnancy and opportunities to discuss the topic so that they form opinions. Furthermore, programs should emphasize positive attitudes toward contraception, because effective contraceptive use is shaped by such attitudes and is strongly associated with reduction of pregnancy risk.

The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): Predictors of alcohol attitudes and expectancies in Hispanic national groups

PubMed Central

Mills, Britain A.; Caetano, Raul

2012-01-01

Background Multiple theoretical frameworks identify attitudes and expectancies as important predictors of alcohol behavior. Few studies have examined demographic predictors of these evaluative and belief-based cognitive mediators in the general population, and none have examined them in large-scale studies of Hispanics, a group at higher risk for drinking behavior and problems. This study probes the extent to which dimensions of attitudes and expectancies share common demographic predictors in a large sample of Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and South/Central Americans. Methods The 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS) used a multistage cluster sample design to interview 5,224 individuals randomly selected from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. This study focused on 2,773 respondents self-identified as current drinkers. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of positive and negative dimensions of attitudes and expectancies, controlling for various background variables. Results Religious affiliation selectively predicted alcohol attitudes, with Catholics having more positive and fewer negative attitudes than other religious groups. Hispanic group selectively predicted alcohol expectancies, with Cuban-Americans having less positive and less negative expectancies than other groups. Being U.S.-born or male predicted more positive attitudes and expectancies, but birthplace and gender did not predict negative dimensions of attitudes or expectancies. Higher acculturation and more education were linked to a decreased tendency to agree with any item. Age was positively and negatively associated with negative expectancies and positive attitudes, respectively, and having never been married, higher income, and unemployment were each linked to fewer negative attitudes. Conclusions Although there is some overlap, attitudes and expectancies are influenced by different sociodemographic

Authoritarian parenting attitudes as a risk for conduct problems Results from a British national cohort study.

PubMed

Thompson, Anne; Hollis, Chris; Dagger, David Richards

2003-04-01

This study examines the associations, and possible causal relationship, between mothers' authoritarian attitudes to discipline and child behaviour using cross-sectional and prospective data from a large population sample surveyed in the 1970 British Cohort Study. Results show a clear linear relationship between the degree of maternal approval of authoritarian child-rearing attitudes and the rates of conduct problems at age 5 and age 10. This association is independent of the confounding effects of socio-economic status and maternal psychological distress. Maternal authoritarian attitudes independently predicted the development of conduct problems 5 years later at age 10. The results of this longitudinal study suggest that authoritarian parenting attitudes expressed by mothers may be of significance in the development of conduct problems.

The psychological roots of anti-vaccination attitudes: A 24-nation investigation.

PubMed

Hornsey, Matthew J; Harris, Emily A; Fielding, Kelly S

2018-04-01

Strengthening of antivaccination movements in recent decades has coincided with unprecedented increases in the incidence of some communicable diseases. Many intervention programs work from a deficit model of science communication, presuming that vaccination skeptics lack the ability to access or understand evidence. However, interventions focusing on evidence and the debunking of vaccine-related myths have proven to be either nonproductive or counterproductive. Working from a motivated reasoning perspective, we examine the psychological factors that might motivate people to reject scientific consensus around vaccination. To assist with international generalizability, we examine this question in 24 countries. We sampled 5,323 participants in 24 countries, and measured their antivaccination attitudes. We also measured their belief in conspiracy theories, reactance (the tendency for people to have a low tolerance for impingements on their freedoms), disgust sensitivity toward blood and needles, and individualistic/hierarchical worldviews (i.e., people's beliefs about how much control society should have over individuals, and whether hierarchies are desirable). In order of magnitude, antivaccination attitudes were highest among those who (a) were high in conspiratorial thinking, (b) were high in reactance, (c) reported high levels of disgust toward blood and needles, and (d) had strong individualistic/hierarchical worldviews. In contrast, demographic variables (including education) accounted for nonsignificant or trivial levels of variance. These data help identify the "attitude roots" that may motivate and sustain vaccine skepticism. In so doing, they help shed light on why repetition of evidence can be nonproductive, and suggest communication solutions to that problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process and Its Vicissitudes: Insights from Attitude Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelman, Herbert C.

2007-01-01

The vicissitudes of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process since 1967 are analyzed using attitudes and related concepts where relevant. The 1967 war returned the two peoples' zero-sum conflict around national identity to its origin as a conflict within the land both peoples claim. Gradually, new attitudes evolved regarding the necessity and…

What Is High School Economics? Factors Contributing to Student Achievement and Attitudes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walstad, William B.; Soper, John C.

1989-01-01

Presents study which extends the analysis of economic understanding and attitudes of high school students using a national data set of the Test of Economic Literacy (TEL). Using matched pre- and posttest scores, the study investigated factors that explained level of posttest economic achievement or attitudes and analyzed reasons for gains in…

The effects of the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks' environmental education program on the environmental knowledge and attitudes of 13--17 year old students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, Ebil

The study focused on the effects of the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Park's (DWNP) environmental education program on the environmental knowledge and attitudes of the secondary school students. Conducted between May 11, 1998 and August 11, 1998, this study was designed to reflect three objectives: (1) to determine the effect of participation in the DWNP's environmental education program on environmental knowledge and attitudes of 13--17 year old Malaysian students, (2) to identify demographic factors that contribute to the change of environmental knowledge and attitudes, and (3) to establish base line data for future evaluation of the effectiveness of DWNP's environmental education program. The sample was comprised of 806 randomly selected students from 10 different schools, with 402 randomly assigned to the experimental grouped and 404 to the control group. Pretest and post-tests were administered at the schools. The experimental group was exposed to the Environmental Education Program (EEP) at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) at Bukit Rengit, Lanchang, Pahang, Malaysia sometime between May 14, 1998 and August 8, 1998. At the EEC, the experimental group was again divided, with half receiving the pretest and post-test, while the other half were given only the post-test. The instrument used in this study was a modification of the Children's Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge Scale (CHEAKS) developed by Leeming, et al. (1995). This instrument had sound psychometric properties suitable for this research setting, and allowed comparisons of results with previous studies. T-tests, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were used to determine group differences. Overall, secondary school students in the experimental group showed a significantly greater change in environmental knowledge than did students in the control group. Significant differences were also found on the Attitude sub-scale, with the control group exhibiting negative change in attitude, and slightly

Knowledge and attitude of civil servants in Osun state, Southwestern Nigeria towards the national health insurance.

PubMed

Olugbenga-Bello, A I; Adebimpe, W O

2010-12-01

In Nigeria, inequity and poor accessibility to quality health care has been a persistent problem. This study aimed to determine knowledge and attitude of civil servants in Osun state towards the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This is a descriptive, cross sectional study of 380 civil servants in the employment of Osun state government, using multi stage sampling method. The research instruments was pre-coded, semi structured, self administered questionnaires. About 60% were aware of out of pocket as the most prevalent form of health care financing, while 40% were aware of NHIS, television and billboards were their main sources of awareness, However, none had good knowledge of the components of NHIS, 26.7% knew about its objectives, and 30% knew about who ideally should benefit from the scheme. Personal spending still accounts for a high as 74.7% of health care spending among respondents but respondents believed that this does not cover all their health needs. Only 0.3% have so far benefited from NHIS while 199 (52.5%) of respondents agreed to participate in the scheme. A significant association exists between willingness to participate in the NHIS scheme and awareness of methods of options of health care financing and awareness of NHIS (P < 0.05) Poor knowledge of the objectives and mechanism of operation of the NHIS scheme characterised the civil servants under study. The poor knowledge of the components and fair attitude towards joining the scheme observed in this study could be improved upon, if stakeholders in the scheme could carry out adequate awareness seminars targeted at the civil servants.

Psychometric Properties and U.S. National Norms of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aarons, Gregory A.; Glisson, Charles; Hoagwood, Kimberly; Kelleher, Kelly; Landsverk, John; Cafri, Guy

2010-01-01

The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) assesses mental health and social service provider attitudes toward adopting evidence-based practices. Scores on the EBPAS derive from 4 subscales (i.e., Appeal, Requirements, Openness, and Divergence) as well as the total scale, and preliminary studies have linked EBPAS scores to clinic structure…

Accelerated Reader and Young People's Reading in 2013: Findings from the National Literacy Trust's 2013 Annual Literacy Survey on Reading Enjoyment, Reading Behaviour outside Class and Reading Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Christina

2014-01-01

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice. Although a wealth of data is routinely collected about children's reading skills as part of the AR tool, no information is collected on the "softer" reading outcomes, such as reading enjoyment and attitudes towards reading. The National Literacy…

KATE VII: Kansans' Attitudes toward Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emporia State Univ., KS. Jones Inst. for Educational Excellence.

The Teachers College at Emporia State University sponsors a biennial survey measuring the attitudes of Kansans toward their public schools. The results of the 1991 survey are reported here (the survey was patterned after the national Gallop Poll on public education). The report opens with details of the research procedures, which includes…

Attitude Strength.

PubMed

Howe, Lauren C; Krosnick, Jon A

2017-01-03

Attitude strength has been the focus of a huge volume of research in psychology and related sciences for decades. The insights offered by this literature have tremendous value for understanding attitude functioning and structure and for the effective application of the attitude concept in applied settings. This is the first Annual Review of Psychology article on the topic, and it offers a review of theory and evidence regarding one of the most researched strength-related attitude features: attitude importance. Personal importance is attached to an attitude when the attitude is perceived to be relevant to self-interest, social identification with reference groups or reference individuals, and values. Attaching personal importance to an attitude causes crystallizing of attitudes (via enhanced resistance to change), effortful gathering and processing of relevant information, accumulation of a large store of well-organized relevant information in long-term memory, enhanced attitude extremity and accessibility, enhanced attitude impact on the regulation of interpersonal attraction, energizing of emotional reactions, and enhanced impact of attitudes on behavioral intentions and action. Thus, important attitudes are real and consequential psychological forces, and their study offers opportunities for addressing behavioral change.

Racism and Attitude Change: The Role of Mass Media and Instructional Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Robert L.; Thomas, Richard

The task confronting this nation is to use our communications technology in an effort to effectively eliminate racist and other undemocratic attitudes in American life. The media and those who control them must be willing to run the risk of losing profits to engage in facilitating positive attitudes towards emotional issues such as poverty and…

Cohabitation in the Philippines: Attitudes and Behaviors among Young Women and Men

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Lindy; Kabamalan, Midea; Ogena, Nimfa

2007-01-01

We examine data from a national survey of 15-27 year olds in the Philippines to assess attitudes toward marriage and cohabitation, and we analyze the marital and nonmarital union experiences of 25-27 year olds. We find that attitudes toward cohabitation remain quite conservative among young Filipinos, although men view cohabitation more favorably…

Charlotte Attitudes towards Sleep (CATS) Scale: A Validated Measurement Tool for College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peach, Hannah; Gaultney, Jane F.

2017-01-01

Objective: Using a 4-phase study design, the present study developed and tested the Charlotte Attitudes Towards Sleep (CATS) Scale, a measurement tool for assessing sleep attitudes in college students. Participants: Participants were 706 undergraduate students recruited at a southeastern university and on a national recruitment Web site between…

How Do Attitudes toward Mental Health Treatment Vary by Age, Gender, and Ethnicity/Race in Young Adults?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzalez, Jodi M.; Alegria, Margarita; Prihoda, Thomas J.

2005-01-01

This article investigates attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment in a national epidemiological sample. Young adults reported the most negative attitudes, as compared to older adults. Males reported more negative attitudes, as compared to females, a consistent finding in young adults. The gender difference was not consistent in Latinos…

Relationships between Attitudes to Irish, Social Class, Religion and National Identity in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riagain, Padraig O.

