Talking about Good and Bad Learners: Linguistic Dimension of Implicit Theories of Intelligence

Abstract Introduction. Implicit theories of intelligence are lay beliefs about whether intelligence i

Esperanza y satisfacción con la vida: probando los roles mediadores de la autoestima en tres culturas asiáticas

The relationship between well-being and the personal strength of hope has been elaborated by the identification of internal (self) and external (family, peers, spiritual) locus-of-hope dimensions. Du, Bernardo, and Yeung (2015) showed that self-esteem (personal and relational) mediates the relationship between locus-of-hope and life satisfaction. Locus-of-hope’s goal-related thoughts involve self-evaluation that may either enhance or diminish self-worth, which then influences life satisfaction. We tested the mediated model in three cultural groups: Malaysians, Macau Chinese, and Filipinos. Participants completed scales measuring locus-of-hope, personal and relational self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Path analysis showed significant indirect effects in all cultures: (a) internal locus-of-hope on life satisfaction, mediated by personal self-esteem, and (b) external-family locus-of-hope on life satisfaction, mediated by relational self-esteem. Other significant indirect effects were found in specific cultural groups. Cross-cultural similarities and differences are discussed with reference to how distinct cultures give different meanings to forms of agency associated with the personal strength of hope, creating distinct pathways towards life satisfaction.

Science coursework and pedagogical beliefs of science teachers: The case of science teachers in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT: Science coursework is an important element of the pre-service education of science teachers. In this study we test the hypothesis that more science coursework influences pedagogical beliefs of science teachers by studying the pedagogical beliefs of 305 Filipino science teachers. We compared pedagogical beliefs of primary school (less science coursework) versus secondary school (more coursework) science teachers, and also science majors versus non-science majors. Results of the comparisons indicated that more science coursework is related to stronger endorsement of the belief that teaching involves providing support for learning, and to weaker endorsement of the belief that learning is limited by ability and by cultural beliefs. The results are discussed in terms of strong science content knowledge providing the anchors for reflecting on their teaching

Desmotivación en los estudiantes filipinos de inglés como segundo idioma: exploración de algunos correlatos

The study explores correlates of Filipino students’ reasons for amotivation in learning English as a second language. Students answered questionnaires on reasons for amotivation, approaches to learning, and language use outside school. Results show that amotivation is positively associated with surface learning approaches but negatively associated with deep learning approaches. Frequency of use of English in activities outside school was also associated with dimensions of amotivation. The results indicate how amotivation arises from students’ engagement of their English classes and the importance of English in their life, and can help ESL teachers identify students at risk of amotivation.El estudio explora correlatos de las razones por las que los estudiantes filipinos muestran “desmotivación” al aprender inglés como segundo idioma. Los estudiantes respondieron a cuestionarios sobre la desmotivación, enfoques de aprendizaje, y uso del idioma fuera del ámbito académico. Los resultados muestran que la desmotivación está positivamente asociada con enfoques de aprendizaje superficiales y negativamente con enfoques de aprendizaje profundos. También la frecuencia del uso del inglés en actividades fuera del ámbito académico se asocia con dimensiones de amotivación. Los resultados indican cómo la desmotivación proviene del compromiso de los alumnos en sus clases de inglés y la importancia del inglés en sus vidas, y pueden ayudar a los profesores de Inglés como segunda lengua a identificar a los alumnos en riesgo de desmotivación

Are higher-order life values antecedents of students' learning engagement and adaptive learning outcomes? The case of materialistic vs. intrinsic life values

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Materialistic values have been shown to have a negative effect on learning. As intrinsic life values such as self-acceptance are orthogonaltomaterialisticvalues,theymaycounteracttheeffectsofmaterialismandbenefitthelearningprocessbyencouraging a focus on the actual learning task itself, as opposed to emphasizing the rewards associated with learning (e.g., school grades). Therefore, we tested the hypotheses positing these two higher order life values as antecedents of engagement with the learning process, and of important learning outcomes, including actual academic performance. A total of 345 university students of Chinese ethnicity (211 females; mean age=18.89, SD =1.35) participated in two studies that utilized a three-wave longitudinal design over a three-month period. The main variables tested were materialistic values, intrinsic life values, engagement with learning, and actual performance (in a writing task in Study 1, and in a formal assessment, i.e., final exam, in Study 2). Results showed that materialistic values were longitudinally and negatively related with exam performance, but not with engagement withlearning.Incontrast,intrinsic life valueslongitudinallypredictedengagementwithlearning,andhad apositivedirecteffect on performance on the writing task (Study 1), and a positive indirect effect on final exam performance (Study 2). The results highlight an important, if underutilized method of improving the learning process

