Inside the Black Box--An Implementation Evaluation Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rector, Patricia; Bakacs, Michele; Rowe, Amy; Barbour, Bruce

2016-01-01

The case study presented in this article is an example of an implementation evaluation. The evaluation investigated significant components of the implementation of a long-term environmental educational program. Direct observation, evaluation-specific survey data, and historical data were used to determine program integrity as identified by…

An Investigation of Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent Perceptions on the Ability of the National Framework for Principal Evaluations to Measure Principals' Leadership Competencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamb, Lori D.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of effective principals' leadership competencies; determine if the perceptions of teachers, principals, and superintendents aligned with the proposed National Framework for Principal Evaluations initiative. This study examined the six domains of leadership outlined by the…

Robotic Surgery Readiness (RSR): A Prospective Randomized Skills Decay Recognition and Prevention Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-08-01

Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) scoring will be correlated by the Principal Investigator (Dr. Thomas Lendvay - UW) and Co-Investigator (Dr...be evaluated and developed through collaboration with the Intuitive Surgical Consultant (Simon DiMaio, Senior Research Manager). We will deliver...Virtual Reality Simulation Curriculum GEARS - Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills Surgical Education 6 of 41 3. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: What

The Impact of the Evaluation of the Standards of Undergraduate Teaching Work on Teaching at Higher Education Institutions: An Investigative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yaoming, Gao; Ping, Zhang; Hui, Chen; Lili, Lan; Guanghui, Zhang

2009-01-01

A questionnaire investigation of academic staff and teaching administrators at Shanghai Normal University and Shanghai Fisheries University shows that the evaluation of the standards of undergraduate teaching work has had positive effects on teaching work and that setting up an evaluation system is an effective measure for assuring the quality of…

An Investigation of User Perceptions and Attitudes towards Learning Objects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lau, Siong-Hoe; Woods, Peter C.

2008-01-01

This study empirically evaluates the technology acceptance model drawn from Information Systems (IS) literature to investigate how user beliefs and attitudes influence learning-object use among higher education learners by evaluating the relationships between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, behavioural intentions and actual…

Informing Automated Writing Evaluation Using the Lens of Genre: Two Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burstein, Jill; Elliot, Norbert; Molloy, Hillary

2016-01-01

Genre serves as a useful lens to investigate the range of evidence derived from automated writing evaluation (AWE). To support construct-relevant systems used for writing instruction and assessment, two investigations were conducted that focused on postsecondary writing requirements and faculty perceptions of student writing proficiency. Survey…

Organization of research team for nano-associated safety assessment in effort to study nanotoxicology of zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Kim, Yu-Ri; Park, Sung Ha; Lee, Jong-Kwon; Jeong, Jayoung; Kim, Ja Hei; Meang, Eun-Ho; Yoon, Tae Hyun; Lim, Seok Tae; Oh, Jae-Min; An, Seong Soo A; Kim, Meyoung-Kon

2014-01-01

Currently, products made with nanomaterials are used widely, especially in biology, bio-technologies, and medical areas. However, limited investigations on potential toxicities of nanomaterials are available. Hence, diverse and systemic toxicological data with new methods for nanomaterials are needed. In order to investigate the nanotoxicology of nanoparticles (NPs), the Research Team for Nano-Associated Safety Assessment (RT-NASA) was organized in three parts and launched. Each part focused on different contents of research directions: investigators in part I were responsible for the efficient management and international cooperation on nano-safety studies; investigators in part II performed the toxicity evaluations on target organs such as assessment of genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, or skin penetration; and investigators in part III evaluated the toxicokinetics of NPs with newly developed techniques for toxicokinetic analyses and methods for estimating nanotoxicity. The RT-NASA study was carried out in six steps: need assessment, physicochemical property, toxicity evaluation, toxicokinetics, peer review, and risk communication. During the need assessment step, consumer responses were analyzed based on sex, age, education level, and household income. Different sizes of zinc oxide and silica NPs were purchased and coated with citrate, L-serine, and L-arginine in order to modify surface charges (eight different NPs), and each of the NPs were characterized by various techniques, for example, zeta potentials, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Evaluation of the “no observed adverse effect level” and systemic toxicities of all NPs were performed by thorough evaluation steps and the toxicokinetics step, which included in vivo studies with zinc oxide and silica NPs. A peer review committee was organized to evaluate and verify the reliability of toxicity tests, and the risk communication step was also needed to convey the current findings to academia, industry, and consumers. Several limitations were encountered in the RT-NASA project, and they are discussed for consideration for improvements in future studies. PMID:25565821

Organization of research team for nano-associated safety assessment in effort to study nanotoxicology of zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles.

PubMed

Kim, Yu-Ri; Park, Sung Ha; Lee, Jong-Kwon; Jeong, Jayoung; Kim, Ja Hei; Meang, Eun-Ho; Yoon, Tae Hyun; Lim, Seok Tae; Oh, Jae-Min; An, Seong Soo A; Kim, Meyoung-Kon

2014-01-01

Currently, products made with nanomaterials are used widely, especially in biology, bio-technologies, and medical areas. However, limited investigations on potential toxicities of nanomaterials are available. Hence, diverse and systemic toxicological data with new methods for nanomaterials are needed. In order to investigate the nanotoxicology of nanoparticles (NPs), the Research Team for Nano-Associated Safety Assessment (RT-NASA) was organized in three parts and launched. Each part focused on different contents of research directions: investigators in part I were responsible for the efficient management and international cooperation on nano-safety studies; investigators in part II performed the toxicity evaluations on target organs such as assessment of genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, or skin penetration; and investigators in part III evaluated the toxicokinetics of NPs with newly developed techniques for toxicokinetic analyses and methods for estimating nanotoxicity. The RT-NASA study was carried out in six steps: need assessment, physicochemical property, toxicity evaluation, toxicokinetics, peer review, and risk communication. During the need assessment step, consumer responses were analyzed based on sex, age, education level, and household income. Different sizes of zinc oxide and silica NPs were purchased and coated with citrate, L-serine, and L-arginine in order to modify surface charges (eight different NPs), and each of the NPs were characterized by various techniques, for example, zeta potentials, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Evaluation of the "no observed adverse effect level" and systemic toxicities of all NPs were performed by thorough evaluation steps and the toxicokinetics step, which included in vivo studies with zinc oxide and silica NPs. A peer review committee was organized to evaluate and verify the reliability of toxicity tests, and the risk communication step was also needed to convey the current findings to academia, industry, and consumers. Several limitations were encountered in the RT-NASA project, and they are discussed for consideration for improvements in future studies.

A synthesis of five nationwide studies: perceptions of law enforcement and investigations in the USDA Forest Service

Treesearch

Deborah J. Chavez; Joanne F. Tynon

2009-01-01

This is the synthesis of a series of studies to evaluate perceptions of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) law enforcement and investigations (LEI). Five groups were evaluated: four groups of employees from different positions within LEI, and a group of customers of LEI, the line officers of the National Forest System (NFS). The groups responded to...

When Mode Does Not Matter: Evaluation in Class versus Out of Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kordts-Freudinger, Robert; Geithner, Eva

2013-01-01

This article investigates if online evaluation leads to different results than paper-and-pencil evaluation. Given that most previous studies confound the evaluation mode (online versus paper) with the evaluation situation (in class versus after class), we expected that evaluation results would be influenced only by the evaluation situation,…

Evaluation of construction strategies for PCC pavement rehabilitation projects.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-30

This study investigated project management level solutions to optimizing resources, minimizing costs : (including user costs) and time for PCC pavement rehabilitation projects. This study extensively : evaluated the applicability of the Construction ...

The Development of Message Evaluation Skills in Young Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beal, Carole R.; Belgrad, Susan L.

Two studies investigated the origins of message evaluation skills in preschool children. In the first study, 14 preschoolers and 14 second graders were asked to evaluate the informativeness of pictorial messages in a referential communication task in two sessions. Results showed that the younger children overestimated the informativeness of…

Evaluation of alternative snowplowable markers and snowplowing procedures.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

The objectives of this study were to investigate viable alternatives to the currently approved snowplowable raised pavement marker and alternative methods and equipment used to snowplow roadways. The study included evaluating any potential durable an...

An Examination of Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation Systems in Five States. Summary. Issues & Answers. REL 2012-No. 129

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shakman, Karen; Riordan, Julie; Sanchez, Maria Teresa; Cook, Kyle DeMeo; Fournier, Richard; Brett, Jessica

2012-01-01

This study reports on performance-based teacher evaluation systems in five states that have implemented such systems. It investigates two primary research questions: (1) What are the key characteristics of state-level performance-based teacher evaluation systems in the study states?; and (2) How do state teacher evaluation measures, the teaching…

Applying Generalizability Theory To Evaluate Treatment Effect in Single-Subject Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lefebvre, Daniel J.; Suen, Hoi K.

An empirical investigation of methodological issues associated with evaluating treatment effect in single-subject research (SSR) designs is presented. This investigation: (1) conducted a generalizability (G) study to identify the sources of systematic and random measurement error (SRME); (2) used an analytic approach based on G theory to integrate…

Addressing the Complexities of Evaluating Interdisciplinary Multimedia Learning Environments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGee, Steven; Howard, Bruce C.; Dimitrov, Dimiter M.; Hong, Namsoo S.; Shia, Regina

This study was a summative evaluation of Astronomy Village[R]: Investigating the Solar System[TM]. Funded by the National Science Foundation, Astronomy Village is designed to teach students fundamental concepts in life, earth, and physical science by having them investigate cutting-edge questions related to the solar system. In Astronomy Village…

Piloting a programme tool to evaluate malaria case investigation and reactive case detection activities: results from 3 settings in the Asia Pacific.

PubMed

Cotter, Chris; Sudathip, Prayuth; Herdiana, Herdiana; Cao, Yuanyuan; Liu, Yaobao; Luo, Alex; Ranasinghe, Neil; Bennett, Adam; Cao, Jun; Gosling, Roly D

2017-08-22

Case investigation and reactive case detection (RACD) activities are widely-used in low transmission settings to determine the suspected origin of infection and identify and treat malaria infections nearby to the index patient household. Case investigation and RACD activities are time and resource intensive, include methodologies that vary across eliminating settings, and have no standardized metrics or tools available to monitor and evaluate them. In response to this gap, a simple programme tool was developed for monitoring and evaluating (M&E) RACD activities and piloted by national malaria programmes. During the development phase, four modules of the RACD M&E tool were created to assess and evaluate key case investigation and RACD activities and costs. A pilot phase was then carried out by programme implementers between 2013 and 2015, during which malaria surveillance teams in three different settings (China, Indonesia, Thailand) piloted the tool over a period of 3 months each. This study describes summary results of the pilots and feasibility and impact of the tool on programmes. All three study areas implemented the RACD M&E tool modules, and pilot users reported the tool and evaluation process were helpful to identify gaps in RACD programme activities. In the 45 health facilities evaluated, 71.8% (97/135; min 35.3-max 100.0%) of the proper notification and reporting forms and 20.0% (27/135; min 0.0-max 100.0%) of standard operating procedures (SOPs) were available to support malaria elimination activities. The tool highlighted gaps in reporting key data indicators on the completeness for malaria case reporting (98.8%; min 93.3-max 100.0%), case investigations (65.6%; min 61.8-max 78.4%) and RACD activities (70.0%; min 64.7-max 100.0%). Evaluation of the SOPs showed that knowledge and practices of malaria personnel varied within and between study areas. Average monthly costs for conducting case investigation and RACD activities showed variation between study areas (min USD $844.80-max USD $2038.00) for the malaria personnel, commodities, services and other costs required to carry out the activities. The RACD M&E tool was implemented in the three pilot areas, identifying key gaps that led to impacts on programme decision making. Study findings support the need for routine M&E of malaria case reporting, case investigation and RACD activities. Scale-up of the RACD M&E tool in malaria-eliminating settings will contribute to improved programme performance to the high level that is required to reach elimination.

The Practice of Evaluation Research and the Use of Evaluation Results.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van den Berg, G.; Hoeben, W. Th. J. G.

1984-01-01

Lack of use of educational evaluation results in the Netherlands was investigated by analyzing 14 curriculum evaluation studies. Results indicated that rational decision making with a technical (empirical) evaluation approach makes utilization of results most likely. Incremental decision making and a conformative approach make utilization least…

Which Do Students Prefer to Evaluate Their Essays: Peers or Computer Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lai, Yi-hsiu

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate problems and potentials of new technologies in English writing education. The effectiveness of automated writing evaluation (AWE) ("MY Access") and of peer evaluation (PE) was compared. Twenty-two English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in Taiwan participated in this study. They submitted…

Cross-Cultural Differences in the Self-Evaluations of American and Finnish Elementary Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tirri, Kirsi

This study investigated the cross-cultural differences in American and Finnish elementary teachers' evaluations of their classroom teaching behaviors. The self-evaluation instrument developed for the study was administered to 167 American elementary teachers from Indiana and Texas and to 172 Finnish teachers (also elementary) from two different…

Investigating the Relationship among Test Anxiety, Gender, Academic Achievement and Years of Study: A Case of Iranian EFL University Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rezazadeh, Mohsen; Tavakoli, Mansoor

2009-01-01

The construct of anxiety plays a major role in one's life. One of these anxieties is test anxiety or apprehension over academic evaluation. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between gender, academic achievement, years of study and levels of test anxiety. This investigation is a descriptive analytic study and was done…

How to Activate Teachers through Teacher Evaluation?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tuytens, Melissa; Devos, Geert

2014-01-01

There is a general doubt on whether teacher evaluation can contribute to teachers' professional development. Recently, standards-based teacher evaluation has been introduced in many countries to improve teaching practice. This study wants to investigate which teacher evaluation procedural, leadership, and teacher characteristics can stimulate…

How does study quality affect the results of a diagnostic meta-analysis?

PubMed Central

Westwood, Marie E; Whiting, Penny F; Kleijnen, Jos

2005-01-01

Background The use of systematic literature review to inform evidence based practice in diagnostics is rapidly expanding. Although the primary diagnostic literature is extensive, studies are often of low methodological quality or poorly reported. There has been no rigorously evaluated, evidence based tool to assess the methodological quality of diagnostic studies. The primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which variations in the quality of primary studies impact the results of a diagnostic meta-analysis and whether this differs with diagnostic test type. A secondary objective was to contribute to the evaluation of QUADAS, an evidence-based tool for the assessment of quality in diagnostic accuracy studies. Methods This study was conducted as part of large systematic review of tests used in the diagnosis and further investigation of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. All studies included in this review were assessed using QUADAS, an evidence-based tool for the assessment of quality in systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy studies. The impact of individual components of QUADAS on a summary measure of diagnostic accuracy was investigated using regression analysis. The review divided the diagnosis and further investigation of UTI into the following three clinical stages: diagnosis of UTI, localisation of infection, and further investigation of the UTI. Each stage used different types of diagnostic test, which were considered to involve different quality concerns. Results Many of the studies included in our review were poorly reported. The proportion of QUADAS items fulfilled was similar for studies in different sections of the review. However, as might be expected, the individual items fulfilled differed between the three clinical stages. Regression analysis found that different items showed a strong association with test performance for the different tests evaluated. These differences were observed both within and between the three clinical stages assessed by the review. The results of regression analyses were also affected by whether or not a weighting (by sample size) was applied. Our analysis was severely limited by the completeness of reporting and the differences between the index tests evaluated and the reference standards used to confirm diagnoses in the primary studies. Few tests were evaluated by sufficient studies to allow meaningful use of meta-analytic pooling and investigation of heterogeneity. This meant that further analysis to investigate heterogeneity could only be undertaken using a subset of studies, and that the findings are open to various interpretations. Conclusion Further work is needed to investigate the influence of methodological quality on the results of diagnostic meta-analyses. Large data sets of well-reported primary studies are needed to address this question. Without significant improvements in the completeness of reporting of primary studies, progress in this area will be limited. PMID:15943861

Are Some Countries More Prone to Pressure Evaluators than Others? Comparing Findings from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pleger, Lyn; Sager, Fritz; Morris, Michael; Meyer, Wolfgang; Stockmann, Reinhard

2017-01-01

Pressure on evaluators has been investigated recently by surveys in the USA, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. This study compares the results of those studies regarding pressure on evaluators in different countries. The findings suggest that independence of evaluations does not exist for many respondents. Moreover, the person who commissioned the…

Marginal Aggregates in Flexible Pavements: Field Evaluation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-04-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization of substandard or marginal aggregates in flexible pavement construction of airport pavements. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of using lower quality aggregates such a...

Online market research panel members as controls in case-control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks: early experiences and lessons learnt from the UK.

PubMed

Mook, P; McCormick, J; Kanagarajah, S; Adak, G K; Cleary, P; Elson, R; Gobin, M; Hawker, J; Inns, T; Sinclair, C; Trienekens, S C M; Vivancos, R; McCarthy, N D

2018-03-01

Established methods of recruiting population controls for case-control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks can be time consuming, resulting in delays in identifying the source or vehicle of infection. After an initial evaluation of using online market research panel members as controls in a case-control study to investigate a Salmonella outbreak in 2013, this method was applied in four further studies in the UK between 2014 and 2016. We used data from all five studies and interviews with members of each outbreak control team and market research panel provider to review operational issues, evaluate risk of bias in this approach and consider methods to reduce confounding and bias. The investigators of each outbreak reported likely time and cost savings from using market research controls. There were systematic differences between case and control groups in some studies but no evidence that conclusions on the likely source or vehicle of infection were incorrect. Potential selection biases introduced by using this sampling frame and the low response rate are unclear. Methods that might reduce confounding and some bias should be balanced with concerns for overmatching. Further evaluation of this approach using comparisons with traditional methods and population-based exposure survey data is recommended.

Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance in paediatric surgery: magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and new sequences.

PubMed

Ragazzi, S; Vanzulli, A; Del Maschio, A; Tomaselli, V; Dell' Agnola, C A

2007-12-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate fast magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) sequences as an alternative and safe investigation method for neonatal and children's pancreaticobiliary diseases. Between January 2000 and December 2000, five children (age: 1 month 14 years; mean: 7 years) affected by pancreaticobiliary diseases or already operated for biliary pathologies were studied. Patients were evaluated by 1.5 T magnet single shot T2-weighted sequences (1 image per s, TR = infinite, TE = 150-180 ms). T1-weighted conventional sequences were obtained to study parenchymal tissue. No patient needed general anaesthetic. Only in one case was sedation necessary. Fast MRCP sequences provided very precise information on biliary tract anatomy. They revealed the intra and extrahepatic bile ducts, the gallbladder, the common bile duct and the bilio-pancreatic junction in all cases investigated. MRCP allowed us to evaluate Roux-en-Y type bilio-enteric anastomosis as accurately as percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). In addition MRCP was the only reliable study in evaluating Roux-en-Y type anastomosis where ultrasonography (US) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) could not be used. In conclusion MRCP is an accurate and non-invasive method with which to investigate the anatomy of the pancreaticobiliary tract in children. It could become the investigation of choice after US in the case of biliary and pancreatic diseases.

42 CFR 456.142 - UR plan requirements for medical care evaluation studies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... evaluation studies. (a) The UR plan must describe the methods that the committee uses to select and conduct... needed to— (i) Correct or investigate further any deficiencies or problems in the review process for...

Effects of Physical Attractiveness, Sex and Sex-Role on Trait Attributions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Major, Brenda; Deaux, Kay

This research investigates how androgynous men and women are evaluated relative to those who are sex-typed or sex reversed, and also investigates the joint effects of attractiveness and sex-role upon such evaluation. Two studies with replicable results were conducted. In each, approximately 185 male and 185 female undergraduates were asked to rate…

An Investigation on the Language Anxiety and Fear of Negative Evaluation among Turkish EFL Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydin, Selami

2008-01-01

Teachers' observations, students' experiences, and the review of related literature indicate that language anxiety is a significant factor adversely affecting the language learning process. Thus, this study aims to investigate the sources and levels of fear of negative evaluation as well as language anxiety among Turkish students as EFL learners,…

What We Do and Do Not Know about Teaching Medical Image Interpretation.

PubMed

Kok, Ellen M; van Geel, Koos; van Merriënboer, Jeroen J G; Robben, Simon G F

2017-01-01

Educators in medical image interpretation have difficulty finding scientific evidence as to how they should design their instruction. We review and comment on 81 papers that investigated instructional design in medical image interpretation. We distinguish between studies that evaluated complete offline courses and curricula, studies that evaluated e-learning modules, and studies that evaluated specific educational interventions. Twenty-three percent of all studies evaluated the implementation of complete courses or curricula, and 44% of the studies evaluated the implementation of e-learning modules. We argue that these studies have encouraging results but provide little information for educators: too many differences exist between conditions to unambiguously attribute the learning effects to specific instructional techniques. Moreover, concepts are not uniformly defined and methodological weaknesses further limit the usefulness of evidence provided by these studies. Thirty-two percent of the studies evaluated a specific interventional technique. We discuss three theoretical frameworks that informed these studies: diagnostic reasoning, cognitive schemas and study strategies. Research on diagnostic reasoning suggests teaching students to start with non-analytic reasoning and subsequently applying analytic reasoning, but little is known on how to train non-analytic reasoning. Research on cognitive schemas investigated activities that help the development of appropriate cognitive schemas. Finally, research on study strategies supports the effectiveness of practice testing, but more study strategies could be applicable to learning medical image interpretation. Our commentary highlights the value of evaluating specific instructional techniques, but further evidence is required to optimally inform educators in medical image interpretation.

Perceptions of the Principal Evaluation Process and Performance Criteria: A Qualitative Study of the Challenge of Principal Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faginski-Stark, Erica; Casavant, Christopher; Collins, William; McCandless, Jason; Tencza, Marilyn

2012-01-01

Recent federal and state mandates have tasked school systems to move beyond principal evaluation as a bureaucratic function and to re-imagine it as a critical component to improve principal performance and compel school renewal. This qualitative study investigated the district leaders' and principals' perceptions of the performance evaluation…

Classroom Teacher's Performance-Based Evaluation Form (CTPBEF) for Public Education Schools in the State of Kuwait: A Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Shammari, Zaid; Yawkey, Thomas D.

2008-01-01

This investigation using Grounded Theory focuses on developing, designing and testing out an evaluation method used as a framework for this study. This framework evolved into the instrument entitled, "Classroom Teacher's Performance Based Evaluation Form (CTPBEF)". This study shows the processes and procedures used in CTPBEF's…

Evaluation of Telephone Health Coaching of German Health Insurants with Chronic Conditions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Härter, Martin; Dwinger, Sarah; Seebauer, Laura; Simon, Daniela; Herbarth, Lutz; Siegmund-Schultze, Elisabeth; Temmert, Daniel; Bermejo, Isaac; Dirmaier, Jörg

2013-01-01

Objective: This study aimed to investigate how patients with chronic conditions evaluate telephone health coaching provided by their health insurance company. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted among coaching participants ("n" = 834). Outcomes included the general evaluation of the coaching, the evaluation of process and…

Within-Class Variability in Student-Teacher Evaluations: Examples and Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clayson, Dennis E.

2005-01-01

Although student evaluation of instruction has been shown to produce reliable results over class averages, considerable within-class variability exists that has not been investigated. This study looked at examples of student evaluations in which students diametrically differed in their evaluation of the same instructor. Patterns were noted. A…

Design guidelines for use of adhesives and organic coatings in hybrid microcircuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, S. V.; Licari, J. J.; Perkins, K. L.; Schramm, W. A.

1974-01-01

A study was conducted to investigate the reliability of organic adhesives in hybrid microcircuits. The objectives were twofold: (1) to identify and investigate problem areas that could result from the use of organic adhesives and (2) to develop evaluation tests to quantify the extent to which these problems occur for commercially available adhesives. Efforts were focused on electrically conductive adhesives. Also, a study was made to evaluate selected organic coatings for contamination protection for hybrid microcircuits.

Criteria used by nurses to evaluate practice-related information on the World Wide Web.

PubMed

Cader, Raffik; Campbell, Steve; Watson, Don

2003-01-01

Existing criteria used to evaluate information on the World Wide Web often are not related to nursing, especially in relation to clinical and evidence-based practice. Published criteria have been found orientated to the health-consumer, medicine, or general information. In this study, the process by which nurses evaluate practice-related information and the associated evaluative nursing criteria were investigated using a grounded theory approach. In the first stage of this ongoing investigation, semistructured interviews were used to collect data from UK postregistration nursing students. The findings from this initial study provided indications of the process and the criteria for evaluating information on the World Wide Web. Participating students identified intuition as part of the evaluative process. They identified some criteria similar to existing standards, but critically, with additional criteria that are nursing practice related. Because these new criteria are significant for evaluating nursing information, further refinement of these findings is being undertaken through the next stage of the research program.

Wet Scrubber System Study. Volume II. Final Report and Bibliography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Calvert, Seymour; And Others

This report is the second volume of a two-part study on wet scrubber systems. The study was undertaken to achieve the following objectives: (1) evaluate current engineering technology, (2) evaluate existing scrubber systems, (3) investigate present usage problems, (4) determine potential new applications, and (5) develop specific research…

Effects of task performance, helping, voice, and organizational loyalty on performance appraisal ratings.

PubMed

Whiting, Steven W; Podsakoff, Philip M; Pierce, Jason R

2008-01-01

Despite the fact that several studies have investigated the relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and performance appraisal ratings, the vast majority of these studies have been cross-sectional, correlational investigations conducted in organizational settings that do not allow researchers to establish the causal nature of this relationship. To address this lack of knowledge regarding causality, the authors conducted 2 studies designed to investigate the effects of task performance, helping behavior, voice, and organizational loyalty on performance appraisal evaluations. Findings demonstrated that each of these forms of behavior has significant effects on performance evaluation decisions and suggest that additional attention should be directed at both voice and organizational loyalty as important forms of citizenship behavior aimed at the organization. 2008 APA

100-OL-1 Operable Unit Pilot Study: XRF Evaluation of Select Pre-Hanford Orchards

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bunn, Amoret L.; Fritz, Brad G.; Pulsipher, Brent A.

Prior to the acquisition of land by the U.S. Department of War in February 1943 and the creation of the Hanford Site, the land along the Columbia River was home to over 1000 people. Farming and orchard operations by both homesteaders and commercial organizations were prevalent. Orchard activities and the associated application of lead arsenate pesticide ceased in 1943, when residents were moved from the Hanford Site at the beginning of the Manhattan Project. Today, the residues from historical application of lead arsenate pesticide persist in some locations on the Hanford Site. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S.more » Environmental Protection Agency, and Washington State Department of Ecology established the 100-OL-1 Operable Unit (OU) through the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order, known as the Tri-Party Agreement. The pre-Hanford orchard lands identified as the 100-OL-1 OU are located south of the Columbia River and east of the present-day Vernita Bridge, and extend southeast to the former Hanford townsite. The discontinuous orchard lands within 100-OL-1 OU are approximately 20 km2 (5000 ac). A pilot study was conducted to support the approval of the remedial investigation/feasibility study work plan to evaluate the 100-OL-1 OU. This pilot study evaluated the use of a field portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer for evaluating lead and arsenic concentrations on the soil surface as an indicator of lead arsenate pesticide residues in the OU. The objectives of the pilot study included evaluating a field portable XRF analyzer as the analytical method for decision making, estimating the nature and extent of lead and arsenic in surface soils in four decision units, evaluating the results for the purpose of optimizing the sampling approach implemented in the remedial investigation, and collecting information to improve the cost estimate and planning the cultural resources review for sampling activities in the remedial investigation. Based on the results of the pilot study, the recommendations for the revision of the work plan are as follows: • characterize the surface soil using field portable XRF measurements with confirmatory inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy sampling for the remedial investigation • establish decision units of similar defined areas • establish a process for field investigation of soil concentrations exceeding the screening criteria at the border of the 100-OL-1 OU • define data quality objectives for the work plan using the results of the pilot study and refining the sampling approach for the remedial investigation.« less

Hyperspectral imaging for nondestructive evaluation of tomatoes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Machine vision methods for quality and defect evaluation of tomatoes have been studied for online sorting and robotic harvesting applications. We investigated the use of a hyperspectral imaging system for quality evaluation and defect detection for tomatoes. Hyperspectral reflectance images were a...

A Large Sample Evaluation of a Court-Mandated Batterer Intervention Program: Investigating Differential Program Effect for African American and Caucasian Men

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buttell, Frederick P.; Carney, Michelle Mohr

2006-01-01

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to (a) evaluate a 26-week batterer intervention program by investigating changes in psychological variables related to abuse (i.e., truthfulness, violence, lethality, control, alcohol use, drug use, and stress coping abilities) between pretreatment and posttreatment assessments in a large sample of…

Investigating the Influences of Core Self-Evaluations, Job Autonomy, and Intrinsic Motivation on In-Role Job Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joo, Baek-Kyoo; Jeung, Chang-Wook; Yoon, Hea Jun

2010-01-01

This study investigates the effects of core self-evaluations, job autonomy, and intrinsic motivation on employees' perceptions of their in-role job performance, based on a cross-sectional survey of 283 employees in a Fortune Global 100 company in Korea. The results suggest that employees perceived higher in-role job performance when they had…

Investigation of Teachers' Perceptions of Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Their Evaluation in Terms of Educational Administration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Avci, Ahmet

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate teachers' perceptions of organizational citizenship behaviors and to evaluate them in terms of educational administration. Descriptive survey model was used in the research. The data of the research were obtained from 1,613 teachers working in public and private schools subjected to Ministry of National…

Evaluation of Public Service Advertising Messages with Local and Non-Local Source Attribution: A Controlled Laboratory Experiment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynn, Jerry R.; Gagnard, Alice

A study was conducted to examine message evaluations of selected public service advertisements (PSAs) by a young adult population and to test whether local and nonlocal source attribution would influence those evaluations. In addition, the study investigated the extent to which audience characteristics such as fatalism (the degree to which a…

Investigating Religion and Computing: A Case for Using Standpoint Theory in Technology Evaluation Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyche, Susan Porter

2010-01-01

This research focuses on the development and study of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that support religious practices and the use of standpoint theory in ICT evaluation studies. Three phases makeup this work: formative studies to understand how megachurches, their members and leaders use ICT in ways tied to their Protestant…

42 CFR 85.3 - Procedures for requesting health hazard evaluations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTS FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATIONS § 85.3..., and Field Studies, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. (2) Requests from mining industry. Environmental Investigations Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, 944 Chestnut...

42 CFR 85.3 - Procedures for requesting health hazard evaluations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTS FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATIONS § 85.3..., and Field Studies, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. (2) Requests from mining industry. Environmental Investigations Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, 944 Chestnut...

42 CFR 85.3 - Procedures for requesting health hazard evaluations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTS FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATIONS § 85.3..., and Field Studies, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. (2) Requests from mining industry. Environmental Investigations Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, 944 Chestnut...

42 CFR 85.3 - Procedures for requesting health hazard evaluations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTS FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATIONS § 85.3..., and Field Studies, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. (2) Requests from mining industry. Environmental Investigations Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, 944 Chestnut...

42 CFR 85.3 - Procedures for requesting health hazard evaluations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTS FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATIONS § 85.3..., and Field Studies, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. (2) Requests from mining industry. Environmental Investigations Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, 944 Chestnut...

English Language Teaching Curriculum in Iran: Planning and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atai, Mahmood Reza; Mazlum, Farhad

2013-01-01

The present study investigates English language teaching (ELT) curriculum planning in Iran's Ministry of Education and its implementation by teachers. We studied programme evaluation; needs analysis; the ELT-specific documents; communication channels between planning and practice levels; teacher evaluation and student assessment; interpretation…

Language of Evaluation: How PLA Evaluators Write about Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Travers, Nan L.; Smith, Bernard; Ellis, Leslie; Brady, Tom; Feldman, Liza; Hakim, Kameyla; Onta, Bhuwan; Panayotou, Maria; Seamans, Laurie; Treadwell, Amanda

2011-01-01

Very few studies (e.g., Arnold, 1998; Joosten-ten Brinke, et al., 2009) have examined the ways in which evaluators assess students' prior learning. This investigation explored the ways that evaluators described students' prior learning in final assessment reports at a single, multiple-location institution. Results found four themes; audience,…

Student Evaluation of Teaching: An Investigation of Nonresponse Bias in an Online Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reisenwitz, Timothy H.

2016-01-01

The online administration of student evaluations has its shortcomings, including low participation, or low response rates, and bias. This study examines nonresponse bias in online student evaluations of instruction, that is, the differences between those students who complete online evaluations and those who decide not to complete them. It builds…

Investigation of Proprietary Air-Entraining Admixtures to Produce Frost- Resistant Concrete with Low Air Content

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-01

LABORATORY rci-dr Civil Works Investigation Studies Work Unit 31138 92 4 22096 Best Avai~lable Copy ’ p ~ o) n< w : -c rnsu on’ ratur.- 𔃼t crrJ’ria’ cr...Low Air Investigation Content Studies 6. AUTHOR(S) Work Unit 31138 Billy D. Neeley, W. E. McDonald, Michael K. Lloyd 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S...as a part of Civil Works Investigation Studies Work Unit 31138 , "New Technologies for Testing and Evaluating Concrete." The study was conducted under

Citation Ranking versus Peer Evaluation of Senior Faculty Research Performance: A Case Study of Kurdish Scholarship.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meho, Lokman I.; Sonnenwald, Diane H.

2000-01-01

Analyzes the relationship between citation ranking and peer evaluation in assessing senior faculty research performance. Describes a study of faculty specializing in Kurdish studies that investigated to what degree citation ranking correlates with data from citation content analysis, book reviews, and peer ranking. (Contains 72 references.)…

Evaluation of the growth of the bursa of fabricius in broilers reared under different light photoperiods

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Previous studies have investigated the interaction of different light sources and light intensity. Studies are lacking concerning the effect of different light sources and photoperiods on broiler growth and health. The results reported here are a part of a larger study to evaluate the interaction of...

Evaluating the Madrasa Preschool Programme in East Africa: A Quasi-Experimental Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mwaura, Peter A. M.; Sylva, Kathy; Malmberg, Lars-Erik

2008-01-01

This study investigated the effect of preschool experience (two types of preschool: Madrasa and non-Madrasa) on the cognitive development of children in East Africa. In the three countries studied (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania/Zanzibar) preschool education is burgeoning and government standards are being set. This quasi experimental evaluation used…

Co-brand strategy of evaluation of visual images in furniture design: Jimmy S.P.A. and STRAUSS as examples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Tien-Li; Pan, Fang-Ming; Tsai, Jen-Hui

2013-03-01

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of the image associated by the design Co-Brand (Jimmy S.P.A. and STRAUSS) and the impression perceived by subject of viewers. Visual images were used to examine the merit of the evaluation. The best result is provided using an object as an appropriate evaluation method. There are a lot of factors which influence to evaluation of a design. This study is limited to distinguish the appearance from Jimmy's picture books transform furniture and so on. Co-Brand of Jimmy S.P.A. and STRAUSS is not easy because there are not from the same cultural, and industry background and applying different marketing strategy, it is a way to combine the two brands by designing, used questionnaire of SD (Semantic differential evaluation) evaluation method to test out the perception of viewers, the objective of this study is to investigate and appraised the Co-Brands use by of the image in furniture from patrons. SD evaluation result showed, if design cannot understand the perception image of Jimmy S.P.A and STRAUSS with viewers mind, furniture design also can't transmit feeling with design.

The Utility of An Evaluative Model in Judging the Relationship Between Classroom Verbal Behavior and Student Achievement in Three Selected Physics Curricula, Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, T. C., Jr.

The purpose of the 1968-69 investigation was to determine the applicability of a curriculum evaluation model to investigate high school students' achievement in three physics courses (traditional physics, Physical Science Study Curriculum, and Harvard Project Physics). Three tests were used to measure student progress: The Dunning-Abeles Physics…

An Investigation into the Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Online Learning Programs for Small Rural Public Schools in Texas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tabor, Bruce

2012-01-01

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of 10 superintendents in Pre-K-8, 1A, and small 2A schools located in rural areas of Texas, who have implemented an online learning program or programs. Narrative techniques were used to explore the challenges that they faced in the pre-planning, planning, implementation and evaluation of their…

Investigation of Transformational and Transactional Leadership Styles of School Principals, and Evaluation of Them in Terms of Educational Administration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Avci, Ahmet

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate the transformational and transactional leadership styles of school principals, and to evaluate them in terms of educational administration. Descriptive survey model was used in the research. The data of the research were obtained from a total of 1,117 teachers working in public and private schools subjected…

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) concept definition study, exhibit C. Volume 6: In-depth element investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G.

1979-01-01

Computer assisted design of a gallium arsenide solid state dc-to-RF converter with supportive fabrication data was investigated. Specific tasks performed include: computer program checkout; amplifier comparisons; computer design analysis of GaSa solar cells; and GaAs diode evaluation. Results obtained in the design and evaluation of transistors for the microwave space power system are presented.

Preliminary seismic evaluation and ranking of bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-09-01

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on preliminary seismic evaluation and ranking of bridges according to their seismic vulnerability. Bridges along I-24 are considered in this invest...

Investigation of the feasibility of optical diagnostic measurements at the exit of the SSME

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shirley, John A.; Boedeker, Laurence R.