2007-01-01

Research on language attitudes in the Republic of Ireland has been greatly influenced by stratification theories. That is to say, differences in attitudes are seen to reflect the positions individuals occupy in the social structure. Research on language attitudes in Northern Ireland is less developed, but has tended to view such attitudes as…

Iranian pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding counterfeit drugs.

PubMed

Shahverdi, Shieda; Hajimiri, Mirhamed; Pourmalek, Farshad; Torkamandi, Hassan; Gholami, Kheirollah; Hanafi, Somayeh; Ashrafi Shahmirzadi, Nikinaz; Javadi, Mohammadreza

2012-01-01

Background Awareness of pharmacists about counterfeit drugs is necessary for health improvement in community. The purpose of the present study is to assess the knowledge and measure the professional attitude and practice of Iranian pharmacist about counterfeit drugs. In August 2008, a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study was performed in a national sample of 794 pharmacists who participated in an Iranian Pharmacist Association congress. A questionnaire was prepared to collect Demographic and professional characteristics, Knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists regarding counterfeit drugs. The mean percent of participants who answer each practice questions correctly is 13.62% and none of questions have more than 14.7% of correct answer, while the participants' attitude towards the subject is at high level. None of demographic factors represented a significant relationship with knowledge and the only related parameters with attitude, were age and gender. Increasing age of pharmacists resulted in attitude improvement (p = 0.013) and women›s attitudes were better than men (p = 0.05).The only related parameters with practice, were the number of working hours per a week and attitude. Increasing the number of working hours per a week, resulted in decreasing the desirable practice (p = 0.041) and attitude also had a direct relationship with practice (p = 0.011). Conclusion The most important finding in the present study was the pharmacists› low knowledge and practice level about counterfeit drugs, while their attitude towards this subject was at a high level. The results point out the need for designing and implementing educational programs.

Exploring the Relationships among Multicultural Training Experiences and Attitudes toward Diversity among Counseling Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickson, Ginger L.; Jepsen, David A.; Barbee, Phillip W.

2008-01-01

The authors surveyed a national sample of master's-level counseling students regarding their multicultural training experiences and their attitudes toward racial diversity and gender equity. Hierarchical regression models showed that student perceptions of program cultural ambience predicted positive cognitive attitudes toward racial diversity.…

NATIONAL SURVEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA

EPA Science Inventory

The National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma is a nation-wide survey on awareness of and existing attitudes toward asthma and its environmental triggers. The survey will generate data which can be used as a benchmark to measure national awareness and action related ...

Do needs for security and certainty predict cultural and economic conservatism? A cross-national analysis.

PubMed

Malka, Ariel; Soto, Christopher J; Inzlicht, Michael; Lelkes, Yphtach

2014-06-01

We examine whether individual differences in needs for security and certainty predict conservative (vs. liberal) position on both cultural and economic political issues and whether these effects are conditional on nation-level characteristics and individual-level political engagement. Analyses with cross-national data from 51 nations reveal that valuing conformity, security, and tradition over self-direction and stimulation (a) predicts ideological self-placement on the political right, but only among people high in political engagement and within relatively developed nations, ideologically constrained nations, and non-Eastern European nations, (b) reliably predicts right-wing cultural attitudes and does so more strongly within developed and ideologically constrained nations, and (c) on average predicts left-wing economic attitudes but does so more weakly among people high in political engagement, within ideologically constrained nations, and within non-Eastern European nations. These findings challenge the prevailing view that needs for security and certainty organically yield a broad right-wing ideology and that exposure to political discourse better equips people to select the broad ideology that is most need satisfying. Rather, these findings suggest that needs for security and certainty generally yield culturally conservative but economically left-wing preferences and that exposure to political discourse generally weakens the latter relation. We consider implications for the interactive influence of personality characteristics and social context on political attitudes and discuss the importance of assessing multiple attitude domains, assessing political engagement, and considering national characteristics when studying the psychological origins of political attitudes.

Increasing URM Undergraduate Student Success through Assessment-Driven Interventions: A Multiyear Study Using Freshman-Level General Biology as a Model System.

PubMed

Carmichael, Mary C; St Clair, Candace; Edwards, Andrea M; Barrett, Peter; McFerrin, Harris; Davenport, Ian; Awad, Mohamed; Kundu, Anup; Ireland, Shubha Kale

2016-01-01

Xavier University of Louisiana leads the nation in awarding BS degrees in the biological sciences to African-American students. In this multiyear study with ∼5500 participants, data-driven interventions were adopted to improve student academic performance in a freshman-level general biology course. The three hour-long exams were common and administered concurrently to all students. New exam questions were developed using Bloom's taxonomy, and exam results were analyzed statistically with validated assessment tools. All but the comprehensive final exam were returned to students for self-evaluation and remediation. Among other approaches, course rigor was monitored by using an identical set of 60 questions on the final exam across 10 semesters. Analysis of the identical sets of 60 final exam questions revealed that overall averages increased from 72.9% (2010) to 83.5% (2015). Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between high-risk students and their averages on the 60 questions. Additional analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements for at least one letter grade from midterm to final and a 20% increase in the course pass rates over time, also for the high-risk population. These results support the hypothesis that our data-driven interventions and assessment techniques are successful in improving student retention, particularly for our academically at-risk students. © 2016 M. C. Carmichael et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2016 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Efficacy of a post-secondary environmental science education program on the attitude toward science of a group of Mississippi National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, William Bradford, Jr.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (ChalleNGe) is a 17 month quasi-military training program authorized by Congress in the 1993 Defense Authorization Bill designed to improve life skills, education levels, and employment potential of 16--18 year old youth who drop out of high school. ChalleNGe is currently operational in 27 states/territories with the focus of this study on the Mississippi National Guard Program operated at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. During the five month residential portion of the program students are guided through an eight step process designed to meet the goals of improving life skills, education levels, and employment potential while ultimately leading to completion of high school equivalency credentials followed by a 12 month mentoring phase to encourage and track progress toward goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude toward science of a group of students enrolled in the ChalleNGe Program at Camp Shelby (ChalleNGe). The GED test is administered approximately two months into the residential phase of the program. While the program boasts an overall GED pass rate of nearly 80%, approximately 30--35% of students successfully complete the initial offering of the GED. As high school graduates, these students are offered college courses through William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Twenty four students elected to take the Introduction to Environmental Science course and formed the experimental group while 24 other students who passed the GED comprised the control group. Each group was administered the Scientific Attitude Inventory II, a 40 statement instrument with Likert Scale responses, as a pretest. Paired samples t-tests indicated no significant difference in attitude toward science between the experimental and control groups on the pretest. Following the two week Introduction to Environmental Science course for the experimental group, both groups were post tested. As predicted, the attitude toward

Physicians' attitude and practices in sickle cell disease pain management.

PubMed

Labbé, Elise; Herbert, Donald; Haynes, Johnson

2005-01-01

Many physicians believe that patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are more likely to become addicted to pain medication than are other patient populations. This study hypothesizes that physicians' attitudes towards addiction in patients with SCD affects pain management practices. The Physician Attitudes Survey was sent to 286 physicians at seven National Institutes of Health-funded university-based comprehensive sickle cell centres. The survey assessed demographic information; and physician's attitudes toward and knowledge of pain, pain treatment, and drug addiction and abuse. Significant Pearson product-moment correlations were found between attitudes towards pain and beliefs regarding addiction to prescribed opioids. Physicians reported varied pain management strategies, however, many believe that attitudes toward addiction and to patients in pain crises may result in undertreatment of pain. These results indicate that physicians might benefit from additional education regarding sickle cell disease, addiction to pain medication, the pharmacology of opioids, and the assessment and treatment of pain.

Science Anxiety, Science Attitudes, and Constructivism: A Binational Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryant, Fred B.; Kastrup, Helge; Udo, Maria; Hislop, Nelda; Shefner, Rachel; Mallow, Jeffry

2013-08-01

Students' attitudes and anxieties about science were measured by responses to two self-report questionnaires. The cohorts were Danish and American students at the upper secondary- and university-levels. Relationships between and among science attitudes, science anxiety, gender, and nationality were examined. Particular attention was paid to constructivist attitudes about science. These fell into at least three broad conceptual categories: Negativity of Science Toward the Individual, Subjective Construction of Knowledge, and Inherent Bias Against Women. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses revealed that these dimensions of constructivist attitudes were equally applicable and had the same meaning in both cultures. Gender differences in mean levels of constructivist attitudes were found; these varied across the two cultures. Constructivist beliefs were associated with science anxiety, but in different ways for females and males, and for Danes and Americans. In agreement with earlier studies, females in both the US and Danish cohorts were significantly more science anxious than males, and the gender differences for the Americans were larger than those for the Danes. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for reducing science anxiety by changing constructivist beliefs.

Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (Houston PREP). Final report, June 9, 1997--July 25, 1997

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1997-10-01

The 1997 Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP) was conducted at the campus of the University of Houston-Downtown from June 9 to July 25, 1997. Program participants were recruited from the Greater Houston Area. All participants were identified as high-achieving students with an interest in learning about the engineering and science professions. The goal of the program was to better prepare our pre-college youth prior to entering college as mathematics, science and engineering majors. The program participants were middle school and high school students from the Aldine, Alief, Channel View, Clear Creek, Cypress-Fairbanks, Fort Bend, Galena Park, Houston, Humble, Katy, Klein,more » North Forest, Pasadena, Private, and Spring Branch Independent School Districts. Of the 194 students starting the program, 165 students were from economically and socially disadvantage groups under-represented in the engineering and science professions, and 118 of the 194 were women. Our First Year group for 1997 composed of 96% minority and women students. Second and Third Year students combined were 96% minority or women. With financial support from the Center for Computational Sciences and Advanced Distributed Simulation, the Fourth Year Program was added to PREP this year. Twelve students completed the program (83% minority or women).« less

Measuring Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours Concerning Sustainable Development among Tenth Grade Students in Manitoba

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Michalos, Alex C.; Creech, Heather; Swayze, Natalie; Kahlke, P. Maurine; Buckler, Carolee; Rempel, Karen

2012-01-01

In this paper we present standardized measures of tenth grade students' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable development as those concepts are understood in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and we test the hypothesis that knowledge and favourable attitudes toward SD lead to favourable…

Beliefs and attitudes toward lethal management of deer in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fulton, D.C.; Skerl, K.; Shank, E.M.; Lime, D.W.

2004-01-01

We used the theory of reasoned action to help understand attitudes and beliefs about lethal management of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), Ohio. We used a mail-back survey to collect data from Ohio residents in the surrounding 9-county area. Two strata were defined: residents <10 km from CVNP (near n = 369) and residents =10 km from CVNP (far n = 312). Respondents indicated that lethal control of deer was acceptable (near 71%??4.7%, far 62%??5.5%) and taking no action to reduce deer populations was unacceptable (near 75%??4.5%, far 72%??5.1%). Beliefs about outcomes of lethal control and evaluation of those outcomes proved to be strong predictors of the acceptability of lethal control of deer in CVNP. Lethal control was more acceptable if it was done to prevent severe consequences for humans (e.g., spread of disease, car collisions) or the natural environment (e.g., maintain a healthy deer herd) than to prevent negative aesthetic impacts or personal property damage. Results from the study can be used to assist managers at CVNP as they make decisions regarding alternatives for deer management in the park and to inform others managing abundant deer populations of socially relevant impacts of management actions.

