Teacher and teacher assistant perceptions of their relationship

This qualitative research study examined teachers’ and teacher assistants’ perceptions of their working relationships. Three teachers and three teacher assistants reflected specifically on their work experiences and interactions with their job partners in their respective schools, as they worked to provide supports to students with a variety of behavioral, academic and medical needs. Two main questions guided this research: How did each participant describe their working relationship with his/her job partner? What factors were perceived as influential on a positive and effective working relationship? Thematic analysis of the qualitative interview data from the participants informed the generation of dominant themes. The role of administration, professional interaction, and personal attributes emerged as main factors influencing the teacher and teacher assistant relationship. The researcher provides a model for conceptualizing this relationship and suggests that professionalism is required of both parties in the relationship. The model of professionalism is supported by three main behaviors exhibited by people in the relationship: competence, collegiality, and clarity of role

Desarrollo de un índice de medición del pensamiento crítico en la formación profesional

RESUMEN: Objetivo. Construir y validar un índice de medición del pensamiento crítico (PC) en la formación profesional. Métodos. Estudio cuantitativo transversal del tipo de validación de pruebas. Luego de revisar la producción científica en PC, la definición del concepto y sus dominios conceptuales, se construyó una escala de 65 ítems de preguntas cerradas sobre análisis de casos que evalúan PC. La escala fue sometida a valoración de expertos para luego ser aplicada a 53 estudiantes de pregrado (35 de enfermería y 18 de sociología) con el fin de evaluar la validez y la confiabilidad. Resultados.La escala de 65 ítems tiene una varianza explicada del 61.3% y está compuesta por cinco dominios de PC: inferencia, evaluación, argumentación, análisis e interpretación. Se obtuvo un coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0.61. Conclusión. La escala propuesta para evaluar las habilidades del PC del estudiante converge con conceptos de autores reconocidos con la teoría de PC y es adecuada para ser utilizada como índice de medición de PC en la formación profesional.ABSTRACT: Objective. This research sought to construct and validate a measurement index of critical thinking (CT) in professional formation. Methods. Transversal, quantitative, test validation-type study. After reviewing scientific production in CT, which permitted defining the concept and its conceptual domains, a 65- item scale was constructed of closed questions on the analysis of cases evaluating CT. The scale was subjected to expert evaluation to then be applied to 53 undergraduate students (35 from nursing and 18 from sociology) to evaluate validity and reliability. Results. The 65-item scale has an explained variance of 61.3% and is comprised of five CT domains: inference, evaluation, argumentation, analysis, and interpretation. A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.61 was obtained. Conclusion. The scale proposed to assess students’ CT skills converges with concepts by known authors with the CT theory and is adequate for use as a CT measurement index in professional formation

Deficits in executive functions but not in decision making under risk in individuals with problematic social-network use.

Background: The tendency to strive for immediate gratification by neglecting potential negative long-term outcomes characterizes addictive behaviors, such as substance use or gaming disorder. Problematic socialnetwork use is currently discussed as another potential addictive behavior, which is considered to result from an imbalance between affective and cognitive processes, indicated by traits such as increased impulsivity and/ or decreased executive functions and decision-making abilities. Methods: This study investigates the respective functions in social-network users by use of the Cards and Lottery Task (CLT) – a decision-making task under risk conditions in which options contain conflicting immediate and long-term outcomes at the same time. A sample of German and Spanish participants (N = 290) performed the CLT aswell as the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the short Internet Addiction Test specified for social-networking (sIAT-SNS), and screeners on other potentially problematic behaviors. Results: Comparing extreme groups based on sIAT-SNS scores (1SD above/below mean), individuals with problematic social-network use (n = 56), as compared to those with non-problematic social-network use (n = 50), showed increased attentional impulsivity and reduced executive functions. No differences were observed in decision-making performance. Conclusion: The findings indicate that problematic social-network use is related to attentional rather than general decision-making deficits. Furthermore, problematic social-network use is likely to co-occurwith other problematic Internet-use behaviors, particularly gaming or shopping.pre-print455 K

Decision Making and Risk Propensity in Individuals with Tendencies towards Specific Internet-Use Disorders.

