ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Guardian Caps: What&apos;s the Impact?
Author: Jenny, Seth E.
Date: 2017-07-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Athletes,High School Students,Youth Programs,Team Sports,Head Injuries,Brain,Prevention,Coaching (Performance),Online Surveys,Athletic Coaches,Stakeholders,Likert Scales,Program Effectiveness,Safety Equipment,Statistical Analysis

Reported sport-related concussion rates have dramatically increased recently. In response, the Guardian company has emerged as a leading manufacturer of soft-shell helmet covers. The &quot;Guardian Cap&quot; is a foam padded covering that fits over a helmet that aims to reduce the impact of collisions and lessen the chance of a concussion. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of using Guardian Caps in preventing concussions in youth and high school football players. In addition, this study also examined reported coaching strategies used in the attempt to reduce concussions with these athletes. United States high school and youth football stakeholders (e.g., coaches, athletic directors, youth football presidents, etc.) completed an online survey containing Likert-based and open response questions focusing on the main research goals. On average, participants reported a 40.5% decrease in concussions per year after transitioning to using Guardian Caps with their youth or high school football players. However, 16.2% of participants would not recommend the use of Guardian Caps, citing concerns such as helmet warranty worries, helmet bulkiness, product malfunctions, and expense. Moreover, several additional methods participants' used in an effort to keep players safe from concussions are also discussed. Findings may assist youth and high school football coaches and athletic directors in making informed equipment and coaching decisions regarding player safety focusing on reducing concussions with their players.
Effect of Pop Music on Students&apos; Attitudes to Music Lessons
Author: Özdemir, Gökhan
Date: 2017-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Popular Culture,Music Education,Singing,Student Attitudes,Middle School Students,Pretests Posttests,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Teaching Methods,Attitude Measures,Foreign Countries

This study aims to identify whether the use of popular music in teaching song creates a significant difference in attitudes of middle school students to music lessons. &quot;Pretest-posttest design&quot; from experimental models was used. The experimental and control groups consists of 8 classes of continuing education from four different middle schools in Burdur province which were selected randomly. The music lesson attitude scale was used for both groups by the researchers before the experiment. The &quot;syncopation/off-beat&quot; topic chosen by the researchers was taught to the experiment and control groups for four weeks. While the song teaching related to the topic was taught traditionally to the control group, examples of songs from Turkish pop music chosen by the researchers were taught to the experimental group using prepared karaoke recordings. After the experiment, the music lesson attitude scale was applied to both groups again by the researchers, and an attempt was made to identify whether there was a significant difference in the attitudes of the students to music lessons. The research concluded that the use of popular music examples in song learning caused a general increase in attitudes of students to music lessons. Additionally, when the differences in mean attitude points for items are examined students had more enjoyment from music lessons where pop music samples were used for song learning. It was identified that their motivation for the lesson and their desire to participate in activities in class and outside of class increased.
Chinese College Students&apos; Physical Activity Correlates and Behavior: A Transtheoretical Model Perspective
Author: Xiong, Shanying
Date: 2017-10-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Physical Activity Level,Correlation,Self Efficacy,Decision Making,College Students,Questionnaires,Regression (Statistics),Behavior Change,Body Composition,Body Weight,Body Height,Statistical Analysis,Change Strategies,Health Behavior,Multivariate Analysis

Guided by the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska &amp; DiClemente, 1982), this study investigated the differences of physical activity levels and correlates (i.e., self-efficacy, decisional balance, process of change) across different stages of change levels among Chinese college students. The relationships between students' physical activity correlates and physical activity behavior was also examined. The participants were 887 college students (365 males; M[subscript age] = 20.51, SD = ± 1.67) recruited from four universities in south and south-canter China. Participants completed a battery of established questionnaires assessing their physical activity correlates (self-efficacy, decisional balance, process of change) and 1-week physical activity levels. Results suggested that Chinese college students in the high stage of change group reported significantly higher physical activity levels and correlates than those in the low stage of change group. Pearson correlation analyses suggested that students' self-efficacy was moderately related to other correlates and physical activity behavior. Yet, decisional balance and process of change were only modestly associated with physical activity levels for both groups. Regression analyses further revealed students' self-efficacy emerged as the only significant contributor of their daily PA levels across the two groups. However, decision balance and process of change failed to predict physical activity levels. The implications for practice and direction of future research were discussed.
Analysis of Dream in Gholamhossein Sa&apos;edi&apos;s Short Stories: A Model for Dream Analysis in Literary Works
Author: Veskari, Hassan
Date: 2017-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Models,Sleep,Literary Devices,Literary Criticism,Literary Styles,Literature Appreciation,Literary Genres,Fantasy,Misconceptions,Mental Disorders,Story Grammar,Arabs,Didacticism,Foreign Countries,Authors

