COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING AND LEARNING DISABILITY: AN EVALUATION

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the use of computer-assisted learning with people who have severe and profound learning disabilities. Theories of learning are central to our understanding of learning disability and contributions from the cognitive and behavioural schools are reviewed and related to methods of education and training for people with learning disabilities. This framework provides a rationale for understanding the premises of computer-assisted learning. A review of the literature reveals a lack of evidence for the efficacy of computer-assisted learning. Evaluation studies to date appear to be characterised by a lack of a methodologically sound framework. An evaluation survey of software designated for use with people with severe learning disabilities is presented which finds that much educational software lacks a sound grounding in established and effective principles of learning and teaching, although its use is still supported by instructors. Thus, the need for empirical research investigating the use and efficacy of computer-assisted learning in learning disability is identified. Psychological models provide an appropriate method of such an inquiry, though methodological problems inherent in evaluative research with a special population appear to act as a barrier to the development of effective knowledge in the area. Within these limitations, three experiments are presented. The first compares conventional teaching with computer-assisted teaching. The computer was as effective as the teacher, though the conventional measures of achievement used were not sensitive to any differences between the two methods. The second developed a more finegrain analysis which revealed a difference between the quality of participants' interaction with computer and teacher instruction. Specifically, attentional behaviour was increased in the computer-taught condition, yet there was no concomitant increase in learning. The reliance of educational software on sensory reinforcement was postulated as underlying the ability of computer-assisted learning to maintain attention to the task. The third experiment directly addressed the ability of three different sensory reinforcers typical of those found in educational software to support learning a simple discrimination task. It was found that sensory reinforcers were not effective in supporting learning, though they did maintain attention and performance on the task. It is suggested that the multiple modalities used by software may interfere adversely with the coding of relevant information involved in the discrimination of stimulus dimensions and that this may account for the discrepancy between measures of performance and measures of learning on computer-assisted tasks.South Western Regional Health Authority and Plymouth Community Services NHS Trus

Media discourses on obesity in contemporary western society: A systematic review

This submission contains an empirical research paper entitled 'Conversations in weight management services that involve discrepancies between client report and clinical investigation: A narrative exploration' and a systemic review entitled ' Media discourses on obesity in contemporary western society: A systematic review'.Conversations in weight management services that involve discrepancies between client report and clinical investigation: A narrative exploration Healthcare professionals (HCPs) in weight management services can struggle to lead conversations containing discrepancies between client report and clinical investigation. This can result in a lack of shared understanding and impasses in weight loss. Understanding the complexities of these conversations is therefore important. Complexities were explored through 1) mapping sense-making of the discrepancies and 2) identifying challenges and how they were managed. Narrative analysis of twelve HCPs’ stories of such conversations showed multiple understandings of discrepancies and that shared understandings between clients and HCPs were not always reached. HCPs struggled with the thought that clients might be reporting dishonestly, and with how to address this. HCPs understanding and management of discrepancies were complicated by public discourses on obesity and professional roles. HCPs were mindful to not shame clients and wanted to appear as ‘good’ clinicians. These findings may be used to validate and normalise HCPs’ experiences of conversations containing discrepancies. Media discourses on obesity in contemporary western society: A systematic review How obesity is discussed in the media has the power to impact both public policy and the views of the general population. It follows that researchers have started to examine how obesity is ‘framed’ within television and newsprint media. This review was a meta-synthesis of the main obesity discourses reported in research on current media obesity discourses. Five databases were systematically searched to yield a sample of twelve articles that met the inclusion criteria. All articles were subject to a quality control measure to assess the methodological integrity. Five dominant discourses were identified: ‘Obesity is a burden. Obese people are a burden’, ‘Your weight is your choice… Losing weight is simple’, ‘Factors beyond your control may contribute to obesity but they aren’t excuses’ ‘Education and legislation can help reduce obesity, if you eat less’ and ‘Being fat is unhealthy, ugly and open to public comment’. These were discussed in terms of their potential impact on public policy and on individuals with obesity

Consensus on a netball video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions by the netball video analysis consensus group

Using an expert consensus-based approach, a netball video analysis consensus (NVAC) group of researchers and practitioners was formed to develop a video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions of physical, technical and contextual aspects for netball research. The framework aims to improve the consistency of language used within netball investigations. It also aims to guide injury mechanism reporting and identification of injury risk factors. The development of the framework involved a systematic review of the literature and a Delphi process. In conjunction with commercially used descriptors and definitions, 19 studies were used to create the initial framework of key descriptors and definitions in netball. In a two round Delphi method consensus, each expert rated their level of agreement with each of the descriptors and associated definition on a 5-point Likert scale (1—strongly disagree; 2—somewhat disagree; 3—neither agree nor disagree; 4—somewhat agree; 5—strongly agree). The median (IQR) rating of agreement was 5.0 (0.0), 5.0 (0.0) and 5.0 (0.0) for physical, technical and contextual aspects, respectively. The NVAC group recommends usage of the framework when conducting video analysis research in netball. The use of descriptors and definitions will be determined by the nature of the work and can be combined to incorporate further movements and actions used in netball. The framework can be linked with additional data, such as injury surveillance and microtechnology data