1993-01-01

Under Contract NAS8-36861 sponsored by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the United Technologies Research Center is conducting an investigation of the feasibility of remote optical diagnostics to measure temperature, species concentration and velocity at the exit of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). This is a two phase study consisting of a conceptual design phase followed by a laboratory experimental investigation. The first task of the conceptual design studies is to screen and evaluate the techniques which can be used for the measurements. The second task is to select the most promising technique or techniques, if as expected, more than one type of measurement must be used to measure all the flow variables of interest. The third task is to examine in detail analytically the capabilities and limitations of the selected technique(s). The results of this study are described in the section of this report entitled Conceptual Design Investigations. The conceptual design studies identified spontaneous Raman scattering and photodissociative flow-tagging for measurements respectively of gas temperature and major species concentration and for velocity. These techniques and others that were considered are described in the section describing the conceptual design. The objective of the second phase of investigations was to investigate experimentally the techniques identified in the first phase. The first task of the experimental feasibility study is to design and assemble laboratory scale experimental apparatus to evaluate the best approaches for SSME exit optical diagnostics for temperature, species concentrations and velocity, as selected in the Phase I conceptual design study. The second task is to evaluate performance, investigate limitations, and establish actual diagnostic capabilities, accuracies and precision for the selected optical systems. The third task is to evaluate design requirements and system trade-offs of conceptual instruments. Spontaneous Raman scattering excited by a KrF excimer laser pulse was investigated for SSME exit plane temperature and major species concentration measurements. The relative concentrations of molecular hydrogen and water vapor would be determined by measuring the integrated Q-branch scattering signals through narrow bandpass filters in front of photomultipliers. The temperature would be determined by comparing the signal from a single hydrogen rotational Raman line to the total hydrogen Q-branch signal. The rotational Raman line would be isolated by a monochromator and detected with a PMT.

Systematic evaluation of implementation fidelity of complex interventions in health and social care

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Evaluation of an implementation process and its fidelity can give insight into the 'black box' of interventions. However, a lack of standardized methods for studying fidelity and implementation process have been reported, which might be one reason for the fact that few prior studies in the field of health service research have systematically evaluated interventions' implementation processes. The aim of this project is to systematically evaluate implementation fidelity and possible factors influencing fidelity of complex interventions in health and social care. Methods A modified version of The Conceptual Framework for Implementation Fidelity will be used as a conceptual model for the evaluation. The modification implies two additional moderating factors: context and recruitment. A systematic evaluation process was developed. Multiple case study method is used to investigate implementation of three complex health service interventions. Each case will be investigated in depth and longitudinally, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Discussion This study is the first attempt to empirically test The Conceptual Framework for Implementation Fidelity. The study can highlight mechanism and factors of importance when implementing complex interventions. Especially the role of the moderating factors on implementation fidelity can be clarified. Trial Registration Supported Employment, SE, among people with severe mental illness -- a randomized controlled trial: NCT00960024. PMID:20815872

A systematic review of leadership training for medical students.

PubMed

Lyons, Oscar; Su'a, Bruce; Locke, Michelle; Hill, Andrew

2018-01-19

Leadership is increasingly being recognised as an essential requirement for doctors. Many medical schools are in the process of developing formal leadership training programmes, but it remains to be elucidated what characteristics make such programmes effective, and to what extent current programmes are effective, beyond merely positive learner reactions. This review's objective was to investigate the effectiveness of undergraduate medical leadership curricula and to explore common features of effective curricula. A systematic literature search was conducted. Articles describing and evaluating undergraduate medical leadership curricula were included. Outcomes were stratified and analysed according to a modified Kirkpatrick's model for evaluating educational outcomes. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Leadership curricula evaluated were markedly heterogeneous in their duration and composition. The majority of studies utilised pre- and post- intervention questionnaires for evaluation. Two studies described randomised controlled trials with objective measures. Outcomes were broadly positive. Only one study reported neutral outcomes. A wide range of leadership curricula have shown subjective effectiveness, including short interventions. There is limited objective evidence however, and few studies have measured effectiveness at the system and patient levels. Further research is needed investigating objective and downstream outcomes, and use of standard frameworks for evaluation will facilitate effective comparison of initiatives.

43 CFR 404.23 - How will Reclamation determine whether you or your contractor is qualified to conduct an...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... or your contractor is qualified to conduct an appraisal investigation or a feasibility study? 404.23... feasibility study yourself or though a contractor, Reclamation will evaluate whether you, your technical staff, or contractor are qualified to perform the appraisal investigation or feasibility study based on...

Relevance Judging, Evaluation, and Decision Making in Virtual Libraries: A Descriptive Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitzgerald, Mary Ann; Galloway, Chad

2001-01-01

Describes a study that investigated the cognitive processes undergraduates used to select information while using a virtual library, GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online). Discusses higher order thinking processes, relevance judging, evaluation (critical thinking), decision making, reasoning involving documents, relevance-related reasoning,…

Differences in Student Reasoning about Belief-Relevant Arguments: A Mixed Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCrudden, Matthew T.; Barnes, Ashleigh

2016-01-01

This mixed methods study investigated high school students' evaluations of scientific arguments. Myside bias occurs when individuals evaluate belief-consistent information more favorably than belief-inconsistent information. In the quantitative phase, participants (n = 72 males) rated belief-consistent arguments more favorably than…

Automated Writing Evaluation Program's Effect on Student Writing Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holman, Lester Donnie

2011-01-01

In an ex post facto causal-comparative research design, this study investigated the effectiveness of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) programs on raising the student writing achievement. Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) writing achievement scores from the 2010 administration were utilized for this study. The independent variable…

Investigation of test methods, material properties, and processes for solar cell encapsulants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willis, P. B.

1983-01-01

A study of potentially useful low cost encapsulation materials for the Flat-Plate Solar Array project is discussed. The goal is to identify, evaluate, test and recommend encapsulant materials and processes for the production of cost-effective, long life solar cell modules. Technical investigations included studies of aging and degradation of candidate encapsulation materials, continued identification of primers for durable bonding of module interfaces, continued evaluation of soil resistant treatments for the sunlit surface of the module and testing of corrosion protective coatings for use low cost mild steel substrates.

What are the barriers and facilitators for third sector organisations (non-profits) to evaluate their services? A systematic review.

PubMed

Bach-Mortensen, Anders Malthe; Montgomery, Paul

2018-01-22

The third sector is becoming a more common provider of social and health services, but little is known about how third sector organisations (TSOs) evaluate their activities. Past research has reported that the third sector is under increasing pressure to evaluate its impact and performance by government and other commissioning bodies. However, in responding to this increased pressure to undertake evaluation, research suggests that many TSOs struggle to evaluate their activities following the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP). Yet, there has been no systematic effort to investigate why the third sector is struggling to provide good quality evidence of its effects. This systematic review is reported following the PRISMA guidelines. Ten interdisciplinary databases were searched using a search string developed following best practice and in consultation with an information systems expert. Included studies were primary research of any research design investigating barriers to and facilitators of the evaluation process of TSOs as identified by practitioners. All studies were quality appraised, and the results were synthesised as a thematic summary. Twenty-four studies were included, which mainly investigated TSOs working within health and social services. The thematic summary identified the main barriers for TSOs to undertake evaluation to be related to the (1) lack of financial resources, (2) lack of technical capability and evaluation literacy and (3) challenges around identifying relevant evaluation systems and outcome indicators. Key facilitating factors involved (1) getting the appropriate support, (2) having an organisational culture that supports evaluation and (3) the motivation to be accountable to stakeholders. These findings were robust to study quality. This review constitutes the first systematic effort to synthesise existing literature on factors supporting and preventing evaluation by TSOs. The prevalence of factors revolving around the lack of support, resources and clarity on appropriate outcome indicators suggests that many of the identified challenges may be met by applying evidence-based and stakeholder-inclusive strategies to develop shared evaluation requirements. Future efforts should address the application of EBP as part of the commissioning process of TSOs.

STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF A TECHNIQUE FOR EVALUATING SURVEILLANCE SENSOR PERFORMANCE.

DTIC Science & Technology

noncoherent optical correlator is suggested as the most feasible implementation. Conclusions supporting the feasibility of the technique are given followed by recommendations for further development of the evaluation technique.

Intended Course Objectives and Perception of Teaching Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stehle, Sebastian; Spinath, Birgit

2014-01-01

In this study the relationship between intended course objectives and teaching effectiveness was investigated. Teaching effectiveness was indexed through student evaluations of teaching (SETs) and lecturer self-evaluations (LSEs), with a focus on course evaluation. Rated learning of intended course objectives was derived by two parallel…

Investigations in Marine Chemistry: Tide Pool Ecology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlenker, Richard M.

Students investigated the salinity of tide pools at different levels in the intertidal zone. Data are analyzed collectively. Students graphed and discussed data. Included are suggestions for evaluation and further study. (Author)

The role of mood and personality in the perception of emotions represented by music.

PubMed

Vuoskoski, Jonna K; Eerola, Tuomas

2011-10-01

Neuroimaging studies investigating the processing of emotions have traditionally considered variance between subjects as statistical noise. However, according to behavioural studies, individual differences in emotional processing appear to be an inherent part of the process itself. Temporary mood states as well as stable personality traits have been shown to influence the processing of emotions, causing trait- and mood-congruent biases. The primary aim of this study was to explore how listeners' personality and mood are reflected in their evaluations of discrete emotions represented by music. A related aim was to investigate the role of personality in music preferences. An experiment was carried out where 67 participants evaluated 50 music excerpts in terms of perceived emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness, and tenderness) and preference. Current mood was associated with mood-congruent biases in the evaluation of emotions represented by music, but extraversion moderated the degree of mood-congruence. Personality traits were strongly connected with preference ratings, and the correlations reflected the trait-congruent patterns obtained in prior studies investigating self-referential emotional processing. Implications for future behavioural and neuroimaging studies on music and emotions are raised. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.

Integrating Data Mining in Program Evaluation of K-12 Online Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hung, Jui-Long; Hsu, Yu-Chang; Rice, Kerry

2012-01-01

This study investigated an innovative approach of program evaluation through analyses of student learning logs, demographic data, and end-of-course evaluation surveys in an online K-12 supplemental program. The results support the development of a program evaluation model for decision making on teaching and learning at the K-12 level. A case study…

Can You Increase Teacher Engagement with Evaluation Simply by Improving the Evaluation System?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moskal, Adon C. M.; Stein, Sarah J.; Golding, Clinton

2016-01-01

We know various factors can influence how teaching staff engage with student evaluation, such as institutional policies or staff beliefs. However, little research has investigated the influence of the technical processes of an evaluation system. In this article, we present a case study of the effects of changing the technical system for…

An Alternate Route to Policy Influence: How Evaluations Affect D.A.R.E.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Carol Hirschon; Murphy-Graham, Erin; Birkeland, Sarah

2005-01-01

Investigators of the influence of evaluations on policy decisions have noted three main routes to influence: instrumental, conceptual, and political/symbolic. This study, an inquiry into the effect of evaluations of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, found a fourth main way that evaluations exert an influence: imposed use. The…

Framework for Teacher Evaluation: Examining the Relationship between Teacher Performance and Student Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Neelie B.

2017-01-01

This action research study examined the relationship between teacher performance and student achievement in reading language arts and mathematics. The study sought to determine if teacher evaluation methods used to determine teacher performance, had a relationship in improving student achievement. The researcher investigated the topic using…

Effects of Adolescent Sociocognitive Development on the Cortisol Response to Social Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van den Bos, Esther; van Duijvenvoorde, Anna C. K.; Westenberg, P. Michiel

2016-01-01

Adolescents become increasingly sensitive to social evaluation. Some previous studies have related this change to pubertal development. The present longitudinal study examined the role of sociocognitive development. We investigated whether or not the transition to recursive thinking, the ability to think about (others') thoughts, would be…

The National Evaluation of NASA's Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martinez, Alina; Cosentino de Cohen, Clemencia

2010-01-01

This report presents findings from a NASA requested evaluation in 2008, which contains both implementation and impact modules. The implementation study investigated how sites implement Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) and the contextual factors important in this implementation. The implementation study used data…

Chinese Middle School Teachers' Preferences Regarding Performance Evaluation Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Shujie; Xu, Xianxuan; Stronge, James H.

2016-01-01

Teacher performance evaluation currently is receiving unprecedented attention from policy makers, scholars, and practitioners worldwide. This study is one of the few studies of teacher perceptions regarding teacher performance measures that focus on China. We employed a quantitative dominant mixed research design to investigate Chinese teachers'…

Making Sense of Bali: Unintended Outcomes of Study Abroad Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Bob; Thomas, Noel

2005-01-01

Study abroad programmes for teacher education students are increasingly being evaluated to determine their effectiveness in achieving intended outcomes. There is a danger, however, that such evaluations will ignore valuable but unintended and serendipitous outcomes of such programmes. This paper investigates an example of such an outcome, the…

Complex Teacher Evaluation Systems Can Produce Negative Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schumacher, Gary

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine teacher perceptions of the impact on instructional practice when using a complex, standards-based performance evaluation system. The study used expectancy theory to investigate teacher expectancy (did they believe they could enhance their practice to the identified program standards?), instrumentality…

Implementation of School Self-Evaluation in Secondary Schools: Teachers' Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wong, Wai Lun

2010-01-01

The study investigates how teacher administrators and teachers in Hong Kong secondary schools experienced the implementation process of School Self-Evaluation (SSE), perceived the effects of SSE and described the implementation approach of SSE from the perspectives of policy implementation within the policy studies in education. Given that this…

Technology and Math: An Investigation into Technology and Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duke, Rebecca Turpin

2015-01-01

The quantitative correlational study evaluates and identifies patterns of teacher use of technology in instruction. The study involved evaluating the scores on the South Carolina End-of-Course (EOC) Algebra 1 test to explore trends and relationships between teachers' reported technology use and student achievement. Educators may be interested in…

Evaluation of the Effects of Programming Arrangements on Student Learning Outcomes. Research Monograph 94108.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delcourt, Marcia A. B.; And Others

The Learning Outcomes Study, a 2-year investigation, evaluated four popular types of grouping arrangements for gifted students in grades 2 and 3 in 14 collaborative school districts in 10 states. The study compared within-class, pull-out, separate class, and special school instructional arrangements. Study participants (N=1000) included students…

A Case Study of Group Processes and Student Evaluation of Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mortenson, Kristian G.; Sathe, Richard S.

2017-01-01

This paper documents a case study undertaken to understand the effect of group processes on student evaluation of teaching (SET). The study used interviews to investigate the experiences of students in a cohort model Master of Science in Accountancy degree program and how those experiences influenced SET. The cohort served as an extreme example in…

What Is the Purpose of the Theses Addressing the Issue of Program Evaluation in Turkey? (The Case of Curriculum and Instruction: 1997-2015)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alkin-Sahin, Senar; Tunca, Nihal

2016-01-01

In the current study, the aim is to investigate the theses addressing the issue of program evaluation in the field of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in 1997-2015. The study employed the survey model. The universe of the study consists of totally 87 theses addressing the issue of program evaluation in the field of C&I in 1997-2015. As the…

A Decade of Research on Evaluation: A Systematic Review of Research on Evaluation Published between 2005 and 2014

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coryn, Chris L. S.; Wilson, Lyssa N.; Westine, Carl D.; Hobson, Kristin A.; Ozeki, Satoshi; Fiekowsky, Erica L.; Greenman, Gregory D., II; Schröter, Daniela C.

2017-01-01

Although investigations into evaluation theories, methods, and practices have been occurring since the late 1970s, research on evaluation (RoE) has seemingly increased in the past decade. In this review, 257 studies published in 14 evaluation-focused journals over a 10-year period (between 2005 and 2014) were identified as RoE and then classified…

Attitude of Nigerian Secondary School Teachers to Peer Evaluation of Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joshua, Monday T.; Joshua, Akon M.; Bassey, Bassey A.; Akubuiro, Idorenyin M.

2006-01-01

The study investigated the general attitude of Nigerian secondary school teachers toward peer evaluation of teachers. It also sought to determine whether teacher characteristics such as gender, school geographical location, academic qualification and teaching experience affected Nigerian teachers' attitude toward peer evaluation of teachers. To…

Information Literacy Follow-Through: Enhancing Preservice Teachers' Information Evaluation Skills through Formative Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seely, Sara Robertson; Fry, Sara Winstead; Ruppel, Margie

2011-01-01

An investigation into preservice teachers' information evaluation skills at a large university suggests that formative assessment can improve student achievement. Preservice teachers were asked to apply information evaluation skills in the areas of currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy, and purpose. The study used quantitative methods to assess…

Manipulator system man-machine interface evaluation program. [technology assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malone, T. B.; Kirkpatrick, M.; Shields, N. L.

1974-01-01

Application and requirements for remote manipulator systems for future space missions were investigated. A manipulator evaluation program was established to study the effects of various systems parameters on operator performance of tasks necessary for remotely manned missions. The program and laboratory facilities are described. Evaluation criteria and philosophy are discussed.

Evaluating Teacher Preparation Using Graduates' Observational Ratings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ronfeldt, Matthew; Campbell, Shanyce L.

2016-01-01

Despite growing calls for more accountability of teacher education programs (TEPs), there is little consensus about how to evaluate them. This study investigates the potential for using observational ratings of program completers to evaluate TEPs. Drawing on statewide data on almost 9,500 program completers, representing 44 providers (183…

Prevalence of Evaluation Method Courses in Education Leader Doctoral Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shepperson, Tara L.

2013-01-01

This exploratory study investigated the prevalence of single evaluation methods courses in doctoral education leadership programs. Analysis of websites of 132 leading U.S. university programs found 62 evaluation methods courses in 54 programs. Content analysis of 49 course catalog descriptions resulted in five categories: survey, planning and…

Project SEARCH UK--Evaluating Its Employment Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaehne, Axel

2016-01-01

Background: The study reports the findings of an evaluation of Project SEARCH UK. The programme develops internships for young people with intellectual disabilities who are about to leave school or college. The aim of the evaluation was to investigate at what rate Project SEARCH provided employment opportunities to participants. Methods: The…

Proof Construction and Evaluation Practices of Prospective Mathematics Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imamoglu, Yesim; Togrol, Aysenur Yontar

2015-01-01

This study was conducted with 93 freshmen and 82 senior prospective mathematicians and mathematics teachers in order to investigate how they construct and evaluate proofs and whether there are any significant differences in their proof construction (with respect to department and grade) and proof evaluation (with respect to department)…

Teledynamic Evaluation of Oropharyngeal Swallowing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malandraki, Georgia A.; McCullough, Gary; He, Xuming; McWeeny, Elizabeth; Perlman, Adrienne L.

2011-01-01

Purpose: The objective of the present investigation was to test the feasibility and clinical utility of a real-time Internet-based protocol for remote, telefluoroscopic evaluation of oropharyngeal swallowing. Method: In this prospective cohort study, the authors evaluated 32 patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke or head/neck cancer. All…

EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO THE USE OF RADIATION-CURED COATINGS IN CAN MANUFACTURING

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of a study to investigate and identify the technical, educational, and economic barriers to the use and implementation of radiation-cured coatings in can manufacturing. The study is part of an EPA investigation of current industrial use and barriers to th...

The Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial: lessons from the study design.

PubMed

Hyman, L; Gwiazda, J

2004-01-01

The Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET), a multicentre clinical trial based in 4 schools of optometry in the United States, evaluated the effect of progressive addition lenses versus single vision lenses on myopia progression in an ethnically diverse group of 469 myopic children aged 6 to 11 years. Completion of the clinical trial phase of the study provides an opportunity to evaluate aspects of the study design that contribute to its success. This article describes aspects of the study design that were influential in ensuring the smooth conduct of COMET. These include a dedicated team of investigators, an organisational structure with strong leadership and an independent Co-ordinating Centre, regular communication among investigators, flexible and creative approaches to recruitment and retention, sensitivity to concerns for child safety and child participation, and methods for enhancing and monitoring data reliability. The experience with COMET has provided a number of valuable lessons for all aspects of the study design that should benefit the development and implementation of future clinical trials, particularly those done in similar populations of children. The use of a carefully designed protocol using standard methods by dedicated members of the study team is essential in ensuring achievement of the study aims.

Assessment of Language Learners' Strategies: Do They Prefer Learning or Acquisition Strategies?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altmisdort, Gonca

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate learning and acquisition strategies used by second/foreign language learners. This study is a comparative investigation of learning and acquisition strategies of successful and less successful language learners. The main question of the study is to investigate if there is a relationship between the learners'…

An evaluation of corn earworm damage and thresholds in soybean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adams, Brian Patrick

Interactions between corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and soybean, Glycine max L. (Merrill), were investigated in the Mid-South to evaluate thresholds and damage levels. Field studies were conducted in both indeterminate and determinate modern cultivars to evaluate damage, critical injury levels, and soybean response to simulated corn earworm injury. Field studies were also conducted to evaluate the response of indeterminate cultivars to infestations of corn earworm. Field studies were also conducted to investigate the relationship between pyrethroid insecticide application and corn earworm oviposition in soybean. Results of field studies involving simulated corn earworm damage indicated the need for a dynamic threshold that becomes more conservative as soybean phenology progressed through the reproductive growth stages. This suggested that soybean was more tolerant to fruit loss during the earlier reproductive stages and was able to compensate for fruit loss better during this time than at later growth stages. Results of field studies involving infestations of corn earworm indicated that current thresholds are likely too liberal. This resulted in economic injury level tables being constructed based upon a range of crop values and control costs, however, a general action threshold was also recommended for indeterminate soybean in the Mid-South. Field study results investigating the relationship of pyrethroid application and corn earworm oviposition indicated that even in the presence of an insecticide, corn earworm prefers to oviposit in the upper portion of the canopy, as well as on the leaves as opposed to all other plant parts, consistent with all previous literature.

Clinical guideline for nurse-led early extubation after coronary artery bypass: an evaluation.

PubMed

Hawkes, Claire; Foxcroft, David R; Yerrell, Paul

2010-09-01

This paper is a report of an investigation of the development, implementation and outcomes of a clinical guideline for nurse-led early extubation of adult coronary artery bypass graft patients. Healthcare knowledge translation and utilization is an emerging but under-developed research area. The complex context for guideline development and use is methodologically challenging for robust and rigorous evaluation. This study contributes one such evaluation. This was a mixed methods evaluation, with a dominant quantitative study with a secondary qualitative study in a single UK cardiac surgery centre. An interrupted time series study (N = 567 elective coronary artery bypass graft patients) with concurrent within person controls was used to measure the impact of the guideline on the primary outcome: time to extubation. Semi-structured interviews with 11 clinical staff, informed by applied practitioner ethnography, explored the process of guideline development and implementation. The data were collected between January 2001 and January 2003. There was no change in the interrupted time series study primary outcome as a consequence of the guideline implementation. The qualitative study identified three themes: context, process and tensions highlighting that the guideline did not require clinicians to change their practice, although it may have helped maintain practice through its educative role. Further investigation and development of appropriate methods to capture the dynamism in healthcare contexts and its impact on guideline implementation seems warranted. Multi-site mixed methods investigations and programmes of research exploring knowledge translation and utilization initiatives, such as guideline implementation, are needed.

The homicidol effect: investigating murder as a fitness signal.

PubMed

Dahlén, Micael; Söderlund, Magnus

2012-01-01

This article extends homicide adaptation theory by investigating signal effects of a murder. In two experiments (N = 299 and N = 161) participants reported their perceptions of a described person. The first study manipulated the information about the person (including or excluding a single sentence stating that the person has committed a murder) and stimulus person/observer sex match (same vs. opposite sex). Results suggest that murder functions as a signal of the described person's fitness that enhances observers' evaluations and inclination to interact with the person. Opposite-sex observers evaluate the murderer's intent more favorably than same-sex observers, but these evaluations of intent produce differential (positive vs. negative) effects between the two groups. The second study replicated the findings and ruled out potential confounds.

Genotoxicity induced by metal oxide nanoparticles: a weight of evidence study and effect of particle surface and electronic properties.

PubMed

Golbamaki, Azadi; Golbamaki, Nazanin; Sizochenko, Natalia; Rasulev, Bakhtiyor; Leszczynski, Jerzy; Benfenati, Emilio

2018-06-09

The genetic toxicology of nanomaterials is a crucial toxicology issue and one of the least investigated topics. Substantially, the genotoxicity of metal oxide nanomaterials' data is resulting from in vitro comet assay. Current contributions to the genotoxicity data assessed by the comet assay provide a case-by-case evaluation of different types of metal oxides. The existing inconsistency in the literature regarding the genotoxicity testing data requires intelligent assessment strategies, such as weight of evidence evaluation. Two main tasks were performed in the present study. First, the genotoxicity data from comet assay for 16 noncoated metal oxide nanomaterials with different core composition were collected. An evaluation criterion was applied to establish which of these individual lines of evidence were of sufficient quality and what weight could have been given to them in inferring genotoxic results. The collected data were surveyed on (1) minimum necessary characterization points for nanomaterials and (2) principals of correct comet assay testing for nanomaterials. Second, in this study the genotoxicity effect of metal oxide nanomaterials was investigated by quantitative nanostructure-activity relationship approach. A set of quantum-chemical descriptors was developed for all investigated metal oxide nanomaterials. A classification model based on decision tree was developed for the investigated dataset. Thus, three descriptors were identified as the most responsible factors for genotoxicity effect: heat of formation, molecular weight, and surface area of the oxide cluster based on the conductor-like screening model. Conclusively, the proposed genotoxicity assessment strategy is useful to prioritize the study of the nanomaterials for further risk assessment evaluations.

An evaluation of the performance of a WRF multi-physics ensemble for heatwave events over the city of Melbourne in southeast Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imran, H. M.; Kala, J.; Ng, A. W. M.; Muthukumaran, S.

2018-04-01

Appropriate choice of physics options among many physics parameterizations is important when using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The responses of different physics parameterizations of the WRF model may vary due to geographical locations, the application of interest, and the temporal and spatial scales being investigated. Several studies have evaluated the performance of the WRF model in simulating the mean climate and extreme rainfall events for various regions in Australia. However, no study has explicitly evaluated the sensitivity of the WRF model in simulating heatwaves. Therefore, this study evaluates the performance of a WRF multi-physics ensemble that comprises 27 model configurations for a series of heatwave events in Melbourne, Australia. Unlike most previous studies, we not only evaluate temperature, but also wind speed and relative humidity, which are key factors influencing heatwave dynamics. No specific ensemble member for all events explicitly showed the best performance, for all the variables, considering all evaluation metrics. This study also found that the choice of planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme had largest influence, the radiation scheme had moderate influence, and the microphysics scheme had the least influence on temperature simulations. The PBL and microphysics schemes were found to be more sensitive than the radiation scheme for wind speed and relative humidity. Additionally, the study tested the role of Urban Canopy Model (UCM) and three Land Surface Models (LSMs). Although the UCM did not play significant role, the Noah-LSM showed better performance than the CLM4 and NOAH-MP LSMs in simulating the heatwave events. The study finally identifies an optimal configuration of WRF that will be a useful modelling tool for further investigations of heatwaves in Melbourne. Although our results are invariably region-specific, our results will be useful to WRF users investigating heatwave dynamics elsewhere.

[Factors of the drive for thinness and dieting: from the viewpoint of impression management].

PubMed

Suzuki, Tomohiro

2012-12-01

Thinness is considered as one type of adornment; as such, it has a psychological function for others. Thus the drive for thinness and dieting were investigated from the viewpoint of impression management. Study 1 investigated a model that the need for approval affects dieting through the outcome expectancies of others' evaluations and the drive for thinness. The results of structural equation modeling indicated high validity for this model. Study 2 investigated the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationship between positive/negative outcome expectancies of others' evaluations and the drive for thinness. The results showed that self-esteem did not act as a moderator between the two components and the drive for thinness.

Research study on antiskid braking systems for the space shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Auselmi, J. A.; Weinberg, L. W.; Yurczyk, R. F.; Nelson, W. G.

1973-01-01

A research project to investigate antiskid braking systems for the space shuttle vehicle was conducted. System from the Concorde, Boeing 747, Boeing 737, and Lockheed L-1011 were investigated. The characteristics of the Boeing 737 system which caused it to be selected are described. Other subjects which were investigated are: (1) trade studies of brake control concepts, (2) redundancy requirements trade study, (3) laboratory evaluation of antiskid systems, and (4) space shuttle hardware criteria.

Design of a study evaluating the effects, health economics, and stakeholder perspectives of a multi-component occupational rehabilitation program with an added workplace intervention - a  study protocol.

PubMed

Rise, Marit B; Skagseth, Martin; Klevanger, Nina E; Aasdahl, Lene; Borchgrevink, Petter; Jensen, Chris; Tenggren, Hanne; Halsteinli, Vidar; Jacobsen, Trym N; Løland, Svein B; Johnsen, Roar; Fimland, Marius S

2018-02-05

Recent research has suggested that interventions at the workplace might be the most potent ingredient in return to work interventions, but few studies have investigated the different effects of workplace interventions as part of occupational rehabilitation programs. The comprehensive design described in this article includes effect (on return to work and health outcomes), and health economic evaluations of a workplace intervention added to a multicomponent rehabilitation program. Qualitative and mixed method studies will investigate sick-listed persons', rehabilitation therapists' and employers' perspectives on the usability and outcomes of the rehabilitation program and the workplace intervention. The program and intervention are provided to patients with musculoskeletal, psychological or general and unspecified diagnoses. The program is multi-component and includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, physical exercise, patient education and creating a plan for increased work participation. Persons who are employed, aged from 18 to 60 years, with a current sick leave status of 50% or more and a diagnosis within the musculoskeletal, psychological or general and unspecified chapters of International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) will be recruited to a researcher-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial. All participants take part in an in-patient occupational rehabilitation program, while the intervention group also takes part in an intervention at the workplace. The effect and economic evaluation will investigate the effect of the added workplace intervention. The primary outcome measures will be time until full sustainable return to work and total number of sickness absence days in the 12 months after inclusion. Health economic evaluations will investigate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility. Qualitative studies will investigate rehabilitation therapists' experiences with working towards return to work within an ACT-approach and stakeholders' experiences with the workplace intervention. A mixed methods study will combine quantitative and qualitative findings on the participants' expectations and motivation for return to work. The outline of this comprehensive study could represent an important addition to the standard designs of return to work evaluation. The mixed methods design, with qualitative approaches as well as a rigorous randomized controlled trial, might prove useful to shed light on contextual factors. ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT02541890 . September 4, 2015.

The yield of laboratory investigations in children with infantile autism.

PubMed

Kosinovsky, B; Hermon, S; Yoran-Hegesh, R; Golomb, A; Senecky, Y; Goez, H; Kramer, U

2005-04-01

To evaluate the yield of laboratory investigations in infantile autism. We retrieved and evaluated the results of investigative procedures recorded in the medical files of autistic infants in four child developmental centers and two pediatric psychiatric outpatient clinics. One-hundred and thirty-two infants were included in the study of whom 47 (36%) underwent autistic regression at an average age of 20 months. The investigative procedures included electroencephalogram (n = 132), neuroimaging (n = 70), genetic studies to detect Fragile-X (n = 59) and a metabolic workup (n = 53). Except for the molecular diagnosis that revealed Fragile-X syndrome in two children (3%), all other tests were negative. The two infants with the Fragile-X syndrome belonged to the non-regressive group. The only investigative study that contributed to the diagnosis of autistic infants was the molecular diagnosis detecting Fragile-X. In spite of the high frequency of epilepsy and epileptiform abnormalities in the electroencephalograms of autistic children in general, the contribution of epilepsy, both clinical and subclinical, to the etiology of autism is apparently minimal.

What Is Self-Specific? Theoretical Investigation and Critical Review of Neuroimaging Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Legrand, Dorothee; Ruby, Perrine

2009-01-01

The authors propose a paradigm shift in the investigation of the self. Synthesizing neuroimaging results from studies investigating the self, the authors first demonstrate that self-relatedness evaluation involves a wide cerebral network, labeled E-network, comprising the medial prefrontal cortex, precuneus, temporoparietal junction, and temporal…

The Impact of a Developed Measurement and Evaluation Development Program on Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers' Perceptions Related to Measurement and Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan, Yunus; Erturan Ilker, Gokce; Demirhan, Giyasettin

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the Measurement and Evaluation Development Program on pre-service physical education teachers' general perceptions and competency perceptions related to alternative assessment in physical education, and their competency perceptions related to educational measurement and evaluation. The…

Evaluation of new asphalt concrete density specification.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-01-01

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate a new asphalt concrete density specification that utilizes a nuclear gauge and a control strip technique. The specification was studied on two field projects, and recommendations were made to improve ...

Filmless radiology: The design, integration, implementation, and evaluation of a digital imaging network. Potential investigations to be conducted in conjunction with the Digital-Imaging Network System (DINS) evaluation project. Revision 1. Annual report, 1 March 1987-28 February 1988

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kerlin, B.D.; Cerva, J.R.; Glenn, M.E.

This document describes evaluation studies and technical investigations proposed for the three-year Digital Imaging Network System (DINS) prototype project, sponsored by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Ft. Detrick, Maryland. The project has three overall goals. The first is to install and operate a prototype DINS at each of two University-based hospitals for test purposes. The second is to evaluate key aspects of each prototype system once it is in full operation. The third is to develop guidelines and specifications for an operational DINS suitable for use by the military and others developing systems of the future. Thismore » document defines twelve overall evaluative questions for use in meeting the second and third objectives of the project and proposes studies that will answer these questions.« less

No one likes a copycat: a cross-cultural investigation of children's response to plagiarism.

PubMed

Yang, F; Shaw, A; Garduno, E; Olson, K R

2014-05-01

Copying other people's ideas is evaluated negatively by American children and adults. The current study investigated the influence of culture on children's evaluations of plagiarism by comparing children from three countries--the United States, Mexico, and China--that differ in terms of their emphasis on the protection of intellectual property and ideas. Children (3- to 6-year-olds) were presented with videos involving two characters drawing pictures and were asked to evaluate the character who drew unique work or the character who copied someone else's drawing. The study showed that 5- and 6-year-olds from all three cultures evaluated copiers negatively compared with unique drawers. These results suggest that children from cultures that place different values on the protection of ideas nevertheless develop similar concerns with plagiarism by 5-year-olds. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of Competency-Based and Target-Oriented Training on Employee Performance: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan, Ridvan; Uzaslan, N. Tufan

2017-01-01

Some firms have applied different in-house training models to keep up with new technological innovations in their specific fields. This study investigated how a target-oriented in-house training programme should be developed and how it should be evaluated for effectiveness. The aim of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a…

Understanding the Effect of Response Rate and Class Size Interaction on Students Evaluation of Teaching in a Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al Kuwaiti, Ahmed; AlQuraan, Mahmoud; Subbarayalu, Arun Vijay

2016-01-01

Objective: This study aims to investigate the interaction between response rate and class size and its effects on students' evaluation of instructors and the courses offered at a higher education Institution in Saudi Arabia. Study Design: A retrospective study design was chosen. Methods: One thousand four hundred and forty four different courses…

The Common Core State Standards and the Role of Instructional Materials: A Case Study on EdReports.org

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watt, Michael G.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to review research studies investigating the role of instructional materials in relation to the Common Core State Standards and to evaluate whether a new organisation, EdReports.org, founded to evaluate the alignment of instructional materials to the Common Core State Standards, has achieved its objectives. Content…

A stochastic approach for automatic generation of urban drainage systems.

PubMed

Möderl, M; Butler, D; Rauch, W

2009-01-01

Typically, performance evaluation of new developed methodologies is based on one or more case studies. The investigation of multiple real world case studies is tedious and time consuming. Moreover extrapolating conclusions from individual investigations to a general basis is arguable and sometimes even wrong. In this article a stochastic approach is presented to evaluate new developed methodologies on a broader basis. For the approach the Matlab-tool "Case Study Generator" is developed which generates a variety of different virtual urban drainage systems automatically using boundary conditions e.g. length of urban drainage system, slope of catchment surface, etc. as input. The layout of the sewer system is based on an adapted Galton-Watson branching process. The sub catchments are allocated considering a digital terrain model. Sewer system components are designed according to standard values. In total, 10,000 different virtual case studies of urban drainage system are generated and simulated. Consequently, simulation results are evaluated using a performance indicator for surface flooding. Comparison between results of the virtual and two real world case studies indicates the promise of the method. The novelty of the approach is that it is possible to get more general conclusions in contrast to traditional evaluations with few case studies.

How Does District Principal Evaluation Affect Learning-Centered Principal Leadership? Evidence from Michigan School Districts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Min; Youngs, Peter

2009-01-01

This study used Hierarchical Multivariate Linear models to investigate relationships between principals' behaviors and district principal evaluation purpose, focus, and assessed leadership activities in 13 school districts in Michigan. The study found that principals were more likely to engage in learning-centered leadership behaviors when the…

New Methodologies To Evaluate the Memory Strategies of Deaf Individuals.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Diane

Prior studies have often confounded linguistic and perceptual performance when evaluating deaf subjects' skills, a confusion that may be responsible for results indicating lesser recall ability among the deaf. In this series of studies this linguistic/perceptual confound was investigated in both the iconic and short term memory of deaf…

EVALUATION OF METHODS USED TO DESORB THE CONSTITUENTS ADSORBED ON THE CHARCOAL CONTAINED IN AUTOMOTIVE EVAPORATIVE CANISTERS

EPA Science Inventory

This report presents the conclusion of a two-part study with evaluated current extraction methods for anaylizing in automobiles. The second part of this study investigated the use of solvent-free extraction methods such as high pressure C02 soxhlet extraction and vacuum transfer ...

