Basic Classes in Conceptual Modeling: Theory and Practical Guidelines

Since the 1970s, many approaches to representing domains have been suggested. Each approach maintains the assumption that the information about the objects represented in the information system (IS) is specified and verified by domain experts and potential users. Yet, as more IS are developed to support a larger diversity of users such as customers, suppliers, and members of the general public (e.g., in the case of many multiuser online systems), analysts can no longer rely on a stable single group of people for the complete specification of domains; therefore, prior research has questioned the efficacy of conceptual modeling in these heterogeneous settings. This paper aims to address this problem by providing theoretical foundations rooted in psychology research supporting the existence and importance of special classes that are termed basic-level categories. Based on this research, we formulate principles for identifying basic classes in a domain. These classes can guide conceptual modeling, database design, and user interface development in a wide variety of traditional and emergent domains

Effects of a Self-Management Procedure Using Student Feedback on Staff Members\u27 Use of Praise in an Out-of-School Time Program

Out-of-school time (OST) programs are under increasing pressure to improve student achievement. However, OST program administrators face a number of challenges to improving program effectiveness including inconsistent student participation, inexperienced staff members, and a lack of high-quality professional development. OST program administrators can address these challenges by implementing staff development practices that encourage the use of effective instructional strategies. Specific praise is a simple and effective instructional strategy that has been linked to improved student engagement, enhanced academic achievement, and stronger student-teacher relationships. Unfortunately, there have been very few studies examining the effects of interventions designed to increase OST staff members’ use of specific praise. One staff development strategy that could be both feasible and effective is the use of self-management. Although there are a variety of approaches to self-management designed for teachers, not all self-management strategies are effective. One strategy that might increase the feasibility and effectiveness of self-management programs is the use of student feedback. The process of comparing self-evaluations against a third-party standard such as student feedback is called matching in the self-management literature. Students can be a useful source of feedback because they observe their teachers frequently and can report the use of instructional strategies like specific praise. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-management procedure using student feedback on OST staff members’ use of specific praise. A multiple-baseline design across participants was used to examine the effects of the intervention on specific praise rates. All participants increased their use of specific praise after implementing the self-management procedures. General praise rates became more variable throughout the study. These findings provide evidence for a functional effect on specific praise but not for general praise. Teachers reported high levels of satisfaction with the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention. A statistically significant correlation was found between specific praise rates and student reports of specific praise

A Survey Of Student Academic Support In Tennessee Homeless Shelters

Homeless students are at risk for poor academic performance. The purpose of this descriptive research study was to investigate supportive academic services available to students in homeless facilities in Tennessee in order to better understand homeless facilities’ contributions to successful academic performance. Supportive academic services include the provision of basic needs, school supplies and work area, tutoring, supervised care, assistance in communication with schools, counseling services, transportation, community resources, student assessments, and case management. A revised version of Hicks-Coolick, Burnside-Eaton, and Peters’ survey (2003) was used to assess supportive academic services available to students residing in homeless facilities. The sample consisted of 70 homeless facilities in Tennessee providing temporary housing to families with children. Data analyses examined frequencies, differences within the state, and gaps of academic support services within these facilities. The survey gathered information related to students, parents, and the homeless facilities’ staff members. Across the state, food, assistance communicating with schools, and religious community resources were the most common academic support services identified. Differences in the services’ availability were identified based on regions of the state (West, Middle, East); setting (urban, rural, suburban); personnel’s educational level; and ages of the children and youth residing in the facilities. Using the Gap Analysis Model, the researcher identified preschool childcare, supervised study time, after-school supervised care, and academic counseling as academic support services least provided by Tennessee homeless shelters. However, many of the service gaps may be bridged by local educational agencies receiving federal grants under the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987. Lastly, findings from the original survey and the revised survey were compared. The two surveys were conducted more than 10 years apart and in two different states, yet similar findings were identified. Differences between the two studies underscored academic support services’ increased availability. As a result of the study, a united endeavor was recommended to increase communication and collaboration among policy makers, homeless facilities, school employees, and community resources to optimize homeless students’ academic success

Auditing Symposium X: Proceedings of the 1990 Deloitte & Touche/University of Kansas Symposium on Auditing Problems