Gholam Hussein Sa'edi is one of the greatest Iranian writers of short stories in the present era. Sa'edi's stories are based on the existence of fanciful and dreamlike settings in which he attempts to establish the endings of the stories to be the direct result of the characters' psychological reaction against their dreams. The linguistic and psychological analyses of the stories show that dreams have an essential part to play in his short stories, and that fanciful atmosphere, place, time setting, and psychotic characters create a context for the existence of dreams. In this study, dreams have been studied in his short stories on the basis of Freud's and Jung's ideas. In Sa'edi's collection of &quot;The Mourners of Bayal,&quot; dreams are formed when psychotic characters react to archetypes, and the archetypes are specified through the analysis of the dreams when identifying the characters of the stories and their mental action. However, in his story of &quot;Two Brothers&quot; and &quot;The Beggar&quot; in the collection of &quot;Anonymous Fears,&quot; dream is the centerpiece of fictional events, and the events of the story coincide with the dream of the characters.
Teachers and Students&apos; Perceptions of Communicative Competence in English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia
Author: Yufrizal, Hery
Date: 2017-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Teacher Attitudes,Student Attitudes,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Communicative Competence (Languages),Statistical Analysis,Secondary School Teachers,Junior High School Students,High School Students,Language Teachers,Language Skills,Sociolinguistics,Questionnaires,Communication Skills,Language Usage

This article is an attempt to formulate and design a comprehensive rationale in formulating standard of communicative competence of English for Indonesian learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The study focuses on the perceptions of teachers and students on what communicative competence means, and how they perceive each component of the communicative competence of English. This research is a quantitative research concentrating on finding out the perceptions of English teachers and students on communicative competence in Indonesia. The participants consist of 31 English teachers of junior and high schools in Bandar Lampung, 37 non-English Language Teaching (non-ELT) students, and 56 English Language Teaching (ELT) Students. Fifty questions are designed to find out the teachers' and students' perception of communicative competence and its components. The questions were grouped into five categories: definition of communicative competence, linguistic competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence, and strategic competence. Through ANOVA statistical analysis, it was found that English teachers' perceptions on definition of communicative competence and strategic competence were not significantly different from non-English Language Teaching (non-ELT) students and ELT students. Teachers differed significantly in perceiving the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and discourse competence from that of non ELT and ELT students.
Student Perception on Group Work and Group Assignments in Classroom Teaching: The Case of Bule Hora University Second Year Biology Students, South Ethiopia--An Action Research
Author: Daba, Tolessa Muleta
Date: 2017-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Student Attitudes,Assignments,Semi Structured Interviews,Biology,Science Instruction,Focus Groups,Accountability,Cooperative Learning,Problem Solving,Case Studies,College Students,Critical Thinking,Action Research,Foreign Countries,Science Teachers,College Faculty,Teacher Attitudes,Qualitative Research

Group learning has become a common practice in schools and tertiary institutions. It provides more comfortable and supportive learning environment than solitary work. It fosters critical thinking skills, develops individual accountability, increases levels of reasoning and positive interdependence, improves problem-solving strategies and internalizes content knowledge. But many factors influence the group relation, such as members' perceptions, attitudes and willingness to cooperate and contribute as a team. Therefore, this study was conducted on students' perceptions and attitudes towards the usefulness of group work mainly, and how the students evaluate factors that may affect their participation specifically. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora University from February to June, 2015. Quantitative research approaches had been applied; using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus group discussion with Biology students and Instructors. Of the total number of 47 students who participated in the study, 25 (53%) of the students' responded that they prefer group work than other types of assessment while few of them 4 (8.51%) replied that they disagree with group work use. The results indicated that students had misconception on objectives of group work and they perceived group work as a means of getting pass mark than seeing it as a means of learning cooperatively through activity.
A Study on the Barriers to Participation of Females in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education in Imo State the Way Forward
Author: Iwu, R. U.
Date: 2017-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Barriers,Student Participation,Females,Gender Bias,STEM Education,Equal Education,Foreign Countries,Sex Stereotypes,Social Bias,Access to Education,Questionnaires,Likert Scales,Science Education,Mathematics Education,Technology Education,Cognitive Ability,Socialization

