Experiments with Danish Mesolithic Microblade Technology

Experiments with Danish Mesolithic Microblade Technolog

Foundations of Constructive Analysis

xiii, 370 hlm.; 23,5 c

The effects of peer administered methods for increasing social interaction between young handicapped and nonhandicapped children

The purpose of the study was to compare the use of peer administered contingent reinforcement for social interaction with the use of play materials that facilitate interaction. The subsequent effects on the social interaction of mainstreamed preschool handicapped children with their nonhandicapped peers was examined. Three nonhandicapped kindergarten children were paired with three moderately mentally handicapped preschool children and trained to initiate play. A single-subject, alternating treatment design with a withdrawal phase was used to compare the effects of the two treatments. Generalization immediately following each treatment was also examined as was maintenance over time. Observers used an interval recording procedure and showed a mean interobserver reliability rating of 95%. All observations were conducted in an outdoor playground setting. The use of play materials that facilitate interaction (Treatment C) was shown to be a significantly more effective method for increasing social interaction than was the use of peer administered contingent reinforcement (Treatment B). The mean child-child interaction total for Treatment C was 71% while the mean child-child interaction total for Treatment B was 27%. The t value at a.10 level of probability was $-7.74$. Generalization immediately following treatment was greater after Treatment C (mean 24%) than after Treatment B (mean 7%). The t value of $-1.98$ did not, however, show a significant difference in generalization between the two treatments. Treatment C was implemented as the only treatment upon completion of the alternating treatment phase. Relatively little generalization occurred during the withdrawal phase (mean 17%) and the treatment effects were not maintained over time (mean 7%). A supplemental analysis of the relationship between play attempts by the peer helper and the number of actual interactions showed that, while there were a greater number of play attempts during Treatment C than during Treatment B, the difference was not large enough to account for the success of Treatment C. The outcome of the study helps to ascertain that the use of trained nonhandicapped peer helpers coupled with the use of play materials that facilitate interaction can be an effective means of increasing social interaction between young handicapped and nonhandicapped children

Predictors of community preparedness for flood in Dire-Dawa town, Eastern Ethiopia: Applying adapted version of Health Belief Model

A cross-sectional study was conducted in June and July 2015, aiming at investigating the cross cultural utility of adapted version of Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting disaster preparedness for flood hazards at household levels in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia. To accommodate the fact that this work was undertaken in a collectivistic culture in which social processes play more prominent roles in interpretation and action selection, a structured questionnaire was developed by adding community participation to the prominent constructs of HBM and modifying self-efficacy to collective-efficacy. Households (660) were selected by stratified systematic random sampling technique. From each household, an individual aged 18 or above was selected by random and participated in the study. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) analyses were done using STATA version-13.0. SEM analysis showed that the total effects of perceived threat (path coefficient (β)=−0.002, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): [−0.003, −0.001]), perceived benefits minus perceived barriers (β=−0.048, 95% CI: [−0.080, −0.015]), and cues to actions (β=−0.18, 95% CI: [−0.25, −0.11]) on preparedness were significant. The total effects of collective efficacy (β=0.011, 95% CI: [−0.027, 0.049]), perceived susceptibility (β=−0.0007, 95% CI: [−0.003, 0.002]), perceived severity (β=−0.002, 95% CI: [−0.007, 0.004]), and community participation (β=−0.0001, 95% CI: [−0.0003, 0.0001]) on preparedness were non-significant. In GSEM factor analysis, ethnicity, religion and residential duration were significantly associated with preparedness. Intervention is needed on barriers and perceived threat to enhance collective efficacy and preparedness.</p