Freshman-year experiences for African-American students in engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chapple, Bernadette Maria

1998-12-01

The purpose of this study was to discover (a) why African American students choose to persist as an engineering major and (b) why students choose to leave engineering as a major. A total of 17 students from a large land-grant university participated in this study that was both quantitative and qualitative in design. This research will assist both the College of Engineering and the University in understanding the educational experiences of the matriculating African American pre-engineering student. In an effort to provide reasons and rationale for why African American engineering students choose to stay in this major and why other African American engineering student majors choose to leave, the researcher examined an undergraduate engineering program at a large land-grant institution in the South. The College of Engineering at this institution was able to institute several programs designed to increase the number of African American students choosing engineering as a major. Although initiatives for pre-collegiate students are important in the retention of African American students, it is the retention of those students once accepted into a program of study that the institution focuses on most. It is the intent of this study to offer a better understanding of such a retention initiative. Due to the decline of African American students pursuing majors in science and mathematics in general and in engineering in particular, an important research concern is to offer more insight into the experiences of the freshman engineering student in an attempt to develop fundamental reasons for why students remain in engineering and why some students leave. To assist the College of Engineering and the University in understanding the educational experiences of the matriculating African American pre-engineering student the data were collected from both a quantitative and qualitative approach. Results indicated that (a) students who chose to persist in the engineering program where

Public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding people with mental illness in England 2009-2012.

PubMed

Evans-Lacko, Sara; Henderson, Claire; Thornicroft, Graham

2013-04-01

Public stigma against people with mental health problems is damaging to individuals with mental illness and is associated with substantial societal burden. To investigate whether public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in relation to people with mental health problems have improved among the English population since the inception of the Time To Change programme in 2009. We analysed longitudinal trends in public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour between 2009 and 2012 among a nationally representative sample of English adults. There were improvements in intended behaviour (0.07 standard deviation units, 95% CI 0.01-0.14) and a non-significant trend for improvement in attitudes (P = 0.08) among the English population. There was, however, no significant improvement in knowledge or reported behaviour. The findings provide support for effectiveness of the national Time to Change programme against stigma and discrimination in improving attitudes and intended behaviour, but not knowledge, among the public in England.

Medical students’ attitude toward suicide attempters

PubMed Central

Nebhinani, Naresh; Chahal, Savita; Jagtiani, Amit; Nebhinani, Mamta; Gupta, Rajiv

2016-01-01

Background: Majority of health professionals have unfavorable attitudes toward the patients presenting with self-harm, which further compromises their therapeutic endeavors and outcomes. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the medical students' attitudes toward suicide attempters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care medical institute of Haryana, a Northern state of India. Two hundred and five final year medical students were recruited through total enumeration method. “Suicide Opinion Questionnaire” was administered to assess their attitudes toward suicide attempters. Results: Only minority had previous exposure of managing any suicidal patient and attended suicide prevention programs. Majority agreed for suicide attempters being lonely and depressed. Nearly half of the students reported small family, disturbed interpersonal relationship, weak personality, self-punishment approach, cultural inhibitions in emotional expression, national instability, and disbelief in afterlife, as a major push to attempt suicide. Compared to boys, girls reported the greater contribution of weak personality and self-destructive behaviors and lesser contribution of family disturbances and religious convictions as suicide triggers. They held favorable attitude for only one-third of the attitudinal statement, and they were uncertain for two-third of the attitudinal statements. Conclusions: Such a high proportion of uncertain responses imply toward lack of awareness and clinical expertise for managing suicide attempters. It also signifies the urgent need for enhancing their educational and clinical exposure, to improve their attitudes toward patients presenting with self-harm. PMID:28163403

Terror Management in a Multicultural Society: Effects of Mortality Salience on Attitudes to Multiculturalism Are Moderated by National Identification and Self-Esteem Among Native Dutch People

PubMed Central

Tjew-A-Sin, Mandy; Koole, Sander Leon

2018-01-01

Terror Management Theory (TMT; Greenberg et al., 1997) proposes that mortality concerns may lead people to reject other cultures than their own. Although highly relevant to multiculturalism, TMT has been rarely tested in a European multicultural society. To fill this void, two studies examined the effects of mortality salience (MS) among native Dutch people with varying levels of national identification and self-esteem. Consistent with TMT, MS led to less favorable attitudes about Muslims and multiculturalism among participants with high (rather than low) national identification and low (rather than high) self-esteem (Study 1). Likewise, MS led participants with high national identification and low self-esteem to increase their support of Sinterklaas, a traditional Dutch festivity with purported racist elements (Study 2). Together, these findings indicate that existential concerns may fuel resistance against multiculturalism, especially among people with low self-esteem who strongly identify with their nationality. PMID:29867681

Terror Management in a Multicultural Society: Effects of Mortality Salience on Attitudes to Multiculturalism Are Moderated by National Identification and Self-Esteem Among Native Dutch People.

PubMed

Tjew-A-Sin, Mandy; Koole, Sander Leon

2018-01-01

Terror Management Theory (TMT; Greenberg et al., 1997) proposes that mortality concerns may lead people to reject other cultures than their own. Although highly relevant to multiculturalism, TMT has been rarely tested in a European multicultural society. To fill this void, two studies examined the effects of mortality salience (MS) among native Dutch people with varying levels of national identification and self-esteem. Consistent with TMT, MS led to less favorable attitudes about Muslims and multiculturalism among participants with high (rather than low) national identification and low (rather than high) self-esteem (Study 1). Likewise, MS led participants with high national identification and low self-esteem to increase their support of Sinterklaas, a traditional Dutch festivity with purported racist elements (Study 2). Together, these findings indicate that existential concerns may fuel resistance against multiculturalism, especially among people with low self-esteem who strongly identify with their nationality.

The attitudes and beliefs of Pakistani medical practitioners about depression: a cross-sectional study in Lahore using the Revised Depression Attitude Questionnaire (R-DAQ).

PubMed

Haddad, Mark; Waqas, Ahmed; Qayyum, Wahhaj; Shams, Maryam; Malik, Saad

2016-10-18

Mental disorders such as depression are common and rank as major contributors to the global burden of disease. Condition recognition and subsequent management of depression is variable and influenced by the attitudes and beliefs of clinicians as well as those of patients. Most studies examining health professionals' attitudes have been conducted in Western nations; this study explores beliefs and attitudes about depression among doctors working in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015 used a questionnaire concerning demographics, education in psychiatry, beliefs about depression causes, and attitudes about depression using the Revised Depression Attitude Questionnaire (R-DAQ). A convenience sample of 700 non-psychiatrist medical practitioners based in six hospitals in Lahore was approached to participate in the survey. Six hundred and one (86 %) of the doctors approached consented to participate; almost all respondents (99 %) endorsed one of various biopsychosocial causes of depression (38 to 79 % for particular causes), and 37 % (between 13 and 19 % for particular causes) noted that supernatural forces could be responsible. Supernatural causes were more commonly held by female doctors, those working in rural settings, and those with greater psychiatry specialist education. Attitudes to depression were mostly less confident or optimistic and less inclined to a generalist perspective than those of clinicians in the UK or European nations, and deterministic perspectives that depression is a natural part of aging or due to personal failings were particularly common. However, there was substantial confidence in the efficacy of antidepressants and psychological therapy. More confident and therapeutically optimistic views and a more generalist perspective about depression management were associated with a rejection of supernatural explanations of the origin of depression. Non-psychiatrist medical practitioners in Pakistan hold a range of views

A longitudinal study of factors explaining attitude change towards gambling among adolescents

PubMed Central

Pallesen, Ståle; Hanss, Daniel; Molde, Helge; Griffiths, Mark D.; Mentzoni, Rune Aune

2016-01-01

Background and aims No previous study has investigated changes in attitudes toward gambling from under legal gambling age to legal gambling age. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate attitudinal changes during this transition and to identify predictors of corresponding attitude change. Methods In all 1239 adolescents from a national representative sample participated in two survey waves (Wave 1; 17.5 years; Wave 2; 18.5 years). Results From Wave 1 to Wave 2 the sample became more acceptant toward gambling. A regression analysis showed that when controlling for attitudes toward gambling at Wave 1 males developed more acceptant attitudes than females. Neuroticism was inversely related to development of acceptant attitudes toward gambling from Wave 1 to Wave 2, whereas approval of gambling by close others at Wave 1 was positively associated with development of more acceptant attitudes. Continuous or increased participation in gambling was related to development of more acceptant attitudes from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Conclusions Attitudes toward gambling became more acceptant when reaching legal gambling age. Male gender, approval of gambling by close others and gambling participation predicted development of positive attitudes toward gambling whereas neuroticism was inversely related to development of positive attitudes toward gambling over time. PMID:28092188

A longitudinal study of factors explaining attitude change towards gambling among adolescents.

PubMed

Pallesen, Ståle; Hanss, Daniel; Molde, Helge; Griffiths, Mark D; Mentzoni, Rune Aune

2016-03-01

Background and aims No previous study has investigated changes in attitudes toward gambling from under legal gambling age to legal gambling age. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate attitudinal changes during this transition and to identify predictors of corresponding attitude change. Methods In all 1239 adolescents from a national representative sample participated in two survey waves (Wave 1; 17.5 years; Wave 2; 18.5 years). Results From Wave 1 to Wave 2 the sample became more acceptant toward gambling. A regression analysis showed that when controlling for attitudes toward gambling at Wave 1 males developed more acceptant attitudes than females. Neuroticism was inversely related to development of acceptant attitudes toward gambling from Wave 1 to Wave 2, whereas approval of gambling by close others at Wave 1 was positively associated with development of more acceptant attitudes. Continuous or increased participation in gambling was related to development of more acceptant attitudes from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Conclusions Attitudes toward gambling became more acceptant when reaching legal gambling age. Male gender, approval of gambling by close others and gambling participation predicted development of positive attitudes toward gambling whereas neuroticism was inversely related to development of positive attitudes toward gambling over time.

Community Attitude and Associated Factors towards People with Mental Illness among Residents of Worabe Town, Silte Zone, Southern Nation's Nationalities and People's Region, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Bedaso, Asres; Yeneabat, Tebikew; Yohannis, Zegeye; Bedasso, Kufa; Feyera, Fetuma

2016-01-01

Mental illnesses worldwide are accompanied by another pandemic, that of stigma and discrimination. Public understanding about mental illnesses and attitudes towards people with mental illness play a paramount role in the prevention and treatment of mental illness and the rehabilitation of people with mental illness. To assess community attitude and associated factors towards people with mental illness. Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 28 to May 28, 2014. Quantitative data were collected through interview from 435 adults selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using community attitude towards mentally ill (CAMI) tool to assess community attitude towards people with mental illness and associated factors. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of community attitude towards people with mental illness and the level of significance association was determined by beta with 95% confidence interval and P less than 0.05. The highest mean score was on social restrictiveness subscale (31.55±5.62). Farmers had more socially restrictive view (β = 0.291, CI [0.09, 0.49]) and have less humanistic view towards mentally ill (β = 0.193, CI [-0.36, -0.03]). Having mental health information had significantly less socially restrictive (β = -0.59, CI [-1.13, -0.05]) and less authoritarian (β = -0.10, CI [-1.11, -0.06]) view towards mentally ill but respondents who are at university or college level reported to be more socially restrictive (β = 0.298, CI [0.059, 0.54]). Respondents whose age is above 48 years old had significantly less view of community mental health ideology (β = -0.59, CI [-1.09, -0.08]). Residents of Worabe town were highly socially restrictive but less authoritarian. There was high level of negative attitude towards people with mental illness along all the subscales with relative variation indicating a need to develop strategies to change negative attitude attached to mental

Attitudes of states' economic and industrial development advisors toward foreign investments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dashti, A.Y.

