Vallerand´s model in Asturian adolescents: Implementation and development

Se examinó la secuencia del modelo de Vallerand (1997) en el contexto de la educación física: Los factores sociales influyen en los mediadores psicológicas, que a su vez predicen los tipos de motivación, que dan lugar a determinadas consecuencias. Tomando como base el Modelo de Vallerand y el estudio empírico de Ntoumanis (2001), este trabajo se propuso comprobar el modelo completo en todas sus secuencias con una muestra de estudiantes adolescentes asturianos (N=507) de una franja de edad más amplia (12-17 años), incluyendo como factor social una subdimensión distinta al trabajo original (papel importante) e introduciendo dos nuevas consecuencias motivacionales (diversión y grado de presión percibida). Se administraron versiones españolas de diversos cuestionarios: PMCSQ-2, BPNES, PLOC, IMI (diversión, esfuerzo percibido y presión percibida) y consecuencias motivacionales (aburrimiento e intención de práctica). El análisis factorial confirmatorio reveló que los datos se ajustaban bien al modelo, y que las tres necesidades psicológicas mediaban entre el clima de tarea y la motivación intrínseca. Ésta predijo positivamente la diversión, el esfuerzo e intención de práctica, y negativamente, el aburrimiento. La competencia percibida resultó el predictor más fuerte, influyendo positivamente en la motivación más autónoma y, negativamente, en la más controlada. La desmotivación predijo positivamente el aburrimiento y la presión y, negativamente, el esfuerzoThe complete sequence of Vallerand’s model (1997) was examined in the context of physical education: Social factors influence the psychological mediators, which in turn predicted motivation types, which lead to certain consequences. Based on the Vallerand´s Model and Ntoumanis (2001) empirical study, this investigation was undertaken to test the full model in all sequences with a sample of Asturian adolescents students (N = 507) of a wider age range (12 -17 years), including as a social factor a distinct sub-dimension to the original work (relevant role) and introducing two new motivational consequences (fun and degree of perceived pressure). The Spanish validated version of these questionnaires was used: PMCSQ-2, BPNES, PLOC, three subscales of IMI (enjoyment, effort, and competence) and other motivational outcomes such as boredom and future sport participation. Results from the Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed that the data fit the model proposed, and the three psychological needs mediated between the task climate and the intrinsic motivation. This positively predicted enjoyment, effort and future sport participation, and negatively boredom. Competence was the stronger predictor, positively influencing the most autonomous types of motivation, and negatively the more controlled ones. Amotivation positively predicted boredom and pressure, and negatively, effortEste estudio se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto de I+D+I número DEP2012- 31997, subvencionado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitivida

Adolescents’ competence metaperceptions and self-perceptions, motivation, intention to be physically active and physical activity

It is widely acknowledged that physical activity can play a potentially important role in enhancing public health. However, rapid and signi cant decreases in physical activity practice occur during adolescence. Elements such as parents’ perceptions of their children competence, children’s self-perceptions of competence and motivation appear to be important in this process. e main goal of this study was to test the following sequence of motivational processes related to physical activity: Competence Metaperceptions (parents) - Competence Self-Perception – Self-Determined Motivation–Intention to be Physically Active–Physical Activity. 459 adolescents (257 males, 202 females), age range 12-17 years, agreed to participate. Descriptive and exploratory analysis, bivariate correlations and path analysis were performed. e testing of the hypothesized model showed a good t to the data. Results reinforce the influence of parents’ views on their children’s physical activity competence perception, and its consequences on the adolescents’ physical activity.

Perfiles contextuales y su relación con las variables disposicionales en el aprendizaje del alumnado de Educación Secundaria

Antecedentes: estudios recientes abordan la investigación educativa desde una nueva óptica interactiva e interdependiente del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Objetivo: en esta línea, la finalidad del presente estudio es analizar las variables contextuales (ayuda al aprendizaje, despertar el interés del alumnado y promover una cultura del esfuerzo) y disposicionales (interés, esfuerzo y progresión en el aprendizaje), para aportar una visión global de la eficacia docentediscente con respecto a variables claves en el proceso educativo. Método: la muestra estuvo formada por 618 estudiantes. Se realizaron análisis exploratorios, descriptivos, de conglomerados jerárquicos y K-medias, y MANOVA(s). Resultados: emergieron tres conglomerados que se caracterizaron por un perfil alto, medio y bajo en los tres factores contextuales, que se relacionaron con los niveles de eficacia en las variables disposicionales del aprendizaje. Conclusiones: las variables contextuales muestran niveles de eficacia de la acción docente que se relacionan con la implicación de los estudiantes en el aprendizaje.Background: recent studies address educational research from a new perspective of interactive and interdependent process of teaching and learning. Goal: in this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyze the contextual (learning aid, arouse the interest of students, and promote a culture of effort) and dispositional variables (interest, effort and progression in learning) to provide an overview of the teacherlearner effectiveness with respect to key variables in the educational process. Method: the sample was composed by 618 students. Exploratory and descriptive analyses, hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, and MANOVA(s) were performed. Results: three clusters emerged from the analysis. They were characterized by high, medium and low profiles in three contextual factors, which were related to efficacy levels in the dispositional learning variables. Conclusions: these results support the hypothesis that contextual variables show students’ perception of teacher efficacy directly related to their personal involvement in learning