Filipinosenior high school teachers’ continuing professional development attitudes: Exploring the roles of perceived demand amid a national education reform

The professional development of teachers is an important component of quality standards for any educational system, as teachers’ engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) activities are related with aspects of professional commitment and satisfaction. In this study, we explore how perceived demands of a national educational reform in the Philippines are associatedwithdifferent indicators of senior high school teachers’ professional development.A survey of 289teachers recruited to teach senior high school for the first time in the Philippines indicated that perceived demand was not associated with CPD participation intentions,but thatperceived demand related to job requirement and to career planning had different associations with attitudes towards CPD. These different associations can be viewed as adaptive responding to the uncertainties in their changing work environment. The implications for conceptualizing the context of teachers’ professional development, and the external factors that strengthen or weaken teachers’ positive attitudes towards CPD are discussed

Targeting neuroinflammation for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative pathologies: A role for the peptide analogue of thymulin (PAT)

Introduction: Inflammation has a vital task in protecting the organism, but when deregulated, it can have serious pathological consequences. The central nervous system (CNS) is capable of mounting immune and inflammatory responses, albeit different from that observed in the periphery. Neuroinflammation, however, can be a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases and constitute a major challenge for medicine and basic research. Areas covered: Both innate and adaptive immune responses normally play an important role in homeostasis within the CNS. Microglia, astrocytes and neuronal cells express a wide array of toll-like receptors (TLR) that can be upregulated by infection, trauma, injuries and various exogenic or endogenic factors. Chronic hyper activation of brain immune cells can result in neurotoxic actions due to excessive production of several pro-inflammatory mediators. Several studies have recently described an important role for targeting receptors such as nicotinic receptors located on cells in the CNS or in other tissues for the control of inflammation. Expert opinion: Thymulin and its synthetic peptide analogue (PAT) appear to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects at the level of peripheral tissues as well as at the level of the brain. This effect involves, at least partially, the activation of cholinergic mechanisms. © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd

Pandemic boredom:Little evidence that lockdown-related boredom affects risky public health behaviors across 116 countries

Some public officials have expressed concern that policies mandating collective public health behaviors (e.g., national/regional "lockdown") may result in behavioral fatigue that ultimately renders such policies ineffective. Boredom, specifically, has been singled out as one potential risk factor for noncompliance. We examined whether there was empirical evidence to support this concern during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large cross-national sample of 63,336 community respondents from 116 countries. Although boredom was higher in countries with more COVID-19 cases and in countries that instituted more stringent lockdowns, such boredom did not predict longitudinal within-person decreases in social distancing behavior (or vice versa; n = 8,031) in early spring and summer of 2020. Overall, we found little evidence that changes in boredom predict individual public health behaviors (handwashing, staying home, self-quarantining, and avoiding crowds) over time, or that such behaviors had any reliable longitudinal effects on boredom itself. In summary, contrary to concerns, we found little evidence that boredom posed a public health risk during lockdown and quarantine. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved). </p

Predictors of adherence to public health behaviors for fighting COVID-19 derived from longitudinal data

The present paper examines longitudinally how subjective perceptions about COVID-19, one's community, and the government predict adherence to public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus. Using an international survey (N = 3040), we test how infection risk perception, trust in the governmental response and communications about COVID-19, conspiracy beliefs, social norms on distancing, tightness of culture, and community punishment predict various containment-related attitudes and behavior. Autoregressive analyses indicate that, at the personal level, personal hygiene behavior was predicted by personal infection risk perception. At social level, social distancing behaviors such as abstaining from face-to-face contact were predicted by perceived social norms. Support for behavioral mandates was predicted by confidence in the government and cultural tightness, whereas support for anti-lockdown protests was predicted by (lower) perceived clarity of communication about the virus. Results are discussed in light of policy implications and creating effective interventions

Lockdown Lives:A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020

We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home-in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives