Immediate Feedback Using the Bug-In-The-Ear in Counselor Training: Implications for Counseling Self-Efficacy, Trainee Anxiety and Skill Development

This investigation examines the delivery of immediate, in-session feedback using the “bug-in-the-ear” (BITE) as an instructional technique in conjunction with live supervision during the counseling practicum. The study was conducted to explore an effective means of supervisor intervention which did not disrupt the counseling session. Few empirical investigations have been conducted in this area, and previous studies on this instructional aid used in models of live supervision were largely narrative in design. Counseling self-efficacy, trainee anxiety, and counseling performance were examined for twenty graduate student counselor trainees enrolled in the department of counseling at a northern plains university. Ten participants received immediate feedback via the BITE in conjunction with a live supervision model of training during the first half of 10 practicum sessions conducted at a community counseling clinic. Ten participants serving as controls received live supervision without the BITE feedback during their 10 sessions. Results indicated that participants who received immediate feedback via the BITE demonstrated significantly greater increases in counseling self-efficacy throughout the course of the investigation than did the control group participants. Changes in participant anxiety levels did not differ significantly between groups. BITE or no-BITE feedback condition, changes in counseling self-efficacy and changes in anxiety level combined to account for significant portions of the variance in participants’ scores on two measures of counseling performance. Participants reported no adverse effects due to the immediate feedback, although problems with the physical equipment were noted. A series of exploratory analyses based on previous BITE investigations were also conducted. Attempts to theoretically explain the benefits of incorporating immediate feedback in live supervision using Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory are presented. Implications for the training of graduate students in the counseling practicum and suggestions for future research in this area are discusse

Applying Qualitative Methods in Organizations: A Note for Industrial/Organizational Psychologists

Early approach to research in industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology was oriented towards quantitative techniques as a result of influences from the social sciences. As the focus of I/O psychology expands from psychological test development to other personnel functions, there has been an inclusion of qualitative methods in I/O psychology practice. The present paper therefore examines how qualitative methods like observation, interviews, ethnography, focus group discussion, nominal group technique, Delphi method, and projective techniques can be used by I/O psychologists in organizational studies. It is believed that knowledge gained on the application s of these qualitative methods would enhance understanding of workers’ behaviors in organizations and facilitate management decisions. Empirical studies are also presented, on how these qualitative methods have successfully been used in organizatio

Early voting in the 2004 presidential election

The addition of early voting laws has led to the many changes in the US political system. In this dissertation I examine early voting early voting in a number of different contexts. First, how early voting fits in with the larger issue of voter turnout in the U.S. Second, why some states have early voting policies and other states choose to not have those policies. Third, how state-level political parties view the option to cast an early vote. Fourth, the differences between early voters, election day voters, and non-voters. Fifth, what are the determents of casting an early ballot. Sixth, do early voting laws lead to more electoral participation. My findings suggest that early voting does not significantly change the way in which state-level political parties get people to the polls, early voters are different from election day voters, and that early voting policies significantly increase overall participation by 2% points. Early voting changes the way citizens participate in elections and this dissertation provides an early view of how this new mode of participation changes the political behavior in different electoral area

Forestry Extension in Tennessee: Comparing Traditional and Web-Based Program Delivery Methods

As the traditional forestry Extension clientele in Tennessee changes, Extension professionals need to adapt and deliver programs in such a way as to reach the maximum audience while ensuring the educational benefit of the program and remaining within budget. The development of the Internet and associated web-based programs presents a new tool by which Extension professionals can develop and deliver educational programs to clientele. This study compared two Extension program delivery methods, web-based and traditional field-based. A series of field workshops were held and participants were surveyed. From these field workshops, a web-based program was developed and was marketed to a similar audience; these participants were also surveyed. Demographic information, learning preferences, and other measures of program preference were collected. Ninety-seven percent of participants in the field-based program and 68% of the web-based sample preferred a field program over a web-based program. If only a web-based program was made available to participants, at least 50% of each sample would be interested. Educational level was the only demographic characteristic that was significantly different between those who chose a web-based program and those who chose a field-based program. Participants with higher educational levels were more likely to choose a web-based program. Educational level was positively correlated with income level, computer ownership, and Internet access. Educational level was negatively correlated with age. Knowledge gain was significantly higher in the field-based sample. Web-based participants showed average knowledge gain of 12.2 to 28.7% whereas the knowledge gain for people attending the traditional field day program averaged 16.5 to 46.1%. Level of computer ownership was high in both samples as was the use of the computer on a regular basis. Internet access was high in both groups. The web-based sample had significantly higher levels of high-speed access. Those with high-speed connections were more likely to choose a web-based program, although both groups used the computer/Internet regularly for gathering information. Current forestry Extension clientele preferred a field-based program delivery method. Some clientele, though, preferred web-based programming and these types of programs should be offered when suitable. Using a variety of delivery methods, Extension can adapt programs to a wide range of learning styles to reach new audiences, including younger generations who are more comfortable with Internet learning

