Freedom and reinvention : the experience of disengagement from education for young people and their educators

The aims of this study were firstly to investigate the concept of disengagement with a focus on how society can be seen to problematise young people who are disengaged from mainstream education. Secondly, the study scrutinised the effects of this problematisation on young people by exploring the links between young people‟s experiences of being disengaged and their subsequent construction of their own identities as learners.The study positions its research within three alternative education settings, each of whom cater specifically for young people disengaged from education and are all located in a city in the North of England. Young people and their educators engage in participatory visual research activities alongside informal interviews. Each individual setting's use of different pedagogies and creative activities such as art, music, environmental/nature based education and skate-park activities are also examined to identify how they are each utilised to reintegrate the young people back into education and learning.The study found that young people, disengaged from mainstream school and now attending alternative education provision maintained a positive personal identity even though their lived experience of education has been typically negative. These young people were found to be existing as educational liminads; occupying the space between their previous school and the space in which they are planning to move into, whether that be further education or employment, but yet, they momentarily inhabit the environments of neither. They are status-less 'becomings', rather than socially fixed beings, existing in a space which, at its best provides the freedom to redefine and reconstruct themselves, ready to become the person they are capable of being, a space in which to experience the freedom for reinvention

Analytical Method Development for the Analysis of E-Liquids

Electronic cigarettes are one of the most commonly used methods of nicotine delivery, especially among the adolescent population. Due to the lack of regulation in manufacturer labeling of refillable nicotine solutions (e-liquids), the actual concentration of nicotine and other additives is variable as compared to the reported values. Misreporting of nicotine content is a contributor in the development of nicotine dependency and potentially tobacco product dependency. The objective of this research is to develop reliable analytical methods to study the variations in nicotine levels in e-liquids, and to identify and quantify other potentially harmful additives in e-liquids. In this research we used gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GCMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for identification of compounds, and we used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and GCMS for quantification of compounds.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2022/1037/thumbnail.jp

Strange face illusions: A systematic review and quality analysis

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Background Strange face illusions describe a range of visual apparitions that occur when an observer gazes at their image reflected in a mirror or at another person’s face in a dimly lit room. The illusory effects range from mild alterations in colour, or contrast, to the perception of distorted facial features, or new strange faces. The current review critically evaluates studies investigating strange face illusions, their methodological quality, and existing interpretations. Method Searches conducted using Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect and the grey literature until June 2022 identified 21 studies (N = 1,132; healthy participants n = 1,042; clinical participants n = 90) meeting the inclusion criteria (i.e., providing new empirical evidence relating to strange face illusions). The total sample had a mean age of 28.3 years (SD = 10.31) and two thirds (67 %) of participants tested to date are female. Results are reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review was preregistered at the Open Science Framework (OSF: https://osf.io/ek48d). Results Pooling data across studies, illusory new strange faces are experienced by 58% (95%CI 48 to 68) of nonclinical participants. Study quality as assessed by the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) revealed that 3/21 (14.28%) studies were rated as high, 9/21 (42.86%) as moderate and 9/21 (42.86%) as low quality. Whilst the items relating specifically to reporting quality scored quite highly, those relating to study design and possible biases were lower and more variable. Overall, study quality accounted for 87% of the variance in reporting rates for strange faces, with higher quality being associated with lower illusion rates. The prevalence of illusions was also significantly greater in samples that were older, had higher proportions of female participants and for the interpersonal dyad (IGDT) compared to the mirror gaze paradigm (MGT). The moderating impact of study quality persisted in a multiple meta-regression involving participant age, paradigm type (IGDT vs MGT) and level of feature distortion. Our review point to the importance of reduced light levels, face stimuli and prolonged eye fixation for strange face illusions to emerge. Conclusion Strange face illusions reliably occur in both mirror-gazing and interpersonal gazing dyad paradigms. Further research of higher quality is required to establish the prevalence and particularly, the mechanisms underpinning strange face illusions.Peer reviewe

Exploring the Association between Paranormal Beliefs and Cognitive Deficits

This thesis investigates whether paranormal beliefs are associated with deficits of cognition (in accord with the so-called “cognitive deficits hypothesis”). A systematic review of four decades of research (71 studies, n = 20,993) on paranormal beliefs and cognitive functioning is presented, considering the quality of existing research and identifying areas for future work. It is concluded that study quality in this research area is generally good, although areas of methodological weakness exist including: the lack of preregistration, discussion of limitations, a-priori justification of sample size, and a reliance on undergraduate samples. Heterogeneity of study findings exists, with the most consistent findings emerging for positive associations between paranormal beliefs and both intuitive thinking and confirmatory bias, and a negative association with conditional reasoning ability and the perception of randomness. While most studies suggest a negative relationship between paranormal beliefs and cognitive functioning, the evidence is not convincing of an overall cognitive deficit. The first empirical chapter (Chapter 3) describes the psychometric assessment of the most widely used paranormal beliefs measure, and the subsequent development of a more up-to-date and reliable measure of paranormal beliefs in the general population (owing to issues surrounding the item content and statistical techniques used to develop existing measures). Two methods of scale development (the classical test theory method of factor analysis, and the modern test theory Rasch analysis) were compared, with the Rasch method providing the most prudent measure of paranormal beliefs in the general population. In particular, the Rasch method allowed for assessment of item difficulty, functionality of the rating scale, and differential item functioning. The final scale measures paranormal beliefs along a single dimension using 13 items and a 4-point Likert scale. Chapter 4 seeks to add to the small volume of research concerning paranormal beliefs and executive functions identified in the systematic literature review by examining whether paranormal beliefs are associated with executive difficulties. Specifically, the chapter focuses on cognitive flexibility, presenting a series of replication studies to determine the strength and direction of its association with paranormal beliefs. A negative relationship between paranormal beliefs and cognitive functioning was identified in some studies, however heterogeneity was high between studies and an overall weak effect suggestive of external mediating factors. The final empirical chapter (Chapter 5) explores the subjective importance of personal paranormal experiences for the development and maintenance of paranormal (dis)belief. Compared to sceptics, believers provided more detailed memory descriptions, which were classified into five distinct components representing their paranormal experiences: explaining experiences, intuitions, perceptual experiences, spiritual experiences, and explicit memories of experiences. The memory descriptions of sceptics were shorter and more homogeneous than those of believers and were classified into just two classes: justification of disbelief, and experiences with others. Believers overall emphasised individual experiences, while sceptics focused on shared experiences. Personal paranormal experiences were found to be important for both paranormal belief and disbelief. It is suggested that future research place greater focus on the personal experiences of sceptics, which have received little attention to date, using both qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand paranormal disbelief. While the work presented here identified some cognitive differences between paranormal believers and sceptics, little evidence points to an underlying cognitive deficit associated with paranormal beliefs. This suggests that the cognitive deficits hypothesis present within the literature is not an accurate reflection of the relationship between paranormal beliefs and cognition, prompting the need for a new theory and further investigation. Specifically, the work presented here suggests a new fluid-executive theory to test for a potential difference in fluid intelligence and higher order executive functioning that may influence believers’ and sceptics’ cognitive performance (particularly on tasks requiring novel or abstract problem-solving). The present work also advocates further research focused on quantitative and qualitative relationships between paranormal disbelief (scepticism) and cognitive functioning; a perspective that has not received adequate investigation in the literature to date

Inferences of Others' Competence Reduces Anticipation of Pain When under Threat

On a daily basis, we place our lives in the hands of strangers. From dentists to pilots, we make inferences about their competence to perform their jobs and consequently to keep us from harm. Here we explore whether the perceived competence of others can alter one's anticipation of pain. In two studies, participants (Receivers) believed their chances of experiencing an aversive stimulus were directly dependent on the performance of another person (Players). We predicted that perceiving the Players as highly competent would reduce Receivers' anxiety when anticipating the possibility of an electric shock. Results confirmed that high competence ratings consistently corresponded with lower reported anxiety, and complementary fMRI data showed that increased competence perception was further expressed as decreased activity in the bilateral posterior insula, a region localized to actual pain stimulation. These studies suggest that inferences of competence act as predictors of protection and reduce the expectation of negative outcomes

Inferences of Others' Competence Reduces Anticipation of Pain When under Threat

On a daily basis, we place our lives in the hands of strangers. From dentists to pilots, we make inferences about their competence to perform their jobs and consequently to keep us from harm. Here we explore whether the perceived competence of others can alter one's anticipation of pain. In two studies, participants (Receivers) believed their chances of experiencing an aversive stimulus were directly dependent on the performance of another person (Players). We predicted that perceiving the Players as highly competent would reduce Receivers' anxiety when anticipating the possibility of an electric shock. Results confirmed that high competence ratings consistently corresponded with lower reported anxiety, and complementary fMRI data showed that increased competence perception was further expressed as decreased activity in the bilateral posterior insula, a region localized to actual pain stimulation. These studies suggest that inferences of competence act as predictors of protection and reduce the expectation of negative outcomes