A study was carried out to ascertain the barriers to effective participation of females in surface-mount technology (SMT) in Imo State. Four purposes and four research questions guided the study. The study adopted the survey research design. The population of the study consists of all the female science students and lecturers in six tertiary institutions in Imo state. The simple random sampling technique was adopted with a sample size of six hundred respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit response which was analyzed using mean. Findings revealed that domestic issues and responsibilities, culture of marginalization, stereotyping of knowledge and skills are barriers to effective participation of females in SMT. It was therefore recommended that schools should be gender responsive and females should be assertive and stand for their rights in order to move forward.
Examination of Test and Item Statistics from Visual and Verbal Mathematics Questions
Author: Alpayar, Cagla
Date: 2017-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Middle School Students,Grade 7,Student Evaluation,Mathematics Tests,Test Items,Test Format,Mixed Methods Research,Achievement Tests,Semi Structured Interviews,Scores,Reaction Time,Comparative Analysis,Item Analysis,Difficulty Level,Test Reliability,Verbal Tests,Statistical Analysis

The aim of this research is to determine whether students' test performance and approaches to test questions change based on the type of mathematics questions (visual or verbal) administered to them. This research is based on a mixed-design model. The quantitative data are gathered from 297 seventh grade students, attending seven different middle schools in Cankaya, Ankara. Of all the students who participated in the research, qualitative data were gathered from 10 of them. In this research, seventh grade mathematics achievement test was developed by the researchers in visual and verbal forms. 10 of the students were selected and interviewed by utilizing semi-structured interview form. From the findings of the study, there was significant difference between the test scores and response time of the two forms in favor of visual form. The difference between item statistics is changeable in terms of the function of the visual. The results of the interviews showed that students have positive views toward visual questions. The students' perceptions of the use of visual in mathematics questions are examined in three main categories: preferability, comprehensiveness and responsibility of the questions.
Mechanism for Promoting Motivation, Confidence, and Autonomy through Synchronic Communication Sessions in Virtual Learning Environments
Author: Valencia, Jorge Andrick Parra
Date: 2017-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Technology,Technology Uses in Education,Synchronous Communication,Student Attitudes,Online Courses,Graduate Students,Student Motivation,Self Esteem,Trust (Psychology),Personal Autonomy,Teacher Role,Models,Simulation,Foreign Countries

This study presents a mechanism which explains the effect of synchronous communication on students' perception of the training process in virtual learning methodology used in a postgraduate programme at the University of Santander. We use System Dynamics to design a mechanism that integrates motivation, confidence, trust, and autonomy in students. The results suggest that this mechanism explains why teachers should interact with students to motivate them.
Measurement and Analysis of Student (Dis)Engagement in Higher Education: A Preliminary Study
Author: Saito, Akihiro
Date: 2017-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Higher Education,Student Participation,Learner Engagement,Questionnaires,Student Attitudes,Student Surveys,Test Construction,Psychometrics,Likert Scales,Rating Scales,Engineering Education,College Students,Factor Structure,Predictor Variables,Attitude Measures,Foreign Countries,Factor Analysis,Statistical Significance,Statistical Analysis

Higher education is attracting more participation from an increasingly diverse student body. This diversity invites concerns on effective instructional delivery as the extent of students' engagement in learning now varies widely. Anecdotes on students' &quot;undesirable&quot; dispositions in course participation are not uncommon in higher education settings. This project set out to develop a questionnaire, developed for higher education in the Japanese context, on a range of student dispositions. The scale was a five-point Likert instrument designed to interpret learners' disengagement as an attitudinal disposition. The paper discusses the conceptual contours of disengagement as a student disposition that provided the basis for the context-specific scale items. It reports the procedures taken to obtain the factor structures of the dataset. The questionnaire was administered to 145 engineering students in Japan. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution--lack of commitment, distractedness, lack of preparedness, anti-social orientation, and lack of focus. Avenues for further research are suggested, and implications for practice are discussed.
Variations in Pedagogical Design of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) across Disciplines
Author: Najafi, Hadieh
Date: 2017-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Curriculum Design,Curriculum Development,Online Courses,Comparative Analysis,Interdisciplinary Approach,Social Sciences,Humanities,Case Studies,Outcomes of Education,Evaluation Methods,Interaction,Course Content,Interviews,Focus Groups,Teacher Attitudes,Teaching Methods,College Programs,Foreign Countries

