Post graduate students in educational psychology and theraplay a relational case inquiry

M.Ed.Educational psychology honours students and Theraplay: a relational case inquiry. The South African community is moving towards fundamental socio-and-political restructuring. Part of the restructuring process is establishing suitable psychological intervention for the needy black child. From the researcher's understanding of the black child's need and knowledge of the different types of play therapies, the research question pertaining to how black students would relate to Theraplay emerged. The aim of the study was to investigate how black students relate to the proposed Theraplay principles. The method of investigation entailed superimposing a training model onto a research format in order to train and simultaneously observe the students relating to Theraplay. The five training phases of the model served as template to five observation opportunities for data collection. The data were analysed and consolidated in order to arrive at eight final categories. These eight categories were interpreted in relation to the proposed Theraplay principles, and black philosophy, in order to draw conclusions on how the students related to Theraplay. The research found that the students related well to the Theraplay principles of nurturing, intrusion, structuring and using the child as play object. The students related poorly, however, to the Theraplay principles of challenging, differentiating, playing in the "here-and-now" and controlling the sessions. Implications ofthe findings for practice, for educational psychology and for research are stated in conclusion to the inquiry

Rebranding and Repositioning: The Kentucky State Parks Restaurants

The restaurants located at the Resort Parks under the Kentucky State Parks group have noticed a distinct lack of revenue over the course of the past five years. Elaine Walker, Commissioner of the Arts and Heritage Committee, approached myself and fellow student Lavella Hall, with intentions of a complete rebrand and redesign of their main distributive information outlets: logos for each of the 17 restaurants, a menu redux, additional print mandatories (table toppers, etc.), and ultimately, the brand image. With the implementation of this project, we intend to see a 20% increase in guest traffic, guest loyalty and revenue for the Kentucky State Park restaurants, located at the 17 highest grossing Resort Parks in the state of Kentucky. Documented within is our process from beginning to end, obtained research and methodology, and final design conclusions as functions of a semester’s worth of work

MANIPULATING TIME: DIFFERENCES IN PEAK KNEE MOMENTS WHEN SIDESTEPPING TO TEMPORALLY CONSTRAINED QUASI-REALISTIC SCENARIOS

This study aimed to analyse how planning time effects peak knee valgus (PKVM) and internal rotation (PKIRM) moments using real-time (RT) and above real-time (ART) game-like video clips. 12 male Australian rules football players completed a modified sidestepping (SS) movement assessment. PKVM and PKIRM were measured across the weight acceptance phase of planned (PSS) and four unplanned SS conditions, increasing in video playback speed (UP100, UP125, UP150, UP175). No significant differences were found for PKVM or PKIRM between any SS conditions, however, the coefficient of variation in PKVM increased as the temporal constraints of the unplanned tasks increase. This study suggests that while mean group differences in PKVM may not be obvious, increased individual subject variation is evident as planning time decreases

Performance measurement

This chapter discusses performance measurement. Many aspects of an entity can be measured, including the performance of the entity as a whole, specific divisions or even individual employees. Linking the performance measurement system to organisational objectives ensures that the focus is on the goals of the entity. Contemporary performance measurement systems include a balance between financial and non-financial measures, and between short-term and long-term measures. Such measures should be simple to apply and understand, and should link the operations with strategy and encourage beneficial behaviour. Performance measurement tools covered in this chapter include the balanced scorecard, return on investment, residual income, and economic value added. Non-financial performance measures and issues relating to individual performance measurement are also discussed

Business sustainability

Political and geostrategic themes are increasingly impacting on the business world. Financial markets are being profoundly influenced by environmental and social systems. Managers of today need to have an increased awareness of this impact to ensure their decisions take full account of the world around them. Climate change, a greater competition for resources, the shortage of soil and water, demographic imbalances, increased migration, increased techno-terrorism and transnational crime, swelling national and religious extremists and economic imbalances require new ways to think about efficiency and resource allocation. This chapter provides a framework for reflecting on these issues

DIFFERENCES IN PREPARATORY KINEMATICS OF PLANNED AND UNPLANNED SIDESTEPPING

This study aimed to characterise the preparatory kinematics of sidestepping (SS) and investigate kinematic differences between planned and unplanned SS tasks. 35 male Australian rules football players completed an established SS movement assessment. Trunk, pelvis, knee and ankle kinematics were recorded for straight running and planned and unplanned SS tasks. At toe-off of the penultimate step the stance foot was placed across the midline of the centre of mass in planned SS (-12.5 ± 6.42 cm) and significantly further away from the centre of mass (