The general purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the effects of inward foreign investments' characteristics on the nature and intensity of the attitudes of host nationals in an advanced country. Specifically, interest was focused on the following aspects of inward foreign investments in the US: (a) national origin of investments (countries included are Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, England, West Germany, Holland, and Japan); (b) types of foreign-investment operation (types of investment included are farming, manufacturing, petroleum, real estate, and retailing); (c) foreign investors' forms of entry into the US; and (d) extent of foreign ownership. The study also investigatedmore » any variations in the attitudes prevalent among the host nationals toward the four aspects of foreign investments, based on demographic variables: age, religion, ethnic background, personal contact with particular foreigners, overseas travel experience in general and to specific countries, place of birth based on geographic and level of income regions, geographic mobility, place of work based on geographic and level of income regions, occupation, education, and political philosophy. The objective here also includes, as a corollary, an examination of the existence of stereotype, prejudice, and ethnocentric tendencies. A number of implications were also revealed by the study and discussed in the dissertation. These were related to theory of host national attitudes towad foreign investments, present and potential foreign investors in the US, and US public-policy makers and politicians (both at the local and federal levels).« less

Place matters: Contextualizing the roles of religion and race for understanding Americans' attitudes about homosexuality.

PubMed

Adamczyk, Amy; Boyd, Katharine A; Hayes, Brittany E

2016-05-01

As laws and policies related to homosexuality have evolved, Americans' attitudes have also changed. Race and religion have been established as important indicators of feelings about homosexuality. However, researchers have given almost no attention to how county characteristics shape Americans' attitudes. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling techniques, we examine how personal characteristics and the religious and racial context of a county shape feelings about homosexuality drawing on data from the American National Election Survey and information about where respondents reside. We find that African Americans initially appear less tolerant than other racial groups, until we account for the geographical distribution of attitudes across the nation. Additionally, once we consider religious involvement, strength of belief, and religious affiliation African Americans appear to have warmer feelings about homosexuality than whites. Drawing on the moral communities' hypothesis, we also find that the strength of religiosity amongst county residents heightens the influence of personal religious beliefs on disapproving attitudes. There is also a direct effect of the proportion conservative Protestant, whereby people of all faiths have cooler attitudes towards homosexual individuals when they reside in a county with a higher proportion of conservative Protestants. Finally, we do not find any evidence for an African American cultural influence on attitudes. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Willingness to Participate in a National Precision Medicine Cohort: Attitudes of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients at a Cleveland Public Hospital.

PubMed

Cooke Bailey, Jessica N; Crawford, Dana C; Goldenberg, Aaron; Slaven, Anne; Pencak, Julie; Schachere, Marleen; Bush, William S; Sedor, John R; O'Toole, John F

2018-06-26

Multiple ongoing, government-funded national efforts longitudinally collect health data and biospecimens for precision medicine research with ascertainment strategies increasingly emphasizing underrepresented groups in biomedical research. We surveyed chronic kidney disease patients from an academic, public integrated tertiary care system in Cleveland, Ohio, to examine local attitudes toward participation in large-scale government-funded studies. Responses ( n = 103) indicate the majority (71%) would participate in a hypothetical national precision medicine cohort and were willing to send biospecimens to a national repository and share de-identified data, but <50% of respondents were willing to install a phone app to track personal data. The majority of participants (62%) indicated that return of research results was very important, and the majority (54%) also wanted all of their research-collected health and genetic data returned. Response patterns did not differ by race/ethnicity. Overall, we found high willingness to participate among this Cleveland patient population already participating in a local genetic study. These data suggest that despite common perceptions, subjects from communities traditionally underrepresented in genetic research will participate and agree to store samples and health data in repositories. Furthermore, most participants want return of research results, which will require a plan to provide these data in a secure, accessible, and understandable manner.

76 FR 12714 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Marianas Trench Marine National Monument...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-08

... Collection; Comment Request; Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Knowledge and Attitudes Survey AGENCY... questions on awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding the Monument, preferences for management and... activities. Additional questions include experiences with and attitudes toward existing uses of coastal and...

Cross-National Comparison of Consumer Attitudes toward Consumerism in Four Developing Countries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Darley, William K.; Johnson, Denise M.

1993-01-01

Comparison of university student attitudes (n=305) in Kenya, Nigeria, India, and Singapore found some consumer discontent regardless of the economic status of the country. Singaporeans were most skeptical of business, Indians the least. Results show how consumerism is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. (SK)

Pleased to be pregnant? Positive pregnancy attitudes among sexually active adolescent females in the United States.

PubMed

Lau, May; Lin, Hua; Flores, Glenn

2014-08-01

To identify factors associated with a positive pregnancy attitude among sexually active US teen females. Secondary database analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth. Adolescent females 15-19 years old. Nationally representative sample. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed of the 2002 and 2006-08 cycles to examine whether sociodemographic factors, contraceptive history, sexual education and behavior history, medical services history, and family and sexual attitudes were associated with a positive pregnancy attitude among sexually active teen females. Among the 975 sexually active US adolescent females surveyed, 15% reported a positive pregnancy attitude. Compared with adolescent females with a negative pregnancy attitude, those females with a positive pregnancy attitude were significantly (P < .05) more likely to have public insurance (43% vs 20%), to be poor (33% vs 10%), to have reached menarche at an earlier age (12 years old vs 13 years old), ever have HIV tested (35% vs 23%), but less likely to have ever been forced to have sex (1% vs 10%). In multivariable analyses, Latino race/ethnicity was associated with triple the odds, and African-American double the odds, of a positive pregnancy attitude. Older age of menarche and higher family income were associated with reduced odds of a positive pregnancy attitude. One in 7 sexually active US adolescent females had a positive pregnancy attitude. Minority race/ethnicity was associated with greater odds of a positive pregnancy attitude, whereas older age of menarche and a higher family income were associated with lower odds of a positive pregnancy attitude. Assessing pregnancy attitudes for these groups of adolescent females might prove useful to decrease adolescent pregnancy rates. Copyright © 2014 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Everything's better in moderation: young women's gender role attitudes and risky sexual behavior.

PubMed

Leech, Tamara G J

2010-05-01

This study examines the association between gender role attitudes and risky sexual behavior among young women. Previous studies have posed seemingly contradictory arguments: that either traditional attitudes or egalitarian attitudes are associated with riskier behavior. Data are based on the children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, representing 520 sexually active 18-19-year-old women. Propensity radius matching was used to assess differences in rates of multiple sexual partners and sex outside of a committed relationship. Relative to moderate gender role attitudes, both egalitarian gender role attitudes and traditional gender role attitudes are associated with higher rates of risky sexual behavior. Both women with egalitarian role attitudes and those with traditional role attitudes have about a 10% higher prevalence of risky behavior compared to women with more moderate gender role attitudes. Existing, seemingly contradictory contentions about the relationship between gender role attitudes and risky sexual behavior may be more coherent than they seem. By shifting focus from risk to protection, the results suggest that moderate gender role attitudes are protective against risky sexual behavior. Future studies should investigate the causal mechanisms and intervention implications of this protective relationship. Copyright 2010 Society for Adolescent Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

It's all in the attitude: The role of job attitude strength in job attitude-outcome relationships.

PubMed

Schleicher, Deidra J; Smith, Troy A; Casper, Wendy J; Watt, John D; Greguras, Gary J

2015-07-01

Integrating attitude theory with the job attitudes literature, we position job attitude strength (JAS) as a missing yet important theoretical concept in the study of job attitudes. We examine JAS as a moderator of the relationship between job satisfaction and several criteria of interest to organizational scholars (job performance, organizational citizenship behavior, withdrawal). We also examine multiple relevant indicators of JAS (i.e., attitude certainty, attitude extremity, latitude of rejection, and structural consistency), both to shed light on its conceptual nature and to provide meaningful practical direction to researchers interested in incorporating JAS into job attitude research. Data were collected in five field samples (total N = 816). Results support our hypotheses: JAS moderates the relationships between job satisfaction and performance, organizational citizenship behavior, and turnover intentions; in each case, these relationships are significantly stronger for employees with stronger job satisfaction attitudes. However, as expected, not all JAS indicators are equally effective as moderators. We discuss our findings in terms of their theoretical, empirical, and practical implications for the future study of job attitudes. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing attitude toward same-sex marriage: scale development and validation.

PubMed

Lannutti, Pamela J; Lachlan, Kenneth A

2007-01-01

This paper reports the results of three studies conducted to develop, refine, and validate a scale which assessed heterosexual adults' attitudes toward same-sex marriage, the Attitude Toward Same-Sex Marriage Scale (ASSMS). The need for such a scale is evidenced in the increasing importance of same-sex marriage in the political arena of the United States and other nations, as well as the growing body of empirical research examining same-sex marriage and related issues (e.g., Lannutti, 2005; Solomon, Rothblum, & Balsam, 2004). The results demonstrate strong reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity for the ASSMS and suggest that the ASSMS may be adapted to measure attitudes toward civil unions and other forms of relational recognition for same-sex couples. Gender comparisons using the validated scale showed that in college and non-college samples, women had a significantly more positive attitude toward same-sex marriage than did men.

Validation of an instrument to assess evidence-based practice knowledge, attitudes, access, and confidence in the dental environment.

PubMed

Hendricson, William D; Rugh, John D; Hatch, John P; Stark, Debra L; Deahl, Thomas; Wallmann, Elizabeth R

2011-02-01

This article reports the validation of an assessment instrument designed to measure the outcomes of training in evidence-based practice (EBP) in the context of dentistry. Four EBP dimensions are measured by this instrument: 1) understanding of EBP concepts, 2) attitudes about EBP, 3) evidence-accessing methods, and 4) confidence in critical appraisal. The instrument-the Knowledge, Attitudes, Access, and Confidence Evaluation (KACE)-has four scales, with a total of thirty-five items: EBP knowledge (ten items), EBP attitudes (ten), accessing evidence (nine), and confidence (six). Four elements of validity were assessed: consistency of items within the KACE scales (extent to which items within a scale measure the same dimension), discrimination (capacity to detect differences between individuals with different training or experience), responsiveness (capacity to detect the effects of education on trainees), and test-retest reliability. Internal consistency of scales was assessed by analyzing responses of second-year dental students, dental residents, and dental faculty members using Cronbach coefficient alpha, a statistical measure of reliability. Discriminative validity was assessed by comparing KACE scores for the three groups. Responsiveness was assessed by comparing pre- and post-training responses for dental students and residents. To measure test-retest reliability, the full KACE was completed twice by a class of freshman dental students seventeen days apart, and the knowledge scale was completed twice by sixteen faculty members fourteen days apart. Item-to-scale consistency ranged from 0.21 to 0.78 for knowledge, 0.57 to 0.83 for attitude, 0.70 to 0.84 for accessing evidence, and 0.87 to 0.94 for confidence. For discrimination, ANOVA and post hoc testing by the Tukey-Kramer method revealed significant score differences among students, residents, and faculty members consistent with education and experience levels. For responsiveness to training, dental students

[Opinions and attitudes regarding sexuality: Brazilian national research, 2005].

PubMed

Paiva, Vera; Aranha, Francisco; Bastos, Francisco I

2008-06-01

To describe opinions and attitudes concerning sexuality of the Brazilian urban population. A population survey was carried out in 2005 on a representative sample of 5,040 interviewees. An analysis of the attitudes regarding sexual initiation and sexual education of teenagers, considering gender, age, schooling, income, marital status, color, geographic region and opinion on fidelity, homosexuality, and masturbation. The results were contrasted with a similar survey carried out in 1998, when possible. Most interviewees selected the "sex is evidence of love" option when describing the meaning of sex. As in 1998, the majority was in favor of sexual initiation after marriage (63.9% for women vs. 52.4% for men initiation); results differed among religions. School teenage education on the use of condoms was supported by 97% of the interviewees across all social groups. The proportion of Brazilians who agreed with having access to condoms in health services (95%) and at school (83.6%) was high. Fidelity remained an almost unanimous value and there was an increase, in 2005, in the proportion of those in favor of sexual initiation after marriage, and in the rate of acceptance of masturbation and homosexuality compared to the 1998 survey. The younger generations tend to be more tolerant and egalitarian. As observed in other countries, this study confirms the difficulty in establishing a single dimension that guides sexual life ("liberal" vs "conservative"). The study suggests that the normativity concerning sexual activity should be understood in the light of the local culture and social organization of sexuality, considered by the STD/Aids programs. Opinions in favor of free access to preservatives at school clash with the slower results obtained in fighting the stigma and discriminating against homosexual minorities. The design of laical policies on sexuality allow for the dialog across different perspectives.

