The effects of extrinsic reward on intrinsic motivation : eating behavior

The purpose of the present study was threefold: (1) an examination of the effects of the external rewards of money and verbal reinforcement on the intrinsic motivation to eat; (2) a comparison of these effects between normal weight Individuals and individuals who were between 15%-50% overweight; and (3) an examination of the relationships among intrinsic motivation to eat, the dimension of internal versus external locus of control orientation, and body size. A total of 60 female undergraduates were equally divided into two experimental groups and one control group. Half the subjects in each of the three groups, or 10 subjects per group, were of normal weight and the other half were between 15%-50% overweight. One experimental group was the monetary reward group; the second experimental group was the verbal reinforcement and positive feedback group

How two successful North Carolina elementary school principals effectively implement reflective school practices and structures

Research indicates that reflective practice has the potential to create a culture of continuous improvement and lead to lasting school change when it becomes the collective cultural norm in a school. However, few studies have examined how elementary principals strategically promote and sustain reflective practices from the individual level to school-wide reflective practices. The purpose of this study was to examine, through a multiple case study approach, how two elementary principals in the North Carolina Piedmont intentionally implemented and sustained reflective practices in their schools. The research questions investigated were: “How do elementary principals strategically promote and sustain effective reflective practices in their schools?”; “What are the reflective practices and structures used in these schools?”; and “What is the relationship between individual reflection and collective reflection in the school?” Participants included an administrator and five teachers at each school site. Data was collected through two structured interviews with each participant. Findings indicate that the following practices were effective at leading school-wide reflective practice: administrator modeling of reflective questioning; providing individual differentiated opportunities for building teacher reflection capacity; administrator support of Professional Learning Community reflection on standards; encouraging reflection on the relationship between data and instruction; administrator support of school-wide reflection with standards, data, and instruction; and the role of trust and relationships in reflective opportunities. Key findings from the case studies found that principals in both cases utilized reflective questioning, examination of instructional practices as well as analyzed student data with individual teachers, PLCs, vertical teams and at the school level. This reflective mindset requires a paradigm shift from acceptance of established practices to questioning and digging deeper with reflection on data and content

A Case Study Of The Consolidation Of Five North Carolina School Districts: Motivations, Processes, And Impact

This case study explores the impact of school district consolidation in five North Carolina school districts—its success or failure based upon the reasons for consolidation and the processes employed, in light of existing research literature, five indicators of success, and stakeholder perceptions. The study asks why the school districts decided to consolidate, what processes were used, and what impact, if any, did consolidation have? The findings of this study suggest that while the five indicators of success reveal mixed results, stakeholders viewed consolidation as having been a success based on other factors. Indicators of success selected by the researcher included student achievement, expenditures, and other outcomes such as graduation rates and attendance. Stakeholders identified measures of success as equalized funding and taxes, better facilities, better opportunities for students, a more unified spirit, and the continuation of friendly rivalries. Equally important, the context of the individual school districts heavily influenced all aspects of consolidation. Context is defined as the set of circumstances or facts that are unique to a district

Exercise and heart rate recovery

Purpose: This study examines whether heart rate recovery (HRR) improves as a result of exercise training during cardiac rehabilitation (CR).Methods: A retrospective study was performed that included 100 patients who completed phase II CR and had entry and exit exercise stress tests. HRR was compared for the sample. Improvements in HRR were compared between gender and age groups. Correlation between age and HRR was performed. Results: The total sample improved HRR (P = .020). There was no significant difference in the improvement of HRR based on gender, indicating males and females improve at similar rates (P = .833). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the improvement of HRR based on age, indicating older subjects improve similarly to younger subjects (P = .700). There was no relationship between age and HRR; therefore, as age increases there is no decrease in HRR.Conclusion: HRR improves in patients who complete CR

Differences in music achievement among gifted and talented, average, and educable mentally handicapped fifth- and sixth-grade students