Do cognitive aids reduce error rates in resuscitation team performance? : trial of emergency medicine protocols in simulation training (TEMPIST) in Australia

Background: Resuscitation of patients with time-critical and life-threatening illness represents a cognitive challenge for emergency room (ER) clinicians. We designed a cognitive aid, the Emergency Protocols Handbook, to simplify clinical management and team processes. Resuscitation guidelines were reformatted into simple, single step-bystep pathways. This Australian randomised controlled trial tested the effectiveness of this cognitive aid in a simulated ER environment by observing team error rates when current resuscitation guidelines were followed, with and without the handbook. Methods: Resuscitation teams were randomised to manage two scenarios with the handbook and two without in a high-fidelity simulation centre. Each scenario was video-recorded. The primary outcome measure was error rates (the number of errors made out of 15 key tasks per scenario). Key tasks varied by scenario. Each team completed four scenarios and was measured on 60 key tasks. Participants were surveyed regarding their perception of the usefulness of the handbook. Results: Twenty-one groups performed 84 ER crisis simulations. The unadjusted error rate in the handbook group was 18.8% (121/645) versus 38.9% (239/615) in the non-handbook group. There was a statistically significant reduction of 54.0% (95% CI 49.9–57.9) in the estimated percentage error rate when the handbook was available across all scenarios 17.9% (95% CI 14.4–22.0%) versus 38.9% (95% CI 34.2–43.9%). Almost all (97%) participants said they would want to use this cognitive aid during a real medical crisis situation. Conclusion: This trial showed that by following the step-by-step, linear pathways in the handbook, clinicians more than halved their teams’ rate of error, across four simulated medical crises. The handbook improves team performance and enables healthcare teams to reduce clinical error rates and thus reduce harm for patients

Development of the Paranormal and Supernatural Beliefs Scale using classical and modern test theory

Background: This study describes the construction and validation of a new scale for measuring belief in paranormal phenomena. The work aims to address psychometric and conceptual shortcomings associated with existing measures of paranormal belief. The study also compares the use of classic test theory and modern test theory as methods for scale development. Method: We combined novel items and amended items taken from existing scales, to produce an initial corpus of 29 items. Two hundred and thirty-one adult participants rated their level of agreement with each item using a seven-point Likert scale. Results: Classical test theory methods (including exploratory factor analysis and principal components analysis) reduced the scale to 14 items and one overarching factor: Supernatural Beliefs. The factor demonstrated high internal reliability, with an excellent test–retest reliability for the total scale. Modern test theory methods (Rasch analysis using a rating scale model) reduced the scale to 13 items with a four-point response format. The Rasch scale was found to be most effective at differentiating between individuals with moderate-high levels of paranormal beliefs, and differential item functioning analysis indicated that the Rasch scale represents a valid measure of belief in paranormal phenomena. Conclusions: The scale developed using modern test theory is identified as the final scale as this model allowed for in-depth analyses and refinement of the scale that was not possible using classical test theory. Results support the psychometric reliability of this new scale for assessing belief in paranormal phenomena, particularly when differentiating between individuals with higher levels of belief.Peer reviewe

Heads of alternative provision: committed to realising young peoples’ potential in an unregulated market

Alternative provision (AP) caters for pupils marginalised and excluded from mainstream schooling. In England, it is conceptualised in policy as providing education to support behavioural improvements (pupils are directed off-site to improve behaviour). There is limited research on the experiences of those who work in AP settings. That which does exist tends to report the commitment of these professionals to the young people with whom they work. Young people who attend these schools frequently talk positively about the relationships they experience there. As such, there is a need to better understand the motivations of those working with these young people if we are to understand the key relationships that make AP work. This article fills a gap by focusing on the experiences of those managing AP settings across a geographical area. The findings are based on 3 interviews and 20 surveys and develop significantly our understanding of the motivations of those working in and managing AP settings. Interesting divergences in practice are highlighted and findings show managers both see and work to realise the potential of young people in AP. These findings suggest staff commitment should be conceptualised as belief in the potential of the young people who attend AP