Discussant\u27s response to Analytical procedure results as substantive evidence / Abraham D. Akresh; Assessing control risk: Effects of procedural differences on auditor consensus / Jane E. Morton, William L. Felix; Discussant\u27s response to Assessing control risk: Effects of procedural differences on auditor consensus / Richard W. Kruetzfeldt; Illegal acts: What is the auditor\u27s responsibility? / Dan M. Guy, Ray O. Whittington, Donald L. Neebes; Discussants\u27 response no 1 to Illegal acts: What is the auditor\u27s responsibility? / Tim Damewood, Susan Harshberger, Russ Jones; Discussant\u27s response no 2 to Illegal acts: What is the auditor\u27s responsibility? / Frances M. McNair; Panel discussion on The impact of mergers of accounting firms on the auditing profession / Stephen J. Aldersley, David W. Hunerberg, Jonathan E. Kilner, Julia A. Lelik, Roger R. Nelson; New global realities and their impact on the accounting profession / Edward A. Kangas; Discussant\u27s response to With firmness in the right / Theodore F. Bluey; Neural nets versus logistic regression: A comparison of each model\u27s ability to predict commercial bank failures / Timothy B. Bell, Gary S. Ribar, Jennifer Verichio; Discussant\u27s response to Neural nets versus logistic regression: A comparison of each model\u27s ability to predict commercial bank failures / Miklos A. Vasarhelyi; Expert systems and AI-based decision support in auditing: Progress and perspectives / William E. McCarth, Eric Denna, Graham Gal; Discussant\u27s response to Expert systems and AI-based decision support in auditing: Progress and perspectives / Dana A. Madalon, Frederick W. Rook; Analytical procedure results as substantive evidence / William R. Kinney, Christine M. Hanes; With firmness in the right / Frederick L. Neumannhttps://egrove.olemiss.edu/dl_proceedings/1009/thumbnail.jp

A theological examination of the non-directive approach to church and community development with a special reference to the nature of evangelism

.A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in Theology in the Theology Department, Faculty of Arts, University of Durham 1990.This thesis is an examination of the nature and value of the non-directive approach to church and community work. Special attention is paid to the suitability of the approach in the context of evangelical ministry. The thesis originates out of my seven years of pastoral ministry in Addiscombe Croydon. For many years I had been committed to an evangelistic ministry; this thesis describes the process of adopting a non-directive approach to that ministry, first of all intuitively and then systematically. The thesis charts the origins and rise of community development and the non- directive approach. It appropriates more recent discussion of the relationship between community work and community development. It then shows the adoption of community development ideas by a number of Christians and considers the nature of the directive and non-directive approaches and their application. Evangelistic ministry is analyzed by noting the characteristics common to all evangelicals and then constructing in some detail a typology of evangelicals against which to test the applicability of the non-directive approach. The thesis then sets out and critically reviews the theology of church and community development It tests out the non-directive against the biblical narrative, considering Jesus use of parable; the exercise of authority, and use of charismatic gifts within the church. It then examines three areas which seem predisposed to show dissonance between evangelistic ministry and the non-directive approach; decision-making, theology of evangelical conversion, and proclamation of the evangel. The thesis finds the biblical teaching supports the non-directive, whilst also recognizing certain aspects as non-negotiable. The thesis concludes that only one type of evangelical, fundamentalist evangelical, is incompatible with the non-directive approach. All the other types of evangelicals are capable of adopting this approach. It further concludes that the non-directive approach is not only consonant with evangelistic ministry but could be a vital partner to such a ministry and increase its effectiveness

NOW WHAT? Impact of a Self-Advocacy Strategy on Middle School Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities do not develop self-advocacy skills on their own; however, instruction in these skills is often lacking in special education programs. This lack of self-advocacy skills negatively impacts the ability of these students to participate in the general education setting. The purpose of this study was to twofold; specifically, it sought to determine whether middle school students with disabilities could be taught to recognize the need for self-advocacy and to employ appropriate help-seeking behaviors using the NOW WHAT? Strategy. Additionally, the study served as a field test for the lesson package. Thirty-seven middle school students with disabilities participated in an author-created, 12-lesson package over a six-week period. Student-reported levels of self-advocacy were measured pre- and post-intervention using the Self-Advocacy Measure for Middle School (SAMMS). Pre- and post-intervention interviews were used to collect data on student perceptions of their ability to use self-advocacy in the general education setting. Quantitative results indicated student knowledge of self-advocacy increased but did not generalize to the general education classroom. Qualitative data provided some insight into the lack of change observed