The uncontrolled use of specific Internet applications is increasingly recognized as a mental health issue. Gaming disorder, which is one subtype of specific Internet-use disorders (sIUDs), has been included in the ICD-11 as disorder due to addictive behaviors. Addictive disorders are assumed to be accompanied by cognitive deficits as indicated by weaker performance in executive function and risky decision-making tasks. This study investigates risky decision-making in individuals with tendencies towards sIUDs including gaming, online buying-shopping, and social-networksuse disorders. A total of 293 individuals participated in the study. Based on specific screening instruments, the participants were assigned to a group with tendencies towards sIUD or a control group. Participants completed a risky decision-making task and questionnaires assessing risk-taking propensity, impulsivity, psychopathology, and perceived stress. The group with sIUD tendencies showed higher attentional impulsivity and higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to the control group. The groups did not differ in decision making and risk propensity. Decision making did not have significant effects on sIUD symptoms. Risk for developing sIUDs does not appear to be accompanied by altered general decision-making tendencies. Rather, psychological (pre-)load and attentional deficits appear to be relevant features in uncontrolled use of the Internet.post-print673 K

Assessment of the scientific production on critical thinking in the cognitive processes of training: a review from the network theory

ABSTRACT: A measurement of the theoretical and methodological knowledge of Critical Thinking (CT) production is presented in education under the Network Analysis methodology, identifying lines and authors that have the most impact on existing production and which are taken up in other scientific production to resize and to create new definitions, representing the main current in the field. This condition makes these lines and authors of mandatory review to conduct research on CT. Therefore, this work provides a structure of knowledge that makes it possible to establish current and future research and discussions on the subject, as well as a methodological path for the construction of the state of the art based on scientometric measurements.RESUMEN: Se presenta una medición de la producción de conocimiento teórico y metodológico del Pensamiento Crítico (PC) en la educación bajo la metodología de Análisis de Redes, identificando las líneas y autores que más influyen en la producción existente y que son son retomados en la demás producción científica para redimensionar y generar nuevas definiciones, representando la corriente principal en la materia. Esta condición hace que estas líneas y autores sean de obligatoria revisión para realizar investigación sobre PC; por lo que este trabajo aporta una estructura de conocimiento que posibilita fundar actuales y futuras investigaciones y discusiones en la materia, así como un camino metodológico para la construcción de estados del arte basados en mediciones cienciométricas

Valoración de la producción científica sobre el pensamiento crítico en los procesos cognitivos de la formación: una revisión desde la teoría de redes

Se presenta una medición de la producción de conocimiento teórico y metodológico del Pensamiento Crítico (PC) en la educación bajo la metodología de Análisis de Redes, identificando las líneas y autores que más influyen en la producción existente y que son son retomados en la demás producción científica para redimensionar y generar nuevas definiciones, representando la corriente principal en la materia. Esta condición hace que estas líneas y autores sean de obligatoria revisión para realizar investigación sobre PC; por lo que este trabajo aporta una estructura de conocimiento que posibilita fundar actuales y futuras investigaciones y discusiones en la materia, así como un camino metodológico para la construcción de estados del arte basados en mediciones cienciométricas

Phasic left atrial strain to predict worsening of diastolic function: Results from the prospective Berlin Female Risk Evaluation follow-up trial