On the generalization of attitude accessibility after repeated attitude expression

PubMed Central

Spruyt, Adriaan; Fazio, Russell H.; Hermans, Dirk

2016-01-01

Abstract The more accessible an attitude is, the stronger is its influence on information processing and behavior. Accessibility can be increased through attitude rehearsal, but it remains unknown whether attitude rehearsal also affects the accessibility of related attitudes. To investigate this hypothesis, participants in an experimental condition repeatedly expressed their attitudes towards exemplars of several semantic categories during an evaluative categorization task. Participants in a control condition performed a non‐evaluative task with the same exemplars and evaluated unrelated attitude objects. After a 30‐minute interval, participants in the experimental condition were faster than controls to evaluate not only the original exemplars but also novel exemplars of the same categories. This finding suggests that the effect of attitude rehearsal on accessibility generalizes to attitudes towards untrained but semantically related attitude objects. © 2016 The Authors. European Journal of Social Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID:28701803

Primary school teacher's knowledge and attitudes toward children with epilepsy.

PubMed

Abulhamail, Albaraa S; Al-Sulami, Fahad E; Alnouri, Mouneeb A; Mahrous, Najeeb M; Joharji, Dima G; Albogami, Maha M; Jan, Mohammed M

2014-04-01

Primary school teacher's knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy can have significant impact on the performance and psycho-social development of the child with epilepsy. Our objectives were to study teacher's knowledge and attitudes and identify areas in which further teacher training and education are required. A stratified random sample survey involving a group of primary school teachers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia included private/public schools designated for male and female students. A structured 37-item questionnaire was used to examine their demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and experience with epilepsy. Six hundred and twenty primary school teachers working in public (58%) or private (42%) schools were included with ages ranging between 21 and 59 years (mean 36). Most teachers (79%) were of Saudi Arabian nationality and 66% had a college or university degree. Their years of experience ranged from 1 to 35 (mean 13.5). Only 17% of the teachers felt very well informed about epilepsy. Teachers with higher education were more likely to have good knowledge (p=0.009). Teachers of Saudi nationality were also more likely to report good knowledge, independent of their educational level (p=0.013). Overall, teachers with good knowledge were less likely to have negative attitudes including minding to have an epileptic child in their class (p=0.028) or thinking that they should be placed in a special classroom (p=0.029). Primary school teacher's knowledge about epilepsy needs improvements. Their attitudes correlated highly with their knowledge. Educational campaigns about epilepsy are needed to develop a well informed and tolerant community. Copyright © 2014 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Attitudes toward emotions.

PubMed

Harmon-Jones, Eddie; Harmon-Jones, Cindy; Amodio, David M; Gable, Philip A

2011-12-01

The present work outlines a theory of attitudes toward emotions, provides a measure of attitudes toward emotions, and then tests several predictions concerning relationships between attitudes toward specific emotions and emotional situation selection, emotional traits, emotional reactivity, and emotion regulation. The present conceptualization of individual differences in attitudes toward emotions focuses on specific emotions and presents data indicating that 5 emotions (anger, sadness, joy, fear, and disgust) load on 5 separate attitude factors (Study 1). Attitudes toward emotions predicted emotional situation selection (Study 2). Moreover, attitudes toward approach emotions (e.g., anger, joy) correlated directly with the associated trait emotions, whereas attitudes toward withdrawal emotions (fear, disgust) correlated inversely with associated trait emotions (Study 3). Similar results occurred when attitudes toward emotions were used to predict state emotional reactivity (Study 4). Finally, attitudes toward emotions predicted specific forms of emotion regulation (Study 5).

Pre-Service Teachers' Experience of and Attitudes to Teaching SPHE in Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mannix McNamara, Patricia; Moynihan, Sharon; Jourdan, Didier; Lynch, Raymond

2012-01-01

Purpose: National policy in Ireland states that all teachers are teachers of Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). However national evaluations identify that all teachers do not subscribe to this view. This research aimed to examine the experiences and attitudes of undergraduate students towards teaching SPHE. Design/methodology/approach:…

A Survey of American Voter Attitudes Concerning Child Care Services: Highlights and Key Findings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marttila & Kiley, Inc., Boston, MA.

A national telephone survey of a representative sample of 901 voters was conducted to measure voter attitudes toward child care and, in particular, the Act for Better Child Care Services (ABC). The survey also explored attitudes toward parental leave. Findings indicated that: (1) a majority of Americans think of child care as an urgent need and…

Medical Student Attitudes Towards People with Mental Illness in China: A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Luo, Audrey; He, Hongbo; Mohamed, Somaia; Rosenheck, Robert

2018-03-05

Stigma towards people with mental illness is a worldwide concern. A five-nation survey of medical student attitudes towards people with mental illness recently reported far lower levels of social acceptance among Chinese medical students compared to those from the US, Brazil, Ghana, and Nigeria. This qualitative study presented recent Chinese medical school graduates with probes based on questions used in the aforementioned cross-national study to elicit their views of factors underlying the negative attitudes towards social acceptance of people with mental illness. One-hour interviews were conducted with twenty psychiatry residents in June, 2016. Of 241 coded responses concerning negative attitudes, 51.5% were coded as reflecting fear of violent behavior, 22.8% as loss of face (i.e. shame from interpersonal associations), 17.0% lowered social status, 4.98% nonconforming social behavior, and 3.73% the heritability of mental illness. Low levels of social acceptance of individuals with mental illness among medical students in China are largely related to fears of violence of and loss of face. Understanding the attitudes of medical students may inform efforts to reduce stigma through educational initiatives targeted at both medical students and the general public.

Attitudes to Mental Illness and Its Demographic Correlates among General Population in Singapore.

PubMed

Yuan, Qi; Abdin, Edimansyah; Picco, Louisa; Vaingankar, Janhavi Ajit; Shahwan, Shazana; Jeyagurunathan, Anitha; Sagayadevan, Vathsala; Shafie, Saleha; Tay, Jenny; Chong, Siow Ann; Subramaniam, Mythily

2016-01-01

Public attitudes to mental illness could influence how the public interact with, provide opportunities for, and help people with mental illness. This study aims to explore the underlying factors of the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the general population in Singapore and the socio-demographic correlates of each factor. From March 2014 to April 2015, a nation-wide cross-sectional survey on mental health literacy with 3,006 participants was conducted in Singapore. Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor structure for the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the Singapore general population, namely social distancing, tolerance/support for community care, social restrictiveness, and prejudice and misconception. Older age, male gender, lower education and socio-economic status were associated with more negative attitudes towards the mentally ill. Chinese showed more negative attitudes than Indians and Malays (except for prejudice and misconception). There is a need for culture-specific interventions, and the associated factors identified in this study should be considered for future attitude campaigns.

Cross-National Analysis of Beliefs and Attitude Toward Mental Illness Among Medical Professionals From Five Countries.

PubMed

Stefanovics, Elina; He, Hongbo; Ofori-Atta, Angela; Cavalcanti, Maria Tavares; Rocha Neto, Helio; Makanjuola, Victor; Ighodaro, Adesuwa; Leddy, Meaghan; Rosenheck, Robert

2016-03-01

This quantitative study sought to compare beliefs about the manifestation, causes and treatment of mental illness and attitudes toward people with mental illness among health professionals from five countries: the United States, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and China. A total of 902 health professionals from the five countries were surveyed using a questionnaire addressing attitudes towards people with mental illness and beliefs about the causes of mental illness. Chi-square and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare age and gender of the samples. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to confirm the structure and fit of the hypothesized model based on data from a previous study that identified four factors: socializing with people with mental illness (socializing), belief that people with mental illness should have normal roles in society (normalizing), non-belief in supernatural causes (witchcraft or curses), and belief in bio-psycho-social causes of mental illness (bio-psycho-social). Analysis of Covariance was used to compare four factor scores across countries adjusting for differences in age and gender. Scores on all four factors were highest among U.S. professionals. The Chinese sample showed lowest score on socializing and normalizing while the Nigerian and Ghanaian samples were lowest on non-belief in supernatural causes of mental illness. Responses from Brazil fell between those of the U.S. and the other countries. Although based on convenience samples of health professional robust differences in attitudes among health professionals between these five countries appear to reflect underlying socio-cultural differences affecting attitudes of professionals with the greater evidence of stigmatized attitudes in developing countries.

Attitudes toward the Unification of Western Europe and Cross-National Suicide Rates: Eight European Countries, 1973-1990.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernquist, Robert M.

2001-01-01

Political integration theory (Durkheim) argues that when political crises occur, individuals band together to solve the problem at hand, which yields lower suicide rates. This analysis examines a different component of political integration-attitudes. Cross-sectional time series analysis reveals that attitudes individuals hold toward such an event…

Food choice motives, attitude towards and intention to adopt personalised nutrition.

PubMed

Rankin, Audrey; Bunting, Brendan P; Poínhos, Rui; van der Lans, Ivo A; Fischer, Arnout Rh; Kuznesof, Sharron; Almeida, Mdv; Markovina, Jerko; Frewer, Lynn J; Stewart-Knox, Barbara J

2018-05-17

The present study explored associations between food choice motives, attitudes towards and intention to adopt personalised nutrition, to inform communication strategies based on consumer priorities and concerns.Design/SettingA survey was administered online which included the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and items assessing attitudes towards and intention to adopt personalised nutrition. Nationally representative samples were recruited in nine EU countries (n 9381). Structural equation modelling indicated that the food choice motives 'weight control', 'mood', 'health' and 'ethical concern' had a positive association and 'price' had a negative association with attitude towards, and intention to adopt, personalised nutrition. 'Health' was positively associated and 'familiarity' negatively associated with attitude towards personalised nutrition. The effects of 'weight control', 'ethical concern', 'mood' and 'price' on intention to adopt personalised nutrition were partially mediated by attitude. The effects of 'health' and 'familiarity' were fully mediated by attitude. 'Sensory appeal' was negatively and directly associated with intention to adopt personalised nutrition. Personalised nutrition providers may benefit from taking into consideration the importance of underlying determinants of food choice in potential users, particularly weight control, mood and price, when promoting services and in tailoring communications that are motivationally relevant.

A 20-Year Survey of Scientific Literacy and Attitudes Toward Science_An Overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Impey, Chris David; Antonellis, J.; Johnson, E.; King, C.; CATS

2009-01-01

This poster presents the results of a long-term investigation into the science literacy and attitudes toward science of University of Arizona non-science major undergraduates. The survey instrument utilized in this study was derived from measures of adults’ science literacy, as defined and assessed by the National Science Foundation in its biannual Science and Engineering Indicators reports to the National Science Board. In addition, the survey instrument measures attitudes toward science and technology and toward pseudoscience. Quantitative data from over 9000 questionnaires have been into a database, and qualitative data from four open-ended questions has been coded thematically (see Antonellis et al., this meeting). The data will be used to address a number of research questions in the area of science education and science policy, including (1) how the level of science literacy of undergraduates compares to the adult population; (2) how science literacy and attitudes towards science have changed since 1987; (3) the relationship between science knowledge and attitudes towards science; and (4) the extent to which General Education science requirements at a large State university affect science knowledge and attitudes. The data will also be used to critically examine the concept of science literacy. The results of this study are being used by CATS to develop a survey instrument designed specifically for use with Astro 101 students to diagnose the effect our instruction has on their scientific attitudes and beliefs. We acknowledge the NSF for funding under Award No. 0715517, a CCLI Phase III Grant for the Collaboration of Astronomy Teaching Scholars (CATS).

Public Attitudes and Behaviors with Respect to Child Abuse Prevention 1987-1991. Working Paper Number 840.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daro, Deborah; Gelles, Richard

This report summarizes key findings of a series of national public opinion polls to determine the public's attitudes and actions with respect to child abuse prevention. Findings are reported for four areas: public attitudes toward specific parental discipline practices; the frequency of specific parental discipline practices; the public's support…

Decreasing Caregivers' Positive Attitudes Toward Spanking.

PubMed

Burkhart, Kimberly; Knox, Michele; Hunter, Kimberly; Pennewitt, Deanna; Schrouder, Karyssa

2018-02-19

The Play Nicely program is a multimedia training program designed to teach caregivers and health care professionals how to manage early childhood aggression and to use positive parenting practices. The aim of this article is to help the practicing clinician determine whether the Play Nicely program should be incorporated into his/her practice and to evaluate whether the program is effective at decreasing positive attitudes toward spanking in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population in both a resident pediatric clinic and a community center. Thirty-three caregivers of children aged 2 to 5 years viewed the Play Nicely program and completed pre- and post-training questionnaires. Decreased positive attitudes toward spanking were reported after training. Favorable attitudes toward spanking were associated with increased use of harsher discipline and higher child externalizing behavior. This study provides support that this brief intervention is effective in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population, is portable, and can be used in a group setting. This program may serve as a prevention and population-based approach to addressing the adverse childhood experience of spanking. Copyright © 2017 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"Freshman's week": characteristics associated with participation and experiencing adverse effects.

PubMed

Erevik, E K; Pallesen, S; Vedaa, Ø; Andreassen, C S; Torsheim, T

2018-05-29

"Freshman's week" (FW) is a Norwegian initiation ritual to higher education. Previous research has suggested that FW-participation is associated with better social adjustment to the student setting, as well as heavy alcohol use both during and after the event. In this study, we aimed to identify characteristics associated with participation in FW and characteristics associated with experiencing adverse effects of alcohol use during FW. Students in the city of Bergen, Norway participated in a survey during fall 2015, shortly after FW. The current sample consisted of the first-year students (N = 4, 401, estimated response rate: 49%). The sample's mean age was 24 years (range: 17-73 years), 65% were females, and the majority were born in Norway (93%). Logistic regressions were conducted to identify characteristics associated with participation in FW and experiencing adverse effects. A total of 64% of the first-year students reported participation in FW, and 27% of these reported experiencing at least one adverse alcohol-related effect during FW. Participation in FW was positively associated with being single (OR = 1.29), extroversion (OR = 1.18), and alcohol use (OR = 1.28), and inversely associated with age (OR = 0.70), and having children (OR = 0.36). Several characteristics (e.g., alcohol use (OR = 1.84), extroversion (OR = 0.60), symptoms of depression (OR = 1.60)) were associated with an increased risk of experiencing adverse effects of alcohol use during participation. The current results suggest that initiatives for increasing the participation rate in FW, reducing alcohol use during FW, and decreasing the occurrence of adverse alcohol effects during FW are warranted. Aiming to reduce the focus on alcohol use during FW, and seeking to make FW more available and enjoyable for students with other priorities, students who do not match the stereotype of the typical first-year student, and less sociable students, might both

Smoking and attitudes toward smoking policy at a University in Egypt.

PubMed

Forden, Carie L; Carrillo, Amy M

2016-01-01

To assess smoking behavior, knowledge of smoking harm, and attitudes toward campus smoking policy at an Egyptian university, an online survey of students, staff, and faculty was conducted (N = 992). The smoking prevalence of 38% among men was in line with Egypt's national average, but the smoking prevalence among women of 20% was much higher than the national average. Smoking status influenced beliefs about smoking harm and attitudes toward smoking policy, with nonsmokers having stronger beliefs about the harm of smoking and showing stronger support for smoking regulations than smokers. Smokers were more knowledgeable about smoking policy than were nonsmokers and differed slightly in their preferences for smoking policy enforcement strategies. These findings contribute to our understanding of how to tailor college smoking policy and programs to an Egyptian context.

Behaviors and attitudes associated with low drinking water intake among US adults, Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey, 2007.

PubMed

Goodman, Alyson B; Blanck, Heidi M; Sherry, Bettylou; Park, Sohyun; Nebeling, Linda; Yaroch, Amy L

2013-04-11

Water is vital for life, and plain water is a calorie-free option for hydration. Increasing consumption of drinking water is a strategy to reduce energy intake and lose or maintain weight; however, information on the characteristics of consumers who drink water is limited. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of people who have a low intake of drinking water and to determine associations between their behaviors and attitudes and their intake of water. We analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 3,397 US adults who participated in the National Cancer Institute's 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors and attitudes associated with self-reported drinking water intake of less than 4 cups per day. Overall, 7% of adults reported no daily consumption of drinking water, 36% reported drinking 1 to 3 cups, 35% reported drinking 4 to 7 cups, and 22% reported drinking 8 cups or more. The likelihood of drinking less than 4 cups of water daily was significantly higher among participants aged 55 years or older than among those aged 18 to 34 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.3), among residents of the Northeast than among residents of the South (AOR, 1.4), among participants who consumed 1 cup or less of fruits or vegetables per day than among those who consumed 4.5 cups or more (AOR, 3.0), among participants who did not exercise than among those who exercised 150 minutes or more per week (AOR, 1.7), and among participants who were neither trying to gain nor lose weight than among those trying to lose weight (AOR, 1.3). Low drinking water intake was associated with age, region of residence, and several unhealthful behaviors and attitudes. Understanding characteristics associated with low drinking water intake may help to identify populations that could benefit from interventions to help adults drink more water.

Behaviors and Attitudes Associated With Low Drinking Water Intake Among US Adults, Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey, 2007

PubMed Central

Blanck, Heidi M.; Sherry, Bettylou; Park, Sohyun; Nebeling, Linda; Yaroch, Amy L.

2013-01-01

Introduction Water is vital for life, and plain water is a calorie-free option for hydration. Increasing consumption of drinking water is a strategy to reduce energy intake and lose or maintain weight; however, information on the characteristics of consumers who drink water is limited. Our objective was to describe the characteristics of people who have a low intake of drinking water and to determine associations between their behaviors and attitudes and their intake of water. Methods We analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 3,397 US adults who participated in the National Cancer Institute’s 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors and attitudes associated with self-reported drinking water intake of less than 4 cups per day. Results Overall, 7% of adults reported no daily consumption of drinking water, 36% reported drinking 1 to 3 cups, 35% reported drinking 4 to 7 cups, and 22% reported drinking 8 cups or more. The likelihood of drinking less than 4 cups of water daily was significantly higher among participants aged 55 years or older than among those aged 18 to 34 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.3), among residents of the Northeast than among residents of the South (AOR, 1.4), among participants who consumed 1 cup or less of fruits or vegetables per day than among those who consumed 4.5 cups or more (AOR, 3.0), among participants who did not exercise than among those who exercised 150 minutes or more per week (AOR, 1.7), and among participants who were neither trying to gain nor lose weight than among those trying to lose weight (AOR, 1.3). Conclusion Low drinking water intake was associated with age, region of residence, and several unhealthful behaviors and attitudes. Understanding characteristics associated with low drinking water intake may help to identify populations that could benefit from interventions to help adults

Attitudes towards Bilingual Arab-Hebrew Education in Israel: A Comparative Study of Jewish and Arab Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azaiza, Faisal; Hertz-Lazarowitz, Rachel; Shoham, Meyrav; Amara, Muhammad; Mor-Sommerfeld, Aura; 'Ali, Nohad

2011-01-01

This study examines attitudes towards bilingual Jewish-Arab education among Jewish and Arab adults in Israel. The sample consisted of 1014 respondents who participated in a national phone survey in late 2006. Results indicate that Arabs are significantly more supportive of bilingual education in Israel than Jews. Positive attitudes regarding the…

Self-reported attitudes, skills and use of evidence-based practice among Canadian doctors of chiropractic: a national survey

PubMed Central

Bussières, André E.; Terhorst, Lauren; Leach, Matthew; Stuber, Kent; Evans, Roni; Schneider, Michael J.

2015-01-01

Objectives: To identify Canadian chiropractors’ attitudes, skills and use of evidence based practice (EBP), as well as their level of awareness of previously published chiropractic clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Methods: 7,200 members of the Canadian Chiropractic Association were invited by e-mail to complete an online version of the Evidence Based practice Attitude & utilisation SurvEy (EBASE); a valid and reliable measure of participant attitudes, skills and use of EBP. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 554 respondents. Most respondents (>75%) held positive attitudes toward EBP. Over half indicated a high level of self-reported skills in EBP, and over 90% expressed an interest in improving these skills. A majority of respondents (65%) reported over half of their practice was based on evidence from clinical research, and only half (52%) agreed that chiropractic CPGs significantly impacted on their practice. Conclusions: While most Canadian chiropractors held positive attitudes towards EBP, believed EBP was useful, and were interested in improving their skills in EBP, many did not use research evidence or CPGs to guide clinical decision making. Our findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the low response rate. PMID:26816412

A National Overview of Economic Education, 1981.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, J. R.; Barron, Deborah Durfee

1981-01-01

Presents results of a national survey of economics teachers in grades 6 through 12 on enrollment trends, course topics, teacher background characteristics, attitudes toward available teaching materials, and perceived training needs. Condensed from "National Survey of Economic Education 1981; Grade Six Through Twelve," Section II, p21-28.…

Youth 1974: Finance-Related Attitudes. Report on the Institute's Third Biennial Survey of Americans Ages 14 through 25.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Institute of Life Insurance, New York, NY.

The probability sample for this national survey of youth's attitudes included 2,510 young people between the ages of 14 and 25 years. Results indicate that at the start of the 1970's there was a major turn about in attitudes. The fast changing attitudes of the 1960's seem to have been replaced by a more stable and conservative set of views and…

Predicted torque equilibrium attitude utilization for Space Station attitude control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Renjith R.; Heck, Michael L.; Robertson, Brent P.

1990-01-01

An approximate knowledge of the torque equilibrium attitude (TEA) is shown to improve the performance of a control moment gyroscope (CMG) momentum management/attitude control law for Space Station Freedom. The linearized equations of motion are used in conjunction with a state transformation to obtain a control law which uses full state feedback and the predicted TEA to minimize both attitude excursions and CMG peak and secular momentum. The TEA can be computationally determined either by observing the steady state attitude of a 'controlled' spacecraft using arbitrary initial attitude, or by simulating a fixed attitude spacecraft flying in desired orbit subject to realistic environmental disturbance models.

Relationships between racial-ethnic identity, self-esteem and in-group attitudes among First Nation children.

PubMed

Corenblum, Barry

2014-03-01

Positive in-group distinctiveness has been associated with self-esteem increases among adolescents and adults. To examine whether in-group biases are associated with self-esteem enhancement among minority group children, Native Canadian children (N = 414, 209 female) age 6-11 completed each year for 5 years, measures assessing their level of concrete operational thought, racial-ethnic identity, racial-ethnic centrality, implicit and explicit self-esteem, and implicit and explicit in-group attitudes. According to cognitive developmental theory, increases in the level of concrete operational thought will predict increases in racial-ethnic identity, and increases in identity should, in turn, predict more favorable in-group attitudes. Social identity theory predicts that more favorable in-group attitudes should predict increases in self-esteem. Multi-level structural equation modelling revealed support for these hypotheses. Cognitively mature children who identify closely with their group enhanced their level of self-esteem by positively differentiating between group members on dimensions that favor their group. Limitations of the present study and suggestions for future studies are also presented.