EVALUATION OF METHODS USED TO DESORB THE CONSTITUENTS ADSORBED ON THE CHARCOAL CONTAINED IN AUTOMOTIVE EVAPORATIVE CANISTERS--PART II

EPA Science Inventory

This report presents the conclusion of a two-part study with evaluated current extraction methods for anaylizing in automobiles. The second part of this study investigated the use of solvent-free extraction methods such as high pressure C02 soxhlet extraction and vacuum transfer ...

Exploring Differential Attrition Rates among System of Care Evaluation Participants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rogers, Kelly N.; Fernandez, Maria; Thurber, Lori; Smitley, Andy

2004-01-01

The purpose of the present study is to investigate differential attrition rates in terms of both demographic characteristics and initial levels of child functioning of participants in North Carolina's system of care evaluation. Participants included 303 families (78 dropped out of the study, a 26% attrition rate). Families dropped out of the…

Using Summative and Formative Assessments to Evaluate EFL Teachers' Teaching Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wei, Wei

2015-01-01

Using classroom observations (formative) and student course experience survey results (summative) to evaluate English lecturers' teaching performances is not new in practice, but surprisingly only a few studies have investigated this issue in a higher education context. This study was conducted in an English department of a large university in…

Peer Evaluation of Team Member Effectiveness as a Formative Educational Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mentzer, Nathan; Laux, Dawn; Zissimopoulos, Angelika; Richards, K. Andrew R.

2017-01-01

Peer evaluation of team member effectiveness is often used to complement cooperative learning in the classroom by holding students accountable for their team contributions. Drawing on the tenants of self-determination theory, this study investigated the impact of formative peer evaluation in university level team-based design projects. The…

A Comparison of Evaluation Practices Based on E-Learning and Mobile Learning Delivery Rates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, James

2018-01-01

Learning and performance professionals are increasingly pressed to measure the results of their learning program design efforts, and ultimately prove their worth. However, evaluation efforts are often limited to measuring participant reaction. This study sought to quantify evaluation practices in organizations and investigate how the use of…

Views from Below: Students' Perceptions of Teaching Practice Evaluations and Stakeholder Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sosibo, Lungi

2013-01-01

Interest in teaching practice as an essential component of teacher education is growing. In spite of this, there is a dearth of research investigating students' perceptions of teaching practice evaluations from them as beneficiaries. This qualitative study examines students' perceptions of teaching practice evaluations administered by means of…

The Effect of Faculty Self-Promotion on Student Evaluations of Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farreras, Ingrid G.; Boyle, Robert W.

2012-01-01

This study investigated the effect that varying degrees of faculty self-promotion had on 322 student evaluations. As high student evaluations are correlated with greater student learning, it is imperative that we assess how faculty's presentation style is perceived by students so as to enhance instruction and therefore student learning. Students…

The Role of NIE in Foreign Language Dissemination and Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eddy, Peter A.

One of 10 studies commissioned to investigate research needs and to stimulate planning activities, this paper reviews program evaluation in foreign language education (FLED), and offers a number of recommendations to improve present practice. It begins by noting that very little FLED program evaluation is taking place today, and by arguing that…

32 CFR 203.10 - Eligible activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... reports include, but are not limited to: (i) Installation restoration program site studies, engineering documents, such as site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, engineering evaluation...

Evaluating Types of Students' Interactions in a Wiki-Based Collaborative Learning Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prokofieva, Maria

2013-01-01

Wiki technology has been promoted as a collaborative software platform. This study investigates interactions that occur in a wiki-based collaborative learning project. The study draws on interaction literature and investigates the types of interactions with which students are engaged in wiki-based group projects, clusters that reflect online…

[Randomized, controlled clinical trials with observational follow-up investigations for evaluating efficacy of antihyperglycaemic treatment. II. Features of and lessons from the follow-up investigations].

PubMed

Jermendy, György

2018-04-01

Although the outcomes of the follow-up investigation period of the randomized clinical studies for evaluating the efficacy of a treatment or an antidiabetic drug may be confounded or potentially biased by several factors, the results are widely accepted by the diabetes community. In line with the theory of metabolic memory or metabolic legacy, early and intensive antihyperglycaemic treatment should be provided for all diabetic patients as this strategy can result in beneficial effects even in the long run. The recent cardiovascular safety trials with new, innovative antidiabetic drugs differ in several aspects from the former efficacy studies. Ten cardiovascular safety trials were completed so far enabling to define their unique and common features. It can be anticipated that the era of randomized, controlled efficacy studies with observational follow-up investigations came to an end in diabetes research. Nowadays, cardiovascular safety trials are in the focus of clinical research in diabetology and results of several ongoing studies are expected with interest in the near future. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(16): 615-619.

Feasibility Assessment of ITS Deployment Analysis System (IDAS) for ITS Evaluation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-12-01

This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing the ITS Deployment Analysis System (IDAS) program version 2.2 as a tool for evaluating Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment plans. Firstly, an online survey was conducted among metro...

Dynamic spiking studies using the DNPH sampling train

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steger, J.L.; Knoll, J.E.

1996-12-31

The proposed aldehyde and ketone sampling method using aqueous 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was evaluated in the laboratory and in the field. The sampling trains studied were based on the train described in SW 846 Method 0011. Nine compounds were evaluated: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, quinone, acrolein, propionaldeyde, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, acetophenone, and isophorone. In the laboratory, the trains were spiked both statistically and dynamically. Laboratory studies also investigated potential interferences to the method. Based on their potential to hydrolyze in acid solution to form formaldehyde, dimethylolurea, saligenin, s-trioxane, hexamethylenetetramine, and paraformaldehyde were investigated. Ten runs were performed using quadruplicate samplingmore » trains. Two of the four trains were dynamically spiked with the nine aldehydes and ketones. The test results were evaluated using the EPA method 301 criteria for method precision (< + pr - 50% relative standard deviation) and bias (correction factor of 1.00 + or - 0.30).« less

[Valences of self-evaluation and approach-avoidance tendencies: research based on regulatory focus theory].

PubMed

Ozaki, Yuka; Karasawa, Kaori

2011-12-01

Four studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between valences of self-evaluation and approach-avoidance tendencies. Based on regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997, 1998), we predicted that positivity of self-evaluation is related to the tendency to approach gains, while negativity of self-evaluation is related to the tendency to avoid losses. In Study 1, a self-report measure of behavioral tendencies for approaching gains and avoiding losses was developed. In Studies 2 to 4, correlations between these approach/avoidance tendencies and various kinds of self-evaluations were examined. Overall, the authors' predictions were supported. The results suggest that the self-evaluation system and the self-regulation system work in close cooperation with each other in controlling human behavior.

Moving away from exhaustion: how core self-evaluations influence academic burnout.

PubMed

Lian, Penghu; Sun, Yunfeng; Ji, Zhigang; Li, Hanzhong; Peng, Jiaxi

2014-01-01

Academic burnout refers to students who have low interest, lack of motivation, and tiredness in studying. Studies concerning how to prevent academic burnout are rare. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of core self-evaluations on the academic burnout of university students, and mainly focused on the confirmation of the mediator role of life satisfaction. A total of 470 university students accomplished the core self-evaluation scale, Satisfaction with Life, and academic burnout scale. Both core self-evaluations and life satisfaction were significantly correlated with academic burnout. Structural equation modeling indicated that life satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between core self-evaluations and academic burnout. Core self-evaluations significantly influence academic burnout and are partially mediated by life satisfaction.

Is flow cytometric evaluation of DNA degradation a reliable method to investigate the early postmortem period?

PubMed

Di Nunno, N R; Costantinides, F; Bernasconi, P; Bottin, C; Melato, M

1998-03-01

The time of death can be established by determining the length of the postmortem interval. Many methods have been proposed to achieve this goal. Flow cytometric evaluation of DNA degradation seems to be reliable for the first 72 hours after death. Our study evaluated the correspondence of the corruption process between in vitro and corpse tissues. We chose spleen tissue to perform our investigation because it is rich in nucleated cells. Results showed a precise correspondence between the two kinds of samples in the time period between 24 and 36 hours. The period from 36 to 72 hours is characterized by a much looser correspondence than that found in the first period. After the first 72 hours, DNA denaturation is massive and does not allow useful cytofluorimetric readings. The spleen does not seem to be the most suitable organ for this type of investigation because it tends to colliquate very rapidly. We therefore are evaluating other organs to identify a more suitable tissue source for the investigation of longer postmortem period using flow cytometry.

Teachers' Source Evaluation Self-Efficacy Predicts Their Use of Relevant Source Features When Evaluating the Trustworthiness of Web Sources on Special Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andreassen, Rune; Bråten, Ivar

2013-01-01

Building on prior research and theory concerning source evaluation and the role of self-efficacy in the context of online learning, this study investigated the relationship between teachers' beliefs about their capability to evaluate the trustworthiness of sources and their reliance on relevant source features when judging the trustworthiness…

Learners' Reflections in Technological Learning Environments: Why To Promote and How To Evaluate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rimor, Rikki; Kozminsky, Ely

In this study, 24 9th-grade students investigated several issues related to modern Israeli society. In their investigation, students were engaged in activities such as data search, data sorting, making inquiries, project writing, and construction of a new computerized database related to the subjects of their investigations. Students were…

Hand function evaluation: a factor analysis study.

PubMed

Jarus, T; Poremba, R

1993-05-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate hand function evaluations. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to assess the fundamental characteristics of the items included in the Jebsen Hand Function Test and the Smith Hand Function Evaluation. The study sample consisted of 144 subjects without disabilities and 22 subjects with Colles fracture. Results suggest a four factor solution: Factor I--pinch movement; Factor II--grasp; Factor III--target accuracy; and Factor IV--activities of daily living. These categories differentiated the subjects without Colles fracture from the subjects with Colles fracture. A hand function evaluation consisting of these four factors would be useful. Such an evaluation that can be used for current clinical purposes is provided.

Asthma phenotypes in childhood.

PubMed

Reddy, Monica B; Covar, Ronina A

2016-04-01

This review describes the literature over the past 18 months that evaluated childhood asthma phenotypes, highlighting the key aspects of these studies, and comparing these studies to previous ones in this area. Recent studies on asthma phenotypes have identified new phenotypes on the basis of statistical analyses (using cluster analysis and latent class analysis methodology) and have evaluated the outcomes and associated risk factors of previously established early childhood asthma phenotypes that are based on asthma onset and patterns of wheezing illness. There have also been investigations focusing on immunologic, physiologic, and genetic correlates of various phenotypes, as well as identification of subphenotypes of severe childhood asthma. Childhood asthma remains a heterogeneous condition, and investigations into these various presentations, risk factors, and outcomes are important since they can offer therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Further investigation into the immunopathology and genetic basis underlying childhood phenotypes is important so therapy can be tailored accordingly.

Development of an HPV Educational Protocol for Adolescents

PubMed Central

Wetzel, Caitlin; Tissot, Abbigail; Kollar, Linda M.; Hillard, Paula A.; Stone, Rachel; Kahn, Jessica A.

2007-01-01

Study Objectives To develop an educational protocol about HPV and Pap tests for adolescents, to evaluate the protocol for understandability and clarity, and to evaluate the protocol for its effectiveness in increasing knowledge about HPV. Design In phase 1, investigators and adolescents developed the protocol. In phase 2, adolescents evaluated the protocol qualitatively, investigators evaluated its effectiveness in increasing HPV knowledge in a sample of adolescents, and the protocol was revised. In phase 3, investigators evaluated the effectiveness of the revised protocol in an additional adolescent sample. Setting Urban, hospital-based teen health center. Participants A total of 252 adolescent girls and boys in the three study phases. Main Outcome Measures Pre- and post-protocol knowledge about HPV, measured using a 10- or 11-item scale. Results Scores on the HPV knowledge scale increased significantly (p<.0001) among adolescents who participated in phases 2 and 3 after they received the protocol. Initial differences in scores based on race, insurance type and condom use were not noted post-protocol. Conclusion The protocol significantly increased knowledge scores about HPV in this population, regardless of sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviors. Effective, developmentally appropriate educational protocols about HPV and Pap tests are particularly important in clinical settings as cervical cancer screening guidelines evolve, HPV DNA testing is integrated into screening protocols, and HPV vaccines become available. In-depth, one-on-one education about HPV may also prevent adverse psychosocial responses and promote healthy sexual and Pap screening behaviors in adolescents with abnormal HPV or Pap test results. Synopsis The investigators developed an educational protocol about HPV and Pap tests and evaluated its effectiveness in increasing knowledge about HPV among adolescents. PMID:17868894

Effects of Internal and External Focus of Attention on Novices' Rehearsal Evaluations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silvey, Brian A.; Montemayor, Mark

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of internal and external focus of attention on novices' rehearsal evaluations. Thirty-two undergraduate instrumental music education students led bands in a series of three 6-minute rehearsals on their assigned excerpt. Prior to these rehearsals, participants were led in score study and…

Istartsmart: An Evaluative Study on a College Success Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kruse, Heather L.

2014-01-01

The researcher for this evaluative study investigated the efficacy and impact of the iStartSmart college success course by examining the first-term retention, fall-to-fall persistence, and three-year completion rates of community college students who enrolled in the one- or three-credit course at a community college in Arizona and the rates of…

Design, Implementation and Evaluation of School-Based Sexual Health Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Study of Researchers' Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sani, A. Sadiq; Abraham, Charles; Denford, Sarah; Mathews, Catherine

2018-01-01

This study investigated facilitators and challenges to designing, implementing and evaluating school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa, using interviews with intervention designers and researchers. At the pre-planning and planning stages, participants reported that facilitating factors included addressing the reproductive health…

Distance Learning Students' Evaluation of E-Learning System in University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Juda, Mefleh Qublan B.

2017-01-01

This study evaluates the experiences and perceptions of students regarding e-learning systems and their preparedness for e-learning. It also investigates the overall perceptions of students regarding e-learning and the factors influencing students' attitudes towards e-learning. The study uses convenience sampling in which students of the Education…

A Study of How Teachers of Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Children Can Derive Benefit from a Psychoeducational Evaluation by a Psychologist.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weepie, Agatha A.

The study involving 130 teachers investigated the elements of psychoeducational evaluation seen by teachers as most helpful in working with emotionally disturbed children. Ss responded to questionnaires which delved into physical, psychological, social-emotional, moral-ethical, and mental development of the child. Results revealed that the…

Effectiveness of an Online Automated Evaluation and Feedback System in an Introductory Computer Literacy Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Varank, Ilhan; Erkoç, M. Fatih; Büyükimdat, Meryem Köskeroglu; Aktas, Mehmet; Yeni, Sabiha; Adigüzel, Tufan; Cömert, Zafer; Esgin, Esad

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an online automated evaluation and feedback system that assessed students' word processing assignments prepared with Microsoft Office Word. The participants of the study were 119 undergraduate teacher education students, 86 of whom were female and 32 were male, enrolled in different…

Psychometric Analysis of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Screening Test: Extension to Low-Income African American Pre-Kindergarteners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terry, Nicole P.; Petscher, Yaacov; Rhodes, Katherine T.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to extend a previous investigation of the psychometrics of the "Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Screening Test" (DELV-S) to include pre-kindergarten children (primarily African American and from low-income households). The previous study (Petscher, Connor, & Al Otaiba, 2012) included a…

Evaluating Evidence from a Historical Chemical Controversy: A Study in a French High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Archila, Pablo Antonio

2015-01-01

This paper addresses the importance of evaluating evidence for enriching critical thinking in the chemistry classroom. The purpose of the study was to examine the usefulness of a historical chemical controversy in promoting students' assessment of evidence. The investigation was conducted in a high school in Melun, France. 63 participants (24…

An Evaluative Case Study of Project-Based Learning in High School Vocational Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tanner, Andrea P.

2012-01-01

There is growing apprehension among business people, educators, and government policy makers regarding the gap between the skills and knowledge needed for success in the workforce and those provided in school. The purpose of this qualitative evaluative case study was to investigate the effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL) in the…

Methodological Considerations in Evaluating Long-Term Systems Change: A Case Study From Eastern Nepal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koleros, Andrew; Jupp, Dee; Kirwan, Sean; Pradhan, Meeta S.; Pradhan, Pushkar K.; Seddon, David; Tumbahangfe, Ansu

2016-01-01

This article presents discussion and recommendations on approaches to retrospectively evaluating development interventions in the long term through a systems lens. It is based on experiences from the implementation of an 18-month study to investigate the impact of development interventions on economic and social change over a 40-year period in the…

Transfer Credit Evaluations at New York State Colleges: Comparative Case Studies of Process Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ott, Alexander Paul

2012-01-01

For the nearly one third of students who transfer from 1 college to another, transfer credit represents time and money. Unfortunately, many colleges provide degree-specific transfer credit evaluations only after students financially commit to attend the institution. The purpose of this study was to investigate, analyze, and compare early and late…

Perceptions of L1 Glossed Feedback in Automated Writing Evaluation: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilken, Jayme Lynn

2018-01-01

Learner perceptions toward and utilization of L1 glossed feedback in an automated writing evaluation (AWE) program were investigated in an Intensive English Program (IEP) class. This small case study focused on two Chinese students who responded to weekly surveys, semi-structured interviews, and screen capture videos of their revisions over a…

A Disability and Health Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model Evaluation: A Tribal College-Based Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Corey L.; Manyibe, Edward O.; Sanders, Perry; Aref, Fariborz; Washington, Andre L.; Robertson, Cherjuan Y.

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this multimethod study was to evaluate the institutional research capacity building and infrastructure model (IRCBIM), an emerging innovative and integrated approach designed to build, strengthen, and sustain adequate disability and health research capacity (i.e., research infrastructure and investigators' research skills)…

The influence of patient portals on users' decision making is insufficiently investigated: A systematic methodological review.

PubMed

Fraccaro, Paolo; Vigo, Markel; Balatsoukas, Panagiotis; Buchan, Iain E; Peek, Niels; van der Veer, Sabine N

2018-03-01

Patient portals are considered valuable conduits for supporting patients' self-management. However, it is unknown why they often fail to impact on health care processes and outcomes. This may be due to a scarcity of robust studies focusing on the steps that are required to induce improvement: users need to effectively interact with the portal (step 1) in order to receive information (step 2), which might influence their decision-making (step 3). We aimed to explore this potential knowledge gap by investigating to what extent each step has been investigated for patient portals, and explore the methodological approaches used. We performed a systematic literature review using Coiera's information value chain as a guiding theoretical framework. We searched MEDLINE and Scopus by combining terms related to patient portals and evaluation methodologies. Two reviewers selected relevant papers through duplicate screening, and one extracted data from the included papers. We included 115 articles. The large majority (n = 104) evaluated aspects related to interaction with patient portals (step 1). Usage was most often assessed (n = 61), mainly by analysing system interaction data (n = 50), with most authors considering participants as active users if they logged in at least once. Overall usability (n = 57) was commonly assessed through non-validated questionnaires (n = 44). Step 2 (information received) was investigated in 58 studies, primarily by analysing interaction data to evaluate usage of specific system functionalities (n = 34). Eleven studies explicitly assessed the influence of patient portals on patients' and clinicians' decisions (step 3). Whereas interaction with patient portals has been extensively studied, their influence on users' decision-making remains under-investigated. Methodological approaches to evaluating usage and usability of portals showed room for improvement. To unlock the potential of patient portals, more (robust) research should focus on better understanding the complex process of how portals lead to improved health and care. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Some Dynamics of Urban Service Evaluations Among Blacks and Whites

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durand, Roger

1976-01-01

This study investigates public service evaluations among blacks and whites in St. Louis, Missouri over the period 1956 to 1968. Changes in levels and sources of satisfaction with schools, parks, police protection, and garbage collection are examined. (Author/RM)

Research on the effects of urbanization on small stream flow quantity

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-12-01

This study is a preliminary investigation into the feasibility of using simple techniques to evaluate the effects of urbanization on flood flows in small streams. A number of regression techniques and computer simulation techniques were evaluated, an...

Why do local authorities undertake controlled evaluations of health impact? A qualitative case study of interventions in housing.

PubMed

Milton, S; Petticrew, M; Green, J

2014-12-01

A significant amount of literature documents the challenges of undertaking evaluative research on the public health impacts of interventions in the non-health sector. However, few studies have investigated why such studies are undertaken despite the undoubted challenges. Taking housing as a case study, the authors aimed to identify the factors contributing to successful evaluative research in the non-health sector. Qualitative interview study. Semi-structured interviews with 16 investigators involved in seven successful experimental studies of housing interventions across the UK, analysed using thematic content analysis. Intervention studies were undertaken when existing collaborative links enabled 'windows of opportunity' to be exploited. Although different 'cultures of evidence' were reported across the collaborating teams, these did not necessarily map onto the public health research/non-academic divide, and did not undermine collaborative work when all parties could gain from taking part in the research. Focussing on success, rather than failure, suggests that to encourage the uptake of evaluative evidence in the non-health sector, efforts might be better directed at fostering opportunities for partnership building rather than simply on educating non-health partners in the principles of academic research. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The Effects of Band Labels on Evaluators' Judgments of Musical Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silvey, Brian A.

2009-01-01

This study investigates the effects of band labels on evaluators' judgments of musical performance. High school concert band members (n = 72), wind ensemble members ( n = 77), and band directors (n = 8) were randomly assigned to a band label or no label group. Only the band label group was given evaluation forms that specified the group playing…

Reliability and Validity of a Physical Capacity Evaluation Used to Assess Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Illness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jang, Yuh; Chang, Tzyh-Chyang; Lin, Keh-Chung

2009-01-01

Physical capacity evaluations (PCEs) are important and frequently offered services in work practice. This study investigates the reliability and validity of the National Taiwan University Hospital Physical Capacity Evaluation (NTUH PCE) on a sample of 149 participants consisted of three groups: 45 intellectual disability (ID), 56 mental illness…

An Evaluation of Jordanian EFL Teachers' In-Service Training Courses Teaching Techniques Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

AL-Wreikat, Yazan Abdel Aziz Semreen; Bin Abdullah, Muhamad Kamarul Kabilan

2010-01-01

This study aims to evaluate and investigate the influence of teaching techniques on the performance of English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers by evaluating the techniques' effectiveness and actual implementation, as well as to examine the role of teachers in influencing the effectiveness of in-service training courses. A total of 798…

Moving towards Multidimensional Evaluation of Teaching in Higher Education: A Study across Four Faculties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghedin, Elisabetta; Aquario, Debora

2008-01-01

The article investigates the issue of teaching evaluation in higher education, providing a picture of the phenomenon into the Italian specific context within a European dimension. Starting from the premise that in Italian universities, teaching evaluation is based on general indicators which reflect a simplification of a complex phenomenon,…

Pre-Service Teachers Critically Evaluate Scientific Information on the World-Wide Web: What Makes Information Believable?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iding, Marie; Klemm, E. Barbara

2005-01-01

The present study addresses the need for teachers to critically evaluate the credibility, validity, and cognitive load associated with scientific information on Web sites, in order to effectively teach students to evaluate scientific information on the World Wide Web. A line of prior research investigating high school and university students'…

Perceptions of Athletic Competence and Fear of Negative Evaluation during Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ridgers, Nicola D.; Fazey, Della M. A.; Fairclough, Stuart J.

2007-01-01

Background: Physical education (PE) aims to enhance self-esteem, develop sporting interests and to encourage a physically active life-style. However, little is known about how a fear of negative evaluation (FNE), the socially evaluative aspect of social anxiety, affects children's attitudes to PE. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the…

High School Students' Evaluations, Plausibility (Re) Appraisals, and Knowledge about Topics in Earth Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lombardi, Doug; Bickel, Elliot S.; Bailey, Janelle M.; Burrell, Shondricka

2018-01-01

Evaluation is an important aspect of science and is receiving increasing attention in science education. The present study investigated (1) changes to plausibility judgments and knowledge as a result of a series of instructional scaffolds, called model-evidence link activities, that facilitated evaluation of scientific and alternative models in…

Sex Differences in the Meaning of Negative Evaluation in Achievement Situations: Determinants and Consequences.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dweck, Carol S.

Sex differences in children's reactions to failure feedback in school situations were investigated by assessing the ways in which teachers use negative evaluation in the classroom. Three aspects of teachers' evaluative feedback were studied: (1) ratio of negative to positive feedback; (2) contingency vs. noncontingency of feedback; and (3) (the…

An Investigation of Research-Based Teaching Practices through the Teacher Evaluations in Indiana Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sargent, Michael Steven

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to identify if a relationship existed between the implementation of professional evaluation processes and the use of research-based teaching practices, factoring in both perceptions of principals and practicing teachers. The variables of professional development on the evaluation model and the principal's years of…

Pre-Service Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Evaluations of Discussions: The Case of Proof by Contradiction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demiray, Esra; Isiksal Bostan, Mine

2017-01-01

The purposes of this study are to investigate whether pre-service middle school mathematics teachers evaluate discussions in the cases regarding proof by contradiction correctly, to what extent they explain their correct evaluations by referring to proof by contradiction, and the reasons of their misinterpretations of discussions in the cases…

Scientific Reasoning in Early and Middle Childhood: The Development of Domain-General Evidence Evaluation, Experimentation, and Hypothesis Generation Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piekny, Jeanette; Maehler, Claudia

2013-01-01

According to Klahr's (2000, 2005; Klahr & Dunbar, 1988) Scientific Discovery as Dual Search model, inquiry processes require three cognitive components: hypothesis generation, experimentation, and evidence evaluation. The aim of the present study was to investigate (a) when the ability to evaluate perfect covariation, imperfect covariation,…

Differences in Student Evaluations of Limited-Term Lecturers and Full-Time Faculty

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Jeong-Il; Otani, Koichiro; Kim, B. Joon

2014-01-01

This study compared student evaluations of teaching (SET) for limited-term lecturers (LTLs) and full-time faculty (FTF) using a Likert-scaled survey administered to students (N = 1,410) at the end of university courses. Data were analyzed using a general linear regression model to investigate the influence of multi-dimensional evaluation items on…

Investigating Criteria That Seventh Graders Use to Evaluate the Quality of Online Information

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coiro, Julie; Coscarelli, Carla; Maykel, Cheryl; Forzani, Elena

2015-01-01

This article presents qualitative findings from a study that examined the types of criteria that middle school students use to evaluate the quality of online information and sources for a Web-based research assignment. Open-constructed responses from four critical evaluation items were compiled from diverse seventh graders in a representative,…

External Evaluation of Education and Teacher Work: The Brazilian Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rothen, José Carlos; da Cunha Malheiros Santana, Andréia

2015-01-01

This article aims to discuss whether external evaluations are instruments to ensure increased quality of public school education. It is part of a research that investigated how evaluation results and the resulting indices were used in two schools in the state of São Paulo (Brazil). The methodology adopted was the case study, using different…

Adolescents' Increasing Stress Response to Social Evaluation: Pubertal Effects on Cortisol and Alpha-Amylase during Public Speaking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van den Bos, Esther; de Rooij, Mark; Miers, Anne C.; Bokhorst, Caroline L.; Westenberg, P. Michiel

2014-01-01

Stress responses to social evaluation are thought to increase during adolescence, which may be due to pubertal maturation. However, empirical evidence is scarce. This study is the first to investigate the relation between pubertal development and biological responses to a social-evaluative stressor longitudinally. Participants performed the Leiden…

Determination of Evaluative Devices for Adequate Assessment of Levels of Competence in Certain Physical Education Activities. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Ruth M.

This investigation sought to study separately evaluative devices for assessing levels of performance and knowledge competency in basketball, swimming, and gymnastics. Subjects were women students at the University of Washington, 1968-69. For assessment of basketball competence, indications are that: (1) evaluation, by one individual, of films of…

Investigation of Pre-Service Teachers' Opinions about Science in Terms of the Basic Elements of the Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sengul, Ozge Aydin

2016-01-01

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the pre-service teachers' opinions about science within the context of the basic elements of the education program, such as objectives, content, learning-teaching process and evaluation. The study was designed as a case study, one of the qualitative research methods. The participants of the study…

Social-evaluative versus self-evaluative appearance concerns in Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

PubMed

Anson, Martin; Veale, David; de Silva, Padmal

2012-12-01

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterised by significant preoccupation and distress relating to an imagined or slight defect in appearance. Individuals with BDD frequently report marked concerns relating to perceived negative evaluation of their appearance by others, but research specifically investigating such concerns remains limited. This study investigated the extent and nature of appearance-related social-evaluative and self-evaluative concerns in individuals with BDD and healthy controls. BDD participants, in comparison to controls, reported high levels of importance and anxiety associated with perceptions of others' views of their appearance, in addition to their own view. No differences were observed in the level of importance and anxiety associated with their self-view in comparison to others' views. These findings support existing evidence indicating that appearance-related social-evaluative concerns are a central feature of BDD. Cognitive-behavioural treatment implications are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigating the Impacts of Previous and Current Learning Experiences on Student Teachers' Teaching Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ögeyik, Muhlise Cosgun

2016-01-01

This study investigated the impacts of the previous and current learning experiences of the student teachers on their microteaching practices. The study pursued threefold research goals: to diagnose the microteaching stance, to treat it, and to explore and evaluate the progress. The participants were 24 undergraduate third year student teachers…

Psychological Counseling Processes of Prospective Psychological Counsellors: An Investigation of Client-Counsellor Interactions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanberk, Ismail; Akbas, Turan

2015-01-01

The general purpose of this study is to investigate the client-counsellor interaction in the psychological counseling process at the verbal behavior level. The study also aims to analyze the relationship between the behaviors observed in the process with both clients and counsellors' evaluations of sessions and whether changes were observed in…

Suicide among Children and Adolescents: Data from Cukurova, Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arslan, Mustafa; Akcan, Ramazan; Hilal, Ahmet; Batuk, Hulya; Cekin, Necmi

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the general properties of suicide among children and adolescents in our region, and to evaluate the results in the light of the literature. The autopsy records of the morgue of the Adana branch of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Council were investigated retrospectively. Focus of the study was shaped by…

Using Audioblogs to Assist English-Language Learning: An Investigation into Student Perception

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsu, Hui-Yin; Wang, Shiang-Kwei; Comac, Linda

2008-01-01

This pilot study investigates how the use of audioblogs can help to meet an instructor's need to improve instruction in English as a second language (ESL). In this study, the instructor uses audioblogs to manage oral assignments, to interact with learners, and to evaluate performance outcomes. Learners record oral assignments through cellular…

Developing a Framework for the Evaluation of Picturebooks That Support Kindergartners' Learning of Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, Marja; Elia, Iliada

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate what experts in the use of picturebooks in mathematics education consider powerful characteristics of such books in the support of young children's learning of mathematics. The study started by investigating experts' views of such characteristics, as reflected in academic and professional publications…

Investigation of Problems of Implementing Curriculum in Primary Schools in Somalia. African Studies in Curriculum Development & Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohamed, Ibrahim Jeylani

The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of modern mathematics in the primary schools of Somalia. In particular, three concerns were addressed: (1) teachers' confidence and ability in teaching mathematics; (2) students' interest in mathematics; and (3) students' examination performance in mathematics. Subjects were 30 teachers…

An Investigation of Item Fit Statistics for Mixed IRT Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chon, Kyong Hee

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate procedures for assessing model fit of IRT models for mixed format data. In this study, various IRT model combinations were fitted to data containing both dichotomous and polytomous item responses, and the suitability of the chosen model mixtures was evaluated based on a number of model fit procedures.…

A Systematic Investigation of Within-Subject and Between-Subject Covariance Structures in Growth Mixture Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Junhui

2012-01-01

The current study investigated how between-subject and within-subject variance-covariance structures affected the detection of a finite mixture of unobserved subpopulations and parameter recovery of growth mixture models in the context of linear mixed-effects models. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the impact of variance-covariance…

Investigating Invariant Item Ordering in Personality and Clinical Scales: Some Empirical Findings and a Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meijer, Rob R.; Egberink, Iris J. L.

2012-01-01

In recent studies, different methods were proposed to investigate invariant item ordering (IIO), but practical IIO research is an unexploited field in questionnaire construction and evaluation. In the present study, the authors explored the usefulness of different IIO methods to analyze personality scales and clinical scales. From the authors'…

Community and environmental impact of highway investment decisions.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1971-01-01

The primary objectives of this study were (1) to determine the state of the art of procedures for the investigation and evaluation of the community and environmental impact of investments in highway facilities, (2) to develop in detail those investig...

Coptidis rhizoma and its main bioactive components: recent advances in chemical investigation, quality evaluation and pharmacological activity.

PubMed

Meng, Fan-Cheng; Wu, Zheng-Feng; Yin, Zhi-Qi; Lin, Li-Gen; Wang, Ruibing; Zhang, Qing-Wen

2018-01-01

Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is the dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch., C. deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao or C. teeta Wall. (Ranunculaceae) and is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of various diseases including bacillary dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, empyrosis, pertussis, and other illnesses. A literature survey was conducted via SciFinder, ScieneDirect, PubMed, Springer, and Wiley databases. A total of 139 selected references were classified on the basis of their research scopes, including chemical investigation, quality evaluation and pharmacological studies. Many types of secondary metabolites including alkaloids, lignans, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saccharides, and steroids have been isolated from CR. Among them, protoberberine-type alkaloids, such as berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, columamine, are the main components of CR. Quantitative determination of these alkaloids is a very important aspect in the quality evaluation of CR. In recent years, with the advances in isolation and detection technologies, many new instruments and methods have been developed for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the main alkaloids from CR. The quality control of CR has provided safety for pharmacological applications. These quality evaluation methods are also frequently employed to screen the active components from CR. Various investigations have shown that CR and its main alkaloids exhibited many powerful pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hypoglycemic, anti-Alzheimer and hepatoprotective activities. This review summarizes the recent phytochemical investigations, quality evaluation methods, the biological studies focusing on CR as well as its main alkaloids.

When less is more: the consequences of affective primacy for subliminal priming effects.

PubMed

Stapel, Diederik A; Koomen, Willem

2005-09-01

This research investigates the consequences of the notion that one can distinguish early-evaluative (when exposure is short) and late-descriptive reactions (when exposure is long) to subliminally primed trait concepts. In three studies, it was found that the evaluative effects instigated by short exposure to primed concepts were bigger than the evaluative + descriptive effects instigated by long exposure: Less is more. Only when exposure was short, target interpretations were accompanied by evaluative inferences (Studies 1 and 3). Similarly, only when exposure was short, descriptively inapplicable trait primes affected the interpretation of an ambiguous target (Studies 2 and 3).

Model performance evaluation (validation and calibration) in model-based studies of therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular diseases : a review and suggested reporting framework.

PubMed

Haji Ali Afzali, Hossein; Gray, Jodi; Karnon, Jonathan

2013-04-01

Decision analytic models play an increasingly important role in the economic evaluation of health technologies. Given uncertainties around the assumptions used to develop such models, several guidelines have been published to identify and assess 'best practice' in the model development process, including general modelling approach (e.g., time horizon), model structure, input data and model performance evaluation. This paper focuses on model performance evaluation. In the absence of a sufficient level of detail around model performance evaluation, concerns regarding the accuracy of model outputs, and hence the credibility of such models, are frequently raised. Following presentation of its components, a review of the application and reporting of model performance evaluation is presented. Taking cardiovascular disease as an illustrative example, the review investigates the use of face validity, internal validity, external validity, and cross model validity. As a part of the performance evaluation process, model calibration is also discussed and its use in applied studies investigated. The review found that the application and reporting of model performance evaluation across 81 studies of treatment for cardiovascular disease was variable. Cross-model validation was reported in 55 % of the reviewed studies, though the level of detail provided varied considerably. We found that very few studies documented other types of validity, and only 6 % of the reviewed articles reported a calibration process. Considering the above findings, we propose a comprehensive model performance evaluation framework (checklist), informed by a review of best-practice guidelines. This framework provides a basis for more accurate and consistent documentation of model performance evaluation. This will improve the peer review process and the comparability of modelling studies. Recognising the fundamental role of decision analytic models in informing public funding decisions, the proposed framework should usefully inform guidelines for preparing submissions to reimbursement bodies.

Validity of Peer Evaluation for Team-Based Learning in a Dental School in Japan.

PubMed

Nishigawa, Keisuke; Hayama, Rika; Omoto, Katsuhiro; Okura, Kazuo; Tajima, Toyoko; Suzuki, Yoshitaka; Hosoki, Maki; Ueda, Mayu; Inoue, Miho; Rodis, Omar Marianito Maningo; Matsuka, Yoshizo

2017-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine the validity of peer evaluation for team-based learning (TBL) classes in dental education in comparison with the term-end examination records and TBL class scores. Examination and TBL class records of 256 third- and fourth-year dental students in six fixed prosthodontics courses from 2013 to 2015 in one dental school in Japan were investigated. Results of the term-end examination during those courses, individual readiness assurance test (IRAT), group readiness assurance test (GRAT), group assignment projects (GAP), and peer evaluation of group members in TBL classes were collected. Significant positive correlations were found between all combinations of peer evaluation, IRAT, and term-end examination. Individual scores also showed a positive correlation with group score (total of GRAT and GAP). From the investigation of the correlations in the six courses, significant positive correlations between peer evaluation and individual score were found in four of the six courses. In this study, peer evaluation seemed to be a valid index for learning performance in TBL classes. To verify the effectiveness of peer evaluation, all students have to realize the significance of scoring the team member's performance. Clear criteria and detailed instruction for appropriate evaluation are also required.

