12 research outputs found
Gender and Optimism as Predictors of Novice ESOL Teaching Performance
Both current and past research examining novice ESOL teachers has focused on issues such as educational background and classroom demographics (Yeo et al., 2008), but little research has focused on potential variables that influences perceived teaching performance. Consequently, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between gender, optimism, and perceived teaching performance amongst novice ESOL teachers. Graduates from two hybrid TESOL graduate programs (N=47) were sampled and surveyed. Optimism significantly predicted perceived teaching performance, t(43)= 3.17, p=.003 and there was an marginal association between gender and perceived teaching performance, t(43)= -1.92, p=.06. Further analyses indicated that the mean ratings of teaching performance were significantly different between men and women, F(1, 45)= 5.12, p=.03. In sum, our results suggest that gender and optimism are factors in perceptions of teacher efficacy amongst novice ESOL teachers. The findings of this study with optimism, gender, and teaching performance not only add empirical data for this group, but also provides a platform to further examine this unique population
Conquering APA Style: Advice From APA Style Experts
Learning and teaching APA style is often a challenge because of the detailed rules for the writing style. Resources that provide accurate information about APA style that are easy for learners to consume can be useful tools for students and instructors. The goal of this article is to provide information to help writers become more competent and comfortable with APA style. The first section of this article contains lists of common APA style mistakes that are made when papers are submitted for publication. Editors look for very specific APA formatting and style, and this section will cover these issues. Moreover, the second section includes a list of APA style rules frequently encountered by an APA style tutor. The third section has information to help students navigate writing assignments in a research methods class. The fourth section addresses additional APA style rules that many writers do not know about. Finally, this information can serve as a guide for writers to use when writing APA style papers
Daily Mood-Drinking Slopes as Predictors: a New Take on Drinking Motives and Related Outcomes
Motivational models of alcohol consumption have articulated the manner in which positive and negative experiences motivate drinking in unique social contexts (e.g., Cooper, Frone, Russell & Mudar, 1995). Daily process methodology, in which daily events, moods and drinking behaviors are reported daily or multiple times per day, has been used to examine behavioral patterns that are consistent with discrete motivations. We advance the notion that repeated patterns of drinking in various social contexts as a function of positive or negative mood increases can provide evidence of individual-level if-then drinking signatures, which in turn can predict drinking-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of slopes to predict longer term drinking motivations and alcohol problems, employing a daily process study of non-clinical moderate alcohol drinkers (N=47; 49% women). Participants responded to thrice daily interviews administered via handheld computer for 30 days, followed by a longitudinal telephone survey for 12 months. Participants’ daily mood-drinking relationships were extracted from HLM and employed as predictors of 12-month outcomes in multiple regression analyses. Daily mood-drinking patterns demonstrated significant variability across persons, such that moderate drinkers could be reliably differentiated based on those patterns in terms of distinct drinking-related outcomes. Among the results, negative mood-solitary drinking slopes were associated with lower subsequent coping motives; yet, positive mood-solitary drinking slopes were predictive of higher coping and lower social motives. Conversely, positive mood-social drinking associations were predictive of higher enhancement motives and b-MAST scores. Results are interpreted in light of motivational models of consumption
An Examination of the First Years: Novice ESOL Teachers’ Experiences with Loneliness and Stress
The first years of work for new teachers can be particularly difficult; this is especially true for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers (Brannan & Bleistein, 2012; Warford & Reeves, 2003). This study was designed to explore potential issues within this important group and specifically examined the relationship between loneliness and stress for novice ESOL teachers. Forty-seven novice ESOL teachers completed self-report measures assessing their levels of perceived stress and loneliness. The results revealed that loneliness significantly predicted perceived stress (β = .51, p \u3c .001.). Furthermore, exploratory analyses indicated that marital status influenced loneliness ratings but not stress levels. These findings indicate that for novice teachers that often teach abroad, feelings of loneliness are an important issue to consider
Psi Chi Journal Editorial transition
As I write these lines, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research has fully transitioned to the editorial stewardship of Dr. Debi Brannan. It is a bittersweet time; I treasured deeply the tasks of editing the Psi Chi Journal. For nearly 5 years, I benefitted from reading cutting-edge research in broad topics across psychology. I was inspired by the knowledge that most of the authors were up-and-coming researchers whose sense of efficacy could be nurtured through a positive publication experience. I reveled in the beauty of watching undergraduate and graduate researchers shine, faculty mentors nurture our next generation of researchers, and colleagues support Psi Chi Journal authors in putting forth the best possible work. I retain a sense of awe at watching a community of scholars seamlessly collaborate for the greater good of science and psychology. I step down with a sense of having gained much more than I contributed. This editorial summarizes the road we—the editorial team—traveled during my years as editor of this fine Journal. The Journal editorial team accomplishments since November of 2011 and until July of 2016 included advances in both structure and function of the Journal
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Walking Meeting Effects on Productivity and Mood Among White-Collar Workers: Evidence From the Walking Meeting Pilot Study
OBJECTIVE:Walking Meetings (WaM) have shown to be acceptable, feasible and implementable among white-collar workers. This pilot study examines the effects of WaM on worker mood, productivity, and physical activity.
METHODS:Eighteen white-collar workers were recruited from a university in Florida. Participants wore accelerometers for 3 consecutive weeks. During baseline week, participants continued their normal seated meetings. In weeks 2 and 3, participants conducted one walking meeting in groups of 2–3 people.
RESULTS:Increased moderate occupational physical activity was correlated with increased productivity measured by decreased work time missed due to health reasons (r = -0.59; p = 0.03) and decreased impairment while working due to health reasons (r = -0.61; p = 0.02). In week 3, very vigorous physical activity was significantly correlated with negative mood (r = 0.69, p = 0.01).
CONCLUSION:WaM affected worker mood and productivity and increased occupational physical activity-levels
Association between positive and negative affect and musculoskeletal pain among US home health aides
As the US population ages, there is an expected increase in demand for home health aides (HHAs); therefore, it is important to ensure their occupational well-being. Previous studies have demonstrated associations between negative emotions and musculoskeletal pain. Using survey data collected from 285 HHAs, we characterize the association between affect and musculoskeletal pain. Affect was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, while musculoskeletal pain was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory. We found that as positive affect composite score increased, musculoskeletal pain decreased [β = -0.57, t(124) = -7.01, p < .001]. There was no significant association between the negative affect composite score and musculoskeletal pain. However, several individual moods were associated with decreased or increased pain. These data suggest that some moods may buffer against musculoskeletal pain, while others may predispose HHAs to musculoskeletal pain