Perceptions and Attitudes of Health Professionals in Kenya on National Health Care Resource Allocation Mechanisms: A Structural Equation Modeling

PubMed Central

Owili, Patrick Opiyo; Hsu, Yi-Hsin Elsa; Chern, Jin-Yuan; Chiu, Chiung-Hsuan Megan; Wang, Bill; Huang, Kuo-Cherh; Muga, Miriam Adoyo

2015-01-01

Background Health care resource allocation is key towards attaining equity in the health system. However, health professionals’ perceived impact and attitude towards health care resource allocation in Sub-Saharan Africa is unknown; furthermore, they occupy a position which makes them notice the impact of different policies in their health system. This study explored perceptions and attitudes of health professionals in Kenya on health care resource allocation mechanism. Method We conducted a survey of a representative sample of 341 health professionals in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital from February to April 2012, consisting of over 3000 employees. We assessed health professionals’ perceived impact and attitudes on health care resource allocation mechanism in Kenya. We used structural equation modeling and applied a Confirmatory Factor Analysis using Robust Maximum Likelihood estimation procedure to test the hypothesized model. Results We found that the allocation mechanism was negatively associated with their perceived positive impact (-1.04, p < .001), health professionals’ satisfaction (-0.24, p < .01), and professionals’ attitudes (-1.55, p < .001) while it was positively associated with perceived negative impact (1.14, p < .001). Perceived positive impact of the allocation mechanism was negatively associated with their overall satisfaction (-0.08) and attitude (-0.98) at p < .001, respectively. Furthermore, overall satisfaction was negatively associated with attitude (-1.10, p <.001). On the other hand, perceived negative impact of the allocation was positively associated with overall satisfaction (0.29, p <.001) but was not associated with attitude. Conclusion The result suggests that health care resource allocation mechanism has a negative effect towards perceptions, attitudes and overall satisfaction of health professionals who are at the frontline in health care. These findings can serve as a crucial reference for policymakers as the Kenyan

Affect and Cognition in Attitude Formation toward Familiar and Unfamiliar Attitude Objects.

PubMed

van Giesen, Roxanne I; Fischer, Arnout R H; van Dijk, Heleen; van Trijp, Hans C M

2015-01-01

At large attitudes are built on earlier experience with the attitude object. If earlier experiences are not available, as is the case for unfamiliar attitude objects such as new technologies, no stored evaluations exist. Yet, people are still somehow able to construct attitudes on the spot. Depending on the familiarity of the attitude object, attitudes may find their basis more in affect or cognition. The current paper investigates differences in reliance on affect or cognition in attitude formation toward familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects. In addition, individual differences in reliance on affect (high faith in intuition) or cognition (high need for cognition) are taken into account. In an experimental survey among Dutch consumers (N = 1870), we show that, for unfamiliar realistic attitude objects, people rely more on affect than cognition. For familiar attitude objects where both affective and cognitive evaluations are available, high need for cognition leads to more reliance on cognition, and high faith in intuition leads to more reliance on affect, reflecting the influence of individually preferred thinking style. For people with high need for cognition, cognition has a higher influence on overall attitude for both familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects. On the other hand, affect is important for people with high faith in intuition for both familiar and unfamiliar attitude objects and for people with low faith in intuition for unfamiliar attitude objects; this shows that preferred thinking style is less influential for unfamiliar objects. By comparing attitude formation for familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects, this research contributes to understanding situations in which affect or cognition is the better predictor of overall attitudes.

Affect and Cognition in Attitude Formation toward Familiar and Unfamiliar Attitude Objects

PubMed Central

van Giesen, Roxanne I.

2015-01-01

At large attitudes are built on earlier experience with the attitude object. If earlier experiences are not available, as is the case for unfamiliar attitude objects such as new technologies, no stored evaluations exist. Yet, people are still somehow able to construct attitudes on the spot. Depending on the familiarity of the attitude object, attitudes may find their basis more in affect or cognition. The current paper investigates differences in reliance on affect or cognition in attitude formation toward familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects. In addition, individual differences in reliance on affect (high faith in intuition) or cognition (high need for cognition) are taken into account. In an experimental survey among Dutch consumers (N = 1870), we show that, for unfamiliar realistic attitude objects, people rely more on affect than cognition. For familiar attitude objects where both affective and cognitive evaluations are available, high need for cognition leads to more reliance on cognition, and high faith in intuition leads to more reliance on affect, reflecting the influence of individually preferred thinking style. For people with high need for cognition, cognition has a higher influence on overall attitude for both familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects. On the other hand, affect is important for people with high faith in intuition for both familiar and unfamiliar attitude objects and for people with low faith in intuition for unfamiliar attitude objects; this shows that preferred thinking style is less influential for unfamiliar objects. By comparing attitude formation for familiar and unfamiliar realistic attitude objects, this research contributes to understanding situations in which affect or cognition is the better predictor of overall attitudes. PMID:26517876

Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior in Dutch Secondary Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuhlemeier, Hans; van den Bergh, Huub; Lagerweij, Nijs

1999-01-01

In a national assessment program, 57% of Dutch ninth-grade students had a positive attitude towards the environment and 35% were prepared to make sacrifices for the environment. Student knowledge about environmental problems, however, was fragmentary and often incorrect. Environmentally responsible behavior was more strongly connected with the…

Knowledge, attitude, and practice about epilepsy among teachers at Ethio-National School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Berhe, Tesfaye; Yihun, Bethlehem; Abebe, Emebet; Abera, Hailu

2017-05-01

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious chronic brain disorders and is poorly understood by the public and has been associated with numerous misconceptions and beliefs. This, coupled with its dramatic clinical manifestations, has resulted in a strong social stigma. Since teachers have a key role in society as educators, the purpose of this study was to find out the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards epilepsy among school teachers. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of 135 teachers about epilepsy using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into IBM SPSS version 20.0 and analyzed. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, and standard deviations were used to describe the data. Associations were computed using a chi-square test and p-value<0.05 was considered significant. Nearly all teachers 122 (96.3 %) were aware of epilepsy. Only 41% of the respondents had good knowledge about epilepsy whereas 26.8% and 32.3% had fair and poor knowledge about the disease, respectively. About 74% of them had a positive attitude about epilepsy. Only 60.3% of the respondents had proper first aid training. Literacy status and years of experience were not significantly associated with the level of knowledge about epilepsy. A significant proportion of teachers had deficits in terms of general knowledge, attitude, and the appropriate management of epilepsy in the classroom. Therefore, it is important to train and update teachers on epilepsy by the responsible health authorities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nursing students' attitudes toward science in the nursing curricula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maroo, Jill Deanne

The nursing profession combines the art of caregiving with scientific concepts. Nursing students need to learn science in order to start in a nursing program. However, previous research showed that students left the nursing program, stating it included too much science (Andrew et al., 2008). Research has shown a correlation between students' attitudes and their performance in a subject (Osborne, Simon, & Collins, 2003). However, little research exists on the overall attitude of nursing students toward science. At the time of my study there existed no large scale quantitative study on my topic. The purpose of my study was to identify potential obstacles nursing students face, specifically, attitude and motivation toward learning science. According to research the nation will soon face a nursing shortage and students cite the science content as a reason for not completing the nursing program. My study explored nursing students' attitudes toward science and reasons these students are motivated to learn science. I ran a nationwide mixed methods approach with 1,402 participants for the quantitative portion and 4 participants for the qualitative portion. I validated a questionnaire in order to explore nursing students' attitudes toward science, discovered five different attitude scales in that questionnaire and determined what demographic factors provided a statistically significant prediction of a student's score. In addition, I discovered no statistical difference in attitude exists between students who have the option of taking nursing specific courses and those who do not have that option. I discovered in the qualitative interviews that students feel science is necessary in nursing but do not feel nurses are scientists. My study gives a baseline of the current attitude of nursing students toward science and why these students feel the need to learn the science.

Insights for integrated conservation from attitudes of people toward protected areas near Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

PubMed

Guerbois, Chloe; Dufour, Anne-Beatrice; Mtare, Godfrey; Fritz, Herve

2013-08-01

Increase in human settlements at the edge of protected areas (PAs) is perceived as a major threat to conservation of biodiversity. Although it is crucial to integrate the interests of surrounding communities into PA management, key drivers of changes in local populations and the effects of conservation on local livelihoods and perceptions remain poorly understood. We assessed population changes from 1990 to 2010 in 9 villages located between 2 PAs with different management policies (access to natural resources or not). We conducted semi-directive interviews at the household level (n =217) to document reasons for settlement in the area and villager's attitudes toward the PAs. We examined drivers of these attitudes relative to household typology, feelings about conservation, and concerns for the future with mixed linear models. Population increased by 61% from 2000 to 2010, a period of political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Forty-seven percent of immigrants were attracted by the area; others had been resettled from other villages or were returning to family lands. Attitudes toward PAs were generally positive, but immigrants attracted by the area and who used resources within the PA with fewer restrictions expressed more negative attitudes toward PAs. Household location, losses due to wild animals, and restrictions on access to natural resources were the main drivers of this negative attitude. Profit-seeking migrants did not expect these constraints and were particularly concerned with local overpopulation and access to natural resources. To avoid socio-ecological traps near PAs (i.e., unforeseen reduced adaptive capacity) integrated conservation should address mismatches between management policy and local expectations. This requires accounting for endogenous processes, for example, local socio-ecological dynamics and values that shape the coexistence between humans and wildlife. © 2013 Society for Conservation Biology.

Attitudes to Mental Illness and Its Demographic Correlates among General Population in Singapore

PubMed Central

Yuan, Qi; Abdin, Edimansyah; Picco, Louisa; Vaingankar, Janhavi Ajit; Shahwan, Shazana; Jeyagurunathan, Anitha; Sagayadevan, Vathsala; Shafie, Saleha; Tay, Jenny; Chong, Siow Ann; Subramaniam, Mythily

2016-01-01

Background Public attitudes to mental illness could influence how the public interact with, provide opportunities for, and help people with mental illness. Aims This study aims to explore the underlying factors of the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the general population in Singapore and the socio-demographic correlates of each factor. Methods From March 2014 to April 2015, a nation-wide cross-sectional survey on mental health literacy with 3,006 participants was conducted in Singapore. Results Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor structure for the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the Singapore general population, namely social distancing, tolerance/support for community care, social restrictiveness, and prejudice and misconception. Older age, male gender, lower education and socio-economic status were associated with more negative attitudes towards the mentally ill. Chinese showed more negative attitudes than Indians and Malays (except for prejudice and misconception). Conclusions There is a need for culture-specific interventions, and the associated factors identified in this study should be considered for future attitude campaigns. PMID:27893796

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Undergraduate Education Programs: An Example Analysis of the Freshman Research Initiative.

PubMed

Walcott, Rebecca L; Corso, Phaedra S; Rodenbusch, Stacia E; Dolan, Erin L

2018-01-01

Institutions and administrators regularly have to make difficult choices about how best to invest resources to serve students. Yet economic evaluation, or the systematic analysis of the relationship between costs and outcomes of a program or policy, is relatively uncommon in higher education. This type of evaluation can be an important tool for decision makers considering questions of resource allocation. Our purpose with this essay is to describe methods for conducting one type of economic evaluation, a benefit-cost analysis (BCA), using an example of an existing undergraduate education program, the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at the University of Texas Austin. Our aim is twofold: to demonstrate how to apply BCA methodologies to evaluate an education program and to conduct an economic evaluation of FRI in particular. We explain the steps of BCA, including assessment of costs and benefits, estimation of the benefit-cost ratio, and analysis of uncertainty. We conclude that the university's investment in FRI generates a positive return for students in the form of increased future earning potential. © 2018 R. L. Walcott et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2018 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Attitudes Toward Physical Activity of Champion Women Basketball Players.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corbin, Charles B.