Evaluation of the gyratory compactor for use in designing asphaltic concrete mixtures : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1966-12-01

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the gyratory kneading compactor and to investigate the possibilities and capabilities of this type of equipment. : Curves were developed for six different asphaltic concrete mixes with varying compa...

45 CFR 63.2 - Eligibility for award.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION General § 63.2 Eligibility for award. (a... research, pilot, evaluation, or demonstration project within the meaning of this section and § 63.1 shall... utilization studies; experiments; demonstrations; field investigations; statistical data collections or...

Ae Behavior of Smart Stress Memory Patch after Variable Amplitude Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujino, Y.; Nambu, S.; Enoki, M.

Recently, the structural health monitoring becomes increasingly great important to assure the ease and safety of our life, and it is required significantly to develop non-destructive evaluation for structures such as bridges and tunnels. Some sacrificed specimens have been developed to evaluate the fatigue damage of structures such as fatigue cycles and residual lifetime, but it can be applied only when the stress history is known beforehand. These fatigue sensors need no cable and can be used at low cost in contrast to strain gage. In previous study, a smart stress memory patch was developed as a new fatigue sensor. The patch can measure simultaneously the maximum stress, stress amplitude and the number of fatigue cycles by crack length measurement and Kaiser effect of Acoustic Emission (AE). The crack growth behavior under constant amplitude (CA) loading has been investigated, and AE behavior also has been evaluated only after CA loading. However, AE characteristics after variable amplitude (VA) loading in service are extremely important. Moreover, it is very important to control AE behavior of the smart patch in order to evaluate the applied stress using Kaiser effect. In this study, fatigue test with single overload was investigated to evaluate its influence. Moreover, effect of crack length and heat treatment on AE behavior was also investigated. Finally, AE behavior of the patch was evaluated after fatigue CA loading with overload or VA loading with log-normal distribution and overload.

Investigation of Advanced Radar Techniques for Atmospheric Hazard Detection with Airborne Weather Radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pazmany, Andrew L.

2014-01-01

In 2013 ProSensing Inc. conducted a study to investigate the hazard detection potential of aircraft weather radars with new measurement capabilities, such as multi-frequency, polarimetric and radiometric modes. Various radar designs and features were evaluated for sensitivity, measurement range and for detecting and quantifying atmospheric hazards in wide range of weather conditions. Projected size, weight, power consumption and cost of the various designs were also considered. Various cloud and precipitation conditions were modeled and used to conduct an analytic evaluation of the design options. This report provides an overview of the study and summarizes the conclusions and recommendations.

Mouse Models Applied to the Research of Pharmacological Treatments in Asthma.

PubMed

Marqués-García, Fernando; Marcos-Vadillo, Elena

2016-01-01

Models developed for the study of asthma mechanisms can be used to investigate new compounds with pharmacological activity against this disease. The increasing number of compounds requires a preclinical evaluation before starting the application in humans. Preclinical evaluation in animal models reduces the number of clinical trials positively impacting in the cost and in safety. In this chapter, three protocols for the study of drugs are shown: a model to investigate corticoids as a classical treatment of asthma; a protocol to test the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on asthma; and a mouse model to test new therapies in asthma as monoclonal antibodies.

Study and evaluation of ferro-cement for use in wind tunnel construction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larsen, H. J., Jr. (Compiler)

1972-01-01

The structural suitability and cost effectiveness of ferro-cement for large subsonic wind tunnel structures is investigated. This investigation was carried out in the following four main categories: (1) a state-of-the-art survey into the uses, properties, and costs of ferro-cement; (2) an evaluation of those ferro-cement properties critical to construction of large, subsonic wind tunnels, which have not been adequately established to date; (3) a laboratory testing program to determine preliminary values for those properties; and (4) a study to establish cost factors for ferro-cement as related to a preliminary construction scheme for a nacelle and shroud unit.

Applying evidence from economic evaluations to translate cancer survivorship research into care.

PubMed

de Moor, Janet S; Alfano, Catherine M; Breen, Nancy; Kent, Erin E; Rowland, Julia

2015-09-01

This paper summarizes recommendations stemming from the meeting, Applying Evidence from Economic Evaluations to Translate Cancer Survivorship Research into Care, hosted by the National Cancer Institute. The meeting convened funded investigators, experts in cancer control, survivorship, health economics, and team science to identify the economic and health services data needed to facilitate the dissemination of cancer survivorship interventions into care and how survivorship and health economic investigators can successfully collaborate together and with other stakeholders. Recommendations from the meeting are as follows. First, investigators must engage key stakeholders early in the planning process to understand the outcomes and cost domains on which they base decisions. Second, evaluations of intervention efficacy and value should be conducted using standardized and comparable measures and analytic approaches to enable comparisons across studies. Finally, a health economist should be included during the planning phase of the study so that the economic evaluation is pursued in concert with the survivorship intervention. Economic analyses, from the perspective of key stakeholders, must be incorporated into survivorship intervention research. The results from these analyses should be disseminated in a manner that is transparent, accessible, and comparable across studies. To optimize cancer survivors' health and quality of life, it is essential deliver high-quality and high-value care. Incorporating economic analyses into survivorship intervention research can inform the translation of effective interventions into practice.

A critical investigation of post-liquefaction strength and steady-state flow behavior of saturated soils

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jong, H.L.

1988-01-01

The first objective was to perform a critical evaluation of the recently proposed steady-state analysis methodology for evaluation of post-liquefaction stability of potentially liquefiable soils. This analysis procedure is based on direct comparison between the in-situ undrained residual (steady state) strength of soils in an embankment or foundation, and the driving shear stresses in these soils. A laboratory investigation was performed to investigate factors affecting steady-state strengths, and also to evaluate the validity of assumptions involved in correcting the results of laboratory steady-state strength tests on undisturbed samples for effects of sampling disturbance in order to estimate in-situ strengths. Next,more » a field case study was performed using the steady-state analysis and testing methodologies to analyze Lower San Fernando Dam, which suffered a liquefaction-induced slope failure as a results of a 1971 earthquake. This leads to the second objective which was to extend the Lower San Fernando Dam case study to consideration of analysis methods used to evaluate the likelihood of triggering liquefaction during an earthquake. Finally, a number of the high quality undisturbed samples were subjected to undrained cyclic testing in order to repeat an earlier (1973) study of the use of cyclic tests data to predict liquefaction behavior at Lower San Fernando Dam.« less

Teaching about Nature of Science through Short Lab Activities in Hong Kong Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lau, Kwok-chi

2017-01-01

The study evaluated the effectiveness of using short, school lab investigations to teach about the nature of science (NOS). A manipulated lab inquiry approach was used, which modified the investigations in ways that students were compelled to experience certain NOS aspects. An investigation about apple browning was used to teach about the…

Moving Away from Exhaustion: How Core Self-Evaluations Influence Academic Burnout

PubMed Central

Lian, Penghu; Sun, Yunfeng; Ji, Zhigang; Li, Hanzhong; Peng, Jiaxi

2014-01-01

Background Academic burnout refers to students who have low interest, lack of motivation, and tiredness in studying. Studies concerning how to prevent academic burnout are rare. Objective The present study aimed to investigate the impact of core self-evaluations on the academic burnout of university students, and mainly focused on the confirmation of the mediator role of life satisfaction. Methods A total of 470 university students accomplished the core self-evaluation scale, Satisfaction with Life, and academic burnout scale. Results Both core self-evaluations and life satisfaction were significantly correlated with academic burnout. Structural equation modeling indicated that life satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between core self-evaluations and academic burnout. Conclusions Core self-evaluations significantly influence academic burnout and are partially mediated by life satisfaction. PMID:24489857

Investigating Changing in Social Studies Textbooks of Public Review (Basic Fourth and Fifth) Based on the Emphasis on Critical Thinking Skills Facione in the Last Three Decades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aghababaeian, Parinaz; Moghaddam, Shams Aldin Hashemi; Nateghi, Faezeh; Faghihi, Alireza

2017-01-01

This study investigated the changes in public school social studies textbooks in general period of Iran (fourth and fifth grades) based on the emphasis on Facione critical thinking skills in the past three decades. In this study, content analysis of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to evaluate changes in textbook. For this purpose,…

Treatment Processes for Removal of Wastewater Contaminants (WERF Report INFR8SG09)

EPA Science Inventory

This study investigated the nature of colloids associated with wastewater effluents. It also evaluated the association of emerging contaminants with these wastewater colloids. Two distinct emerging contaminants were investigated to gain general insight into the potential importan...

Investigation of novel acoustic barrier concepts phase I: concept development and preliminary evaluation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-06-01

In a previous research project [SQDH 2002-3; "Study of the Performance of Acoustic Barriers for Indiana Toll Roads,"] the influence of : environmental factors and of advanced sound barrier concepts was investigated. The presence of temperature gradie...

Homogeneity of GAFCHROMIC EBT2 film among different lot numbers

PubMed Central

Takahashi, Yutaka; Tanaka, Atsushi; Hirayama, Takamitsu; Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi; Katou, Hiroaki; Takahara, Keiko; Okamoto, Yoshiaki; Teshima, Teruki

2012-01-01

EBT2 film is widely used for quality assurance in radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the homogeneity of EBT2 film among various lots, and the dose dependence of heterogeneity. EBT2 film was positioned in the center of a flatbed scanner and scanned in transmission mode at 75 dpi. Homogeneity was investigated by evaluating gray value and net optical density (netOD) with the red color channel. The dose dependence of heterogeneity in a single sheet from five lots was investigated at 0.5, 2, and 3 Gy. Maximum coefficient of variation as evaluated by netOD in a single film was 3.0% in one lot, but no higher than 0.5% in other lots. Dose dependence of heterogeneity was observed on evaluation by gray value but not on evaluation by netOD. These results suggest that EBT2 should be examined in each lot number before clinical use, and that the dose calibration curve should be constructed using netOD. PACS number: 87 PMID:22766947

An Investigation of the Potential for a Computer-based Tutorial Program Covering the Cardiovascular System to Replace Traditional Lectures.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dewhurst, D. G.; Williams, A. D.

1998-01-01

Presents the results of a comparative study to evaluate the effectiveness of two interactive computer-based learning (CBL) programs, covering the cardiovascular system, as an alternative to lectures for first year undergraduate students at a United Kingdom University. Discusses results in relation to the design of evaluative studies and the future…

An Investigation of Taiwanese Early Adolescents' Self-Evaluations Concerning the Big 6 Information Problem-Solving Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Chiung-Sui

2007-01-01

The study developed a Big 6 Information Problem-Solving Scale (B61PS), including the subscales of task definition and information-seeking strategies, information access and synthesis, and evaluation. More than 1,500 fifth and sixth graders in Taiwan responded. The study revealed that the scale showed adequate reliability in assessing the…

Process Evaluation of a Lifestyle Intervention in Primary Care: Implementation Issues and the Participants' Satisfaction of the GOAL Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barte, Jeroen C. M.; ter Bogt, Nancy C. W.; Beltman, Frank W.; van der Meer, Klaas; Bemelmans, Wanda J. E.

2012-01-01

The Groningen Overweight and Lifestyle (GOAL) intervention effectively prevents weight gain. The present study describes a process evaluation in which 214 participants in the intervention group received a structured questionnaire within 7 months (a median of 5 months) after the end of the intervention. The authors investigated the content of the…

Improving Self-Determinations Skills in Secondary Students with High-Functioning Autism: An Evaluation Using the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner Cica, LeeAnn

2017-01-01

This research study investigates the use of the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction as a strategy to improve self-determination skills and workforce readiness skills for students' with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. This study evaluates the effectiveness of integrating SDLMI into classroom instruction to…

Sildenafil increases cerebrovascular reactivity: a transcranial Doppler study.

PubMed

Diomedi, M; Sallustio, F; Rizzato, B; Ferrante, F; Leone, G; Spera, E; Scarfini, M; Bernardi, G

2005-09-27

The authors performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 28 patients to evaluate the effects of sildenafil on cerebral hemodynamics. A significant improvement of cerebrovascular reactivity, without any modification of other variables, was recorded 1 hour after the administration of 50 mg sildenafil. Further investigations are needed to evaluate whether cerebrovascular reactivity improvement could contribute to triggering sildenafil-induced migraine.

WWC Review of the Report "Evaluation of the College Possible Program: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

The 2013 study, "Evaluation of the College Possible Program: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial", investigated the effect of the "College Possible" program, which is designed to serve low-income high school students by providing SAT/ACT test preparation, financial aid consulting, and college admissions guidance in an…

Evaluation of Professional Personality Competence of Physical Education Teachers Working in Secondary Schools by Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demir, Erdal

2016-01-01

The aim of this article is to assess how students evaluate the professional personality competence of physical education teachers working in secondary schools, and to investigate differences based on the variables of gender, school type and class. In line with these aims, this study was completed as a screening model cross-sectional study, which…

Development of Competency-Based Web Learning Material and Effect Evaluation of Self-Directed Learning Aptitudes on Learning Achievements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Chi-Cheng

2006-01-01

This study aims to develop and evaluate competency-based web learning material (CBWLM) for the college practicum Microprocessor Laboratory. After using the CBWLM for 8 weeks, this study investigates CBWL's learning effects and self-directed learning aptitudes (SDLAs) as well as exploring the influence of SDLA on learning effects based on the…

Neuromapping: Inflight Evaluation of Cognition and Adaptability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kofman, I. S.; De Dios, Y. E.; Lawrence, K.; Schade, A.; Reschke, M. F.; Bloomberg, J. J.; Wood, S. J.; Mulavara, A. P.; Seidle, R. D.

2016-01-01

In consideration of the health and performance of crewmembers during flight and postflight, we are conducting a controlled prospective longitudinal study to investigate the effects of spaceflight on the extent, longevity and neural bases of sensorimotor, cognitive, and neural changes. Previous studies investigating sensorimotor adaptation to the microgravity environment longitudinally inflight have shown reduction in the ability to perform complex dual tasks. In this study we perform a series of tests investigating the longitudinal effects of adaptation to the microgravity environment and how it affects spatial cognition, manual visuo-motor adaption and dual tasking.

Study to perform preliminary experiments to evaluate particle generation and characterization techniques for zero-gravity cloud physics experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katz, U.

1982-01-01

Methods of particle generation and characterization with regard to their applicability for experiments requiring cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) of specified properties were investigated. Since aerosol characterization is a prerequisite to assessing performance of particle generation equipment, techniques for characterizing aerosol were evaluated. Aerosol generation is discussed, and atomizer and photolytic generators including preparation of hydrosols (used with atomizers) and the evaluation of a flight version of an atomizer are studied.

Appropriateness of the study of iron deficiency anemia prior to referral for small bowel evaluation at a tertiary center

PubMed Central

Rodrigues, Jaime Pereira; Pinho, Rolando; Silva, Joana; Ponte, Ana; Sousa, Mafalda; Silva, João Carlos; Carvalho, João

2017-01-01

AIM To evaluate the adequacy of the study of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in real life practice prior to referral to a gastroenterology department for small bowel evaluation. METHODS All consecutive patients referred to a gastroenterology department for small bowel investigation due to iron deficiency anemia, between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. Both patients referred from general practitioners or directly from different hospital departments were selected. Relevant clinical information regarding prior anemia workup was retrospectively collected from medical records. An appropriate pre-referral study was considered the execution of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) investigation, colonoscopy with quality standards (recent, total and with adequate preparation) and celiac disease (CD) screening (through serologic testing and/or histopathological investigation). RESULTS A total of 77 patients (58.4% female, mean age 67.1 ± 16.7 years) were included. Most (53.2%) patients were referred from general practitioners, 41.6% from other hospital specialties and 5.2% directly from the emergency department. The mean pre-referral hemoglobin concentration was 8.8 ± 2.0 g/dL and the majority of anemias had microcytic (71.4%) and hypochromic (72.7%) characteristics. 77.9% of patients presented with an incomplete pre-referral study: EGD in 97.4%, with H. pylori investigation in 58.3%, colonoscopy with quality criteria in 63.6%, and CD screening in 24.7%. Patients with an appropriate study at the time of referral were younger (48.7 ± 17.7 vs 72.3 ± 12.3 years, P < 0.001). Small bowel evaluation was ultimately undertaken in 72.7% of patients, with a more frequent evaluation in patients with a quality colonoscopy at referral (78.6% vs 23.8%); P < 0.001 (OR = 11.7, 95%CI: 3.6-38.6). The most common diagnosis regarded as the likely cause of IDA was small bowel angioectasia (18.2%) but additional causes were also found in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts of near 20% of patients. Small bowel studies detected previously unknown non-small bowel findings in 7.7% of patients. CONCLUSION The study of anemia prior to referral to gastroenterology department is unsatisfactory. Only approximately a quarter of patients presented with an appropriate study. PMID:28706428

Appropriateness of the study of iron deficiency anemia prior to referral for small bowel evaluation at a tertiary center.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Jaime Pereira; Pinho, Rolando; Silva, Joana; Ponte, Ana; Sousa, Mafalda; Silva, João Carlos; Carvalho, João

2017-06-28

To evaluate the adequacy of the study of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in real life practice prior to referral to a gastroenterology department for small bowel evaluation. All consecutive patients referred to a gastroenterology department for small bowel investigation due to iron deficiency anemia, between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. Both patients referred from general practitioners or directly from different hospital departments were selected. Relevant clinical information regarding prior anemia workup was retrospectively collected from medical records. An appropriate pre-referral study was considered the execution of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) investigation, colonoscopy with quality standards (recent, total and with adequate preparation) and celiac disease (CD) screening (through serologic testing and/or histopathological investigation). A total of 77 patients (58.4% female, mean age 67.1 ± 16.7 years) were included. Most (53.2%) patients were referred from general practitioners, 41.6% from other hospital specialties and 5.2% directly from the emergency department. The mean pre-referral hemoglobin concentration was 8.8 ± 2.0 g/dL and the majority of anemias had microcytic (71.4%) and hypochromic (72.7%) characteristics. 77.9% of patients presented with an incomplete pre-referral study: EGD in 97.4%, with H. pylori investigation in 58.3%, colonoscopy with quality criteria in 63.6%, and CD screening in 24.7%. Patients with an appropriate study at the time of referral were younger (48.7 ± 17.7 vs 72.3 ± 12.3 years, P < 0.001). Small bowel evaluation was ultimately undertaken in 72.7% of patients, with a more frequent evaluation in patients with a quality colonoscopy at referral (78.6% vs 23.8%); P < 0.001 (OR = 11.7, 95%CI: 3.6-38.6). The most common diagnosis regarded as the likely cause of IDA was small bowel angioectasia (18.2%) but additional causes were also found in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts of near 20% of patients. Small bowel studies detected previously unknown non-small bowel findings in 7.7% of patients. The study of anemia prior to referral to gastroenterology department is unsatisfactory. Only approximately a quarter of patients presented with an appropriate study.

76 FR 51869 - Privacy Act Implementation

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-19

... & Evaluative Files Database,'' ``FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative MIS Database,'' ``FHFA-OIG Hotline... or evaluative records to an individual who is the subject of an investigation or evaluation could... investigative or evaluative techniques and procedures. (iii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2), because amendment or...

Nutritional and Dietary Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Sathe, Nila; Andrews, Jeffrey C; McPheeters, Melissa L; Warren, Zachary E

2017-06-01

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently use special diets or receive nutritional supplements to treat ASD symptoms. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dietary interventions or nutritional supplements in ASD. Databases, including Medline and PsycINFO. Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria. One investigator extracted data with review by a second investigator. Investigators independently assessed the risk of bias and strength of evidence (SOE) (ie, confidence in the estimate of effects). Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 4 with a low risk of bias, evaluated supplements or variations of the gluten/casein-free diet and other dietary approaches. Populations, interventions, and outcomes varied. Ω-3 supplementation did not affect challenging behaviors and was associated with minimal harms (low SOE). Two RCTs of different digestive enzymes reported mixed effects on symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies of other supplements (methyl B 12 , levocarnitine) reported some improvements in symptom severity (insufficient SOE). Studies evaluating gluten/casein-free diets reported some parent-rated improvements in communication and challenging behaviors; however, data were inadequate to make conclusions about the body of evidence (insufficient SOE). Studies of gluten- or casein-containing challenge foods reported no effects on behavior or gastrointestinal symptoms with challenge foods (insufficient SOE); 1 RCT reported no effects of camel's milk on ASD severity (insufficient SOE). Harms were disparate. Studies were small and short-term, and there were few fully categorized populations or concomitant interventions. There is little evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements or dietary therapies for children with ASD. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Risk management study for the retired Hanford Site facilities: Qualitative risk evaluation for the retired Hanford Site facilities. Volume 3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coles, G.A.; Shultz, M.V.; Taylor, W.E.

1993-09-01

This document provides a risk evaluation of the 100 and 200 Area retired, surplus facilities on the Hanford Site. Also included are the related data that were compiled by the risk evaluation team during investigations performed on the facilities. Results are the product of a major effort performed in fiscal year 1993 to produce qualitative information that characterizes certain risks associated with these facilities. The retired facilities investigated for this evaluation are located in the 100 and 200 Areas of the 1,450-km{sup 2} (570-mi{sup 2}) Hanford Site. The Hanford Site is a semiarid tract of land in southeastern Washington State.more » The nearest population center is Richland, Washington, (population 32,000) 30-km (20 mi) southeast of the 200 Area. During walkdown investigations of these facilities, data on real and potential hazards that threatened human health or safety or created potential environmental release issues were identified by the risk evaluation team. Using these findings, the team categorized the identified hazards by facility and evaluated the risk associated with each hazard. The factors contributing to each risk, and the consequence and likelihood of harm associated with each hazard also are included in this evaluation.« less

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Effect of a High-Potency Topical Corticosteroid After Sclerotherapy for Reticular and Telangiectatic Veins of the Lower Extremities.

PubMed

Friedmann, Daniel P; Liolios, Ana M; Wu, Douglas C; Goldman, Mitchel P; Eimpunth, Sasima

2015-10-01

Although typically mild, transient, and expected, most adverse events (AEs) postsclerotherapy are inflammatory in nature. To evaluate the effects of a high-potency topical corticosteroid (TC) applied immediately postsclerotherapy. Subjects undergoing bilateral lower extremity sclerotherapy with polidocanol had extremities randomized to a single application of betamethasone dipropionate and placebo saline solutions immediately post-treatment in a double-blind manner. Adverse events were assessed for each extremity by subjects at t = 0 (preapplication) and t = 15 (15 minutes postapplication) and by an investigator at t = 0 and t = 15, and at Days 14 and 60. Subjects and investigator evaluated efficacy with a quartile improvement scale. Sixteen female subjects completed the study. Subjects reported no statistically significant differences in AEs between TC and placebo at either t = 0 or t = 15. Investigator scores for erythema and swelling/urtication were not significantly different between groups at the same time points. Although most subjects demonstrated 26% to 75% improvement at Day 60, results were not significantly different between extremities on subject and investigator evaluation. High-potency TC application immediately postsclerotherapy produced no statistically significant differences in subject- and investigator-assessed AEs and clearance rates compared with placebo. Foam sclerotherapy with polidocanol is safe and effective for the treatment of lower extremity reticular veins.

MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION FOR INORGANIC CONTAMINANT REMEDIATION IN GROUND WATER: LINES OF EVIDENCE

EPA Science Inventory

Evaluation of MNA for inorganic contaminants requires detailed studies on the aqueous phase and the solid phase. This presentation covers the lines of evidence that may be collected during site investigations to evaluate natural attenuation mechanisms and site-specific capaciti...

Judging Interpretations: But Is It Rigorous? Trustworthiness and Authenticity in Naturalistic Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwandt, Thomas A.; Lincoln, Yvonna S.; Guba, Egon G.

2007-01-01

Among the most knotty problems faced by investigators committed to interpretive practices in disciplines and fields such as sociocultural anthropology, jurisprudence, literary criticism, historiography, feminist studies, public administration, policy analysis, planning, educational research, and evaluation are deciding whether an interpretation is…

Seismic evaluation and ranking of embankments for bridges on and over the parkways in Western Kentucky.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-01

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of Bridges on and over the Parkways in Western Kentucky investigative series. The effort is focused on the seismic vulnerability of bridge embankments against slope instability and liquefaction pote...

NDMA Treatability Studies.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-12-01

This investigation evaluated the feasibility of destruction of NDMA using the wet air oxidation process. From the limited data evaluated, it was...determined that NDMA was amenable to destruction by wet air oxidation to approximately the 1.0 mg/l level with relative ease. Reduction below the 1.0 mg

Rethinking Student Services: Assessing and Improving Service Quality.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zammuto, Raymond F.; And Others

1996-01-01

A study investigated the quality of services in four student enrollment services administrative sub-units (recruiting, admissions, records and registration, financial aid) at a public comprehensive university, using student and staff evaluations and program evaluations. Specific changes needed to improve service delivery are identified and…

Orbiter global positioning system design and Ku-band problems investigation, exhibit B, revision 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chie, C. M.; Braun, W. R.

1981-01-01

The LinCom effort in supporting the JSC study of the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) on the space shuttle and in Ku-band problem investigation is documented. LinCom was tasked to evaluate system implementation, performance, and integration aspects of the shuttle GPS and to provide independent technical assessment of reports submitted to JSC regarding integration studies, system studies and navigation analyses.

Children's Evaluations of Resource Allocation in the Context of Group Norms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooley, Shelby; Killen, Melanie

2015-01-01

This study investigated children's evaluations of peer group members who deviated from group norms about equal and unequal allocation of resources. Children, ages 3.5 to 4 years and 5 to 6 years (N = 73), were asked to evaluate a peer group member who deviated from 1 of 2 group allocation norms: (a) equal allocation of resources, or (b) unequal…

Stereotype Threat among Students with Disabilities: The Importance of The Evaluative Context on Their Cognitive Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desombre, Caroline; Anegmar, Souad; Delelis, Gérald

2018-01-01

This study investigated the hypothesis that cognitive performance of students with physical disabilities may be influenced by the evaluators' identity. Students with or without a physical disability completed a logic test and were informed that they would be evaluated by students from their own group (ingroup condition) or from an other group…

Evaluation of Teacher Perceptions and Potential of OpenOffice in a K-12 School District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vajda, James; Abbitt, Jason T.

2011-01-01

Through this mixed-method evaluation study the authors investigated a pilot implementation of an open-source productivity suite for teachers in a K-12 public school district. The authors evaluated OpenOffice version 3.0 using measures identified by the technology acceptance model as predictors of acceptance and use of technology systems. During a…

Evaluating IRT- and CTT-Based Methods of Estimating Classification Consistency and Accuracy Indices from Single Administrations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deng, Nina

2011-01-01

Three decision consistency and accuracy (DC/DA) methods, the Livingston and Lewis (LL) method, LEE method, and the Hambleton and Han (HH) method, were evaluated. The purposes of the study were: (1) to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of these methods, especially when their assumptions were not well satisfied, (2) to investigate the "true"…

The Relationship Between Child and Teacher Evaluations of Self Esteem and Adjustment in Fourth and Sixth Grade Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dorr, Darwin; And Others

The purposes of this study were to investigate at two elementary grade levels, the fourth and the sixth: the relationship between children's self-evaluations of self esteem and adjustment; the relationship between teachers' evaluations of children's self esteem and adjustment; and the relationship between teacher and child judgments of adjustment,…

Investigation of new techniques for aircraft navigation using the omega navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baxa, E. G., Jr.

1978-01-01

An OMEGA navigation receiver with a microprocessor as the computational component was investigated. A version of the INTEL 4004 microprocessor macroassembler suitable for use on the CDC-6600 system and development of a FORTRAN IV simulator program for the microprocessor was developed. Supporting studies included development and evaluation of navigation algorithms to generate relative position information from OMEGA VLF phase measurements. Simulation studies were used to evaluate assumptions made in developing a navigation equation in OMEGA Line of Position (LOP) coordinates. Included in the navigation algorithms was a procedure for calculating a position in latitude/longitude given an OMEGA LOP fix. Implementation of a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) was evaluated on the basic of phase response characteristics over a range of input phase variations. Included also is an analytical evaluation on the basis of error probability of an algorithm for automatic time synchronization of the receiver to the OMEGA broadcast format. The use of actual OMEGA phase data and published propagation prediction corrections to determine phase velocity estimates was discussed.

Detecting Blood-Based Biomarkers in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Their Current Status and Clinical Utility

PubMed Central

Berghuis, A. M. Sofie; Koffijberg, Hendrik; Prakash, Jai; Terstappen, Leon W. M. M.; IJzerman, Maarten J.

2017-01-01

Reviews on circulating biomarkers in breast cancer usually focus on one single biomarker or a selective group of biomarkers. An overview summarizing the discovery and evaluation of all blood-based biomarkers in metastatic breast cancer is lacking. This systematic review aims to identify the available evidence of known blood-based biomarkers in metastatic breast cancer, regarding their clinical utility and state-of-the-art position in the validation process. The initial search yielded 1078 original studies, of which 420 were assessed for eligibility. A total of 320 studies were included in the final synthesis. A Development, Evaluation and Application Chart (DEAC) of all biomarkers was developed. Most studies focus on identifying new biomarkers and search for relations between these biomarkers and traditional molecular characteristics. Biomarkers are usually investigated in only one study (68.8%). Only 9.8% of all biomarkers was investigated in more than five studies. Circulating tumor cells, gene expression within tumor cells and the concentration of secreted proteins are the most frequently investigated biomarkers in liquid biopsies. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on identifying the clinical utility of these biomarkers, by which the additional value still seems to be limited according to the investigated evidence. PMID:28208771

Data Evaluation Report for the Lower Rouge River Sediment Investigation

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Describes a study of contaminated sediment, analyzes results, and makes recommendations for sediment remediation. Includes aerial views of study locations, photo log, data tables of sediment analysis.

Forest Service National Forest System perceptions of law enforcement and investigations: nationwide study

Treesearch

Deborah J. Chavez; Joanne F. Tynon

2008-01-01

This is the fifth in a series of studies to evaluate perceptions of the roles, responsibilities, and issues entailed in the jobs of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service law enforcement and investigations (LEI) personnel. An e-mail survey was administered to the 537 Forest Service forest supervisors and district rangers (National Forest System [NFS] line...

Teacher Evaluation and Local Control in the US: An Investigation into the Degree of Local Control Afforded to Districts in Defining Evaluation Procedures for Teachers in Non-Tested Subjects and Grades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gagnon, Douglas J.; Hall, Erika L.; Marion, Scott

2017-01-01

Many states only recently incorporated indicators of student achievement into teacher evaluation systems for Non-Tested Subjects and Grades (NTSG). This study examines how practices related to the inclusion of student achievement measures vary across states as to the discretion left to districts in defining and implementing evaluation systems for…

Evaluation of historical and analytical data on the TAN TSF-07 Disposal Pond

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Medina, S.M.

1993-07-01

The Technical Support Facility (TSF)-07 Disposal Pond, located at Test Area North at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, has been identified as part of Operable Unit 1-06 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Department is conducting an evaluation of existing site characterization data for the TSF-07 Disposal Pond Track 1 investigation. The results from the site characterization data will be used to determine whether the operable unit will undergo a Track 2 investigation, an interim action, a remedial investigation/feasibility study, or result in a no-action decision. This report summarizes activities relevantmore » to wastewaters discharged to the pond and characterization efforts conducted from 1982 through 1991. Plan view and vertical distribution maps of the significant contaminants contained in the pond are included. From this evaluation it was determined that cobalt-60, cesium-137, americium-241, mercury, chromium, and thallium are significant contaminants for soils. This report also evaluates the migration tendencies of the significant contaminants into the perched water zone under the pond and the surrounding terrain to support the investigation.« less

Exposure to toxic waste sites: an investigative approach.

PubMed

Stehr-Green, P A; Lybarger, J A

1989-01-01

Improper dumping and storage of hazardous substances and whether these practices produce significant human exposure and health effects are growing concerns. A sequential approach has been used by the Centers for Disease Control and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in investigating potential exposure to and health effects resulting from environmental contamination with materials such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticide residues at sites throughout the United States. The strategy consists of four phases: site evaluation, pilot studies of exposure or health effects, analytic epidemiology studies, and public health surveillance. This approach offers a logical, phased strategy to use limited personnel and financial resources of local, State, national, or global health agency jurisdictions optimally in evaluating populations potentially exposed to hazardous materials in waste sites. Primarily, this approach is most helpful in identifying sites for etiologic studies and providing investigative leads to direct and focus these studies. The results of such studies provide information needed for making risk-management decisions to mitigate or eliminate human exposures and for developing interventions to prevent or minimize health problems resulting from exposures that already have occurred.

Investigation of the influence of groundwater advection on energy extraction rates for sustainable borehole heat exchanger operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schelenz, Sophie; Dietrich, Peter; Vienken, Thomas

2016-04-01

A sustainable thermal exploitation of the shallow subsurface requires a precise understanding of all relevant heat transport processes. Currently, planning practice of shallow geothermal systems (especially for systems < 30 kW) focuses on conductive heat transport as the main energy source while the impact of groundwater flow as the driver for advective heat transport is neglected or strongly simplified. The presented study proves that those simplifications of complex geological and hydrogeological subsurface characteristics are insufficient for a precise evaluation of site-specific energy extraction rates. Based on synthetic model scenarios with varying subsurface conditions (groundwater flow velocity and aquifer thickness) the impact of advection on induced long term temperature changes in 5 and 10 m distance of the borehole heat exchanger is presented. Extending known investigations, this study enhances the evaluation of shallow geothermal energy extraction rates by considering conductive and advective heat transport under varying aquifer thicknesses. Further, it evaluates the impact of advection on installation lengths of the borehole heat exchanger to optimize the initial financial investment. Finally, an evaluation approach is presented that classifies relevant heat transport processes according to their Péclet number to enable a first quantitative assessment of the subsurface energy regime and recommend further investigation and planning procedures.

Effect of Temperature on Acoustic Evaluation of Standing trees and logs: Part 1-Laboratory investigation

Treesearch

Shan Gao; Xiping Wang; Lihai Wang; R. Bruce. Allison

2012-01-01

The goals of this study were to investigate the effect of environment temperature on acoustic velocity of standing trees and green logs and to develop workable models for compensating temperature differences as acoustic measurements are performed in different climates and seasons. The objective of Part 1 was to investigate interactive effects of temperature and...

Video Diaries: A Tool to Investigate Sustainability-Related Learning in Threshold Spaces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Jane

2011-01-01

This paper takes as a case study an undergraduate field class from a UK university to rural Uganda. It describes and evaluates the use of video diaries as a tool for investigating the process of transformative learning in the context of education for sustainability. The applicability of threshold concept theory to this learning is investigated.…

The Critical Thinking Analytic Rubric (CTAR): Investigating Intra-Rater and Inter-Rater Reliability of a Scoring Mechanism for Critical Thinking Performance Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saxton, Emily; Belanger, Secret; Becker, William

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the Critical Thinking Analytic Rubric (CTAR). The CTAR is composed of 6 rubric categories: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and disposition. To investigate inter-rater reliability, two trained raters scored four sets of…

Integrated Psychosocial and Opioid-Antagonist Treatment for Alcohol Dependence: A Systematic Review of Controlled Evaluations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaughn, Michael G.; Howard, Matthew O.

2004-01-01

Methodological characteristics and outcomes of 14 controlled clinical investigations of integrated psychosocial and opioid-antagonist alcohol dependence treatment were evaluated. The 14 studies were identified through computerized bibliographic and manual literature searches. Clients receiving integrated psychosocial and opioid-antagonist…

Evaluation of innovative traffic safety devices at short-term work zones.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-08-01

The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate the usage and effectiveness of innovative traffic control : devices that can be used in short-term work zones. Any device to be used in short-term work zones should command : the respect of ...

Ethical Awareness and Ethical Orientation of Turkish Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gökçe, Asiye Toker

2013-01-01

This study inquires ethical evaluation of teachers, investigating their moral reasoning to ethical decision making, in Turkey. Specifically three hypotheses were tested: Overall ethical awareness of teachers is high; Teachers will identify reasons for ethical evaluation related to philosophical values such as justice, deontology, utilitarianism,…

Seismic evaluation and ranking of bridge embankments along I-24 in Western Kentucky.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-09-01

This study represents one of the Seismic Evaluation of I-24 Bridges investigative series. The focus is on slope or embankment stability and liquefaction potential of embankments of bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky. A rating system is derived to...

EVALUATION OF THE FILTER PACK FOR LONG-DURATION SAMPLING OF AMBIENT AIR

EPA Science Inventory

A 14-week filter pack (FP) sampler evaluation field study was conducted at a site near Bondville, IL to investigate the impact of weekly sampling duration. Simultaneous samples were collected using collocated filter packs (FP) from two independent air quality monitoring networks...