Purpose: The predictive value of maximum left atrial volume index (LAVI), phasic left atrial strain (LAS) and other standard echocardiographic parameters assessing left ventricular (LV) diastolic function to discriminate a future worsening of diastolic function (DD) in patients at risk is unclear. We aimed to prospectively assess and compare the clinical impact of these parameters in a randomly selected study sample of the general urban female population. Methods and results: A comprehensive clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 256 participants of the Berlin Female Risk Evaluation (BEFRI) trial after a mean follow up time of 6.8 years. After an assessment of participants' current DD status, the predictive impact of an impaired LAS on the course of DD was assessed and compared with LAVI and other DD parameters using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Subjects with no DD (DD0) who showed a decline of diastolic function by the time of follow-up showed a reduced LA reservoir (LASr) and conduit strain (LAScd) compared to subjects who remained in the healthy range (LASr 28.0% +/- 7.0 vs. 41.9% +/- 8.5; LAScd -13.2% +/- 5.1 vs. -25.4% +/- 9.1; p < 0.001). With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 (95%CI 0.82-0.94) and 0.84 (95%CI 0.79-0.89), LASr and LAScd exhibited the highest discriminative value in predicting worsening of diastolic function, whereas LAVI was only of limited prognostic value [AUC 0.63 (95%CI 0.54-0.73)]. In logistic regression analyses, LAS remained a significant predictor for a decline of diastolic function after controlling for clinical and standard echocardiographic DD parameters, indicating its incremental predictive value. Conclusion: The analysis of phasic LAS may be useful to predict worsening of LV diastolic function in DD0 patients at risk for a future DD development.GRAPHICAL ABSTRAC

Diagnosis and Assessment of Depression and Suicidality Using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-2.3)

The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-2.3) was studied in a sample of 265 adolescent inpatients to determine type and concurrent validity of depressive symptoms and depressive disorder diagnoses for different DISC-2.3 informants (parent, adolescent, both). The Children's Depression Rating Scale — Revised, Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS), Suicide Ideation Questionnaire — Junior, Spectrum of Suicide Behavior Scale, and clinical consensus diagnoses were used to assess concurrent validity. Results indicated that (1) parents, compared to adolescents, reported a higher prevalence of all depressive symptoms with the exception of weight change; (2) DISC-2.3 depressive and suicidality symptoms were related positively to independent validating criteria for all informant conditions, suggesting good concurrent validity; (3) the DISC-2.3 both informant condition correctly identified the most depressive disorders; and (4) the parent, but not the adolescent, DISC-2.3 Informant condition contributed to the prediction of clinical consensus diagnoses of depression after taking into account RADS scores.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44585/1/10802_2004_Article_424863.pd

Phasic left atrial strain to predict worsening of diastolic function: Results from the prospective Berlin Female Risk Evaluation follow-up trial

Purpose: The predictive value of maximum left atrial volume index (LAVI), phasic left atrial strain (LAS) and other standard echocardiographic parameters assessing left ventricular (LV) diastolic function to discriminate a future worsening of diastolic function (DD) in patients at risk is unclear. We aimed to prospectively assess and compare the clinical impact of these parameters in a randomly selected study sample of the general urban female population. Methods and results: A comprehensive clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 256 participants of the Berlin Female Risk Evaluation (BEFRI) trial after a mean follow up time of 6.8 years. After an assessment of participants’ current DD status, the predictive impact of an impaired LAS on the course of DD was assessed and compared with LAVI and other DD parameters using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Subjects with no DD (DD0) who showed a decline of diastolic function by the time of follow-up showed a reduced LA reservoir (LASr) and conduit strain (LAScd) compared to subjects who remained in the healthy range (LASr 28.0% ± 7.0 vs. 41.9% ± 8.5; LAScd −13.2% ± 5.1 vs. −25.4% ± 9.1; p < 0.001). With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 (95%CI 0.82–0.94) and 0.84 (95%CI 0.79–0.89), LASr and LAScd exhibited the highest discriminative value in predicting worsening of diastolic function, whereas LAVI was only of limited prognostic value [AUC 0.63 (95%CI 0.54–0.73)]. In logistic regression analyses, LAS remained a significant predictor for a decline of diastolic function after controlling for clinical and standard echocardiographic DD parameters, indicating its incremental predictive value. Conclusion: The analysis of phasic LAS may be useful to predict worsening of LV diastolic function in DD0 patients at risk for a future DD development. GRAPHICAL ABSTRAC