This study was undertaken to determine which attitudes were central to the motivation of women involved in championship basketball competition. Seventy-five women members of teams represented in national basketball championships served as subjects for this experiment. In addition, a control group of 212 women was randomly selected from physical…

Adult Basic Education Teacher Trainers: Their Characteristics, Attitudes, and Values.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nave, Wallace King

This study examined relationships between adult basic education (ABE) teacher characteristics, major value orientations, and attitudes toward the ABE program. Subjects were participating in a three week national teacher trainer institute. Independent variables included age, sex, race, educational background, ABE experience, and residence. Data…

Community attitudes to remunerated blood donation in Australia: results from a national telephone survey.

PubMed

Bambrick, Hilary; Gallego, Gisselle

2013-10-01

Blood in Australia is sourced through voluntary, non-remunerated donations. With periodic shortages in supply, increasing demand for blood products and a donor base that is perceived to be unsustainable, remuneration has been proposed as a means to improve donation rates. To examine community attitudes to remunerated blood donation in Australia. A national random telephone survey of Australian adults age 18-70 was conducted (n = 1024). Associations were tested using a chi-square (χ(2)) test for linear distribution. Reimbursement for the cost of travel to donate blood was supported by more respondents (46%) than reimbursement for time (19%). Non-donors were more likely to support a payment compared to donors (P = 0.002). Twelve per cent of respondents thought they would be more likely to donate if remunerated while 10% thought they would be less likely. The majority (76%) thought that a payment would not change whether or not they would donate, while 85% thought that it would make other people more likely to donate. The average amount considered to be reasonable reimbursement was AU$30. Despite the common perception that other people would be motivated to donate blood with the introduction of a financial incentive, remuneration may provide minimal incentive in Australia and is unlikely to increase donor participation for the time being. © 2013 The Authors. Transfusion Medicine © 2013 British Blood Transfusion Society.

What Influences Social Workers’ Attitudes Toward Working With Clients With Severe Mental Illness?

PubMed Central

Eack, Shaun M.; Newhill, Christina E.

2013-01-01

A national random survey of 2000 NASW members in post-master’s practice in mental health was conducted to investigate their experiences with and attitudes about working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Through a series of structural equation models, we examined the influence of different frustrations reported by the respondents on their attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI. Results suggest that social workers’ attitudes toward working with individuals with SPMI are primarily influenced by their frustrations related to client behaviors and treatment issues, rather than frustrations with system related issues. Implications for social work practice and directions for future research are discussed. (105 words) PMID:24353397

Parental attitudes towards measles vaccination in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland: a latent class analysis.

PubMed

Weiss, Carine; Schröpfer, Daniel; Merten, Sonja

2016-08-11

Despite the successes of routine national childhood vaccination programmes, measles remains a public health concern. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how patterns of parental attitudes are linked to the decision-making process for or against MMR vaccination. This exploratory study was designed to identify distinct patterns of attitudes towards or against measles vaccination through Latent Class Analysis (LCA) in a sub-sample of mothers living in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Parents of young children below 36 months of age were randomly selected through parents' counsellors' registries. Among other questions, respondents were asked to state their agreement in response to 14 belief statements regarding measles vaccination on a 5-point Likert scale. To identify groups of parents showing distinct patterns of attitudes and beliefs regarding measles vaccination, we used Latent Class Analysis (LCA). The LCA showed three classes of parents with different attitudes and believes towards measles vaccination: The biggest group (class 1) are those having positive attitudes towards immunisation, followed by the second biggest group (class 2) which is characterised by having fearful attitudes and by showing uncertainty about immunisation. The third group (class 3) shows distinct patterns of critical attitudes against immunisation. Within this group over 90 % agree or totally agree that immunisation is an artificial intrusion into the natural immune system and therefore want to vaccinate their children only if necessary. We find that parents in the Canton Aargau who hesitate to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps and rubella show distinct opinions and attitudes. Health professionals should be aware of these perceptions to tailor their messages accordingly and positively influence these parents to vaccinate their children. Special attention needs to be given to those parents who are planning to vaccinate their children but are not following the

Decisions among the Undecided: Implicit Attitudes Predict Future Voting Behavior of Undecided Voters

PubMed Central

Lundberg, Kristjen B.; Payne, B. Keith

2014-01-01

Implicit attitudes have been suggested as a key to unlock the hidden preferences of undecided voters. Past research, however, offered mixed support for this hypothesis. The present research used a large nationally representative sample and a longitudinal design to examine the predictive utility of implicit and explicit attitude measures in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In our analyses, explicit attitudes toward candidates predicted voting better for decided than undecided voters, but implicit candidate attitudes were predictive of voting for both decided and undecided voters. Extending our examination to implicit and explicit racial attitudes, we found the same pattern. Taken together, these results provide convergent evidence that implicit attitudes predict voting about as well for undecided as for decided voters. We also assessed a novel explanation for these effects by evaluating whether implicit attitudes may predict the choices of undecided voters, in part, because they are neglected when people introspect about their confidence. Consistent with this idea, we found that the extremity of explicit but not implicit attitudes was associated with greater confidence. These analyses shed new light on the utility of implicit measures in predicting future behavior among individuals who feel undecided. Considering the prior studies together with this new evidence, the data seem to be consistent that implicit attitudes may be successful in predicting the behavior of undecided voters. PMID:24489666

Cross-national comparison of Middle Eastern university students: help-seeking behaviors, attitudes toward helping professionals, and cultural beliefs about mental health problems.

PubMed

Al-Krenawi, Alean; Graham, John R; Al-Bedah, Eman A; Kadri, Hafni Mahmud; Sehwail, Mahmud A

2009-02-01

This study is the first to use identical data collection processes and instruments in Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, and Israeli Arab communities regarding help-seeking behaviors and attitudes towards perceived cultural beliefs about mental health problems. Data is based on a survey sample of 716, undergraduate students in the 4 countries, 61% female and 39% male. Results indicate that respondents within the various countries, based on nationality, gender and level of education, vary in terms of recognition of personal need, beliefs about mental health problems (i.e. stigmatization), and the use of traditional healing methods versus modern approaches to psychiatric therapy. The conclusion discusses differences between our respondents' expectations and prevailing mental health service provision and delivery.

National Adolescent Student Health Survey.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Health Education (Washington D.C.), 1988

1988-01-01

Results are reported from a national survey of teenaged youth on their attitudes toward a variety of health related issues. Topics covered were Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; sexually transmitted diseases, violence, suicide, injury prevention, drug abuse, nutrition, and consumer education. (JD)

Safety culture among pediatric surgeons: A national survey of attitudes and perceptions of patient safety.

PubMed

Berman, Loren; Rangel, Shawn; Goldin, Adam; Skarda, David; Ottosen, Madelene; Bliss, David; Valusek, Patricia; Fallat, Mary; Tsao, KuoJen

2018-03-01

Improving the culture of safety within health care is an essential component of preventing errors and improving overall health care quality. The purpose of this study was to characterize the attitudes and perceptions of patient safety among pediatric surgeons. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of American Pediatric Surgery Association members. Survey items assessed surgeons' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of patient safety. We performed descriptive statistics and evaluated associations between respondent characteristics and survey responses. Response rate was 38% (353/928). Surgeons in academic practice (96% vs 83% private, P=0.01) and in leadership positions (98% vs 92%, P=0.03) were more likely to feel actively engaged in patient safety initiatives. Surgeons in private practice were less likely to feel safe having their own children undergo surgery at their institution (80% vs 96% academic, P<0.005). Pediatric surgeons have disparate attitudes and perceptions of patient safety within their hospitals. Significant variation exists based on surgeon characteristics. These findings underscore the need to identify barriers to surgeon engagement and develop educational initiatives to empower surgeons as leaders in improving patient safety culture. V. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Political polarization projection: social projection of partisan attitude extremity and attitudinal processes.

PubMed

Van Boven, Leaf; Judd, Charles M; Sherman, David K

2012-07-01

What influences perceptions of political polarization? The authors examine the polarization of people's own political attitudes as a source of perceived polarization: Individuals with more extreme partisan attitudes perceive greater polarization than individuals with less extreme partisan attitudes. This "polarization projection" was demonstrated in 3 studies in which people estimated the distribution of others' political attitudes: one study with a nationally representative sample concerning the 2008 presidential election, and 2 studies concerning university students evaluating a policy regarding scarce resource allocation. These studies demonstrate that polarization projection occurs simultaneously with and independently of simple projection, the tendency to assume that others share one's partisan political attitudes. Polarization projection may occur partly because people assume that others engage in similar attitudinal processes as the self, such as extensive thought and emotional arousal. The projection of various attitudinal processes was demonstrated in a study concerning health care reform policies. Further supporting this explanation, polarization projection increased when people introspected about their own attitudinal processes, which increased the accessibility of those processes. Implications for perceptions of partisanship, social judgment, and civic behavior are discussed.

Organizational Training across Cultures: Variations in Practices and Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hassi, Abderrahman; Storti, Giovanna

2011-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis based on a review of the existing literature with respect to the variations in training practices and attitudes across national cultures. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis technique was adopted with a comparative cross-cultural management perspective as a backdrop to…

Environmental Attitudes and Information Sources among African American College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, E. Bun

2008-01-01

The author examined the environmental attitudes of African American college students by using the 15-item New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale. The author also attempted to determine their everyday environmental behaviors such as recycling and conservation and investigated major information sources for local, national, and international…

A Cross-National Investigation of University Students' Complaining Behaviour and Attitudes to Complaining

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferguson, Graham; Phau, Ian

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how students from Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia differ in their propensity to complain and attitudes to complaining. Design/methodology/approach: A self-administered questionnaire was designed using established scales to assess respondent reactions to a service failure by a university. The…

User group attitudes toward forest management treatments on the Shawnee National Forest: application of a photo-evaluation technique

Treesearch

Jonathan M. Cohen; Jean C. Mangun; Mae A. Davenport; Andrew D. Carver

2008-01-01

Diverse public opinions, competing management goals, and polarized interest groups combine with problems of scale to create a complex management arena for managers in the Central Hardwood Forest region. A mixed-methods approach that incorporated quantitative analysis of data from a photo evaluation-attitude scale survey instrument was used to assess attitudes toward...

Performance comparison of attitude determination, attitude estimation, and nonlinear observers algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MOHAMMED, M. A. SI; BOUSSADIA, H.; BELLAR, A.; ADNANE, A.

2017-01-01

This paper presents a brief synthesis and useful performance analysis of different attitude filtering algorithms (attitude determination algorithms, attitude estimation algorithms, and nonlinear observers) applied to Low Earth Orbit Satellite in terms of accuracy, convergence time, amount of memory, and computation time. This latter is calculated in two ways, using a personal computer and also using On-board computer 750 (OBC 750) that is being used in many SSTL Earth observation missions. The use of this comparative study could be an aided design tool to the designer to choose from an attitude determination or attitude estimation or attitude observer algorithms. The simulation results clearly indicate that the nonlinear Observer is the more logical choice.

Ethical ideology, animal rights activism, and attitudes toward the treatment of animals.

PubMed

Galvin, Shelley L; Herzog, Harold A

1992-01-01

In two studies, we used the Ethics Position Questionnaire (EPQ) to investigate the relationship between individual differences in moral philosophy, involvement in the animal rights movement, and attitudes toward the treatment of animals. In the first, 600 animal rights activists attending a national demonstration and 266 nonactivist college students were given the EPQ. Analysis of the returns from 157 activists and 198 students indicated that the activists were more likely than the students to hold an "absolutist" moral orientation (high idealism, low relativism). In the second study, 169 students were given the EPQ with a scale designed to measure attitudes toward the treatment of animals. Multiple regression showed that gender and the EPQ dimension of idealism were related to attitudes toward animal use.