Impact of hospital care on incidence of bloodstream infection: the evaluation of processes and indicators in infection control study.

PubMed Central

Kritchevsky, S. B.; Braun, B. I.; Wong, E. S.; Solomon, S. L.; Steele, L.; Richards, C.; Simmons, B. P.

2001-01-01

The Evaluation of Processes and Indicators in Infection Control (EPIC) study assesses the relationship between hospital care and rates of central venous catheter-associated primary bacteremia in 54 intensive-care units (ICUs) in the United States and 14 other countries. Using ICU rather than the patient as the primary unit of statistical analysis permits evaluation of factors that vary at the ICU level. The design of EPIC can serve as a template for studies investigating the relationship between process and event rates across health-care institutions. PMID:11294704

The 100 cm solar telescope primary mirror study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The manufacturing impact of primary mirror configuration on the performance of a 100 cm aperture solar telescope was studied. Three primary mirror configurations were considered: solid, standard lightweight, and mushroom. All of these are of low expansion material. Specifically, the study consisted of evaluating the mirrors with regard to: manufacturing metrology, manufacturing risk factors and ultimate quality assessment. As a result of this evaluation, a performance comparison of the configurations was made, and a recommendation of mirror configuration is the final output. These evaluations, comparisons and recommendations are discussed in detail. Other investigations were completed and are documented in the appendices.

[Prevention of Obesity and Promotion of Healthy Nutrition in Children by a Kindergarten-Based Intervention: An Evaluation Study].

PubMed

Jahn, I; Böttcher, S

2015-09-01

This outcome evaluation study has investigated different diet concepts in day-care centres and their effects on health-related dietary behaviour of children and their families. No advantage of a certain approach to manage food and diet-related activities in day-care centres could be shown. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

The Evaluation of the Effectiveness of ESP Courses in Enhancing Technical Translation Proficiency: A Case Study of ESP Course for Mechanical Engineering Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hatam, Amir Hussein; Shafiei, Shilan

2012-01-01

The purpose of the present study was twofold. Firstly, it tried to investigate the relationship between the technical English proficiency of the students of Mechanical Engineering in the universities of Iran and their technical translation proficiency in translating technical texts of Mechanics. Secondly, it attempted to evaluate the effectiveness…

Pre-Service Teachers' Evaluations of Practices in Teaching English to Young Learners in Terms of 21st Century Teacher Qualifications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çakir, Abdulvahit; Güngör, Müzeyyen Nazli

2017-01-01

This study investigates the 3rd year and 4th year pre-service teachers' evaluations of the practices in teaching English to young learners in terms of 21st century teacher qualifications. Employing a mixed methods design, this study includes the qualitative data that come from semi-structured interviewed questions administered to pre-service…

The Role of Social Evaluation in Influencing Public Speaking Anxiety of English Foreign Language Learners at Omar Al-Mukhtar University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elmenfi, Fadil; Gaibani, Ahmed

2016-01-01

This study investigates the effect of social evaluation on Public Speaking Anxiety of English foreign language learners at Omar Al-Mukhtar University in Libya. A random sample of 111 students was used in the study. To analyse the collected data, means, standard deviations, a three-way ANOVA analysis, and the correlation coefficients were used with…

The Influence of Words Categories on Translating Postgraduate Abstracts in the Field of Evaluation and Measurement at Mu'tah University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al Khotaba, Eissa; Al Magarbeh, Bassam

2015-01-01

The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of words categories on translating postgraduate students abstracts doing their M.A in Evaluation and Measurement at Mutah university in Jordan for the academic year 2014/2015. This qualitative and quantitative study includes 15 postgraduate students' abstracts in the field of Evaluation…

Maximising resource allocation in the teaching laboratory: understanding student evaluations of teaching assistants in a team-based teaching format

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolic, Sasha; Suesse, Thomas F.; McCarthy, Timothy J.; Goldfinch, Thomas L.

2017-11-01

Minimal research papers have investigated the use of student evaluations on the laboratory, a learning medium usually run by teaching assistants with little control of the content, delivery and equipment. Finding the right mix of teaching assistants for the laboratory can be an onerous task due to the many skills required including theoretical and practical know-how, troubleshooting, safety and class management. Using larger classes with multiple teaching assistants, a team-based teaching (TBT) format may be advantageous. A rigorous three-year study across twenty-five courses over repetitive laboratory classes is analysed using a multi-level statistical model considering students, laboratory classes and courses. The study is used to investigate the effectiveness of the TBT format, and quantify the influence each demonstrator has on the laboratory experience. The study found that TBT is effective and the lead demonstrator most influential, influencing up to 55% of the laboratory experience evaluation.

Technical and economic evaluation of advanced air cargo system concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitehead, A. H., Jr.

1977-01-01

The paper reviews NASA air cargo market studies, reports on NASA and NASA-sponsored studies of advanced freighter concepts, and identifies the opportunities for the application of advanced technology. The air cargo market is studied to evaluate the timing for, and the potential market response to, advanced technology aircraft. The degree of elasticity in future air freight markets is also being investigated, since the demand for a new aircraft is most favorable in a price-sensitive environment. Aircraft design studies are considered with attention to mission and design requirements, incorporation of advanced technologies in transport aircraft, new cargo aircraft concepts, advanced freighter evaluation, and civil-military design commonality.

Co-Investigator Participation in the Mars-94 Mission Studies of the Mars-Solar Wind Interaction: Topside Sounder and Magnetometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luhmann, Janet G. (Principal Investigator)

1996-01-01

The purpose of this investigation has been to provide United States co-investigator support toward the preparation of the Topside Ionospheric Sounder and Magnetometer experiments on the Russian Mars-96 (previously Mars-94) mission. The main role has been to assist in the preparation of software tools for the optimum design of the investigation and the evaluation of mission operational plans and orbits.

An Investigation into Musicians' Thoughts and Perceptions during Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Terry; Lisboa, Tânia; Williamon, Aaron

2014-01-01

Given the current state of understanding surrounding musicians' experiences while performing, this study sought to investigate musicians' thoughts and perceptions during performances and the perceived impact their evaluation of those thoughts and perceptions has on their subsequent musical activities. Twenty-nine student and professional classical…

The High-Skilled VET Practitioner: Interim Findings from the Evaluation of the Long-Term Impacts of the Framing the Future Projects in 1999-2000.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, John; Wood, Sarah; Young, Susan

Research was conducted in 2000-01 on the long-term impacts of the 200 projects funded by Australia's Framing the Future in 1999 and of the 250 conducted in 2000. Two main research methodologies (case study investigations and a survey) were used for the study. Case study investigations were conducted with the Deaf Education Network in Sydney; South…

Identifying Potential Biasing Variables in Student Evaluation of Teaching in a Newly Accredited Business Program in the UAE

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Badri, Masood A.; Abdulla, Mohamed; Kamali, Mohammed A.; Dodeen, Hamzeh

2006-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of many factors on student evaluation of teaching. Design/methodology/approach: The study analyzed 3,185 student evaluations of faculty from a newly accredited business program at the United Arab Emirates University using univariate and multi-analysis of variance (ANOVA and MANOVA).…

Engineering evaluations and studies. Report for Ku-band studies, exhibit A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dodds, J. G.; Huth, G. K.; Maronde, R. G.; Roberts, D.

1981-01-01

System performance aspects of the Ku band radar communication hardware and investigations into the Ku band/payload interfaces are discussed. The communications track problem caused by the excessive signal dynamic range at the servo input was investigated. The management/handover logic is discussed and a simplified description of the transmitter enable logic function is presented. Output noise produced by a voltage-controlled oscillator chip used in the SPA return-link channel 3 mid-bit detector is discussed. The deployed assembly (DA) and EA-2 critical design review data are evaluated. Cross coupling effects on antenna servo stability were examined. A series of meetings on the acceptance test specification for the deployed assembly is summarized.

Buffering effect of parental engagement on the relationship between corporal punishment and children's emotional/behavioral problems.

PubMed

Tong, Lian; Shinohara, Ryoji; Sugisawa, Yuka; Tanaka, Emiko; Watanabe, Taeko; Koeda, Tatsuya; Anme, Tokie

2015-06-01

Previous research has established links between corporal punishment and children's developmental problems, but few studies have investigated the moderating effect of positive parenting between corporal punishment and children's developmental difficulties in detail. This study investigated the buffering effect of parental engagement on the association between corporal punishment and children's emotional/behavioral problems. The main caregivers completed the Evaluation of Environmental Stimulation Scale (EES), which is an evaluation of daily parenting behaviors, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which evaluates children's developmental problems. Corporal punishment was associated with worse emotional and behavioral problems in children, whereas parental engagement in games or sports was associated with fewer emotional symptoms. Similarly, parental engagement in homework or housework significantly moderated the association between corporal punishment and children's behavioral problems. Parental engagement positively moderated the association between parental corporal punishment and children's developmental difficulties. This association varied with child gender. © 2015 Japan Pediatric Society.

Development of a Rubric for Collegiate Jazz Improvisation Performance Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Kendall Ryan

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a jazz improvisation rubric for the evaluation of collegiate jazz improvisation. To create this measure, research objectives were devised to investigate the aurally-observed performer-controlled components of improvisation, which aurally-observed components should be evaluated in an improvisatory…

Evaluating E-Training for Public Library Staff: A Quasi-Experimental Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dalston, Teresa

2009-01-01

A comparative evaluation framework of instructional interventions for implementation of online training for public library staff would enable a better understanding of how to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy of training in certain training environments. This dissertation describes a quasi-experimental study of a two-week,…

Evaluation of Students' Understanding of Thermal Concepts in Everyday Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chu, Hye-Eun; Treagust, David F.; Yeo, Shelley; Zadnik, Marjan

2012-01-01

The aims of this study were to determine the underlying conceptual structure of the thermal concept evaluation (TCE) questionnaire, a pencil-and-paper instrument about everyday contexts of heat, temperature, and heat transfer, to investigate students' conceptual understanding of thermal concepts in everyday contexts across several school years and…

Understanding Resident Ratings of Teaching in the Workplace: A Multi-Centre Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fluit, Cornelia R. M. G.; Feskens, Remco; Bolhuis, Sanneke; Grol, Richard; Wensing, Michel; Laan, Roland

2015-01-01

Providing clinical teachers with feedback about their teaching skills is a powerful tool to improve teaching. Evaluations are mostly based on questionnaires completed by residents. We investigated to what extent characteristics of residents, clinical teachers, and the clinical environment influenced these evaluations, and the relation between…

Oppositional Defiance, Moral Reasoning and Moral Value Evaluation as Predictors of Self-Reported Juvenile Delinquency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beerthuizen, Marinus G. C. J.; Brugman, Daniel; Basinger, Karen S.

2013-01-01

This study investigated the relationships among oppositional defiant attitudes, moral reasoning, moral value evaluation and self-reported delinquent behaviour in adolescents ("N" = 351, "M"[subscript AGE] = 13.8 years, "SD"[subscript AGE] = 1.1). Of particular interest were the moderating effects of age, educational…

Evaluating UV-C LED disinfection performance and investigating potential dual-wavelength synergy

EPA Science Inventory

This study evaluated ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting at 260 nm, 280 nm, and the combination of 260|280 nm together for their efficacy at inactivating Escherichia. coli, MS2 coliphage, human adenovirus type 2 (HAdV2), and Bacillus pumilus spores; research in...

Evaluation of innovative traffic safety devices at short-term work zones : technical summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-08-01

The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate the usage and effectiveness of innovative traffic control devices that can be used in short-term work zones. Any device to be used in short-term work zones should command the respect of driv...

Automated Scoring in Context: Rapid Assessment for Placed Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klobucar, Andrew; Elliot, Norbert; Deess, Perry; Rudniy, Oleksandr; Joshi, Kamal

2013-01-01

This study investigated the use of automated essay scoring (AES) to identify at-risk students enrolled in a first-year university writing course. An application of AES, the "Criterion"[R] Online Writing Evaluation Service was evaluated through a methodology focusing on construct modelling, response processes, disaggregation, extrapolation,…

Core Self-Evaluation and Goal Orientation: Understanding Work Stress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Michael Lane; Messal, Carrie B.; Meriac, John P.

2013-01-01

This study investigates the dispositional factors related to work stress. Specifically, previous research has demonstrated a relationship between core self-evaluation (CSE) and general life stress. This article extends past research by examining the relationship between CSE and work stress, and includes goal orientation as a potential mediator of…

Evaluation of User Acceptance of Mixed Reality Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yusoff, Rasimah Che Mohd; Zaman, Halimah Badioze; Ahmad, Azlina

2011-01-01

This study investigates users' perception and acceptance of mixed reality (MR) technology. Acceptance of new information technologies has been important research area since 1990s. It is important to understand the reasons why people accept information technologies, as this can help to improve design, evaluation and prediction how users will…

Evaluation of Teacher Candidates According to the Organization People Pattern

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuzu, Okan; Çaliskan, Nihat; Kuzu, Yasemin

2017-01-01

In this study, we evaluated teacher candidates' (TCs') behavior patterns according to the organization people pattern for some demographics such as gender, educational status, accommodation and income levels. We administered to 875 TCs the organization people pattern rating scale (OPPRS) and investigated whether behavior patterns differed…

Students' Evaluation of Their English Language Learning Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maizatulliza, M.; Kiely, R.

2017-01-01

In the field of English language teaching and learning, there is a long history of investigating students' performance while they are undergoing specific learning programmes. This research study, however, focused on students' evaluation of their English language learning experience after they have completed their programme. The data were gathered…

Are Teacher Course Evaluations Biased against Faculty That Teach Quantitative Methods Courses?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Royal, Kenneth D.; Stockdale, Myrah R.

2015-01-01

The present study investigated graduate students' responses to teacher/course evaluations (TCE) to determine if students' responses were inherently biased against faculty who teach quantitative methods courses. Item response theory (IRT) and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) techniques were utilized for data analysis. Results indicate students…

Evaluation of Attention Training and Metacognitive Facilitation to Improve Reading Comprehension in Aphasia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Jaime B.; Sohlberg, McKay Moore

2013-01-01

Purpose: This pilot study investigated the impact of direct attention training combined with metacognitive facilitation on reading comprehension in individuals with aphasia. Method: A single-subject, multiple baseline design was employed across 4 participants to evaluate potential changes in reading comprehension resulting from an 8-week…

Principals' Sensemaking and Enactment of Teacher Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rigby, Jessica G.

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to look across six first-year principals to investigate their engagement with and sensemaking of specific messages of instructional leadership around teacher evaluation. Design/methodology/approach: This research project, a cross-case study, was carried out using in-depth qualitative observations and…

Online Peer Evaluation for Assessing Perceived Academic Engagement in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oncu, Semiral

2015-01-01

Many institutions monitor academic engagement to investigate student achievement and institutional performance. Relying only on self-reports is prone to misjudgment. Peer evaluation through teamwork has the potential to substitute for measuring engagement, which has not been emphasized in the literature. This study examines whether peer evaluation…

MnROAD cells 16-23 (phase II) : forensic investigation into recycled unbound base and asphalt surface materials.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-06-01

This report presents the findings from an eight-year performance evaluation of eight cells (Cells 16-23) built at the Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD) in 2008. The constructed cells were used for two performance evaluation studies of: 1) unb...

Evaluation of therapeutic activity of hypogeous Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes from North America

Treesearch

Rita Stanikunaite; James M. Trappe; Shabana I. Khan; Samir A. Rossu

2007-01-01

This study is the first broad investigation of therapeutic activities of hypogeous truffles and trufflelike fungi (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) from North America. Twenty-two species from 12 families were evaluated in several biological assays for antimicrobial, antimalarial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antituberculosis, and anticancer activities. Biological...

Presidential Debate Watching, Issue Knowledge, Character Evaluation, and Vote Choice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benoit, William L.; Hansen, Glenn J.

2004-01-01

This study employs NES (National Election Survey) data from several presidential elections to investigate the effects of presidential debate watching on voters' issue knowledge, character evaluation, and vote choice. Debates can instill issue knowledge; however, voters are less likely to learn about incumbent presidents seeking re-election after a…

Superpave in-situ stress/strain investigation--phase II implementing (SISSI II) : draft report, evaluating the sensitivity of MEPDG to SISSI data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

The objective of the sensitivity study was to evaluate the input parameters related to AC material properties, traffic, and climate that significantly or insignificantly influence the predicted performance for two specific SISSI flexible pavements: W...

Pre-Service Teachers' Retrospective and Prospective Evaluations: Program, Self, and Teaching Profession

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ulusoy, Mustafa

2015-01-01

This study aimed to investigate teacher candidates' retrospective and prospective evaluations about the classroom teacher education program, self, and the teaching profession. Observations, interviews, focus group interviews, and surveys were used to collect data from the 240 subjects. Teacher candidates believed that the teaching profession is…

Self-Consciousness, Evaluation of Physical Characteristics, and Physical Attractiveness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turner, Robert G.; Gilliland, LuNell

1981-01-01

Investigated the relationship between public self-consciousness and speed of processing information about self. Results indicated that high public self-conciousness subjects required less time to report evaluations of their physical features. In a second study high public self-conciousness was shown to be positively related to judged physical…

The Investigation of ADHD Prevalence in Kindergarten Children in Northeast Iran and a Determination of the Criterion Validity of Conners' Questionnaire via Clinical Interview

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abdekhodaie, Zahra; Tabatabaei, Seyed Mahmood; Gholizadeh, Mortaza

2012-01-01

In this study, the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kindergarten children in northeast Iran was investigated, and the criterion validity of Conners' parent-teacher questionnaire was evaluated through the use of clinical interviews. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive research project with children in…

Thermal protection system repair kit program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

The feasibility and conceptual design aspects of repair materials and procedures for in orbit repair of the space shuttle orbiter TPS tiles are investigated. Material studies to investigate cure in place materials are described including catalyst and cure studies, ablation tests and evaluations, and support mixing and applicator design. The feasibility of the repair procedures, the storage of the TPS, dispensing, and cure problems are addressed.

Marketing approval for the lithotripter.

PubMed

Nightingale, S L; Young, F E

1986-01-01

In December 1984, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Dornier Systems (FRG) approval to market the external shock wave lithotripter (ESWL) in the USA. The Medical Device Amendments of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require that the FDA evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical devices intended for commercial distribution in the U.S. Such evaluation includes basic scientific studies, animal testing, and investigational studies in human subjects, culminating in a judgment concerning acceptable risks in terms of anticipated benefits, and whether the device is effective for its intended use. Prior to human studies in West Germany, Dornier had evaluated the destruction of stones of varying composition, measured the rate and energy of stone destruction, and tested blood samples and lymphocyte cultures exposed to shock waves. In addition, studies in both rats and dogs had demonstrated the feasibility of the technique and evidence of safety. Such data are provided by manufacturers when applying for an investigational device exemption (IDE) from the FDA, which permits clinical studies in humans; such studies also require the approval of an Institutional Review Board. The FDA approved Dornier's IDE, allowing human investigational use of the ESWL in facilities in the U.S., conducted concurrently with similar studies in West Germany. Upon completion of clinical trials, data acquired in vitro, in laboratory animals, and in human investigations are submitted to the FDA for a premarked approval application (PMAA). The Agency was given 6 months to make a decision, taking into consideration the recommendation of an advisory panel of experts from outside the Agency who had reviewed the same data. In its evaluation of the ESWL for safety and effectiveness, the FDA considered the question of alternative practices and procedures to treat nephrolithiasis, including percutaneous nephrolithotomy and open surgical procedures, and the adverse effects of such procedures. Clinical data available at the time of review for approval included reports of treatment of 667 patients in West German centers, and 327 patients treated in three U.S. facilities. Dornier and the FDA initiated discussions concerning the labeling of the device and a postmarketing surveillance plan. These were completed and marketing approval for the ESWL was granted.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peggy Robinson

This report summarizes activities that have taken place in the last 6 months (July 2004-December 2004) under the DOE-NETL cooperative agreement ''Adaptive Management and Planning Models for Cultural Resources in Oil and Gas Fields, New Mexico and Wyoming'' DE-FC26-02NT15445. This project examines the practices and results of cultural resource investigation and management in two different oil and gas producing areas of the US: southeastern New Mexico and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The project evaluates how cultural resource investigations have been conducted in the past and considers how investigation and management could be pursued differently in the future. Themore » study relies upon full database population for cultural resource inventories and resources and geomorphological studies. These are the basis for analysis of cultural resource occurrence, strategies for finding and evaluating cultural resources, and recommendations for future management practices. Activities can be summarized as occurring in either Wyoming or New Mexico.« less

Full-scale semispan tests of a business-jet wing with a natural laminar flow airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hahne, David E.; Jordan, Frank L., Jr.

1991-01-01

A full-scale semispan model was investigated to evaluate and document the low-speed, high-lift characteristics of a business-jet class wing that utilized the HSNLF(1)-0213 airfoil section and a single-slotted flap system. Also, boundary-layer transition effects were examined, a segmented leading-edge droop for improved stall/spin resistance was studied, and two roll-controlled devices were evaluated. The wind-tunnel investigation showed that deployment of single-slotted, trailing-edge flap was effective in providing substantial increments in lift required for takeoff and landing performance. Fixed-transition studies to investigate premature tripping of the boundary layer indicated no adverse effects in lift and pitching-moment characteristics for either the cruise or landing configuration. The full-scale results also suggested the need to further optimize the leading-edge droop design that was developed in the subscale tests.

Evaluations of Antigay Hate Crimes and Hate Crime Legislation: Independent and Differentially Predicted.

PubMed

Wilkinson, Wayne W; Peters, Christopher S

2017-08-11

Minimal studies have investigated individuals' evaluations of antigay hate crimes and hate crime legislation simultaneously, with most research focusing on one or the other. In a sample of 246 heterosexual undergraduates, the present study found that evaluations of antigay hate crimes and hate crime legislation were unrelated. Higher social dominance orientation (SDO) and crime control orientation scores were associated with more positive evaluations of antigay hate crimes. Positive evaluations of hate crime legislation were associated with more positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. We also found that the relationship between SDO and evaluations were mediated by crime control beliefs (for hate crimes evaluations) and antigay attitudes (for hate crime legislation evaluations). The present findings have possible implications for the manner in which organizations advocate for the extension of hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation.

12 CFR 1204.7 - Are there any exemptions from the Privacy Act?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... & Evaluative Files Database,” “FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative MIS Database,” “FHFA-OIG Hotline Database... investigation or evaluation. (ii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(1), because release of investigative or evaluative... or evaluative techniques and procedures. (iii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2), because amendment or...

12 CFR 1204.7 - Are there any exemptions from the Privacy Act?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... & Evaluative Files Database,” “FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative MIS Database,” “FHFA-OIG Hotline Database... investigation or evaluation. (ii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(1), because release of investigative or evaluative... or evaluative techniques and procedures. (iii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2), because amendment or...

12 CFR 1204.7 - Are there any exemptions from the Privacy Act?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... & Evaluative Files Database,” “FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative MIS Database,” “FHFA-OIG Hotline Database... investigation or evaluation. (ii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(1), because release of investigative or evaluative... or evaluative techniques and procedures. (iii) From 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2), because amendment or...

42 CFR 90.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... recommendations, and identify studies or actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or prevent human health effects. Health effects study means research, investigation, or study performed by ATSDR or other parties pursuant... HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND HEALTH EFFECTS STUDIES OF...

42 CFR 90.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... recommendations, and identify studies or actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or prevent human health effects. Health effects study means research, investigation, or study performed by ATSDR or other parties pursuant... HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND HEALTH EFFECTS STUDIES OF...

[Health prevention for children and adolescents in competitive sports].

PubMed

Rosenhagen, A; Pommerening, S; Vogt, L; Banzer, W

2009-12-01

The promotion of sport talents in Germany is federally standardised. Apart from the training and management support, annual sports-medical investigations with standardised procedures are mandatory for athletes' health and safety. For the first time, this study evaluates the prevalence ratio of medical findings in Hessian top athletes. The data of all athletes presenting in one of the 27 licenced examination centres in Hesse during the period of investigation were evaluated for age, sex and sports discipline as well as medical findings and a trinomial classification of the sports-related health status. The completeness of this collection in the relevant period from November 2006 to October 2007 was assured by cross-checking the application charts of all related sports associations. Data of 1620 (m: 904, 14.8 +/- 2.5 years; w: 716, 14.3 +/- 2.6 years) of all 1713 athletes presenting during the evaluation period were used for analysis. Medical findings (e. g., resulting in follow-up evaluation or further consultations) were seen in 83.5 % of all athletes. A small group (3.6 %) was temporarily, and one single athlete was completely exempted from sports participation. These results underline (additionally to the preventive capability of sports-medical investigations) the need for an annual medical consultation of juvenile athletes. Further investigations should be extended to other districts and classes and might evaluate the direct and indirect costs of diseases.

Results of winglet development studies for DC-10 derivatives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shollenberger, C. A.; Humphreys, J. W.; Heiberger, F. S.; Pearson, R. M.

1983-01-01

The results of investigations into the application of winglets to the DC-10 aircraft are presented. The DC-10 winglet configuration was developed and its cruise performance determined in a previous investigation. This study included high speed and low speed wind tunnel tests to evaluate aerodynamic characteristics, and a subsonic flutter wind tunnel test with accompanying analysis and evaluation of results. Additionally, a configuration integration study employed the results of the wind tunnel studies to determine the overall impact of the installation of winglets on the DC-10 aircraft. Conclusions derived from the high speed and low speed tests indicate that the winglets had no significant effects on the DC-10 stability characteristics or high speed buffet. It was determined that winglets had a minimal effect on aircraft lift characteristics and improved the low speed aircraft drag under high lift conditions. The winglets affected the DC-10 flutter characteristics by reducing the flutter speed of the basic critical mode and introducing a new critical mode involving outer wing torsion and longitudinal bending. The overall impact of winglets was determined to be of sufficient benefit to merit flight evaluation.

Measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: a systematic review.

PubMed

Green, Andrew; Liles, Clive; Rushton, Alison; Kyte, Derek G

2014-12-01

This systematic review investigated the measurement properties of disease-specific patient-reported outcome measures used in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Two independent reviewers conducted a systematic search of key databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINHAL+ and the Cochrane Library from inception to August 2013) to identify relevant studies. A third reviewer mediated in the event of disagreement. Methodological quality was evaluated using the validated COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) tool. Data synthesis across studies determined the level of evidence for each patient-reported outcome measure. The search strategy returned 2177 citations. Following the eligibility review phase, seven studies, evaluating twelve different patient-reported outcome measures, met inclusion criteria. A 'moderate' level of evidence supported the structural validity of several measures: the Flandry Questionnaire, Anterior Knee Pain Scale, Functional Index Questionnaire, Eng and Pierrynowski Questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scales for 'usual' and 'worst' pain. In addition, there was a 'Limited' level of evidence supporting the test-retest reliability and validity (cross-cultural, hypothesis testing) of the Persian version of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale. Other measurement properties were evaluated with poor methodological quality, and many properties were not evaluated in any of the included papers. Current disease-specific outcome measures for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome require further investigation. Future studies should evaluate all important measurement properties, utilising an appropriate framework such as COSMIN to guide study design, to facilitate optimal methodological quality. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Remedial investigation work plan for Bear Creek Valley Operable Unit 4 (shallow groundwater in Bear Creek Valley) at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-07-01

To effectively evaluate the cumulative impact of releases from multiple sources of contamination, a structured approach has been adopted for Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) based on studies of the groundwater and surface water separate from studies of the sources. Based on the realization of the complexity of the hydrogeologic regime of the ORR, together with the fact that there are numerous sources contributing to groundwater contamination within a geographical area, it was agreed that more timely investigations, at perhaps less cost, could be achieved by separating the sources of contamination from the groundwater and surface water for investigation and remediation.more » The result will be more immediate attention [Records of Decision (RODs) for interim measures or removal actions] for the source Operable Units (OUs) while longer-term remediation investigations continue for the hydrogeologic regimes, which are labeled as integrator OUs. This remedial investigation work plan contains summaries of geographical, historical, operational, geological, and hydrological information specific to the unit. Taking advantage of the historical data base and ongoing monitoring activities and applying the observational approach to focus data gathering activities will allow the feasibility study to evaluate all probable or likely alternatives.« less

Remedial Investigation work plan for Bear Creek Valley Operable Unit 4 (shallow groundwater in Bear Creek Valley) at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-09-01

To effectively evaluate the cumulative impact of releases from multiple sources of contamination, a structured approach has been adopted for Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) based on studies of the groundwater and surface water separate from studies of the sources. Based on the realization of the complexity of the hydrogeologic regime of the ORR, together with the fact that there are numerous sources contributing to groundwater contamination within a geographical area, it was agreed that more timely investigations, at perhaps less cost, could be achieved by separating the sources of contamination from the groundwater and surface water for investigation and remediation.more » The result will be more immediate attention [Records of Decision (RODS) for interim measures or removal actions] for the source Operable Units (OUs) while longer-term remediation investigations continue for the hydrogeologic regime`s, which are labeled as integrator OUs. This Remedial Investigation work plan contains summaries of geographical, historical, operational, geological, and hydrological information specific to the unit. Taking advantage of the historical data base and ongoing monitoring activities and applying the observational approach to focus data gathering activities will allow the Feasibility Study to evaluate all probable or likely alternatives.« less

Does Evidence Matter? How Middle School Students Make Decisions About Socioscientific Issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emery, Katherine Beth

People worldwide are faced with making decisions daily. While many decisions are quick (e.g., what clothes to wear), others, such as those about environmental issues (e.g., overfishing), require more thought and have less immediate outcomes. How one makes such decisions depends on how one interprets, evaluates, and uses evidence. The central objective of this thesis was to investigate environmental science literacy in general, and specifically, to understand how evidence and other factors impact decision-making. I conducted three main studies: First, I provide an example of how decision-making practices affect environmental systems and services through a descriptive case study of Atlantic bluefin tuna overfishing. I reviewed the scientific, historical and cultural factors contributing to a paradox of marine preservation in the Mediterranean and highlighted the need for education and informed decision-making about such social and ecological issues. This study motivated me to investigate how people make decisions about environmental issues. Second, I interviewed middle school students to understand how they describe and evaluate evidence hypothetically and in practice about environmental issues---a key component of environmental literacy. Students discussed how they would evaluate evidence and then were then given a packet containing multiple excerpts of information from conflicting stakeholders about an environmental issue and asked how they would make voting or purchasing decisions about these issues. Findings showed that students' ideas about evaluating evidence (e.g., by scientific and non-scientific criteria) match their practices in part. This study was unique in that it investigated how students evaluate evidence that (1) contradicts other evidence and (2), conflicts with the student's prior positions. Finally, I investigated whether middle school students used evidence when making decisions about socioscientific issues. I hypothesized that holding a strong opinion would decrease the likelihood of changing decisions when presented with additional information. Findings indicated that most students do not change their stance after reading additional evidence. Students were more likely to change their decisions about issues that they cared least about than about issues that they cared most about. Implications for science teaching and learning are discussed.

Aggression, Social Cognitions, Anger and Sadness in Bullies and Victims

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Camodeca, Marina; Goossens, Frits A.

2005-01-01

Background: The present study aimed to investigate children's social information processing (SIP) and emotions in the bullying situation, taking into account reactive and proactive aggression. More specifically, we investigated the way in which children interpret social information, which goals they select, how they evaluate their responses and…

Investigating Engineering Practice Is Valuable for Mathematics Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goold, Eileen

2015-01-01

While engineering mathematics curricula often prescribe a fixed body of mathematical knowledge, this study takes a different approach; second-year engineering students are additionally required to investigate and document an aspect of mathematics used in engineering practice. A qualitative approach is used to evaluate the impact that students'…

A Preliminary Investigation of a Randomized Dependent Group Contingency for Hallway Transitions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deshais, Meghan A.; Fisher, Alyssa B.; Kahng, SungWoo

2018-01-01

We conducted a preliminary investigation of a randomized dependent group contingency to decrease disruptive behavior during hallway transitions. Two first-graders, identified by their classroom teacher, participated in this study. A multiple baseline across transitions was used to evaluate the effects of the randomized dependent group contingency…

An international study of how laboratories handle and evaluate patient samples after detecting an unexpected APTT prolongation.

PubMed

Ajzner, Éva; Rogic, Dunja; Meijer, Piet; Kristoffersen, Ann Helen; Carraro, Paolo; Sozmen, Eser; Faria, Ana Paula; Sandberg, Sverre

2015-09-01

An unexpectedly detected prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) can be a harmless laboratory finding, but can also reflect a thrombotic tendency or a bleeding disorder. The assistance of laboratory professionals in the interpretation of an unexpectedly detected prolonged APTT (uAPTT) is often required. The way in which uAPTTs are evaluated in laboratories was assessed in this international study with the aim of determining whether laboratory professionals are able to fulfill this need. Postanalytical practices after uAPTT were investigated and the mixing study methodology (if used) was studied by circulating a case report with a questionnaire to staff in the invited laboratories. In addition, the interpretations of those staff regarding the presence or absence of inhibitors in three APTT mixing study scenarios were examined. Large within- and between-country variations were detected in both postanalytical practices and mixing study methodologies among the 990 responding laboratories, 90% of which were in 13 countries. Shortcomings regarding the investigation of uAPTTs leading to potentially incorrect or delayed clinical diagnoses were found in 88% of the laboratories. Of the laboratories to which the interpretative questions were sent, 49% interpreted all mixing study scenarios correctly. uAPTTs were investigated appropriately and all mixing study scenarios interpreted correctly in parallel in only 9.6% of the participating laboratories. The clinical requirement for the assistance of laboratory professionals in the interpretation of uAPTTs cannot be met at most of the participating laboratories. Laboratory professionals should be trained in the evaluation of ordinary laboratory tests, such as that for uAPTTs.

BLAST: Building energy simulation in Hong Kong

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fong, Sai-Keung

1999-11-01

The characteristics of energy use in buildings under local weather conditions were studied and evaluated using the energy simulation program BLAST-3.0. The parameters used in the energy simulation for the study and evaluation include the architectural features, different internal building heat load settings and weather data. In this study, mathematical equations and the associated coefficients useful to the industry were established. A technology for estimating energy use in buildings under local weather conditions was developed by using the results of this study. A weather data file of Typical Meteorological Years (TMY) has been compiled for building energy studies by analyzing and evaluating the weather of Hong Kong from the year 1979 to 1988. The weather data file TMY and the example weather years 1980 and 1988 were used by BLAST-3.0 to evaluate and study the energy use in different buildings. BLAST-3.0 was compared with other building energy simulation and approximation methods: Bin method and Degree Days method. Energy use in rectangular compartments of different volumes varying from 4,000 m3 to 40,000 m3 with different aspect ratios were analyzed. The use of energy in buildings with concrete roofs was compared with those with glass roofs at indoor temperature 21°C, 23°C and 25°C. Correlation relationships among building energy, space volume, monthly mean temperature and solar radiation were derived and investigated. The effects of space volume, monthly mean temperature and solar radiation on building energy were evaluated. The coefficients of the mathematical relationships between space volume and energy use in a building were computed and found satisfactory. The calculated coefficients can be used for quick estimation of energy use in buildings under similar situations. To study energy use in buildings, the cooling load per floor area against room volume was investigated. The case of an air-conditioned single compartment with 5 m ceiling height was evaluated. It was found that the supply of cool air to the lower portion of the compartment provided significant performance of space cooling. The mathematical relationships between different shading patterns and different glass window to wall ratios of single compartments were established to provide a guide for easy approximation of energy use under similar conditions. In addition, the Overall Thermal Transfer Values (OTTV) for the compartments were studied. The monthly and annual energy use of three realistic buildings were investigated. They were a commercial building, an industrial building and a dual-purpose building. The cooling loads per floor area for the buildings were studied and the OTTV were evaluated by two different methods. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the impact of the parameters of internal heat gains on the energy use of an academic building. It was found that there was major influence of indoor temperature setting on building energy use The performances of using the local weather data file of TMY and example weather years 1980 and 1989 were evaluated. TMY was found to be the most suitable for energy simulation while the weather years 1980 and 1989 yielded good results.

When the third party observer of a neuropsychological evaluation is an audio-recorder.

PubMed

Constantinou, Marios; Ashendorf, Lee; McCaffrey, Robert J

2002-08-01

The presence of third parties during neuropsychological evaluations is an issue of concern for contemporary neuropsychologists. Previous studies have reported that the presence of an observer during neuropsychological testing alters the performance of individuals under evaluation. The present study sought to investigate whether audio-recording affects the neuropsychological test performance of individuals in the same way that third party observation does. In the presence of an audio-recorder the performance of the participants on memory tests declined. Performance on motor tests, on the other hand, was not affected by the presence of an audio-recorder. The implications of these findings in forensic neuropsychological evaluations are discussed.

Satellite Power System (SPS) financial/management scenarios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vajk, J. P.