Meisisi Enkai!: claiming cultural identity in Maasai Christian worship in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa

This study seeks to answer the research question, To what extent and in what ways has the practice of Christian worship and the training of Maasai Christian worship leaders in the Presbyterian Church ofEast Africa (PCEA) taken into account the distinctives of Maasai culture? In order to answer this question, both library investigation of Maasai culture and Presbyterian history among them and field work research in the PCEA Olchoronyori, Injashat, and Ewuaso mission areas were undertaken.The study provides a background history of the PCEA from its Scottish Presbyterian roots beginning at Kibwezi in 1891 through African denominational autonomy in 1956 and continued 20th century Presbyterian outreach efforts among the Maasai. Of special emphasis is the work of the historic Kikuyu mission station and its influence on Maasai people. This study also details Maasai culture in both historic and contemporary contexts as it relates to the topic of Christian worship and worship leader training. Extensive use ofhistoric mission photography as well as current images provide primary source material.In addition, a field study was undertaken involving worship observations in thirty-five PCEA congregations in Kenya. At each church, administration of a survey instrument to ascertain attitudes toward worship practice took place. In many ofthe PCEA Maasai congregations in the study area, one finds western liturgy, hymnody, and formal clergy and worship leader practices. Photography from each site and interviews with the PCEA evangelist assigned to these churches assist in providing a convergence of resources showing the extent of western Presbyterian influence on Maasai Christian worship and the opportunities for and levels of Maasai worship leader training. At the conclusion ofthe field work endeavor, a focus group debriefing facilitated the clarifying of current issues in Maasai worship and worship leader development.By tracing the Presbyterian Church's work with the Maasai people and analyzing the gathered data pertaining to the study area, this thesis shows that Presbyterian work among the Maasai in the areas of worship and worship leader training has not adequately taken into account the cultural distinctives ofthe Maasai people. Furthermore, this inadequacy has led to friction, alienation, and the possibility of schism. As a reaction, some Maasai churches in the study area are now beginning to assert more demonstratively their unique cultural heritage by incorporating elements of Maasai expression into service of Christian worship. The study concludes that indigenous cultural models are providing new insight into Christian worship leader training and new emphasis for claiming cultural distinctives in Maasai Christian worship

Elucidating the Relationship between Psychopathic Personality Traits and Fearlessness: A Reconsideration of the Low-fear Hypothesis

Deficits in fear have long been posited as an important etiological factor in the development of psychopathy, a personality disorder characterized by severe interpersonal and social impairments masked by an outward appearance of superficial affability. While there has been much empirical evidence establishing a link between psychopathy and deficits in fear, there are still many questions regarding the nature of this association and much ongoing debate surrounding the conceptualization of psychopathy and demarcation of fear into conscious and unconscious components. The current study examined the association between various theoretical models of psychopathy and different dimensons of fear in order to elucidate the relationship between psychopathic traits and fearlessness. Self-report and informant-report responses were collected on a battery of psychopathy and fear related measures in a mixed student and community sample (N = 305). Analysis of the fear measures revealed two higher order dimensions labeled ‘Danger Seeking’ and ‘Affective Fearlessness’, which were differently associated with different psychopathy trait domains. Overall, Danger Seeking was associated with most psychopathy domains across conceptual models, but Affective Fearlessness was only significantly associated with emotional stability features, suggesting that fear deficits in psychopathy may not extend to reduced emotional experience of fear. The current findings have implications for etiological theories of psychopathy, and future research should investigate further the relationship between psychopathy and different components of fear

An Evangelism and Discipleship Pathway To Address the Cultural and Worldview Distance between the Preston Seventh-day Adventist Church and the White British Culture in Preston