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in music achievement among gifted and talented (GT), average, and educable mentally handicapped (EMH) students. A secondary purpose was to determine which selected characteristics—IQ, music aptitude, tonal memory, reading achievement, mathematics achievement, mental age, interest and attitude in music, and sex--can best explain variance in music achievement tests. Fifth- and sixth-grade students in North Carolina served as subjects for this study. The sample was comprised of 107 GT, 116 average, and 64 EMH students. All students attended one 30-minute music class each week, taught by a music specialist. The Music Achievement Tests One and Two (MAT 1 and MAT 2) by Colwell, were selected to assess music achievement. The Gaston Test of Musicality (GTM) was used to quantify music aptitude. The subtest "tonal memory" from Seashore Measures of Musical Talent, served as the memory variable. Student interest and attitude were determined by questions 6-16 of the GTM

Nurses’ knowledge of heart failure self-management

Heart failure (HF) is increasing in prevalence. Patient education is essential and is included in both ambulatory and hospital performance measures used to ensure quality care. Nurses are often the primary providers of education to patients with HF. This study assessed nurses’ knowledge of basic principles of HF self-management. The study surveyed 49 nurses who regularly provided care to patients with HF at a hospital in the southeastern United States. A 20-item, true/false survey was administered to participants. Mean HF self-management knowledge score was 15.97 (79.85% correct). Consistent with previous studies, nurses scored lowest on knowledge related to transient dizziness (16.3% answered correctly), daily weight monitoring (36.2% answered correctly), and asymptomatic hypotension (58.3% answered correctly). Findings confirm previous work suggesting that nurses may not be adequately prepared to educate patients with HF about self-management

Housing space divisions for living and for storage suggested by thirty-six homemakers who lived in split-level houses

This study was planned to determine how homemakers, who lived in split-level houses, preferred to have the existing space in their houses allocated for storage and for living. Nine house plans, each with the same number and kinds of rooms, were used. Two sizes of house plans were included because a sufficient number of house plans of approximately the same size were not available. Five plans were for smaller split-level houses which ranged from 1515.85 to 1657.08 square feet and four plans were for larger split-level houses which ranged from 1798.89 to 1926.23 square feet. Thirty-six homemakers were interviewed--four for each of the nine different house plans. When the homemakers suggested changes in living and storage space in their houses, they were not allowed to suggest changes in the overall size of their houses, since the focus of this study was the space allocations in their present houses and not their desires for a larger or smaller house

Healing: the stories of academic successes and barriers faced by Lumbee tribal young adults

Culturally relevant teaching has been a hot topic word in the world of education for many years. However, for the Lumbee Tribe, best practices for working with American Indian students are frequently based on studies done with Southwestern tribes. This dissertation presents the stories of twelve Lumbee Tribal young adults and their kindergarten through twelfth grade educational experience. Through their stories, I explored the barriers they faced as well as the successes they achieved. I also explored the ties between the students’ Lumbee tribal culture and their success within the classroom. Data for this study was collected through face-to-face interviews with the participants as well as a focus group. The stories told throughout this study suggested that Lumbee tribal students found support through various aspects of Lumbee tribal culture, one of those being the power of relationships with American Indian and non-American educators and community members. This work also suggested that there is a lack of cultural understanding and knowledge as it relates to Lumbee culture within the classroom thus giving birth to stereotypes that damage the positive identity development of Lumbee tribal students attending schools with low populations of Lumbee students. In turn suggesting an increased need of cultural integration within the curriculum as well as a need for educator understanding as it relates to the culture of Lumbee tribal students

The Million Hearts initiative: How nurse practitioners can help lead [Editorial]

Every 39 seconds a person in the United States dies from a heart attack or stroke (Roger et al., 2012). Those who survive frequently have residual symptoms or disabilities and poor quality of life. Furthermore, these conditions are expensive for our nation, accounting for nearly $444 billion in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity in 2010 (Heidenriech et al., 2011). Heart attacks and strokes, two of the top four killers of Americans, are largely preventable, regardless of family history. Million Hearts™, launched in September 2011 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States over the next 5 years. The campaign is focusing entirely on prevention in order to produce, on average, a 10% reduction in the rate of acute cardiovascular (CV) events a year for the next 5 years

Hypertension guidelines: Evidence-based treatments for maintaining blood pressure control

Approximately one in three adults in the United States has hypertension. This article provides an update on the latest JNC-8 guideline for treating hypertension in adults. Emphasis is placed on new and updated information and implications for primary care clinicians to help patients achieve and maintain better blood pressure control