Measuring the benefits of water resource protection from agricultural contamination: results from a contingent valuation study

Like many agricultural states, Iowa is facing a serious threat from non-point source (NPS) pollution in the water resources. The dispersed NPS pollution mixes with soil particles from uplands and is deposited in bottom lands where the pollutants can enter the aquatic environments of streams, ponds, and lakes. Sediment from the erosion of agricultural lands is the most significant source of NPS pollution in many parts of the state. All of these pollutants create various problems in the surface, subsurface, and ground water resources. One of the suggested methods to arrest this situation is the introduction of a Vegetative Buffer Strip (VBS) along with other conservation measures. A VBS can consist of perennial grasses, shrubs, and tree species, all with vigorous growth characteristics, and all purposefully established parallel to waterways along one or both banks. The objectives of the VBS and other measures, is to capture localized erosion and to filter nutrients, sediments and other chemical pollutants from agricultural runoff;The purpose of this study is to measure the benefits of environmental improvements through VBS and other management practices as perceived by residents of the watershed. For a wide variety of environmental resources and quasi-public goods, such as water, the absence of markets makes it extremely difficult to establish a monetary value for access to those commodities. Whenever events or a proposed change in policy affects the quality or availability of these nonmarket goods, either explicit or implicit cost benefit analysis often must be undertaken. Therefore, the contingent valuation (CV) methodology, which is based on underlying economic theory to measure welfare change, was used for this purpose. This procedure assumes that there is a market for clean water through VBS and other measures, and then using a survey approach, asks individuals what they would be willing to pay for clean water. The estimated average annual WTP for surface water was 49 and the ground water was \80. WTP values reported in many similar studies suggests that the value lies between 30 and \60

Crop-based irrigation operations in the NWFP: Progress report no.2, Kharif 92 on the Technical Assistance Study, T.A. No.1481-PAK

Irrigation operation / Cropping systems / Irrigation canals / Water users' associations / Institutions / Pakistan

Effects of Absenteeism on Company Productivity, Efficiency, and Profitability

As the age of the 9 to 5 workday comes to close and employment situations become more and more complex with the rise of ever-growing technology, employers are experiencing ever-increasing costs of absenteeism. The purpose of this research paper is to answer the general question of how absenteeism affects a company’s productivity, efficiency, and profitability. We seek to assist a company in understanding what absenteeism is, how to determine whether or not an absenteeism problem exists in the company, and how to recognize and eliminate issues related to absenteeism. Specific causes of absenteeism will be discussed, along with respective solutions that some companies are using to deal with these issues. We will conclude with a consideration of how companies can implement specific, company-wide policies and organizational culture to attempt to combat absenteeism in the workplace

Understanding Participation in Wildlife Conservation Programs on Private Lands

One major lesson derived from the implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) over the past 30 years is that direct regulation is not the only nor the optimal way to protect endangered species on working lands because of an undue burden imposed on private landowners. The role of a voluntary conservation program is to rearrange incentives so that society bears the cost rather than the landowner. Employing a survey research methodology, I used theories of reasoned action and random choice to explore landowners? stated preferences for conservation programs. I found landowners? stated interest in compensation programs to be moderate at best. For those willing to consider programs involving endangered species, associating land management requirements for species conservation with direct benefits to the landowner is important, but perhaps not as important as ensuring that the program provides adequate financial incentives, consideration of the term of the program, and a level of certainty regarding the landowner?s future obligations under the ESA. Landowners are not a homogenous group. I identified two classes of landowners according to preferences for program structure. One group was highly sensitive to program structure, aside from financial incentives, while the other was likely to participate if adequately compensated with financial and technical assistance. These differences related to opinions on endangered species protection and dependence on their land for income. Voluntary incentive programs increasingly are a popular tool to maintain and enhance conservation; however, these programs are only successful insofar as landowners choose to enroll. This research demonstrates that improving recovery efforts on private lands requires program administrators to have a more complete understanding of landowners? views on endangered species and conservation programs in general, as well as their motivations for owning and operating their land. By doing so, programs with broader appeal and greater efficacy can be designed and implemented

Predictors of father involvement : the role of early life events and stressors.

This study utilized the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) dataset to examine the effect of men’s early life stressful events and their father involvement with their new biological child(ren). The problems associated with low level of father involvement or even father absence in the country followed by the dearth of studying men who experienced stressful events during childhood were first discussed. A series of factors in the literature that can affect the level of father involvement and various of childhood stressful events were also presented. Following this, the characteristics of study subjects’ demographics, household information, men’s crime history, substance use history, early life stressful events, and men’s father/figure were studied. A logistic regression analysis was used to determine the best predictors of the level of men’s involvement with their new biological child(ren). The best predictors were age when a man became a father and whether he had been arrested in childhood. Future research is needed to evaluate fathering activities representative of the direct and indirect engagement dimensions