Given that few studies have formally examined pedagogical design considerations of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), this study explored variations in the pedagogical design of six MOOCs offered at the University of Toronto, while considering disciplinary characteristics and expectations of each MOOC. Using a framework (Neumann et al., 2002) characterizing teaching and learning across categories of disciplines, three of the MOOCs represented social sciences and humanities, or &quot;soft&quot; MOOCs, while another three represented sciences, or &quot;hard&quot; MOOCS. We utilized a multicase study design for understanding differences and similarities across MOOCs regarding learning outcomes, assessment methods, interaction design, and curricular content. MOOC instructor interviews, MOOC curricular documents, and discussion forum data comprised the data set. Learning outcomes of the six MOOCs reflected broad cognitive competencies promoted in each MOOC, with the structure of curricular content following disciplinary expectations. The instructors of soft MOOCs adopted a spiral curriculum and created new content in response to learner contributions. Assessment methods in each MOOC aligned well with stated learning outcomes. In soft MOOCs, discussion and exposure to diverse perspectives were promoted while in hard MOOCs there was more emphasis on question and answer. This study shows disciplinary-informed variations in MOOC pedagogy, and highlights instructors' strategies to foster disciplinary ways of knowing, skills, and practices within the parameters of a generic MOOC platform. Pedagogical approaches such as peer assessment bridged the disciplines. Suggestions for advancing research and practice related to MOOC pedagogy are also included.
Friends with Benefits: Causes and Effects of Learners&apos; Cheating Practices during Examination
Author: Diego, Leo Andrew B.
Date: 2017-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Cheating,Student Evaluation,Junior High School Students,High School Students,Questionnaires,Interviews,Data Analysis,Friendship,Student Behavior,Cultural Influences,Peer Acceptance,Antisocial Behavior,Ethics,Ethical Instruction,Intervention

Cheating during examinations is triggered by peer influence. It makes every learner know and do what should not be done. Cheating during examinations defeats the purpose of understanding, applying and creating ideas as stipulated in the revised Bloom's taxonomy by Anderson. The study reported here was designed to delve into the reasons and aspirations of the respondents in their cheating engagement. Sixteen (16) key informants, selected using random sampling procedure among Junior and Senior High School learners of Roxas National Comprehensive High School in Palawan during the months of June to October 2016, completed open-ended questionnaires and took part in the interview. NVivo software was used in the analysis of the themes that emerged from the data. This study discovered that friendship is manipulated, for it makes doing right things unacceptable and things to be avoided like cheating seem right and acceptable. The behavior about cheating during examination is deeply rooted in the culture of pakikisama (social acceptance/liking) and utang ng loob (debt of gratitude). If a learner does not share his or her answers, he or she will be labeled as walang pakisama (no concern).This paper then argues that honesty should not be just a policy; rather, honesty in this case, is the only policy. Condemning academic dishonesty must not merely rest in the enrollment forms, but by constant moral reminder and intervention of teachers who have a responsibility to hone learners' decorum on honesty and maturity.
The Predictive Power of Adult Attachment Patterns on Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions of University Students
Author: Sirin, Hatice Deveci
Date: 2017-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Attachment Behavior,Undergraduate Students,Measures (Individuals),Anxiety,Interpersonal Relationship,Statistical Analysis,Correlation,Regression (Statistics),Rejection (Psychology),Predictor Variables,Cognitive Processes,Foreign Countries

The purpose of this study is to determine the explanatory power of the anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment to explain the interpersonal cognitive distortions. The research was conducted on correlational pattern, one of the quantitative research models. A total of 413 volunteer undergraduates students, from Selçuk University were research samples. Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and personal information forms were used for data collection. Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine the relationships between variables. The major finding of the study was that the basic dimensions of adult attachment are the important variables in the explanation of the individuals' interpersonal rejection, unrealistic relationships expectations and interpersonal misperception distortions. According to the research findings, while the attachment-related avoidance is the most important predictor of interpersonal rejection, the attachment-related anxiety has no significant contribution to the model (R[superscript 2] = 0.20). The attachment-related avoidance and attachment-related anxiety are the significant predictors of the unrealistic relationships expectations (R[superscript 2] = 0.18) and interpersonal misperception distortions (R[superscript 2] = 0.04) cognitive distortion subdimensions.