Performance of the First ANTARES Detector Line

In this paper we report on the data recorded with the first Antares detector line. The line was deployed on the 14th of February 2006 and was connected to the readout two weeks later. Environmental data for one and a half years of running are shown. Measurements of atmospheric muons from data taken from selected runs during the first six months of operation are presented. Performance figures in terms of time residuals and angular resolution are given. Finally the angular distribution of atmospheric muons is presented and from this the depth profile of the muon intensity is derived.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure

Acoustic and optical variations during rapid downward motion episodes in the deep north-western Mediterranean Sea

An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) was moored at the deep-sea site of the ANTARES neutrino telescope near Toulon, France, thus providing a unique opportunity to compare high-resolution acoustic and optical observations between 70 and 170 m above the sea bed at 2475 m. The ADCP measured downward vertical currents of magnitudes up to 0.03 m s-1 in late winter and early spring 2006. In the same period, observations were made of enhanced levels of acoustic reflection, interpreted as suspended particles including zooplankton, by a factor of about 10 and of horizontal currents reaching 0.35 m s-1. These observations coincided with high light levels detected by the telescope, interpreted as increased bioluminescence. During winter 2006 deep dense-water formation occurred in the Ligurian subbasin, thus providing a possible explanation for these observations. However, the 10-20 days quasi-periodic episodes of high levels of acoustic reflection, light and large vertical currents continuing into the summer are not direct evidence of this process. It is hypothesized that the main process allowing for suspended material to be moved vertically later in the year is local advection, linked with topographic boundary current instabilities along the rim of the 'Northern Current'.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figure

The ANTARES Telescope Neutrino Alert System

The ANTARES telescope has the capability to detect neutrinos produced in astrophysical transient sources. Potential sources include gamma-ray bursts, core collapse supernovae, and flaring active galactic nuclei. To enhance the sensitivity of ANTARES to such sources, a new detection method based on coincident observations of neutrinos and optical signals has been developed. A fast online muon track reconstruction is used to trigger a network of small automatic optical telescopes. Such alerts are generated for special events, such as two or more neutrinos, coincident in time and direction, or single neutrinos of very high energy.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Measurement of Atmospheric Neutrino Oscillations with the ANTARES Neutrino Telescope

The data taken with the ANTARES neutrino telescope from 2007 to 2010, a total live time of 863 days, are used to measure the oscillation parameters of atmospheric neutrinos. Muon tracks are reconstructed with energies as low as 20 GeV. Neutrino oscillations will cause a suppression of vertical upgoing muon neutrinos of such energies crossing the Earth. The parameters determining the oscillation of atmospheric neutrinos are extracted by fitting the event rate as a function of the ratio of the estimated neutrino energy and reconstructed flight path through the Earth. Measurement contours of the oscillation parameters in a two-flavour approximation are derived. Assuming maximum mixing, a mass difference of $\Delta m_{32}^2=(3.1\pm 0.9)\cdot 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$ is obtained, in good agreement with the world average value.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

The ANTARES Optical Beacon System

ANTARES is a neutrino telescope being deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of a three dimensional array of photomultiplier tubes that can detect the Cherenkov light induced by charged particles produced in the interactions of neutrinos with the surrounding medium. High angular resolution can be achieved, in particular when a muon is produced, provided that the Cherenkov photons are detected with sufficient timing precision. Considerations of the intrinsic time uncertainties stemming from the transit time spread in the photomultiplier tubes and the mechanism of transmission of light in sea water lead to the conclusion that a relative time accuracy of the order of 0.5 ns is desirable. Accordingly, different time calibration systems have been developed for the ANTARES telescope. In this article, a system based on Optical Beacons, a set of external and well-controlled pulsed light sources located throughout the detector, is described. This calibration system takes into account the optical properties of sea water, which is used as the detection volume of the ANTARES telescope. The design, tests, construction and first results of the two types of beacons, LED and laser-based, are presented.Comment: 21 pages, 18 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth. Phys. Res.