PELVIC OBLIQUITY AND ROTATION INFLUENCES FOOT POSITION ESTIMATES DURING RUNNING AND SIDESTEPPING: “IT’S ALL IN THE HIPS”

Pelvic obliquity angles were hypothesised to influence mediolateral (ML) foot position estimates during sporting manoeuvres. Pelvic angles and ML foot position estimates during the weight acceptance phase of sidestepping and straight-line running tasks were obtained from 31 amateur Australian Rules Football players using three different kinematic models. ML foot position was calculated: 1) in the global reference frame, 2) in the pelvis reference frame and 3) in the pelvis reference frame following correction for changes in pelvic obliquity. Significant differences in ML foot position were observed between all three models in both task conditions (p \u3c 0.05). Correcting for changes in time varying pelvic obliquity during running and sidestepping tasks is an important modelling consideration for the reliable measurement of ML foot position when investigating injury and/or stability

Reducing anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors by training perception: How vital is maintaining the perception-action coupling?

This study investigated the effect of maintaining perception-action coupling during a 4-week perceptual training program aiming to reduce biomechanical risk factors associated with ACL injury. Kinetic (valgus and internal rotation knee moments) and neuromuscular (total knee muscle activation and directed co-contraction ratios) variables were calculated during evasive sidestepping of 3D-projected opponents in 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 game-based situations pre and post-intervention training. An additional transfer scenario was assessed post-intervention. Twenty-six amateur Australian Rules footballers were allocated to control (C), uncoupled (U) or coupled (PA) groups. Participants completed biweekly perceptual training containing 48 trials requiring a verbal (uncoupled) or running sidestep (coupled) response while counting the number of attentional cues displayed. Training groups showed no reductions in peak valgus and internal rotation moments, however, a small decrease in peak valgus moments was observed in the transfer condition. Coupled training displayed significant group differences in medial-lateral co-contraction ratios from controls. No changes in muscle activation patterns pre-post ARF were observed, however C and UC groups redirected co-contraction ratios laterally in the transfer condition. Results suggest that attentional cueing perceptual training with a coupled response may have a beneficial impact on kinetic ACL injury risk factors and maintain muscle activation levels associated with decreased ACL injury risk

Conceptualizing and validating the human services integration measure

PURPOSES: This paper proposes both a model and a measure of human service integration through strategic alliances with autonomous services as one way to achieve comprehensive health and social services for target populations. THEORY: Diverse theories of integrated service delivery and collaboration were combined reflecting integration along a continuum of care within a service sector, across service sectors and between public, not-for-profit and private sectors of financing services. METHODS: A measure of human service integration is proposed and tested. The measure identifies the scope and depth of integration for each sector and service that make up a total service network. It captures in quantitative terms both intra and inter sectoral service integration. RESULTS: Results are provided using the Human Service Measure in two networks of services involved in promoting Healthy Babies and Healthy Children known to have more and less integration. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument demonstrated discriminate validity with scores correctly distinguishing the two networks. The instrument does not correlate (r=0.13) with Weiss (2001) measure of partnership synergy confirming that it measures a distinct component of integration. DISCUSSION: We recommend the combined use of the proposed measure and the Weiss (2001) measure to more completely capture the scope and depth of integration efforts as well as the nature of the functioning of a service program or network

Exploring assessment policies for clinical practice: A scoping review of the literature

Background: Assessment of pre-registration nursing students in clinical practice is an essential process, ensuring students who graduate meet standards for practice and competently and safely care for patients under their care. However, such assessment remains challenging for individuals and organisations. Aim: We aimed to investigate what is known about the application of clinical placement assessment policies guiding pre-registration nursing programmes. Methods: Arskey and O\u27Malley’s five-stage method for scoping reviews was employed. Health and education databases were searched in July 2020 and December 2021. Identified papers were screened. The Joanna Briggs Institute\u27s critical appraisal tools were used to appraise the quality of the included articles. The Invitational Theory domains of people, processes, programmes, places, and policies were utilised to aid meaningful analysis of the findings. Findings: Nineteen articles were appraised: eleven primary data studies, two that psychometrically tested a survey instrument, four discussion articles, and two literature reviews. Article quality varied widely. Three themes were identified: lack of processes around clinical practice, people and clinical practice, and policies and clinical practice. Discussion: Assessment within placement is complex and unique. Uncertainty permeates the literature around assessment of pre-registration students in clinical practice. There is a clear need to promote policies that highlight differences between theoretical and practice assessment, ensuring all stakeholders can access relevant governance processes that support patient safety. Conclusion: More empirical evidence is needed to develop policies and processes that reduce uncertainty and improve patient safety associated with student assessment within clinical placements