1978-01-01

The possible benefits of a Satellite Power System (SPS) program, both domestically and internationally, justify detailed and imaginative investigation of the issues involved in financing and managing such a large-scale program. In this study, ten possible methods of financing a SPS program are identified ranging from pure government agency to private corporations. The following were analyzed and evaluated: (1) capital requirements for SPS; (2) ownership and control; (3) management principles; (4) organizational forms for SPS; (5) criteria for evaluation; (6) detailed description and preliminary evaluation of alternatives; (7) phased approaches; and (8) comparative evaluation. Key issues and observations and recommendations for further study are also presented.

Content Aggregations for Reading Skills and Mathematics for the Comparative Study of Phase IV of the IGE Evaluation Project. Phase IV, Project Paper 80-3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nerenz, Anne G.; Webb, Norman L.

This is one of a series of reports which provide definitions of and descriptive data on the variables used in the Comparative Study of Phase IV of the Individually Guided Education (IEG) Evaluation Project. Phase IV investigated three curriculum programs specifically designed to be compatible with instructional programming for the individual…

Evaluating the Effects of Medical Explorers a Case Study Curriculum on Critical Thinking, Attitude toward Life Science, and Motivational Learning Strategies in Rural High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brand, Lance G.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was three-fold: to measure the ability of the "Medical Explorers" case-based curriculum to improve higher order thinking skills; to evaluate the impact of the "Medical Explorers" case-based curriculum to help students be self directed learners; and to investigate the impact of the "Medical…

An Investigation of Run-Time Operations in a Heterogeneous Desktop Grid Environment: The Texas Tech University Desktop Grid Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perez, Jerry F.

2013-01-01

The goal of the dissertation study was to evaluate the existing DG scheduling algorithm. The evaluation was developed through previously explored simulated analyses of DGs performed by researchers in the field of DG scheduling optimization and to improve the current RT framework of the DG at TTU. The author analyzed the RT of an actual DG, thereby…

Strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation processes in hospital systems: a survey from Iran.

PubMed

Sadeghifar, Jamil; Jafari, Mehdi; Tofighi, Shahram; Ravaghi, Hamid; Maleki, Mohammad Reza

2014-09-28

Strategic planning has been presented as an important management practice. However, evidence of its deployment in healthcare systems in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. This study investigated the strategic management process in Iranian hospitals. The present study was accomplished in 24 teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran from September 2012 to March 2013. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire including 130 items. This questionnaire measured the situation of formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic plan as well as the requirements, facilitators, and its benefits in the studied hospitals. All the investigated hospitals had a strategic plan. The obtained percentages for the items "the rate of the compliance to requirements" and "the quantity of planning facilitators" (68.75%), attention to the stakeholder participation in the planning (55.74%), attention to the planning components (62.22%), the status of evaluating strategic plan (59.94%) and the benefits of strategic planning for hospitals (65.15%) were in the medium limit. However, the status of implementation of the strategic plan (53.71%) was found to be weak. Significant statistical correlations were observed between the incentive for developing strategic plan and status of evaluating phase (P=0.04), and between status of implementation phase and having a documented strategic plan (P=0.03). According to the results, it seems that absence of appropriate internal incentive for formulating and implementing strategies led more hospitals to start formulation strategic planning in accordance with the legal requirements of Ministry of Health. Consequently, even though all the investigated hospital had the documented strategic plan, the plan has not been implemented efficiently and valid evaluation of results is yet to be achieved.

Strategic Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Processes in Hospital Systems: A Survey From Iran

PubMed Central

Sadeghifar, Jamil; Jafari, Mehdi; Tofighi, Shahram; Ravaghi, Hamid; Maleki, Mohammad Reza

2015-01-01

Aim & Background: Strategic planning has been presented as an important management practice. However, evidence of its deployment in healthcare systems in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. This study investigated the strategic management process in Iranian hospitals. Methods: The present study was accomplished in 24 teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran from September 2012 to March 2013. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire including 130 items. This questionnaire measured the situation of formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic plan as well as the requirements, facilitators, and its benefits in the studied hospitals. Results: All the investigated hospitals had a strategic plan. The obtained percentages for the items “the rate of the compliance to requirements” and “the quantity of planning facilitators” (68.75%), attention to the stakeholder participation in the planning (55.74%), attention to the planning components (62.22%), the status of evaluating strategic plan (59.94%) and the benefits of strategic planning for hospitals (65.15%) were in the medium limit. However, the status of implementation of the strategic plan (53.71%) was found to be weak. Significant statistical correlations were observed between the incentive for developing strategic plan and status of evaluating phase (P=0.04), and between status of implementation phase and having a documented strategic plan (P=0.03). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that absence of appropriate internal incentive for formulating and implementing strategies led more hospitals to start formulation strategic planning in accordance with the legal requirements of Ministry of Health. Consequently, even though all the investigated hospital had the documented strategic plan, the plan has not been implemented efficiently and valid evaluation of results is yet to be achieved. PMID:25716385

Study of an ATC baseline for the evaluation of team configurations : information requirements.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-01-01

This study investigated the information needs of Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs) relative to their working position. The working positions used in this study included the current radar ATCS position and the concept airspace coordinator positi...

Assessment of a Pesticide Exposure Intensity Algorithm in the Agricultural Health Study

EPA Science Inventory

The accuracy of the exposure assessment is a critical factor in epidemiological investigations of pesticide exposures and health in agricultural populations. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate questionnaire-based exposure metrics. The Agricultural Health Study...

Development and initial evaluation of an instrument to assess physiotherapists' clinical reasoning focused on clients' behavior change.

PubMed

Elvén, Maria; Hochwälder, Jacek; Dean, Elizabeth; Söderlund, Anne

2018-05-01

A systematically developed and evaluated instrument is needed to support investigations of physiotherapists' clinical reasoning integrated with the process of clients' behavior change. This study's aim was to develop an instrument to assess physiotherapy students' and physiotherapists' clinical reasoning focused on clients' activity-related behavior and behavior change, and initiate its evaluation, including feasibility and content validity. The study was conducted in three phases: 1) determination of instrument structure and item generation, based on a model, guidelines for assessing clinical reasoning, and existing measures; 2) cognitive interviews with five physiotherapy students to evaluate item understanding and feasibility; and 3) a Delphi process with 18 experts to evaluate content relevance. Phase 1 resulted in an instrument with four domains: Physiotherapist; Input from client; Functional behavioral analysis; and Strategies for behavior change. The instrument consists of case scenarios followed by items in which key features are identified, prioritized, or interpreted. Phase 2 resulted in revisions of problems and approval of feasibility. Phase 3 demonstrated high level of consensus regarding the instrument's content relevance. This feasible and content-validated instrument shows potential for use in investigations of physiotherapy students' and physiotherapists' clinical reasoning, however continued development and testing are needed.

The Etiology of Mathematical Self-Evaluation and Mathematics Achievement: Understanding the Relationship Using a Cross-Lagged Twin Study from Ages 9 to 12

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luo, Yu L. L.; Kovas, Yulia; Haworth, Claire M. A.; Plomin, Robert

2011-01-01

The genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in mathematical self-evaluation over time and its association with later mathematics achievement were investigated in a UK sample of 2138 twin pairs at ages 9 and 12. Self-evaluation indexed how good children think they are at mathematical activities and how much they like those…

A performance evaluation model for the Stock Point Logistics Integrated Communication Environment (SPLICE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, J. B.

1985-09-01

This thesis investigates ways of improving the real-time performance of the Stockpoint Logistics Integrated Communication Environment (SPLICE). Performance evaluation through continuous monitoring activities and performance studies are the principle vehicles discussed. The method for implementing this performance evaluation process is the measurement of predefined performance indexes. Performance indexes for SPLICE are offered that would measure these areas. Existing SPLICE capability to carry out performance evaluation is explored, and recommendations are made to enhance that capability.

Hydrogeochemical investigations in the Osgood mountains, north-central Nevada. Chapter B.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wanty, Richard B.; Berger, Byron R.; Tuttle, Michele L.W.; Briggs, Paul H.; Meier, Allen L.; Crock, James G.; Stillings, Lisa L.

2006-01-01

Field investigations performed in the Osgood Mountains during the summers of 1999 and 2000 were designed to test methods of combining geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical investigations. The goals were to develop a more thorough understanding of the movement of water through the study area and to understand the water-rock reactions that may occur along flow paths. The Osgood Mountains were chosen for study because they represent a well-defined geologic system, based on existing and new field data. New work in the area focused on gathering more data about fractures, faults, and joints and on collecting water samples to evaluate the role of geologic structures on hydrologic and geochemical properties of the ground-water/surface-water system. Chemical methods employed in the study included measuring traditional field parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen) as well as Fe2+ and collecting a variety of samples that were preserved for later laboratory analysis. Hydrologic methods included closely spaced evaluations of substream hydraulic head to define ground-water discharge and recharge zones as well as some measurements of stream discharge. Geologic investigations focused on the locations and orientations of fractures and kinematic indicators of slip observable in outcrops.

Does Cancer Literature Reflect Multidisciplinary Practice? A Systematic Review of Oncology Studies in the Medical Literature Over a 20-Year Period

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holliday, Emma B.; Ahmed, Awad A.; Yoo, Stella K.

Purpose: Quality cancer care is best delivered through a multidisciplinary approach requiring awareness of current evidence for all oncologic specialties. The highest impact journals often disseminate such information, so the distribution and characteristics of oncology studies by primary intervention (local therapies, systemic therapies, and targeted agents) were evaluated in 10 high-impact journals over a 20-year period. Methods and Materials: Articles published in 1994, 2004, and 2014 in New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Annals ofmore » Surgical Oncology, and European Journal of Surgical Oncology were identified. Included studies were prospectively conducted and evaluated a therapeutic intervention. Results: A total of 960 studies were included: 240 (25%) investigated local therapies, 551 (57.4%) investigated systemic therapies, and 169 (17.6%) investigated targeted therapies. More local therapy trials (n=185 [77.1%]) evaluated definitive, primary treatment than systemic (n=178 [32.3%]) or targeted therapy trials (n=38 [22.5%]; P<.001). Local therapy trials (n=16 [6.7%]) also had significantly lower rates of industry funding than systemic (n=207 [37.6%]) and targeted therapy trials (n=129 [76.3%]; P<.001). Targeted therapy trials represented 5 (2%), 38 (10.2%), and 126 (38%) of those published in 1994, 2004, and 2014, respectively (P<.001), and industry-funded 48 (18.9%), 122 (32.6%), and 182 (54.8%) trials, respectively (P<.001). Compared to publication of systemic therapy trial articles, articles investigating local therapy (odds ratio: 0.025 [95% confidence interval: 0.012-0.048]; P<.001) were less likely to be found in high-impact general medical journals. Conclusions: Fewer studies evaluating local therapies, such as surgery and radiation, are published in high-impact oncology and medicine literature. Further research and attention are necessary to guide efforts promoting appropriate representation of all oncology studies in high-impact, broad-readership journals.« less

Vitamin D levels do not predict the stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A PRISMA compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of pooled data

PubMed Central

Saberi, Behnam; Dadabhai, Alia S; Nanavati, Julie; Wang, Lin; Shinohara, Russell T; Mullin, Gerard E

2018-01-01

AIM To investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and fibrosis stage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS Two individual reviewers identified relevant studies using the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Studies that evaluated adults with NAFLD and serum or plasma 25(OH)D levels; and (2) assessed fibrosis stage using liver biopsy. A rigorous analysis yielded six articles as having sufficient data to employ in evaluating the association of serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD based on their liver fibrosis stage by histopathological analysis. The lead investigators of each of the six studies were contacted and the data were collected. To meta-analyze vitamin D levels in F0-F2 vs F3-F4 fibrosis, a random-effects meta-analysis fit using restricted maximum likelihood was applied. To examine trends across each stage of fibrosis with respect to vitamin D levels, a meta-regression was performed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 937 subjects from six studies were included in the final analysis to evaluate the association of serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD based on their liver fibrosis stage by histopathological analysis. The lead investigators of each of the six studies were contacted and the data were collected. First, the investigators performed a meta-analysis to compare serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD with stage F0-F2 compared to F3-F4, which did not show significance [meta-estimate of the pooled mean difference = -0.86, P = 0.08 (-4.17, 2.46)]. A meta-regression evaluation of serum vitamin 25 (OH)D levels across the individual stages (F0-F4) of fibrosis did not show an association for the six included studies. CONCLUSION Low vitamin D status is not associated with higher stages of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. PMID:29399288

Does Cancer Literature Reflect Multidisciplinary Practice? A Systematic Review of Oncology Studies in the Medical Literature Over a 20-Year Period.

PubMed

Holliday, Emma B; Ahmed, Awad A; Yoo, Stella K; Jagsi, Reshma; Hoffman, Karen E

2015-07-15

Quality cancer care is best delivered through a multidisciplinary approach requiring awareness of current evidence for all oncologic specialties. The highest impact journals often disseminate such information, so the distribution and characteristics of oncology studies by primary intervention (local therapies, systemic therapies, and targeted agents) were evaluated in 10 high-impact journals over a 20-year period. Articles published in 1994, 2004, and 2014 in New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Annals of Surgical Oncology, and European Journal of Surgical Oncology were identified. Included studies were prospectively conducted and evaluated a therapeutic intervention. A total of 960 studies were included: 240 (25%) investigated local therapies, 551 (57.4%) investigated systemic therapies, and 169 (17.6%) investigated targeted therapies. More local therapy trials (n=185 [77.1%]) evaluated definitive, primary treatment than systemic (n=178 [32.3%]) or targeted therapy trials (n=38 [22.5%]; P<.001). Local therapy trials (n=16 [6.7%]) also had significantly lower rates of industry funding than systemic (n=207 [37.6%]) and targeted therapy trials (n=129 [76.3%]; P<.001). Targeted therapy trials represented 5 (2%), 38 (10.2%), and 126 (38%) of those published in 1994, 2004, and 2014, respectively (P<.001), and industry-funded 48 (18.9%), 122 (32.6%), and 182 (54.8%) trials, respectively (P<.001). Compared to publication of systemic therapy trial articles, articles investigating local therapy (odds ratio: 0.025 [95% confidence interval: 0.012-0.048]; P<.001) were less likely to be found in high-impact general medical journals. Fewer studies evaluating local therapies, such as surgery and radiation, are published in high-impact oncology and medicine literature. Further research and attention are necessary to guide efforts promoting appropriate representation of all oncology studies in high-impact, broad-readership journals. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Vitamin D levels do not predict the stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A PRISMA compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of pooled data.

PubMed

Saberi, Behnam; Dadabhai, Alia S; Nanavati, Julie; Wang, Lin; Shinohara, Russell T; Mullin, Gerard E

2018-01-27

To investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and fibrosis stage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Two individual reviewers identified relevant studies using the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Studies that evaluated adults with NAFLD and serum or plasma 25(OH)D levels; and (2) assessed fibrosis stage using liver biopsy. A rigorous analysis yielded six articles as having sufficient data to employ in evaluating the association of serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD based on their liver fibrosis stage by histopathological analysis. The lead investigators of each of the six studies were contacted and the data were collected. To meta-analyze vitamin D levels in F0-F2 vs F3-F4 fibrosis, a random-effects meta-analysis fit using restricted maximum likelihood was applied. To examine trends across each stage of fibrosis with respect to vitamin D levels, a meta-regression was performed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 937 subjects from six studies were included in the final analysis to evaluate the association of serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD based on their liver fibrosis stage by histopathological analysis. The lead investigators of each of the six studies were contacted and the data were collected. First, the investigators performed a meta-analysis to compare serum vitamin D levels in patients with NAFLD with stage F0-F2 compared to F3-F4, which did not show significance [meta-estimate of the pooled mean difference = -0.86, P = 0.08 (-4.17, 2.46)]. A meta-regression evaluation of serum vitamin 25 (OH)D levels across the individual stages (F0-F4) of fibrosis did not show an association for the six included studies. Low vitamin D status is not associated with higher stages of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Towards improving diagnosis of memory loss in general practice: TIMeLi diagnostic test accuracy study protocol.

PubMed

Creavin, Sam T; Cullum, Sarah J; Haworth, Judy; Wye, Lesley; Bayer, Antony; Fish, Mark; Purdy, Sarah; Ben-Shlomo, Yoav

2016-07-19

People with cognitive problems, and their families, report distress and uncertainty whilst undergoing evaluation for dementia and perceive that traditional diagnostic evaluation in secondary care is insufficiently patient centred. The James Lind Alliance has prioritised research to investigate the role of primary care in supporting a more effective diagnostic pathway, and the topic is also of interest to health commissioners. However, there are very few studies that investigate the accuracy of diagnostic tests for dementia in primary care. We will conduct a prospective diagnostic test accuracy study to evaluate the accuracy of a range of simple tests for diagnosing all-cause-dementia in symptomatic people aged over 70 years who have consulted with their general practitioner (GP). We will invite eligible people to attend a research clinic where they will undergo a range of index tests that a GP could perform in the surgery and also be assessed by a specialist in memory disorders at the same appointment. Participating GPs will request neuroimaging and blood tests and otherwise manage patients in line with their usual clinical practice. The reference standard will be the consensus judgement of three experts (neurologist, psychiatrist and geriatrician) based on information from the specialist assessment, GP records and investigations, but not including items in the index test battery. The target condition will be all-cause dementia but we will also investigate diagnostic accuracy for sub-types where possible. We will use qualitative interviews with patients and focus groups with clinicians to help us understand the acceptability and feasibility of diagnosing dementia in primary care using the tests that we are investigating. Our results will help clinicians decide on which tests to perform in someone where there is concern about possible dementia and inform commissioning of diagnostic pathways.

Young Children's Understandings of Length Measurement: Evaluating a Learning Trajectory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szilagyi, Janka; Clements, Douglas H.; Sarama, Julie

2013-01-01

This study investigated the development of length measurement ideas in students from prekindergarten through 2nd grade. The main purpose was to evaluate and elaborate the developmental progression, or levels of thinking, of a hypothesized learning trajectory for length measurement to ensure that the sequence of levels of thinking is consistent…

Evaluating Existing and New Validity Evidence for the Academic Motivation Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fairchild, Amanda J.; Horst, S. Jeanne; Finney, Sara J.; Barron, Kenneth E.

2005-01-01

The current study evaluates existing and new validity evidence for the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS; Vallerand et al., 1992). We first provide a narrative review synthesizing past research, and then conduct a validity investigation of the scores from the measure. Data analysis using a sample of 1406 American college students provided construct…

A Study of Student Completion Strategies in a Likert-Type Course Evaluation Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gee, Nick

2017-01-01

This article investigates the motivations and strategies employed by respondents to a Likert-style course evaluation at a UK university. These attitude surveys, generating large amounts of quantitative data, are commonly used in quality assurance procedures across UK higher education institutions. Similar student survey results are now scrutinised…

Preliminary Investigation of a Stress Prevention and Mindfulness Group for Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reiser, Jenson E.; McCarthy, Christopher J.

2018-01-01

This exploratory study evaluated a short-term (6-8 weeks) psychoeducation and support group for teachers focused on stress prevention and mindfulness (labeled SPAM group). A total of 4 groups were implemented in different schools, and evaluation was conducted with quantitative (pre- and post-measures of teacher vulnerability to stress, job…

Evaluation of Intrarehearsal Achievement by Listeners of Varying Levels of Expertise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montemayor, Mark

2016-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate expertise-related differences in the evaluation of moment-to-moment rehearsal achievement. Nonmusic majors, music education majors, and expert music teachers (N = 60) listened to 18 "before" and "after" pairs of rehearsal trials of various high school bands in their pursuit…

The Impact of the Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique on Course Evaluations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maurer, Trent W.; Kropp, Jerri J.

2015-01-01

This project reports the results of two studies that investigated the impact on course evaluations of using partial credit iterative responding (PCIR) with the Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT) forms on summative course assessments. This project also quantifies grade inflation from utilizing different PCIR schemes and documents the…

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Anatomy Learning Experiences Questionnaire and Correlations with Learning Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi-Lundberg, Derek L.; Williams, Anne-Marie M.; Zimitat, Craig

2017-01-01

The Anatomy Learning Experiences Questionnaire (ALEQ) was designed by Smith and Mathias to explore students' perceptions and experiences of learning anatomy. In this study, the psychometric properties of a slightly altered 34-item ALEQ (ALEQ-34) were evaluated, and correlations with learning outcomes investigated, by surveying first- and…

Conceptual Distance and Word Learning: Patterns of Acquisition in Samoan-English Bilingual Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hemsley, Gayle; Holm, Alison; Dodd, Barbara

2013-01-01

This study investigated cross-linguistic influence in acquisition of a second lexicon, evaluating Samoan-English sequentially bilingual children (initial mean age 4 ; 9) during their first 18 months of school. Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary tasks evaluated acquisition of four word types: cognates, matched nouns, phrasal nouns and holonyms.…

Evaluation of Eleventh Grade Turkish Pupils' Comprehension of General Chemistry Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belge Can, Hatice; Boz, Yezdan

2011-01-01

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate eleventh grade Turkish pupils' comprehension of various general chemistry concepts which in turn enables to investigate chemistry concepts which are easier and harder for students to comprehend. Examining the effect of gender and last semester chemistry course grades on pupils' comprehension of general…

The Interface of Opinion, Understanding and Evaluation While Learning about a Socioscientific Issue

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Witzig, Stephen B.; Halverson, Kristy L.; Siegel, Marcelle A.; Freyermuth, Sharyn K.

2013-01-01

Scientific literacy is an important goal for science education, especially within controversial socioscientific issues. In this study, we analysed 143 students' research reports about stem cell research (SCR) for how they addressed specific source evaluation criteria provided within the assignment. We investigated students' opinions about SCR, how…

Attachment and Self-Evaluation in Chinese Adolescents: Age and Gender Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Song, Hairong; Thompson, Ross A.; Ferrer, Emilio

2009-01-01

This study investigated age and gender differences in the quality of attachment to mothers, fathers, and peers, and the association of attachment with measures of self-evaluation in 584 Chinese adolescents in junior high, high school, and university. Their responses to the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment indexed attachment quality, and…

ERPs Associated with Monitoring and Evaluation of Monetary Reward and Punishment in Children with ADHD

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Meel, Catharina S.; Heslenfeld, Dirk J.; Oosterlaan, Jaap; Luman, Marjolein; Sergeant, Joseph A.

2011-01-01

Background: Several models of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) propose abnormalities in the response to behavioural contingencies. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), the present study investigated the monitoring and subsequent evaluation of performance feedback resulting in either reward or punishment in children with ADHD (N =…

Personal Striving Level and Self-Evaluation Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orias, John; Leung, Lisa; Dosanj, Shikha; McAnlis, JoAnna; Levy, Gal; Sheposh, John P.

Three studies were conducted to determine if goal striving level was related to accurate self-knowledge. The purpose of the research was to determine if the tendency of high strivers to confront stressful stimuli extends to self-evaluation processes. Three experiments were designed to investigate whether high strivers differ from low strivers in…

Course Recommendation as a Construct in Student Evaluations: Will Students Recommend Your Course?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ang, Lawrence; Breyer, Yvonne Alexandra; Pitt, Joseph

2018-01-01

"Recommendation" is a highly credible and powerful construct in marketing. This article investigates the construct "intention to recommend" in the context of student evaluations of teaching. Motivated by changes in the sector, the study explores what factors drive course recommendation and their relationship with each other. A…

Evaluating Math Recovery: Investigating Tutor Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Sarah Elizabeth; Smith, Thomas

2010-01-01

The goal of the overall study was to evaluate the potential of Math Recovery (MR), a pullout, one-to-one tutoring program, to increase mathematics achievement among low-performing first graders, thereby closing the school-entry achievement gap by enabling them to achieve at the level of their higher-performing peers in the regular mathematics…

Does Gender Impact Business Students' Perceptions of Teaching Effectiveness?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korte, Leon; Lavin, Angeline; Davies, Thomas

2013-01-01

While there are certainly differences of opinion regarding teaching effectiveness, the goal of this study is to investigate whether there is consistency or differences in opinion based on the gender of the student doing the evaluation of the instructor or the gender of the instructor being evaluated. This paper summarizes the gender-based findings…

"Good Writing" in Increasingly Internationalized U.S. Universities: How Instructors Evaluate Different Written Varieties of English

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collier, Lizabeth C.

2014-01-01

This study investigates how university instructors from various disciplines at a large, comprehensive university in the United States evaluate different varieties of English from countries considered "outer circle" (OC) countries, formerly colonized countries where English has been transplanted and is now used unofficially and officially…

Conceptual Paradigms and Empirical Investigations for Evaluating INTELSAT's Past Performance and Future Prospects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snow, Marcellus S.

This paper summarizes the results of a recent study of the past performance and future prospects of the International Telecommunications Satellite (INTELSAT) Organization. First, an overview of INTELSAT's history is provided and major policy issues are detailed. Five alternative paradigms are then presented through which to evaluate INTELSAT's…

Perceptions of Risk Factors for School Violence: Concordance with FBI Risk Profile

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wetterneck, Chad; Sass, Daniel A.; Davies, W. Hobart

2004-01-01

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, 2000) recently released a report on common background characteristics of school shooters, which also stressed the importance of evaluating the reality of threat. The present study evaluated respondents' ability to discriminate between an unrealistic and a realistic threat and between a low and high risk…

Perceptions of Risk Factors for School Violence: Concordance with FBI Risk Profile

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wetterneck, Chad; Sass, Daniel A.; Davies, W. Hobart

2005-01-01

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, 2000) recently released a report on common background characteristics of school shooters, which also stressed the importance of evaluating the reality of threat. The present study evaluated respondents' ability to discriminate between an unrealistic and a realistic threat and between a low and high risk…

The Design of Scaffolding in Game-Based Learning: A Formative Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weppel, Sheri; Bishop, Mj; Munoz-Avila, Hector

2012-01-01

Instructional games fluctuate between "restricted play" and "free play." Highly structured games with lots of corrective feedback can be less engaging, whereas unstructured games with minimal feedback can lead to frustration. This mixed methods, formative evaluation study investigated how designers might find the balance between too much and too…

Binocular Coordination during Reading and Non-Reading Tasks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirkby, Julie A.; Webster, Lisa A. D.; Blythe, Hazel I.; Liversedge, Simon P.

2008-01-01

The goal of this review is to evaluate the literature on binocular coordination during reading and non-reading tasks in adult, child, and dyslexic populations. The review begins with a description of the basic characteristics of eye movements during reading. Then, reading and non-reading studies investigating binocular coordination are evaluated.…

6- And 8-Year-Olds' Performance Evaluations: Do They Differ between Self And Unknown Others?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Destan, Nesrin; Spiess, Manuela A.; de Bruin, Anique; van Loon, Mariëtte; Roebers, Claudia M.

2017-01-01

The current study investigated kindergarteners and second graders' ability to monitor and evaluate their own and a virtual peer's performance in a paired-associate learning task. Participants provided confidence judgments (CJs) for their own responses and performance-based judgments (judgments provided "after" receiving feedback on their…

Approaches for Combining Multiple Measures of Teacher Performance: Reliability, Validity, and Implications for Evaluation Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martínez, José Felipe; Schweig, Jonathan; Goldschmidt, Pete

2016-01-01

A key question facing teacher evaluation systems is how to combine multiple measures of complex constructs into composite indicators of performance. We use data from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study to investigate the measurement properties of composite indicators obtained under various conjunctive, disjunctive (or complementary),…

Variability in Students' Evaluating Processes in Peer Assessment with Calibrated Peer Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russell, J.; Van Horne, S.; Ward, A. S.; Bettis, E. A., III; Gikonyo, J.

2017-01-01

This study investigated students' evaluating process and their perceptions of peer assessment when they engaged in peer assessment using Calibrated Peer Review. Calibrated Peer Review is a web-based application that facilitates peer assessment of writing. One hundred and thirty-two students in an introductory environmental science course…

Seventh Graders' Ways of Reasoning in Evaluating and Generating Arguments about Climate Change Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Soyoung

2011-01-01

The present study explored how seventh graders develop their understanding of climate change issues. Particularly, I focused on identifying students' ways of reasoning in evaluating and generating arguments. I also investigated whether students reason differently about climate change issues depending on the relevance of the issues to their daily…

Peer Preference: A Way of Evaluating Social Competence and Behavioural Well-Being in Early Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Öneren Sendil, Çagla; Tantekin Erden, Feyza

2014-01-01

This study investigated the differences in peer preference, gender and temperamental characteristics of children aged five to six in relation to their social competence (SC) and behavioural adaptation. The data were collected through the use of "Picture Sociometry Scale", "SC and Behaviour Evaluation Scale" and "Short…

An Evaluation of Characteristics of Environmental Education Practice in New Zealand Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eames, Chris; Cowie, Bronwen; Bolstad, Rachel

2008-01-01

This paper reports on a national evaluation project that investigated characteristics of environmental education (EE) practice in New Zealand schools in 2002-2003. The research included a review of New Zealand and international environmental education literature, a survey of nearly 200 New Zealand schools and case studies of environmental…

An Entertainment-Education Study of Stereotypes and Prejudice against Fat Women: An Evaluation of "Fat Pig"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gesser-Edelsburg, Anat; Endevelt, Ronit

2011-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the impact of "Fat Pig" on the attitudes of high school students towards fat women and investigate the perspective of dietitians as health professionals on the messages in "Fat Pig." Design: Performance analysis, pre-post analysis of students' responses to self-administrated pre-constructed…

Evaluating ATM Technology for Distance Education in Library and Information Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanford, Serena W.

1997-01-01

Investigates the impact of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology in an interactive environment providing distance education in library and information science at two San Jose State University (California) sites. The main purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid evaluation instrument. Contains 6 tables. (Author/AEF)

Pre-Service Teachers' Evaluation of Their Mentor Teachers, School Experiences, and Theory-Practice Relationship

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alemdag, Ecenaz; Simsek, Pinar Özdemir

2017-01-01

This case study investigated practicum experiences of pre-service teachers by focusing on their evaluation of mentor teachers, school experiences, and theory-practice relationships. Interviews were conducted with six teacher candidates, and observations in the participants' practice schools were made. The results revealed that mentor teachers had…

Evaluation of Pre-Service Teachers' Images of Science Teaching in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yilmaz, Hulya; Turkmen, Hakan; Pedersen, Jon E.; Huyuguzel Cavas, Pinar

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary pre-service teachers' image of science teaching, analyze the gender differences in image of science teaching, and evaluate restructured 2004 education reform by using a Draw-A-Science-Teacher-Test Checklist (DASTT-C). Two hundred thirteen (213) pre-service elementary teachers from three…

Reliability in perceptual analysis of voice quality.

PubMed

Bele, Irene Velsvik

2005-12-01

This study focuses on speaking voice quality in male teachers (n = 35) and male actors (n = 36), who represent untrained and trained voice users, because we wanted to investigate normal and supranormal voices. In this study, both substantial and methodologic aspects were considered. It includes a method for perceptual voice evaluation, and a basic issue was rater reliability. A listening group of 10 listeners, 7 experienced speech-language therapists, and 3 speech-language therapist students evaluated the voices by 15 vocal characteristics using VA scales. Two sets of voice signals were investigated: text reading (2 loudness levels) and sustained vowel (3 levels). The results indicated a high interrater reliability for most perceptual characteristics. Connected speech was evaluated more reliably, especially at the normal level, but both types of voice signals were evaluated reliably, although the reliability for connected speech was somewhat higher than for vowels. Experienced listeners tended to be more consistent in their ratings than did the student raters. Some vocal characteristics achieved acceptable reliability even with a smaller panel of listeners. The perceptual characteristics grouped in 4 factors reflected perceptual dimensions.

Design of a quasi-experiment on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using the child-interview intervention during the investigation following a report of child abuse and/or neglect.

PubMed

Snoeren, Froukje; Hoefnagels, Cees; Lamers-Winkelman, Francien; Baeten, Paul; Evers, Silvia M A A

2013-12-11

In the Netherlands, suspected cases of child maltreatment can be reported to an advice and reporting center on child abuse and neglect (Advies- en Meldpunt Kindermishandeling or AMK). AMKs investigate these reports, screen for problems in the family and its surroundings and refer to child welfare. Over the last decades the focus of AMK investigations has changed from an adult-only approach to a more child-oriented approach using a Child-Interview intervention. The effects and cost-effectiveness of AMK involvement in the Netherlands have never been studied. The primary aim of this study is therefore to examine the effect of the participation of maltreated children aged 6-18 years in the Child-Interview intervention on their mental health and quality of life. As a second aim, this study will examine the balance between additional costs and effects of the Child-Interview intervention in comparison with AMK investigation without the Child-Interview intervention (adult-only intervention). A quasi-experiment will be performed consisting of two post-intervention measurements of two nonequivalent groups: an intervention group, in which the Child-Interview intervention has been used during the AMK investigation, and a control group, in which the intervention has not been used (adult-only intervention). Participants from an ongoing prospective study on the mental health and quality of life of maltreated children after a report to an AMK, will be contacted to complete a questionnaire twice. Multivariate regression analyses will be used to determine effectiveness of the Child-Interview intervention. The economic evaluation will involve a cost-effectiveness analysis and a cost-utility analysis. This will be the first study to examine the effect of AMK involvement in the Netherlands. Using the Child-Interview intervention during AMK investigation may prevent or reduce negative outcomes of child maltreatment, which may result in a lower consumption of healthcare and other services. In addition, the importance of economic evaluations is increasingly recognized, and economic evaluations about child maltreatment are scarce. Limitations include the risk of potential recall bias and selection bias. NTR3728, funded by ZonMw, project 15700.2012.

In Search of a Pony: Sources, Methods, Outcomes, and Motivated Reasoning.

PubMed

Stone, Marc B

2018-05-01

It is highly desirable to be able to evaluate the effect of policy interventions. Such evaluations should have expected outcomes based upon sound theory and be carefully planned, objectively evaluated and prospectively executed. In many cases, however, assessments originate with investigators' poorly substantiated beliefs about the effects of a policy. Instead of designing studies that test falsifiable hypotheses, these investigators adopt methods and data sources that serve as little more than descriptions of these beliefs in the guise of analysis. Interrupted time series analysis is one of the most popular forms of analysis used to present these beliefs. It is intuitively appealing but, in most cases, it is based upon false analogies, fallacious assumptions and analytical errors.

Designing a mixed methods study in primary care.

PubMed

Creswell, John W; Fetters, Michael D; Ivankova, Nataliya V

2004-01-01

Mixed methods or multimethod research holds potential for rigorous, methodologically sound investigations in primary care. The objective of this study was to use criteria from the literature to evaluate 5 mixed methods studies in primary care and to advance 3 models useful for designing such investigations. We first identified criteria from the social and behavioral sciences to analyze mixed methods studies in primary care research. We then used the criteria to evaluate 5 mixed methods investigations published in primary care research journals. Of the 5 studies analyzed, 3 included a rationale for mixing based on the need to develop a quantitative instrument from qualitative data or to converge information to best understand the research topic. Quantitative data collection involved structured interviews, observational checklists, and chart audits that were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. Qualitative data consisted of semistructured interviews and field observations that were analyzed using coding to develop themes and categories. The studies showed diverse forms of priority: equal priority, qualitative priority, and quantitative priority. Data collection involved quantitative and qualitative data gathered both concurrently and sequentially. The integration of the quantitative and qualitative data in these studies occurred between data analysis from one phase and data collection from a subsequent phase, while analyzing the data, and when reporting the results. We recommend instrument-building, triangulation, and data transformation models for mixed methods designs as useful frameworks to add rigor to investigations in primary care. We also discuss the limitations of our study and the need for future research.

On the (mis)categorization of unattractive brides and attractive prostitutes: extending evaluative congruency effects to social category activation.

PubMed

Ruys, Kirsten I; Dijksterhuis, Ap; Corneille, Olivier

2008-01-01

Numerous studies have shown that social categorization is a flexible process that partly depends on contextual variables. However, little is known about the role of affect in people's access to categorical dimensions. We investigated the hypothesis that social category activation is facilitated on evaluatively congruent dimensions. Two studies provide support for this evaluative-matching hypothesis, in which social categorization was found to be faster and more accurate for evaluatively congruent categories (i.e., unattractive foreigners, unattractive prostitutes, attractive fellow-citizens and attractive brides) than for evaluatively incongruent categories (i.e., attractive foreigners, attractive prostitutes, unattractive fellow-citizens and unattractive brides). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Investigation of warm-mix asphalt for Iowa roadways.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

Phase II of this study further evaluated the performance of plant-produced warm-mix asphalt (WMA) mixes by conducting : additional mixture performance tests at a broader range of temperatures, adding additional pavements to the study, comparing : vir...

Why study gene-environment interactions?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We examine the reasons for investigating gene-environment interactions and address recent reports evaluating interactions between genes and environmental modulators in relation to cardiovascular disease and its common risk factors. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies focusing on smoking, phy...