Problem. The UK Preston Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North England Conference is a predominantly Black church situated in a White British city. The Church has seen a numerical increase of almost 25% since 2013, but only one person from this growth was from the majority culture population, a group who tend not to be attracted to traditional Adventist forms of evangelism. The hypothesis for this project, therefore, is that when the cultural and worldview distance between church members and individuals in society is reduced, it is easier for the Christian witness to then explain the Kingdom of God. Also, there is minimal literature available, from an Adventist perspective, that addresses culture and worldview in the Western world, so literature from Adventist missiology aimed at difficult mission fields was referred to. Method The project makes abductive inferences from participant interaction, on the basis that worldview modification is feasible. Since the cultural distance in question is at the societal level and on a small scale, the project has taken a qualitative approach. In doing so the project reports conceptualizations without generalizing inferences. Results In the process of validating the hypothesis, it became evident that changing one\u27s beliefs alone may result in a syncretistic mingling of beliefs, also referred to as dual allegiance, Christo-Paganism, or Christ-Culture dualism. This may be addressed by directing changes to the worldview level facilitated through friendship. An anthropological lens worldview model was proposed in this paper because standard models overlook individual differences. This project verified that modifications in worldview can be identified as changes in category-width (continuum from prejudice to approval), alteration of perspective, or embracing an otherwise contrasting understanding of the evidence sustaining one\u27s old beliefs. It was also found that small worldview discovery groups can build community, provide a vehicle for worldview alteration, and facilitate cross-cultural contextualization of Scripture. Conclusions With public evangelism in the majority UK culture being a forlorn hope for over a century, short term public campaigns, or even prophecy seminars, which may bear fruit with some, are probably not the best solutions to evangelize the majority UK population. Also, anti-Christian secularists once a tiny, educated minority, has grown to the second largest people group in the UK in the twenty-first century. In light of this, and as it has been said If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen, and while positive outcomes were identified in this project, meaningful change may take several years to emerge. A contributing factor to the challenges of evangelism in the majority UK culture, to a large extent, is due to the cultural change differential between society and church being greater than the cultural change differential between ethnic groups in society. The differential between church and society can also be seen in the contrast between values that the church cherishes, and the indulgences the general UK society embraces. The church as a whole has generally maintained a modern mind-set since it started, therefore having parity with many nations, but some 60 plus years adrift from Western egalitarian cultures. Entropic effects in church, the presence of Adventist ethnocentrism, and incongruencies between leader core values and member desires may also hinder evangelism and mission. This may be addressed through urban ministries, or possibly by arranging social mingling, such as BBQs, community days at church, church socials, and other bridging events. It may therefore be appropriate to intentionally generate witnessing opportunities for members and pastors alike, utilizing Christ\u27s Method and meeting the felt needs of those in the majority culture in the UK context. A low-key Gospel message, personal testimony, or personal interaction can take place at these times. In all our outreach efforts, we should recognize that we are participating in the Mission of God, not just in the mission of the Church. As such, we should find ways of making the Scriptures understandable to our target audience, whether they be culturally similar or dissimilar. In such circumstances, I have to agree with W. Kuhn and Happuch that mission may be a key to interpreting scriptures, because of communication across cultural divides. It is not safe, therefore, to assume that the British culture understands our message. This helps to explain why there is a need for a missional hermeneutic, the demand for which was captured in the following premises. 1. The cultural distance between church and society can have a disabling effect on our outreach to the majority UK culture. 2. Reducing cultural distance can facilitate access to another person’s worldview understandings. 3. Worldviews can be changed in preparation for a Christian witness. The Bible has a great deal to say about cultural inclusiveness, and worldview, even though the latter word does not appear on its pages. The Bible can therefore inform our outreach efforts in these areas. Cultural distance may not be a term many Adventists are aware of, but it can have a profound effect on our outreach. The Hofstede cultural dimensional model served to highlight some of the main hurdles to evangelism in the UK context. In the process of validating the hypothesis, it became evident that changing one\u27s beliefs alone may result in a syncretistic mingling of faiths, also referred to as dual allegiance, Christo-Paganism, or Christ-Culture Dualism. It was also found that categories in existing worldview models are too broad in such circumstances, and an individual difference worldview model would probably be more appropriate. This may be attained via an anthropological lens worldview model proposed in this paper. This led to the development of a potentially self-contextualizing A.H.O.P.E. faith sharing model, which appears to cope with the societal stresses imposed by VUCA and egalitarian cultures. Friendship was found to be a key feature in reaching worldviews, and the implementation verified that modifications in worldview can be identified as changes in attitude (continuum from prejudice to approval), alteration of perspective, or embracing an otherwise contrasting understanding of the evidence sustaining one\u27s old beliefs. Such changes were identified in a number of participants in this project. Since all three premises have been shown to be valid, they may be suitable for adaption to other forms of outreach. However, because only four specific cultures were involved in the implementation (Jamaican, Zimbabwean, and Malawian, reaching out to the majority UK culture), and only a small number of participants were involved, it is challenging to generalize the findings to other settings. For all this, we should never overlook the working of the Holy Spirit Who is able to overcome all human limitations