Evaluating the impact and use of Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomised Designs (TREND) reporting guidelines

PubMed Central

Fuller, Thomas; Pearson, Mark; Peters, Jaime L; Anderson, Rob

2012-01-01

Introduction Accurate and full reporting of evaluation of interventions in health research is needed for evidence synthesis and informed decision-making. Evidence suggests that biases and incomplete reporting affect the assessment of study validity and the ability to include this data in secondary research. The Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomised Designs (TREND) reporting guideline was developed to improve the transparency and accuracy of the reporting of behavioural and public health evaluations with non-randomised designs. Evaluations of reporting guidelines have shown that they can be effective in improving reporting completeness. Although TREND occupies a niche within reporting guidelines, and despite it being 8 years since publication, no study yet has assessed its impact on reporting completeness or investigated what factors affect its use by authors and journal editors. This protocol describes two studies that aim to redress this. Methods and analysis Study 1 will use an observational design to examine the uptake and use of TREND by authors, and by journals in their instructions to authors. A comparison of reporting completeness and study quality of papers that do and do not use TREND to inform reporting will be made. Study 2 will use a cross-sectional survey to investigate what factors inhibit or facilitate authors’ and journal editors’ use of TREND. Semistructured interviews will also be conducted with a subset of authors and editors to explore findings from study 1 and the surveys in greater depth. Ethics and dissemination These studies will generate evidence of how implementation and dissemination of the TREND guideline has affected reporting completeness in studies with experimental, non-randomised designs within behavioural and public health research. The project has received ethics approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. PMID:23257774

Unexplained sudden death, focussing on genetics and family phenotyping.

PubMed

Raju, Hariharan; Behr, Elijah R

2013-01-01

Unexplained sudden death and the sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) affect a small but significant proportion of young and apparently healthy individuals. This review revisits the causes underlying such deaths and the investigational strategies that identify surviving family who may be at risk. Recent epidemiological data is available from case series or government records. The yield from familial cardiological evaluation for inherited conditions has been supported by additional small series. The greatest advance has come with molecular autopsy studies, which have utilized various methodologies and candidate genes to investigate SADS cases and their families. The latest research replicates and extends the existing knowledge regarding epidemiology and familial evaluation of SADS, whilst genetic studies support a role for the molecular autopsy.

Chiral capillary electrophoresis and nuclear magnetic resonance investigation on the structure-enantioselectivity relationship in synthetic cyclopeptides as chiral selectors.

PubMed

De Lorenzi, E; Massolini, G; Molinari, P; Galbusera, C; Longhi, R; Marinzi, C; Consonni, R; Chiari, M

2001-04-01

In the present work, synthetic cyclohexa- and cycloheptapeptides previously singled out by a combinatorial chemistry approach have been evaluated as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis. By applying the countercurrent migration technique and employing a new adsorbed coating, a series of dinitrophenyl amino acids as well as some chiral compounds of pharmaceutical interest have been evaluated for enantiorecognition. The results thus obtained led to a deeper investigation of the chiral discrimination process, by carrying out nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on selected cyclopeptide-analyte complexes. These studies shed light on the chemical groups involved in the analyte-selector interaction and provided useful information for a wider application of these cyclopeptides in the separation of other drug enantiomers.

Investigation of dimensional variation in parts manufactured by fused deposition modeling using Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, Omar Ahmed; Hasan Masood, Syed; Lal Bhowmik, Jahar

2018-02-01

In the additive manufacturing (AM) market, the question is raised by industry and AM users on how reproducible and repeatable the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process is in providing good dimensional accuracy. This paper aims to investigate and evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the FDM process through a systematic approach to answer this frequently asked question. A case study based on the statistical gage repeatability and reproducibility (gage R&R) technique is proposed to investigate the dimensional variations in the printed parts of the FDM process. After running the simulation and analysis of the data, the FDM process capability is evaluated, which would help the industry for better understanding the performance of FDM technology.

Childhood Obesity Policy Research and Practice Evidence for Policy and Environmental Strategies

PubMed Central

Brennan, Laura K.; Brownson, Ross C.; Orleans, C. Tracy

2016-01-01

Investigators developed a review system to evaluate the growing literature on policy and environmental strategies to prevent childhood obesity. Over 2000 documents published between January 2000 and May 2009 in the scientific and grey literature were identified (2008–2009) and systematically analyzed (2009–2012). These focused on policy or environmental strategies to reduce obesity/overweight, increase physical activity, and/or improve nutrition/diet among youth (aged 3–18 years). Guided by the RE-AIM framework, investigators abstracted studies of 24 intervention strategies and assessed evidence for their effectiveness (i.e., study design, intervention duration, and outcomes) and population impact (i.e., effectiveness and reach – participation or exposure, and representativeness) in 142 evaluation study groupings and 254 associational study groupings (n=396 groupings of 600 peer-reviewed studies). The 24 strategies yielded 25 classifications (school wellness policies yielded nutrition and physical activity classifications): 1st-tier effective (n=5); 2nd-tier effective (n=6); “promising” (n=5); or “emerging” (n=9). Evidence for intervention effectiveness was reported in 56% of the evaluation, and 77% of the associational, study groupings. Among the evaluation study groupings, only 49% reported sufficient data for population impact ratings, and only 22% qualified for a rating of high population impact. Effectiveness and impact ratings were summarized in graphic evidence maps, displaying effects/associations with behavioral and obesity/overweight outcomes. This paper describes the results and products of the review, with recommendations for policy research and practice. PMID:24355679

Using Web-Based Homework to Teach Principles of Microeconomics: A Preliminary Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Jeannette C.; Mitchell, Johanna E.

2017-01-01

This study evaluates an interactive web-based homework designed to increase student understanding in a principles of microeconomics course. Employing concepts from Action Research, the preliminary investigation was undertaken based on assumptions about the efficacy of online educational resources. Do students who do well on online homework improve…

Integrating Instructional Technologies in a Local Watershed Investigation with Urban Elementary Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bodzin, Alec M.

2008-01-01

The author describes an after-school science club program for urban 4th-grade students that integrated instructional technologies to investigate a pond ecosystem in the local schoolyard. The author conducted a design-based evaluation study to examine the effectiveness of the program in promoting environmental attitudes and understandings of the…

Reflectivity and Teaching Performance of Novice Teachers: Three Years of Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pultorak, Edward; Barnes, Debbie

2009-01-01

The purpose of this 3-year investigation was to determine if a relationship exists between teacher reflectivity and the classroom performance of novice teachers when final evaluations are aligned with national standards. This study included 98 novice teachers enrolled in their final field-based teaching experience. Participants reflected over two…

The Influence of Target and Masker Characteristics on Infants' and Adults' Detection of Speech

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oster, Monika-Maria; Werner, Lynne A.

2017-01-01

Purpose: Several investigators have compared infants' detection of speech in speech and nonspeech maskers to evaluate developmental differences in masking. Such comparisons have produced contradictory results, possibly because each investigation used different stimuli. The current study examined target and masker effects on infants' and adults'…

Patterns of Cognitive Strengths and Weaknesses: Identification Rates, Agreement, and Validity for Learning Disabilities Identification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miciak, Jeremy; Fletcher, Jack M.; Stuebing, Karla K.; Vaughn, Sharon; Tolar, Tammy D.

2014-01-01

Few empirical investigations have evaluated learning disabilities (LD) identification methods based on a pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses (PSW). This study investigated the reliability and validity of two proposed PSW methods: the concordance/discordance method (C/DM) and cross battery assessment (XBA) method. Cognitive assessment…

A study of noise metric and tone correction accuracy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, B. M.; Mabry, J. E.

1982-01-01

Methods currently used to measure human response to aircraft flyover noise were investigated. Response to high level aircraft noise usually experienced outdoors was obtained. Response to aircraft flyover noise typical of indoor exposure was also investigated. It was concluded that current methods for evaluating response to aircraft flyover are more accurate for outdoor noise.

Evaluation of RFID for Information Visibility Based Job-Shop Scheduling in Lean Manufacturing Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chongwatpol, Jongsawas

2012-01-01

This dissertation investigates the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) in manufacturing. Two simulation studies of an organization that is considering implementing RFID on a production line are conducted. First, we investigate whether addition of RFID technologies in the manufacturing process can complement Lean initiatives.…

Evaluation of quality of life related to nutritional status.

PubMed

Wanden-Berghe, Carmina; Sanz-Valero, Javier; Escribà-Agüir, Vicenta; Castelló-Botia, Isabel; Guardiola-Wanden-Berghe, Rocio

2009-04-01

The way in which the quality of life related to health (HRQoL) is affected by the nutritional status of the patient is a subject of constant interest and permanent debate. The purpose of the present paper is to review those studies that relate HRQoL to nutritional status and examine the tools (questionnaires) that they use to investigate this relationship. A critical review of published studies was carried out via an investigation of the following databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed); EMBASE; The Cochrane Library; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science; Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS); Spanish Health Sciences Bibliographic Index (IBECS). The search was carried out from the earliest date possible until July 2007.The medical subject heading terms used were 'quality of life', 'nutritional status' and 'questionnaires'. The articles had to contain at least one questionnaire that evaluated quality of life. Twenty-eight documents fulfilling the inclusion criteria were accepted, although none of them used a specific questionnaire to evaluate HRQoL related to nutritional status. However, some of them used a combination of generic questionnaires with the intention of evaluating the same. Only three studies selectively addressed the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life, this evaluation being performed not by means of specific questionnaires but by statistical analysis of data obtained via validated questionnaires.

Teacher Evaluation in Secondary Schools: The First Year of Implementation of a Policy of Teacher Supervision and Evaluation in the Five Secondary Schools of Lethbridge School District No. 51. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townsend, David

This research project was undertaken to investigate, analyze, and document the process of implementing a new policy of teacher supervision and evaluation in the five secondary schools of Lethbridge (Alberta) School District No. 51. The study focused on (1) critical stages in the implementation process; (2) supervisory behavior and supervisory…

Study of an instrument for sensing errors in a telescope wavefront

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golden, L. J.; Shack, R. V.; Slater, P. N.

1974-01-01

Focal plane sensors for determining the error in a telescope wavefront were investigated. The construction of three candidate test instruments and their evaluation in terms of small wavefront error aberration measurements are described. A laboratory wavefront simulator was designed and fabricated to evaluate the test instruments. The laboratory wavefront error simulator was used to evaluate three tests; a Hartmann test, a polarization shearing interferometer test, and an interferometric Zernike test.

Merrimack River Basin, Leominster Local Protection, Monoosnoc Brook, Leominster, Massachusetts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-08-01

Objectives 9 Previous Water Resource Evaluations 10 Improvements Desired 11 FORMULATING A PLAN 12 Base Condition 12 Formuation and Evaluation Cilteria 13...2, "Pertinent Corresponden’e.") 12 FORMULATION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA The formulation portion of the study involved the investigation of a range of...straight alignment was selected for various size underground diversion tunnels. A listing of design discharges for 8, 10 and 12 foot diameter tunnels

Evaluation of Differentiation Strategy in Shipping Enterprises with Simulation Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaxevanou, Anthi Z.; Ferfeli, Maria V.; Damianos, Sakas P.

2009-08-01

The present inquiring study aims at investigating the circumstances that prevail in the European Shipping Enterprises with special reference to the Greek ones. This investigation is held in order to explore the potential implementation of strategies so as to create a unique competitive advantage [1]. The Shipping sector is composed of enterprises that are mainly activated in the following three areas: the passenger, the commercial and the naval. The main target is to create a dynamic simulation model which, with reference to the STAIR strategic model, will evaluate the strategic differential choice that some of the shipping enterprises have.

Whose Mind Matters More—The Agent or the Artist? An Investigation of Ethical and Aesthetic Evaluations

PubMed Central

Hawley-Dolan, Angelina; Young, Liane

2013-01-01

Theory of mind, the capacity for reasoning about mental states such as beliefs and intentions, represents a critical input to ethical and aesthetic evaluations. Did the agent cause harm on purpose? Were those brushstrokes intentional? The current study investigates theory of mind for moral and artistic judgments within the same paradigm. In particular, we target the role of intent for two kinds of judgments: “objective” judgments of quality and “subjective” judgments of preference or liking. First, we show that intent matters more for objective versus subjective judgments in the case of ethics and aesthetics. Second, we show that, overall, intent matters more for ethical versus aesthetic evaluations. These findings suggest that an “objective-subjective” dimension describes judgments across both domains, and that observers assign more weight to the mind of the moral agent than the mind of the artist when making the relevant evaluations. PMID:24039707

A Study on Urban Road Traffic Safety Based on Matter Element Analysis

PubMed Central

Hu, Qizhou; Zhou, Zhuping; Sun, Xu

2014-01-01

This paper examines a new evaluation of urban road traffic safety based on a matter element analysis, avoiding the difficulties found in other traffic safety evaluations. The issue of urban road traffic safety has been investigated through the matter element analysis theory. The chief aim of the present work is to investigate the features of urban road traffic safety. Emphasis was placed on the construction of a criterion function by which traffic safety achieved a hierarchical system of objectives to be evaluated. The matter element analysis theory was used to create the comprehensive appraisal model of urban road traffic safety. The technique was used to employ a newly developed and versatile matter element analysis algorithm. The matter element matrix solves the uncertainty and incompatibility of the evaluated factors used to assess urban road traffic safety. The application results showed the superiority of the evaluation model and a didactic example was included to illustrate the computational procedure. PMID:25587267

Modulation of the brain activity in outcome evaluation by the presence of an audience: An electrophysiological investigation.

PubMed

Tian, Tengxiang; Feng, Xue; Gu, Ruolei; Broster, Lucas S; Feng, Chunliang; Wang, Lili; Guan, Qing; Luo, Yue-Jia

2015-07-30

The audience effect refers to the phenomenon that one׳s performance on a task is affected by the presence of others. Here we investigated how the audience effect modulates the neurocognitive signatures underlying people׳s evaluation of their own task performance/outcome. Participants in our study played a gambling game in two social contexts: an "audience" condition and an "alone" condition. The presence of others modulated the feedback-related negativity (FRN), which might reflect enhanced motivational significance or increased reward processing when participants were watched compared to when they were alone. We also observed increased P300 responses to outcome feedback in the audience condition, presumably reflecting more elaborative and sustained evaluation of outcomes in the audience than alone context. This audience effect on the evaluative processes complements previous observations on the social nature of outcome evaluation and extends a traditional topic in social psychology to the neuroscientific field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 54.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... steps have not been taken in the design, conduct, reporting, and analysis of the studies to minimize... INVESTIGATORS § 54.1 Purpose. (a) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates clinical studies submitted in... clinical studies to determine whether the applications are approvable under the statutory requirements. FDA...

21 CFR 54.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... steps have not been taken in the design, conduct, reporting, and analysis of the studies to minimize... INVESTIGATORS § 54.1 Purpose. (a) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates clinical studies submitted in... clinical studies to determine whether the applications are approvable under the statutory requirements. FDA...

Literacy, Language and Social Interaction in Special Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reichenberg, Monica

2015-01-01

The present study is a follow up study to a quantitative intervention study where two intervention programs, Reciprocal Teaching and Inference Training, were practiced. This study aims at capturing the potentials benefits and qualitative aspects of one of the programs evaluated, Reciprocal Teaching. More specifically, I have investigated the video…

A Study of Natural and Restored Wetland Hydrology

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bayless, E. Randall; Arihood, Leslie D.; Sidle, William C.; Pavlovic, Noel B.

1999-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are jointly studying the hydrology of a long-existing natural wetland and a recently restored wetland in the Kankakee River Valley in northwestern Indiana. In characterizing the two wetlands, project investigators are testing innovative methods to identify the analytical tools best suited for evaluating the success of wetland restoration. Investigators also are examining and comparing the relations between hydrology and restored wetland vegetation.

Is physiotherapy effective for children with complex regional pain syndrome type 1?

PubMed

Bialocerkowski, Andrea E; Daly, Anne

2012-01-01

This study synthesized current research evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy for the management of children diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1), to provide up-to-date physiotherapy treatment recommendations, and to identify areas that require further investigation. Nine electronic databases were searched for quantitative studies that evaluated the effect of physiotherapy on children with CRPS-1. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Critical Review Form. Data were extracted regarding the study design, participant characteristics, types of outcome measures used, and physiotherapy technique used and its effectiveness. The search strategy identified 303 potential studies, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria (1 randomized controlled trial, 1 comparative study, 10 case series). The methodological quality of all studies was rated as poor to fair. The "stand-alone" value of physiotherapy could not be determined as physiotherapy was prescribed in conjunction with psychological and medical interventions. There is low volume and poor-to-fair quality evidence which suggests that physiotherapy prescribed with other interventions may lead to short-term improvement in the signs and symptoms of CRPS-1 or functional ability in children with CRPS-1, and the relapse rate may be moderately high. High-quality studies are required in this area. These studies should evaluate a package of care (which includes physiotherapy); they should investigate the effects of physiotherapy treatments that have proven effectiveness in adults with CRPS-1; they should use psychometrically sound measures to evaluate outcome; and the nature of physiotherapy should be detailed in future publications to enable replication in the clinical setting.

16 CFR 1115.14 - Time computations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS SUBSTANTIAL... spend a reasonable time for investigation and evaluation. (See § 1115.14(d).) (d) Time for investigation and evaluation. A subject firm may conduct a reasonably expeditious investigation in order to evaluate...

An Investigation of Large Tilt-Rotor Short-Term Attitude Response Handling Qualities Requirements in Hover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malcipa, Carlos; Decker, William A.; Theodore, Colin R.; Blanken, Christopher L.; Berger, Tom

2010-01-01

A piloted simulation investigation was conducted using the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator to study the impact of pitch, roll and yaw attitude bandwidth and phase delay on handling qualities of large tilt-rotor aircraft. Multiple bandwidth and phase delay pairs were investigated for each axis. The simulation also investigated the effect that the pilot offset from the center of gravity has on handling qualities. While pilot offset does not change the dynamics of the vehicle, it does affect the proprioceptive and visual cues and it can have an impact on handling qualities. The experiment concentrated on two primary evaluation tasks: a precision hover task and a simple hover pedal turn. Six pilots flew over 1400 data runs with evaluation comments and objective performance data recorded. The paper will describe the experiment design and methodology, discuss the results of the experiment and summarize the findings.

Collaboration of chemistry instructional games and group investigation (Gi) model to improve learning outcome in high school students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puspita, Ita; Sugiyarto, Kristian H.; Ikhsan, Jaslin

2017-05-01

The aims of this research are to: (1) develop chemistry instructional games on reaction rate matter; and (2) reveal the collaboration of chemistry instructional games and group investigation model to improvement learning outcome in high school student. This study is research and development (R&D). The procedure of developing product was adapted from Borg & Gall that modified into three principal steps: product planning, product developing, and product evaluating. The product planning step consist of field study, literature study, and manufacturing product. Product developing was developed product using Adobe Flash Professional CS 6 program. The last, product evaluating was performed by year XI of high school students, uses experimental methods nonequivalent control-group design by control class and experiment class. The results of this research show that: (1) a software of chemistry instructional games successfully developed using Adobe Flash Professional CS 6 and can be run on Android device; and (2) the test results of students showed that the collaboration of instructional games and group investigation model able to improvement learning outcome of hight school student.

Are negative symptoms in schizophrenia a distinct therapeutic target?

PubMed Central

MICLUTIA, IOANA VALENTINA

2018-01-01

Background and aims The relationship between negative symptoms and cognition in schizophrenia is not clear, inconsistent findings have been reported by multiple authors and meta analyses. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognition and primary negative symptoms. Methods 67 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were evaluated using PANSS and the NSA-16 scale. Correlation and regression analyses were used in the present study to investigate the relationship between the primary negative symptoms and cognition. Results No relationship was found between the PANSS Cognitive factor and Negative factor, but when investigating the relationship of the Cognitive PANSS factor with the negative symptoms evaluated with the NSA-16 scale, it was shown that there is a significant association between cognition and motor retardation. Conclusions Our study reveals the relative independence of cognitive factor from the global negative domain of the psychopathology, even though the association with motor retardation was clear. These findings also support the need of using appropriate assessment tools in order to gain a more refined understanding of the phenomenology of schizophrenia. PMID:29440953

Using Student-Teachers' Reports of Self-Efficacy to Evaluate an Early Childhood Science Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giallousi, Maria; Tselfes, Vasilis; Gialamas, Vasilis

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate teaching effectiveness in an elective science course, in the Early Childhood Education Department of Athens University in Greece. For this, a sequential mixed research design was applied to investigate freshmen beliefs about the effectiveness of their future teaching in kindergarten. An enhancement and a…

Linguistic and Socio-Cognitive Predictors of School-Age Children's Narrative Evaluations about Jealousy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aldrich, Naomi J.; Brooks, Patricia J.

2017-01-01

This study investigated children's narrative evaluations about jealousy in relation to performance on a higher-order perspective-taking task and assessments of receptive vocabulary and nonverbal intelligence. Eighty children (5;0-11;11) narrated a wordless picture book about a jealous frog, answered probe questions about the plot, and generated a…

An Evaluation of Teachers' Perceptions of a State Developed Educational Portal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caraccio, Beth Katz

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' perceptions use of a state developed educational portal. The research evaluated the differences in the quality, usefulness, and relevance of learning objects found on the website based on teachers' gender and grade level they taught. Grade level taught referred to those grades that are the…

Children's Use of Evaluative Devices in Spoken and Written Narratives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drijbooms, Elise; Groen, Margriet A.; Verhoeven, Ludo

2017-01-01

This study investigated the development of evaluation in narratives from middle to late childhood, within the context of differentiating between spoken and written modalities. Two parallel forms of a picture story were used to elicit spoken and written narratives from fourth- and sixth-graders. It was expected that, in addition to an increase of…

Literacy Block: Meeting the Needs of All Learners; A Summative Program Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pelletier, Nancy L.

2011-01-01

This summative program evaluation study investigated the Response to Intervention (RTI) pilot literacy block program that was implemented in first and second grade classrooms in a small southeastern suburban school. All 111 students in the first and second grade were involved in this RTI model during the 2010-2011 school year including special…

Student Evaluation Web Sites as Potential Sources of Consumer Information in the United Arab Emirates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkins, Stephen; Epps, Alun

2011-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards non-institutionally sanctioned student evaluation web sites, and to consider how educational institutions might respond to the demands of students for specific information. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved a…

Nondestructive evaluation of standing trees with a stress wave method.

Treesearch

Xiping Wang; Robert J. Ross; Michael McClellan; R. James Barbour; John R. Erickson; John W. Forsman; Gary D. McGinnis

2001-01-01

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a stress wave technique for evaluating wood strength and stiffness of young-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce in standing trees. A secondary objective was to determine if the effects of silvicultural practices on wood quality can be identified using this technique. Stress wave measurements...

Effect of Cartoon Illustrations on the Comprehension and Evaluation of Information Presented in the Print and Audio Mode.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sewell, Edward H., Jr.

This study investigates the effects of cartoon illustrations on female and male college student comprehension and evaluation of information presented in several combinations of print, audio, and visual formats. Subjects were assigned to one of five treatment groups: printed text, printed text with cartoons, audiovisual presentations, audio only…

Student Perceptions of a Trial of Electronic Text Matching Software: A Preliminary Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, David; Lindemann, Iris; Marshall, Kelly; Wilkinson, Grette

2005-01-01

It is accepted that using electronic detection methods has benefits within an overall strategy to promote academic integrity in an institution. Little attention has been paid to obtaining student perceptions to evaluate the cost/benefit of using such methods. This study reports on the evaluation of a trial of Turnitin software. 728 students…

Faculty Scholarship Has a Profound Positive Association with Student Evaluations of Teaching--Except When It Doesn't

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Robert E.

2016-01-01

Conventional wisdom holds that research-productive faculty are also the finest instructors. But, is this commonly held belief correct? In the current study, the notion that faculty scholarship exhibits a positive association with teaching evaluations is investigated. Reflecting the data structure of faculty nested within university, the current…

Social Evaluation Fear in Childhood and Adolescence: Normative Developmental Course and Continuity of Individual Differences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westenberg, P. Michiel; Gullone, Eleonora; Bokhorst, Caroline L.; Heyne, David A.; King, Neville J.

2007-01-01

Using cross-sectional (N=910) and longitudinal (N = 261) data from Gullone and King's (1993,1997) studies of normal fear in children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years, the normative developmental pattern of social evaluation fear and the continuity of individual differences were investigated. Participants' responses were analysed according to two…

Developing Essay Writing Skills: An Evaluation of the Modelling Behaviour Method and the Influence of Student Self-Efficacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Callinan, Carol J.; van der Zee, Emile; Wilson, Garry

2018-01-01

Social cognitive learning theory has shown that observational learning positively influences essay writing development in high-school students, and that self-efficacy impacts on motivation. This study investigated the relative contribution of model observation, model evaluation, post-submission feedback, and factors relating to self-efficacy, as…

Student Views about a Flipped Physics Course: A Tool for Program Evaluation and Improvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramlo, Susan

2015-01-01

Flipped classrooms are a relatively new teaching strategy where the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Although flipped classrooms are gaining popularity, evaluations of this type of pedagogical model are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate student views related to the effectiveness of a flipped…

Are Student Evaluations of Teaching Effectiveness Valid for Measuring Student Learning Outcomes in Business Related Classes? A Neural Network and Bayesian Analyses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galbraith, Craig S.; Merrill, Gregory B.; Kline, Doug M.

2012-01-01

In this study we investigate the underlying relational structure between student evaluations of teaching effectiveness (SETEs) and achievement of student learning outcomes in 116 business related courses. Utilizing traditional statistical techniques, a neural network analysis and a Bayesian data reduction and classification algorithm, we find…

Graduate Student Teaching Development: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Training in Relation to Graduate Student Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boman, Jennifer S.

2013-01-01

In recent years, much attention has been given to the need for more empirical research to evaluate training programs that help prepare graduate students for their current and future teaching responsibilities. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a training workshop for graduate students who had varying levels of experience and…

The Craft of Student Evaluation in Canada: A Report to the CEA on Policies, Practices and Uses of Assessments of Student Achievement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLean, Leslie D.

The Canadian Education Association sponsored a study to review and synthesize the literature on student evaluation; investigate changes in goals and methods; and make recommendations for improvement. Interviews were conducted in six provinces with administrative personnel, principals, and teachers. Employers and post-secondary institutions, as…

Children's Evaluation of Sources of Information about Traits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heyman, Gail D.; Legare, Cristine H.

2005-01-01

Children's assessment of the value of different sources of information about psychological traits was investigated among 6- to 7-year-olds and 10- to 11-year-olds across 5 studies (N=330). Older children were more likely than younger children to reject self-report as a source of information about the highly evaluative traits smart and honest, but…

Study on networking issues of medium earth orbit satellite communications systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Araki, Noriyuki; Shinonaga, Hideyuki; Ito, Yasuhiko

1993-01-01

Two networking issues of communications systems with medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, namely network architectures and location determination and registration methods for hand-held terminals, are investigated in this paper. For network architecture, five candidate architectures are considered and evaluated in terms of signaling traffic. For location determination and registration, two methods are discussed and evaluated.

Teachers' Perceptions of National Board Certification as Professional Development and Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tingle, Scot M.

2014-01-01

The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe the perceptions of recently NBPTS certified teachers in Maryland of the NBPTS certification process as both a professional development activity and as an evaluation instrument to identify teaching excellence. This descriptive survey used an online survey to collect data from 125 teachers for…

"Biomathtutor": Evaluation of a New Multimedia E-Learning Resource to Support Mathematics in the Biosciences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tariq, V. N.; Jackson, V.

2008-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate "biomathtutor" by (i) investigating the impact of "biomathtutor" on the mathematics skills competencies of bioscience undergraduates, and (ii) assessing students' and tutors' reactions to "biomathtutor", identifying whether and how tutors might integrate it into their curricula and blend it with more…

The Impact of Level of Performance on Feedback Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaulieu, R. P.; Love, Kevin G.

2006-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the level of observed performance on the feedback strategy selected by a performance evaluator. One hundred and twenty-three actual performance evaluators from 15 different organizations and 123 college students reviewed, in groups which ranged from 2 to 20, a job description for…

Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Extension, and Evaluation (5E) Learning Cycle and Conceptual Change Text as Learning Tools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balci, Sibel; Cakiroglu, Jale; Tekkaya, Ceren

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Extension, and Evaluation (5E) learning cycle, conceptual change texts, and traditional instructions on 8th grade students' understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in plants. Students' understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in…

Evaluating College Readiness: Are Federal and State Policies Helping or Hindering the Effort?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kramer, Steven L.; Osgood, Jeffery; Bernotsky, Lorraine; Wolff, Edward; Merlino, F. Joseph; Garcia, Tanya I.; Kramer, Helen M.

2016-01-01

This article investigates the utility and availability of college data to evaluate the impact of high school interventions. It reports results of a pilot study that collected information about the college experiences of graduates from four high schools in the northeast United States. Using these results as a lens, the article examines what…

Business Education Students' Evaluation of the Benefits and Challenges Confronting Student Industrial Works Experience Scheme in Edo and Delta States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olumese, H. A.; Ediagbonya, Kennedy

2016-01-01

This research paper specifically investigated Business Education students' evaluation of the benefits and challenges confronting Student Industrial Works Experience Scheme (SIWES) in Edo and Delta States. Two research questions were raised to guide the study and were answered descriptively. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for…

Relationship between Affective Learning, Instructor Attractiveness and Instructor Evaluation in Videoconference-Based Distance Education Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aydin, Irem E.

2012-01-01

This paper is intended to reveal the results of a study in which the relationship between learners' perceptions of affective learning, instructors' attractiveness and instructor evaluations in a videoconference based distance education course was investigated. An online survey instrument was used to collect quantitative data. A series of Pearson…

DIRECT operational field test evaluation natural use study. Part 3, Evaluation of driver behavior and measurement of effectiveness of DIRECT communications technologies based on vehicle tracking around incidents

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-08-01

Vehicle tracking systems were installed on all DIRECT vehicles to help investigate the : relationships between the drivers actual travel experiences and their opinions about the : systems they used. The purpose of this report is to look more caref...

Formative Evaluation of an Experimental BE/E [Basic Electricity and Electronics] Program. Report No. 9-75.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fishburne, R. P., Jr.; Mims, Diane M.

An experimental Basic Electricity and Electronics course (BE/E) utilizing a lock-step, instructor presentation methodology was developed and evaluated at the Service School Command, Great Lakes. The study, directed toward the training of lower mental group, school nonqualified personnel, investigated comparative data on test performance, attitude,…

Collaboration Promotes Proportional Reasoning about Resource Distribution in Young Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ng, Rowena; Heyman, Gail D.; Barner, David

2011-01-01

The authors investigated how children and adults evaluate the "niceness" of individuals who engage in resource distribution, with a focus on their sensitivity to the proportion of resources given. Across 3 experiments, subjects evaluated the niceness of a child who gave a quantity of pennies to another child. In Study 1 (N = 30), adults showed…

Noise Pollution in Turkish Elementary Schools: Evaluation of Noise Pollution Awareness and Sensitivity Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bulunuz, Nermin

2014-01-01

This study investigates noise pollution levels in two elementary schools. Also, "noise level awareness and sensitivity training" was given for reducing noise pollution, and the effects and results of this training were evaluated. "Sensitivity" training was given to 611 students and 48 teachers in a private and a public school.…

Motivation and Engagement in the Workplace: Examining a Multidimensional Framework and Instrument from a Measurement and Evaluation Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Andrew J.

2009-01-01

This investigation conducts measurement and evaluation of a multidimensional model of workplace motivation and engagement from a construct validation perspective. Two studies were conducted, one using the multi-item multidimensional Motivation and Engagement Scale-Work (N = 637 school personnel) and one using a parallel short form (N = 574 school…

Scaffolding Middle School Students' Construction of Scientific Explanations: Comparing a Cognitive versus a Metacognitive Evaluation Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Chia-Yu

2015-01-01

This study investigated the effects of scaffolds as cognitive prompts and as metacognitive evaluation on seventh-grade students' growth of content knowledge and construction of scientific explanations in five inquiry-based biology activities. Students' scores on multiple-choice pretest and posttest and worksheets for five inquiry-based activities…

Improving Fifth Grade Students' Mathematics Self-Efficacy Calibration and Performance through Self-Regulation Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramdass, Darshanand H.

2009-01-01

This primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of strategy training and self-reflection, two subprocesses of Zimmerman's cyclical model of self-regulation, on fifth grade students' mathematics performance, self-efficacy, self-evaluation, and calibration measures of self-efficacy bias, self-efficacy accuracy, self-evaluation bias,…

Influence of Gender and Other Factors to Final Grade

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Domeova, Ludmila; Jindrova, Andrea; Fejfar, Jiri

2015-01-01

The study focused on the relations between the partial evaluation and the final grade. The investigation has been done on a group of 269 students of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, in the course of Mathematical Methods, who have to go through a strictly defined evaluation scheme. The results of statistical analysis confirmed that…

A Longitudinal, Mixed Method Evaluation of Self-Awareness Training in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutton, Anna; Williams, Helen M.; Allinson, Christopher W.

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether self-awareness, which is associated with general well-being and positive life outcomes, is also of specific benefit in the workplace. The authors tested the relationship between self-awareness and job-related well-being, and evaluated two different interventions designed to improve…

Satisfiers and Dissatisfiers: A Two-Factor Model for Website Design and Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Ping; von Dran, Gisela M.

2000-01-01

Investigates Web site design factors and their impact from a theoretical perspective. Presents a two-factor model that can guide Web site design and evaluation. According to the model, there are two types of design factors: hygiene and motivator. Results showed that the two-factor model provides a means for Web-user interface studies. Provides…

Assessing the Impact of a Multi-Agency Project on Afghan Basic Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhao, Yijie; McNerney, Frank

2006-01-01

This study investigates the impact of activities done in the basic education sub-sector by a consortium of four non-government organizations in four provinces in Afghanistan from January 2004 to June 2005. The evaluation uses the project objectives and components as the evaluation framework, and data collected through survey questionnaires,…

Attracting Mature Students into Higher Education: The Impact of Approaches to Learning and Social Identity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Chris; Davies, Peter

2013-01-01

This paper reports on data collected during an evaluation of two higher education courses designed to attract mature entrants aged between 21 and 60 to undergraduate degree programmes. Employing an evaluation design informed by a critical realist approach, the study utilised a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the outcomes…

The Use of Tablet PC and Interactive Board from the Perspectives of Teachers and Students: Evaluation of the FATIH Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pamuk, Sonmez; Cakir, Recep; Ergun, Mustafa; Yilmaz, H. Bayram; Ayas, Cemalettin

2013-01-01

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the early implementation results of the "Movement of Enhancing Opportunities and Improving Technology", abbreviated as FATIH project from the perspectives of participating teachers and students. Specifically, to investigate (a) whether or not Interactive Boards (IB) and Tablet Computers…

A Microscope or a Mirror?: A Question of Study Validity Regarding the Use of Dissertation Citation Analysis for Evaluating Research Collections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beile, Penny M.; Boote, David N.; Killingsworth, Elizabeth K.

2004-01-01

Use of dissertation citation analysis for collection evaluation was investigated. Analysis of 1842 education dissertation citations from three institutions suggests the assumption of doctoral student expertise in their use of the scholarly literature may be overstated. For purposes of developing research collections, dependence on dissertation…

The effect of drawing on children's experiences of investigations following alleged child abuse.

PubMed

Katz, Carmit; Barnetz, Zion; Hershkowitz, Irit

2014-05-01

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate investigative interviews from the perspectives of the children, comparing children who drew with children who did not. One hundred twenty-five children, alleged victims of sexual abuse, were asked about their investigative experience. The uniqueness of the study is that all of the interviews were conducted according to the NICHD Protocol and that children were randomly assigned into one of the two research conditions (drawing vs. non-drawing). The results clearly demonstrate the advantage that drawing has on the children's experience of the investigation, with children in the drawing group more often reporting feelings of hope and success. This study provides practical guidelines for practitioners by emphasizing the beneficial effects that drawing can have. The study stresses the importance of integrating into forensic investigations interventions that enhance children's testimonies and ensure that the investigation is an empowering experience that generates feelings of trust, self-worth, and justice. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An evaluation of thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with psoriasis

PubMed Central

Yorulmaz, Ahu; Erdogan, Serpil; Cakmak, Seray Kulcu; Guney, Elif; Sen, Orhan; Erel, Ozcan

2017-01-01

Introduction The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of psoriasis has been investigated in previous studies with conflicting results. On the other hand, well-established treatments currently used in psoriasis exert their effects via a boost of oxidative stress. Recently, a strong positive association between psoriasis, metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia has also been described showing the complex nature of the disease. Aim To examine thiol/disulphide homeostasis, a newly developed homeostasis assay in psoriasis and evaluate the possible association between thiol/disulphide homeostasis and dyslipidemia in psoriasis. Material and methods The study population included 92 psoriasis patients and 71 healthy subjects. Serum native thiol, total thiol and disulphide levels were investigated in patients with psoriasis and in healthy subjects. In addition, lipid profile (serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels were investigated in both groups. The association between thiol-disulphide parameters and dyslipidemia was also evaluated. Results Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were found to be higher in patients with psoriasis than in the healthy group. Lower plasma disulphide and higher native thiol levels were found in patients with psoriasis indicating an antioxidant status. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the shift of dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis towards the thiol form in psoriasis which indicate higher antioxidant status. PMID:29507562

Using Hierarchical Models of Studying To Evaluate the Character of Students' Study Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warkentin, Robert W.; And Others

An instrument was developed to measure students' engagement in various classes of study activities within multiple study contexts. This instrument is to be used in a large, ongoing research project investigating the underpinnings of student study activities and effects on academic achievement. The computer-administered instrument used--the Study…

Evaluation of the suitability of root cause analysis frameworks for the investigation of community-acquired pressure ulcers: a systematic review and documentary analysis.

PubMed

McGraw, Caroline; Drennan, Vari M

2015-02-01

To evaluate the suitability of root cause analysis frameworks for the investigation of community-acquired pressure ulcers. The objective was to identify the extent to which these frameworks take account of the setting where the ulcer originated as being the person's home rather than a hospital setting. Pressure ulcers involving full-thickness skin loss are increasingly being regarded as indicators of nursing patient safety failure, requiring investigation using root cause analysis frameworks. Evidence suggests that root cause analysis frameworks developed in hospital settings ignore the unique dimensions of risk in home healthcare settings. A systematic literature review and documentary analysis of frameworks used to investigate community-acquired grade three and four pressure ulcers by home nursing services in England. No published papers were identified for inclusion in the review. Fifteen patient safety investigative frameworks were collected and analysed. Twelve of the retrieved frameworks were intended for the investigation of community-acquired pressure ulcers; seven of which took account of the setting where the ulcer originated as being the patient's home. This study provides evidence to suggest that many of the root cause analysis frameworks used to investigate community-acquired pressure ulcers in England are unsuitable for this purpose. This study provides researchers and practitioners with evidence of the need to develop appropriate home nursing root cause analysis frameworks to investigate community-acquired pressure ulcers. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Application of Model Animals in the Study of Drug Toxicology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yagang; Miao, Mingsan

2018-01-01

Drug safety is a key factor in drug research and development, Drug toxicology test is the main method to evaluate the safety of drugs, The body condition of an animal has important implications for the results of the study, Previous toxicological studies of drugs were carried out in normal animals in the past, There is a great deviation from the clinical practice.The purpose of this study is to investigate the necessity of model animals as a substitute for normal animals for toxicological studies, It is expected to provide exact guidance for future drug safety evaluation.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter evaluation of efficacy and dose finding of midodrine hydrochloride in women with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence: a phase II study.

PubMed

Weil, E H; Eerdmans, P H; Dijkman, G A; Tamussino, K; Feyereisl, J; Vierhout, M E; Schmidbauer, C; Egarter, C; Kölle, D; Plasman, J E; Heidler, H; Abbühl, B E; Wein, W

1998-01-01

Midodrine is a potent and selective alpha1-receptor agonist and its potential to increase urethral closure pressure could be useful in the treatment of female stress incontinence. The aim of this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of midodrine for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The primary criterion of efficacy was the maximum urethral closure pressure at rest. Voiding diaries, symptom and incontinence questionnaires and patient/investigator global assessment were also used to evaluate its efficacy. After 4 weeks of treatment no significant changes in MUCP were found. The global assessment by the patient and investigator did indicate that patients on active treatment had a more positive assessment than the placebo group. In conclusion, midodrine did not cause significant improvements in urodynamic parameters, but there were subjective improvements in some of the patients in the treated groups. Furthermore midodrine was well tolerated.

[Clinical evaluation of Olbas oil effect on nasal mucosa in acute rhinitis patients during common cold].

PubMed

Zalewski, P; Olszewski, J; Olszewska-Ziaber, A; Zielińska-Bliźniewska, H; Pietkiewicz, P

1997-01-01

The aim of the study was the clinical evaluation of the effect of Olbas oil on nasal mucosa in patients with acute rhinitis during common cold. 15 patients with 2-3 days history of acute rhinitis during common cold, both sexes, in the age between 23-47 were investigated. All the examinations were done before using, after the first inhalation, and after 7 days of Olbas oil administration. The investigation before using Olbas oil was comprised of: history data, general and otorhinolaryngological examination with particular evaluation of nasal mucosa, anterior rhinomanometry, saccharin translocation time, olfactometry, microbiological cultures, histamine nasal provocation test. At the end, after 7 days of Olbas oil inhalation 3 times a day for 4 minutes 4 drops of Olbas oil applied into a handkerchief, all the test were done again, as at the beginning. The study showed a good of the effect of Olbas oil on nasal mucosa in patients with acute rhinitis during common cold.

A model for evaluating the social performance of construction waste management.

PubMed

Yuan, Hongping

2012-06-01

It has been determined by existing literature that a lot of research efforts have been made to the economic performance of construction waste management (CWM), but less attention is paid to investigation of the social performance of CWM. This study therefore attempts to develop a model for quantitatively evaluating the social performance of CWM by using a system dynamics (SD) approach. Firstly, major variables affecting the social performance of CWM are identified and a holistic system for assessing the social performance of CWM is formulated in line with feedback relationships underlying these variables. The developed system is then converted into a SD model through the software iThink. An empirical case study is finally conducted to demonstrate application of the model. Results of model validation indicate that the model is robust and reasonable to reflect the situation of the real system under study. Findings of the case study offer helpful insights into effectively promoting the social performance of CWM of the project investigated. Furthermore, the model exhibits great potential to function as an experimental platform for dynamically evaluating effects of management measures on improving the social performance of CWM of construction projects. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Indirect measures as a signal for evaluative change.

PubMed

Perugini, Marco; Richetin, Juliette; Zogmaister, Cristina

2014-01-01

Implicit and explicit attitudes can be changed by using evaluative learning procedures. In this contribution we investigated an asymmetric effect of order of administration of indirect and direct measures on the detection of evaluative change: A change in explicit attitudes is more likely detected if they are measured after implicit attitudes, whereas these latter change regardless of the order. This effect was demonstrated in two studies (n=270; n=138) using the self-referencing task whereas it was not found in a third study (n=151) that used a supraliminal sequential evaluative conditioning paradigm. In all studies evaluative change was present only for contingency aware participants. We discuss a potential explanation underlying the order of measure effect entailing that, in some circumstances, an indirect measure is not only a measure but also a signal that can be detected through self-perception processes and further elaborated at the propositional level.

Activations of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and thalamus during agentic self-evaluation are negatively associated with trait self-esteem.

PubMed

Jiang, Ke; Wu, Shi; Shi, Zhenhao; Liu, Mingyan; Peng, Maoying; Shen, Yang; Yang, Juan

2018-08-01

Individual self-esteem is dominated more by agency than by communion. However, prior research has mainly focused on one's agentic/communal self-evaluation, while little is known about how one endorses others' agentic/communal evaluation of the self. The present study investigated the associations between trait self-esteem and fundamental dimensions of social cognition, i.e. agency vs. communion, during both self-evaluation and endorsement of others' evaluation of oneself. We also investigated the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between trait self-esteem and agentic self-evaluation. Behavioral results revealed that self-esteem was positively correlated with the agentic ratings from self-evaluation and endorsement of others' evaluation of the self, and that the agentic self-evaluation was a significant full mediator between self-esteem and endorsement of others' agentic evaluation. Whole-brain regression analysis revealed that self-esteem was negatively correlated with right dorsolateral prefrontal and bilateral thalamic response to agentic self-evaluation. A possible interpretation is that low self-esteem people both hold a more self-critical attitude about the self and have less certainty or clarity of their self-concepts than high self-esteem people do. These findings have important implication for understanding the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying self-esteem's effect on one's agentic self-evaluations. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 11465 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-02

... separate systems of records: ``FHFA-OIG Audit Files Database,'' ``FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative Files Database,'' ``FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative MIS Database,'' and ``FHFA-OIG Hotline Database.'' These... Audit Files Database. FHFA-OIG-2: FHFA-OIG Investigative & Evaluative Files Database. FHFA-OIG-3: FHFA...

Laboratory-based testing to evaluate abuse-deterrent formulations and satisfy the Food and Drug Administration's recommendation for Category 1 Testing.

PubMed

Altomare, Christopher; Kinzler, Eric R; Buchhalter, August R; Cone, Edward J; Costantino, Anthony

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the development of abuse-deterrent formulations of solid oral dosage forms a public health priority and has outlined a series of premarket studies that should be performed prior to submitting an application to the Agency. Category 1 studies are performed to characterize whether the abuse-deterrent properties of a new formulation can be easily defeated. Study protocols are designed to evaluate common abuse patterns of prescription medications as well as more advanced methods that have been reported on drug abuse websites and forums. Because FDA believes Category 1 testing should fully characterize the abuse-deterrent characteristics of an investigational formulation, Category 1 testing is time consuming and requires specialized laboratory resources as well as advanced knowledge of prescription medication abuse. Recent Advisory Committee meetings at FDA have shown that Category 1 tests play a critical role in FDA's evaluation of an investigational formulation. In this article, we will provide a general overview of the methods of manipulation and routes of administration commonly utilized by prescription drug abusers, how those methods and routes are evaluated in a laboratory setting, and discuss data intake, analysis, and reporting to satisfy FDA's Category 1 testing requirements.

Study on evaluation index system of operational performance of municipal wastewater treatment plants in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaoxin, Zhang; Jin, Huang; Ling, Lin; Yan, Li

2018-05-01

According to the undeveloped evaluation method for the operational performance of the municipal wastewater treatment plants, this paper analyzes the policies related to sewage treatment industry based on the investigation of the municipal wastewater treatment plants. The applicable evaluation method for the operational performance was proposed from environmental protection performance, resources and energy consumption, technical and economic performance, production management and main equipment, providing a reliable basis for scientific evaluation of the operation as well as improving the operational performance of municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Professional Readiness Level of Candidate Teachers: A Qualitative Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yildirim, Nail

2016-01-01

The study investigates novice teachers? self-perceptions of their professional readiness. The study has a qualitative research design, adopting the phenomenology pattern. The study group comprised subject matter teachers employed at different educational stages (primary, secondary and high schools). The participants were selected according to the…

Students' Perceptions and Faculty Measured Competencies in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malechwanzi, J. Muthiani; Lei, Hongde; Wang, Lu

2016-01-01

This study aims to investigate whether there is significant relationship between students' perceived faculty competencies and faculty evaluated competencies. The study identified four main dimensions for measuring faculty competencies namely: teaching, research, additional services and advising. This study adopted a mixed method design. The study…

Assessing Multi-cultural Television Characters for Children. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaRose, Robert; Eisenstock, Barbara

Two studies were undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of portrayals of minority group characters in television productions. One study evaluated minority children's identification with minority characters in the "Superfriends" series. The second study focused on interracial attitude changes associated with exposure to a pilot for "The New…

Monitoring load distribution and fatigue cost estimates of heavy truck loads on Louisiana state bridges : research project capsule.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

Several LTRC funded studies have : evaluated fatigue damage from heavy : truck loads (GVW 100,000 lb.) on : Louisiana Bridges.(1-4) The final : reports for these studies : recommended a field investigation to : verify the theoretical studies. LTRC : ...

Quality assurance in ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma using a standardized phantom and standard clinical images: a 3-year national investigation in Korea.

PubMed

Choi, Joon-Il; Jung, Seung Eun; Kim, Pyo Nyun; Cha, Sang Hoon; Jun, Jae Kwan; Lee, Hoo-Yeon; Park, Eun-Cheol

2014-06-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of ultrasound (US) imaging for hepatocellular carcinoma screening. The investigation was performed at all medical institutes participating in the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea. For assessment of personnel, we inquired who was performing the US screenings. For phantom image evaluation, the dead zone, vertical and horizontal measurements, axial and lateral resolution, sensitivity, and gray scale/dynamic range were evaluated. For clinical image evaluation, US images of patients were evaluated in terms of the standard images, technical information, overall image quality, appropriateness of depth, foci, annotations, and the presence of any artifacts. Failure rates for phantom and clinical image evaluations at general hospitals, smaller hospitals, and private clinics were 20.9%, 24.5%, 24.1% and 5.5%, and 14.8% and 9.5%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the failure rates for the phantom images among groups of different years of manufacture. For the clinical image evaluation, the results of radiologists were significantly better than those of other professional groups (P = .0001 and .0004 versus nonradiology physicians and nonphysicians, respectively). The failure rate was also higher when the storage format was analog versus digital (P < .001). Approximately 20% of US scanners failed the phantom image evaluation. The year of scanner manufacture was not significantly associated with the results of the phantom image evaluation. The quality of the clinical images obtained by radiologists was the best. © 2014 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Network-wide Impacts of Eco-routes and Route Choice Behavior/Evaluation of AERIS Applications

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-07-01

The study investigates the eco-routes and route choice behaviors under connected vehicle environment. In particular, the study demonstrates the various conceptual development for an ecorouting system which includes an individual route choice behavior...

Development and evaluation of fiber optic sensors : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-05-01

This study investigated the feasibility of using fiber optic sensors to capture traffic data. Funding from the : study was used to develop a prototype sensor using fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) technology. The sensor was : tested on a high volume portla...

Counseling Research: Ethics and Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Sharon E.; Gross, Douglas R.

1986-01-01

Identifies three global areas for reserach study: (a) clinical studies, (b) counselor training investigation, and (c) evaluation. Issues such as competency, informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, cooptation and manipulation, no treatment controls, validity and generalizability of results, and authorship are discussed. (Author/BL)

Investigating the Effects of Professional Practice Program on Teacher Education Students' Ability to Articulate Educational Philosophy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weshah, Hani A.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in pre-service student teachers' ability to articulate a philosophy education during the field experience. Educational philosophy change for the participants (77) was measured by using Jersin's scale. Evaluations of scores involved comparison of pre and post the training program. Descriptive…

Students' Evaluation of a Virtual World for Procedural Training in a Tertiary-Education Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramírez, Jaime; Rico, Mariano; Riofrío-Luzcando, Diego; Berrocal-Lobo, Marta; de Antonio, Angélica

2018-01-01

This article presents an investigation on the educational value of virtual worlds intended for the acquisition of procedural knowledge. This investigation takes as a case of study a virtual laboratory on biotechnology. A remarkable feature in this virtual laboratory is an automatic tutor that supervises student's actions and provides tutoring…

Do Children's Advocacy Centers Improve Families' Experiences of Child Sexual Abuse Investigations?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Lisa M.; Cross, Theodore P.; Walsh, Wendy A.; Simone, Monique

2007-01-01

Objective: The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) model of child abuse investigation is designed to be more child and family-friendly than traditional methods, but there have been no rigorous studies of their effect on children's and caregivers' experience. Data collected as part of the Multi-Site Evaluation of Children's Advocacy Centers were used…

NRC/AMRMC Resident Research Associateship Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

Intravital Microscopy was successfully employed for investigating EG shedding in hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation for the very first time; Contract... Intravital microscopy integrated with systemic hemodynamics evaluations may be essential and more accurate tools to identify changes and study...findings in concise form, utilizing key concepts/words. 1) Intravital Microscopy was successfully employed for investigating EG shedding in hemorrhagic

The Effect of Achievement Test Selection on Identification of Learning Disabilities within a Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miciak, Jeremy; Taylor, W. Pat; Denton, Carolyn A.; Fletcher, Jack M.

2015-01-01

Few empirical investigations have evaluated learning disabilities (LD) identification methods based on a pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses (PSW). This study investigated the reliability of LD classification decisions of the concordance/discordance method (C/DM) across different psychoeducational assessment batteries. C/DM criteria were…

A Learning Analytics Approach to Investigating Factors Affecting EFL Students' Oral Performance in a Flipped Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Chi-Jen; Hwang, Gwo-Jen

2018-01-01

Flipped classrooms have been widely adopted and discussed by school teachers and researchers in the past decade. However, few studies have been conducted to formally evaluate the effectiveness of flipped classrooms in terms of improving EFL students' English oral presentation, not to mention investigating factors affecting their flipped learning…

Effect of temperature on Acoustic Evaluation of standing trees and logs: Part 2: Field Investigation

Treesearch

Shan Gao; Xiping Wang; Lihai Wang; R. Bruce Allison

2013-01-01

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of seasonal temperature changes on acoustic velocity measured on standing trees and green logs and to develop models for compensating temperature differences because acoustic measurements are performed in different climates and seasons. Field testing was conducted on 20 red pine (Pinus resinosa...

Evaluating Writing Instruction through an Investigation of Students' Experiences of Learning through Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Robert A.; Taylor, Charlotte E.; Drury, Helen

2005-01-01

Learning through writing is a way of learning not only the appropriate written expression of disciplinary knowledge, but also the knowledge itself through reflection and revision. This study investigates the quality of a writing experience provided to university students in a first-year biology subject. The writing instruction methodology used is…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peggy Robinson

This report summarizes activities that have taken place in the last six (6) months (January 2005-June 2005) under the DOE-NETL cooperative agreement ''Adaptive Management and Planning Models for Cultural Resources in Oil and Gas Fields, New Mexico and Wyoming'' DE-FC26-02NT15445. This project examines the practices and results of cultural resource investigation and management in two different oil and gas producing areas of the United States: southeastern New Mexico and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The project evaluates how cultural resource investigations have been conducted in the past and considers how investigation and management could be pursued differently in themore » future. The study relies upon full database population for cultural resource inventories and resources and geomorphological studies. These are the basis for analysis of cultural resource occurrence, strategies for finding and evaluating cultural resources, and recommendations for future management practices. Activities can be summarized as occurring in either Wyoming or New Mexico. Gnomon as project lead, worked in both areas.« less

Comparison of automatic procedures in the selection of peaks over threshold in flood frequency analysis: A Canadian case study in the context of climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durocher, M.; Mostofi Zadeh, S.; Burn, D. H.; Ashkar, F.

2017-12-01

Floods are one of the most costly hazards and frequency analysis of river discharges is an important part of the tools at our disposal to evaluate their inherent risks and to provide an adequate response. In comparison to the common examination of annual streamflow maximums, peaks over threshold (POT) is an interesting alternative that makes better use of the available information by including more than one flood event per year (on average). However, a major challenge is the selection of a satisfactory threshold above which peaks are assumed to respect certain conditions necessary for an adequate estimation of the risk. Additionally, studies have shown that POT is also a valuable approach to investigate the evolution of flood regimes in the context of climate change. Recently, automatic procedures for the selection of the threshold were suggested to guide that important choice, which otherwise rely on graphical tools and expert judgment. Furthermore, having an automatic procedure that is objective allows for quickly repeating the analysis on a large number of samples, which is useful in the context of large databases or for uncertainty analysis based on a resampling approach. This study investigates the impact of considering such procedures in a case study including many sites across Canada. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the bias and predictive power of the automatic procedures in similar conditions as well as investigating the power of derived nonstationarity tests. The results obtained are also evaluated in the light of expert judgments established in a previous study. Ultimately, this study provides a thorough examination of the considerations that need to be addressed when conducting POT analysis using automatic threshold selection.

Serial casting versus stretching technique to treat knee flexion contracture in children with spina bifida: a comparative study.

PubMed

Al-Oraibi, S; Tariah, Hashem Abu; Alanazi, Abdullah

2013-01-01

Severe knee contractures that develop soon after muscle imbalance may not improve with stretching exercises and splinting. An alternative treatment is serial casting, which has been used to promote increased range of motion. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of using serial casting and passive stretching approaches to treat knee flexion contracture in children with spina bifida. In a pre/post randomized controlled study, ten participants were included in the serial casting group, while eight participants were included in the passive stretching intervention group. The degree of knee extension was measured at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at a one-year follow-up using a standard goniometer. Both groups showed significant improvements in the degree of flexion contracture at the post-treatment evaluation and the follow-up evaluation. The serial casting group showed significant improvements in knee flexion contracture at the post-treatment evaluation, t (9)=13.4, p < 0.001, and the one-year follow-up evaluation, t (9) = 7.46, p < 0.001. The passive stretching group also showed significant improvements in knee flexion contracture at the post-treatment evaluation, t (7) =2.6, p < 0.05, and the one-year follow-up evaluation, t (7) = 3.6, p < 0.05. However, statistically significant improvements in the serial casting group compared with passive stretching group in relation to the degree of flexion contracture were found at the immediate post-treatment evaluation, F(1, 15)=246, p=0.0001, and the one-year follow-up evaluation, F (1, 15)=51.5, p=0.0001. The outcomes of this study provide the first evidence that serial casting may be a useful intervention in treating knee flexion contracture in children with spina bifida. However, further investigations into serial casting, as well as investigations into the use of serial casting with other interventions, are warranted.

Satellite Power Systems /SPS/ - Overview of system studies and critical technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manson, S. V.

1980-01-01

Systems studies and critical technology issues for the development and evaluation of Satellite Power Systems (SPS) for the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy and its transmission to earth are reviewed. Initial concept studies completed in 1976 and system definition studies initiated in the same year have indicated the technical feasibility of SPS and identified challenging issues to be addressed as part of the SPS Concept Development and Evaluation Program. Systems considered in the study include photovoltaic and solar thermal power conversion configurations employing klystron or solid state microwave generators or lasers for power transmission, and power transmission options, system constructability and in-orbit and ground operations. Technology investigations are being performed in the areas of microwave power transmission, structure/controls interactions and the behavior of key materials in the space/SPS environment. Favorable results have been obtained in the areas of microwave phase distribution and phase control, dc-RF conversion, antenna radiating element, and no insurmountable problems have been discovered in any of the investigations to date.

Effect of shoe type on descending a curb.

PubMed

George, Juff; Heller, Michelle; Kuzel, Michael

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shoe type on the performance of women during curb descent. Performance during curb stepping may be explained by biomechanical research that has evaluated the kinematics of overground walking and stair ascent and descent. Studies have reported that women exhibit performance differences when wearing high heels, flip flops and sneakers during overground walking and stair ascent and descent. Thus, in addition to features of the curb, the type of shoe being worn may also affect performance. Although several studies have investigated curb stepping, no known studies have investigated the effects of different types of footwear on curb descent performance. This research was conducted in a real-world environment where participants wore three different types of shoes and performed a series of activities that involved curb stepping. The subjects were videotaped while descending a curb, allowing for observation of changes in gait parameters. Results of this study indicate that wearing high heels leads to performance differences as compared to wearing flip flops or sneakers.

Effect of odour on multisensory environmental evaluations of road traffic

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Like, E-mail: jianglike@yahoo.com; Masullo, Massimiliano, E-mail: Massimiliano.MASULLO@unina2.it; Maffei, Luigi, E-mail: luigi.maffei@unina2.it

This study investigated the effect of odour on multisensory environmental evaluations of road traffic. The study aimed to answer: (1) Does odour have any effect on evaluations on noise, landscape and the overall environment? (2) How different are participants' responses to odour stimuli and are these differences influential on the evaluations? Experimental scenarios varied in three Traffic levels, three Tree screening conditions and two Odour presence conditions were designed, and presented to participants in virtual reality. Perceived Loudness, Noise Annoyance, Landscape Quality and Overall Pleasantness of each scenario were evaluated and the results were analysed. It shows that Odour presencemore » did not have significant main effect on any of the evaluations, but has significant interactions with Traffic level on Noise Annoyance and with Tree screening on Landscape Quality, indicating the potential of odour to modulate noise and visual landscape perceptions in specific environmental content. Concerning participants' responses to odour stimuli, large differences were found in this study. However, the differences did not seem to be influential on environmental evaluations in this study. Larger samples of participants may benefit this study for more significant results of odour effect.« less

Fatty acid is a potential agent for bone tissue induction: In vitro and in vivo approach.

PubMed

Cardoso, Guinea Bc; Chacon, Erivelto; Chacon, Priscila Gl; Bordeaux-Rego, Pedro; Duarte, Adriana Ss; Saad, Sara T Olalla; Zavaglia, Cecilia Ac; Cunha, Marcelo R

2017-12-01

Our hypothesis was to investigate the fatty acid potential as a bone induction factor. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate this approach. Oleic acid was used in a 0.5 wt.% concentration. Polycaprolactone was used as the polymeric matrix by combining solvent-casting and particulate-leaching techniques, with a final porosity of 70 wt.%, investigated by SEM images. Contact angle measurements were produced to investigate the influence of oleic acid on polycaprolactone chains. Cell culture was performed using adipocyte-derived stem cells to evaluate biocompatibility and bioactivity properties. In addition, in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the induction potential of oleic acid addition. Adipocyte-derived stem cells were used to provide differentiation after 21 days of culture. Likewise, information were obtained with in vivo data and cellular invagination was observed on both scaffolds (polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone /oleic acid); interestingly, the scaffold with oleic acid addition demonstrated that cellular migrations are not related to the surrounding tissue, indicating bioactive potential. Our hypothesis is that fatty acid may be used as a potential induction factor for bone tissue engineering. The study's findings indicate oleic acid as a possible agent for bone induction, according to data on cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Impact statement The biomaterial combined in this study on bone regeneration is innovative and shows promising results in the treatment of bone lesions. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and oleic acid have been studied separately. In this research, we combined biomaterials to assess the stimulus and the speed of bone healing.

An evaluation of the impact of digital imaging on radiographic practice and patient doses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horrocks, J.; Violaki, K.

2015-09-01

Direct digital imaging technology was implemented in all areas in general and mobile radiology at Barts and the Royal London Hospitals in 2012. Evidence from recent radiation incident investigations indicates optimum exposure factors are not consistently selected, with the greater dynamic range of the digital detectors allowing sub-optimal practice. To investigate further patient dose data were extracted from the Radiology Information System for adult chest X-ray examinations in 2014, covering over 50,000 studies in the Trust. Chest X-ray examinations were selected as they are low dose but frequent examinations. The patient dose data were evaluated taking into account X-ray system type and detector performance measurements, and individual cases studies were used to highlight where practice can be improved.

Detailed Post-Soft Impact Progressive Damage Assessment for Hybrid Structure Jet Engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siddens, Aaron; Bayandor, Javid; Celestina, Mark L.

2014-01-01

Currently, certification of engine designs for resistance to bird strike is reliant on physical tests. Predictive modeling of engine structural damage has mostly been limited to evaluation of individual forward section components, such as fan blades within a fixed frame of reference, to direct impact with a bird. Such models must be extended to include interactions among engine components under operating conditions to evaluate the full extent of engine damage. This paper presents the results of a study aim to develop a methodology for evaluating bird strike damage in advanced propulsion systems incorporating hybrid composite/metal structures. The initial degradation and failure of individual fan blades struck by a bird were investigated. Subsequent damage to other fan blades and engine components due to resultant violent fan assembly vibrations and fragmentation was further evaluated. Various modeling parameters for the bird and engine components were investigated to determine guidelines for accurately capturing initial damage and progressive failure of engine components. Then, a novel hybrid structure modeling approach was investigated and incorporated into the crashworthiness methodology. Such a tool is invaluable to the process of design, development, and certification of future advanced propulsion systems.

Simple construct evaluation with latent class analysis: An investigation of Facebook addiction and the development of a short form of the Facebook Addiction Test (F-AT).

PubMed

Dantlgraber, Michael; Wetzel, Eunike; Schützenberger, Petra; Stieger, Stefan; Reips, Ulf-Dietrich

2016-09-01

In psychological research, there is a growing interest in using latent class analysis (LCA) for the investigation of quantitative constructs. The aim of this study is to illustrate how LCA can be applied to gain insights on a construct and to select items during test development. We show the added benefits of LCA beyond factor-analytic methods, namely being able (1) to describe groups of participants that differ in their response patterns, (2) to determine appropriate cutoff values, (3) to evaluate items, and (4) to evaluate the relative importance of correlated factors. As an example, we investigated the construct of Facebook addiction using the Facebook Addiction Test (F-AT), an adapted version of the Internet Addiction Test (I-AT). Applying LCA facilitates the development of new tests and short forms of established tests. We present a short form of the F-AT based on the LCA results and validate the LCA approach and the short F-AT with several external criteria, such as chatting, reading newsfeeds, and posting status updates. Finally, we discuss the benefits of LCA for evaluating quantitative constructs in psychological research.

DNA binding properties and biological evaluation of dihydropyrimidinones derivatives as potential antitumor agents.

PubMed

Wang, Gongke; Li, Xiangrong; Gou, Yaping; Chen, Yuhan; Yan, Changling; Lu, Yan

2013-10-01

The binding properties of two medicinally important dihydropyrimidinones derivatives 5-(Ethoxycarbonyl)-6-methyl-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (EMPD) and 5-(Ethoxycarbonyl)-6-methyl-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (EMCD) with calf-thymus DNA (ctDNA) were investigated by spectroscopy, viscosity, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and molecular modeling techniques. Simultaneously, their biological activities were evaluated with MTT assay method. The binding constants determined with spectroscopic titration and ITC were found to be in the same order of 10(4)M(-1). According to the results of viscosity studies, fluorescence competitive binding experiment and ITC investigations, intercalative binding was evaluated as the dominant binding modes between the two compounds and ctDNA. Furthermore, the results of molecular modeling corroborated those obtained from spectroscopic, viscosimetric and ITC investigations. Evaluation of the antitumor activities of the two derivatives against different tumor cell lines proved that they exhibited significant tumor cell inhibition rate, accordingly blocking DNA transcription and replication. The present results favor the development of potential drugs related with dihydropyrimidinones derivatives in the treatment of some diseases. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Demystifying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: I. Understanding agency structure and function.

PubMed

Levi, Benjamin; Lisiecki, Jeffrey; Rubin, Peter; D'Amico, Richard A; Hume, Keith M; Seward, Bill; Cederna, Paul S

2014-06-01

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for oversight of the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals and devices, including biologics and devices that combine biologics with other materials. Within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research is specifically responsible for the evaluation and approval of biological products. This department of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a series of mechanisms in place to aid researchers in the process of developing new biologics. This article outlines the study phases involved in developing new biologics and how the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and investigators can work together to facilitate this process. It also discusses issues specific to biologics that have been encountered in the past and that investigators should consider when developing and obtaining approval for new biologics. The equivalent center within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approving medical devices is the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The equivalent process of development and approval of medical devices is similarly discussed. Finally, essential contacts for investigators within the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and the Center for Devices and Radiological Health are provided.

Designing A Mixed Methods Study In Primary Care

PubMed Central

Creswell, John W.; Fetters, Michael D.; Ivankova, Nataliya V.

2004-01-01

BACKGROUND Mixed methods or multimethod research holds potential for rigorous, methodologically sound investigations in primary care. The objective of this study was to use criteria from the literature to evaluate 5 mixed methods studies in primary care and to advance 3 models useful for designing such investigations. METHODS We first identified criteria from the social and behavioral sciences to analyze mixed methods studies in primary care research. We then used the criteria to evaluate 5 mixed methods investigations published in primary care research journals. RESULTS Of the 5 studies analyzed, 3 included a rationale for mixing based on the need to develop a quantitative instrument from qualitative data or to converge information to best understand the research topic. Quantitative data collection involved structured interviews, observational checklists, and chart audits that were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. Qualitative data consisted of semistructured interviews and field observations that were analyzed using coding to develop themes and categories. The studies showed diverse forms of priority: equal priority, qualitative priority, and quantitative priority. Data collection involved quantitative and qualitative data gathered both concurrently and sequentially. The integration of the quantitative and qualitative data in these studies occurred between data analysis from one phase and data collection from a subsequent phase, while analyzing the data, and when reporting the results. DISCUSSION We recommend instrument-building, triangulation, and data transformation models for mixed methods designs as useful frameworks to add rigor to investigations in primary care. We also discuss the limitations of our study and the need for future research. PMID:15053277

Diagnostic tests and algorithms used in the investigation of haematuria: systematic reviews and economic evaluation.

PubMed

Rodgers, M; Nixon, J; Hempel, S; Aho, T; Kelly, J; Neal, D; Duffy, S; Ritchie, G; Kleijnen, J; Westwood, M

2006-06-01

To determine the most effective diagnostic strategy for the investigation of microscopic and macroscopic haematuria in adults. Electronic databases from inception to October 2003, updated in August 2004. A systematic review was undertaken according to published guidelines. Decision analytic modelling was undertaken, based on the findings of the review, expert opinion and additional information from the literature, to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of plausible alternative tests that are part of diagnostic algorithms for haematuria. A total of 118 studies met the inclusion criteria. No studies that evaluated the effectiveness of diagnostic algorithms for haematuria or the effectiveness of screening for haematuria or investigating its underlying cause were identified. Eighteen out of 19 identified studies evaluated dipstick tests and data from these suggested that these are moderately useful in establishing the presence of, but cannot be used to rule out, haematuria. Six studies using haematuria as a test for the presence of a disease indicated that the detection of microhaematuria cannot alone be considered a useful test either to rule in or rule out the presence of a significant underlying pathology (urinary calculi or bladder cancer). Forty-eight of 80 studies addressed methods to localise the source of bleeding (renal or lower urinary tract). The methods and thresholds described in these studies varied greatly, precluding any estimate of a 'best performance' threshold that could be applied across patient groups. However, studies of red blood cell morphology that used a cut-off value of 80% dysmorphic cells for glomerular disease reported consistently high specificities (potentially useful in ruling in a renal cause for haematuria). The reported sensitivities were generally low. Twenty-eight studies included data on the accuracy of laboratory tests (tumour markers, cytology) for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The majority of tumour marker studies evaluated nuclear matrix protein 22 or bladder tumour antigen. The sensitivity and specificity ranges suggested that neither of these would be useful either for diagnosing bladder cancer or for ruling out patients for further investigation (cystoscopy). However, the evidence remains sparse and the diagnostic accuracy estimates varied widely between studies. Fifteen studies evaluating urine cytology as a test for urinary tract malignancies were heterogeneous and poorly reported. The calculated specificity values were generally high, suggesting some possible utility in confirming malignancy. However, the evidence suggests that urine cytology has no application in ruling out malignancy or excluding patients from further investigation. Fifteen studies evaluated imaging techniques [computed tomography (CT), intravenous urography (IVU) or ultrasound scanning (US)] to detect the underlying cause of haematuria. The target condition and the reference standard varied greatly between these studies. The diagnostic accuracy data for several individual studies appeared promising but meaningful comparison of the available imaging technologies was impossible. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria but addressed different parts of the diagnostic chain (e.g. screening programmes, laboratory investigations, full urological work-up). No single study addressed the complete diagnostic process. The review also highlighted a number of methodological limitations of these studies, including their lack of generalisability to the UK context. Separate decision analytic models were therefore developed to progress estimation of the optimal strategy for the diagnostic management of haematuria. The economic model for the detection of microhaematuria found that immediate microscopy following a positive dipstick test would improve diagnostic efficiency as it eliminates the high number of false positives produced by dipstick testing. Strategies that use routine microscopy may be associated with high numbers of false results, but evidence was lacking regarding the accuracy of routine microscopy and estimates were adopted for the model. The model for imaging the upper urinary tract showed that US detects more tumours than IVU at one-third of the cost, and is also associated with fewer false results. For any cause of haematuria, CT was shown to have a mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of pounds sterling 9939 in comparison with the next best option, US. When US is followed up with CT for negative results with persistent haematuria, it dominates the initial use of CT alone, with a saving of pounds sterling 235,000 for the evaluation of 1000 patients. The model for investigation of the lower urinary tract showed that for low-risk patients the use of immediate cystoscopy could be avoided if cystoscopy were used for follow-up patients with a negative initial test using tumour markers and/or cytology, resulting in a saving of pounds sterling 483,000 for the evaluation of 1000 patients. The clinical and economic impact on delayed detection of both upper and lower urinary tract tumours through the use of follow-up testing should be evaluated in future studies. There are insufficient data currently available to derive an evidence-based algorithm of the diagnostic pathway for haematuria. A hypothetical algorithm based on the opinion and practice of clinical experts in the review team, other published algorithms and the results of economic modelling is presented in this report. This algorithm is presented, for comparative purposes, alongside current US and UK guidelines. The ideas contained in these algorithms and the specific questions outlined should form the basis of future research. Quality assessment of the diagnostic accuracy studies included in this review highlighted several areas of deficiency.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberts, Jesse D.; Chang, Grace; Magalen, Jason

A modified version of an indust ry standard wave modeling tool was evaluated, optimized, and utilized to investigate model sensitivity to input parameters a nd wave energy converter ( WEC ) array deployment scenarios. Wave propagation was investigated d ownstream of the WECs to evaluate overall near - and far - field effects of WEC arrays. The sensitivity study illustrate d that wave direction and WEC device type we r e most sensitive to the variation in the model parameters examined in this study . Generally, the changes in wave height we re the primary alteration caused by the presencemore » of a WEC array. Specifically, W EC device type and subsequently their size directly re sult ed in wave height variations; however, it is important to utilize ongoing laboratory studies and future field tests to determine the most appropriate power matrix values for a particular WEC device and configuration in order to improve modeling results .« less

Investigation of a family of power conditioners integrated into a utility grid: Category 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, P.; Putkovich, R. P.

1981-07-01

Technical issues regarding ac and dc interface requirements were studied. A baseline design was selected to be a good example of existing technology which would not need significant development effort for its implementation in residential solar photovoltaic systems. Alternative technologies are evaluated to determine which meet the baseline specification, and their costs and losses are evaluated. Areas in which cost improvements can be obtained are studied, and the three best candidate technologies--the current sourced converter, the HF front end converter, and the programmed wave converter--are compared. It is concluded that the designs investigated will meet, or with slight improvement could meet, short term efficiency goals. Long term efficiency goals could be met if an isolation transformer were not required in the power conditioning equipment. None of the technologies studied can meet cost goals unless further improvements are possible.