Exploring children’s perceptions of their local environment in relation to time spent outside

This study aims to understand how children perceive their environment, exploring the affordances children perceive to influence their physical activity (PA) behaviour when outside. Participants included boys and girls aged 10–12 years (n = 15) living in Scotland. Children's visual and verbal representations of their perceived environment were analysed to assess environmental determinants of PA. The findings suggested that physical affordances that offer a sense of risk were important to children's play spaces. Social affordances influenced where the children went in their environment and the features they utilised as part of play behaviour; strangers were considered threatening depending on whether the activity was recognised

The Evolution of the Agricultural Communications Degree Program at Texas Tech University: A Historical Perspective

Texas Tech University’s agricultural communications program began in 1973. Using a historical case study research design, the researchers explored the course offerings, activities, and departmental publications during the previous 40 years. Although the program first offered the agricultural communications option, it took nearly 20 years for an undergraduate degree in this specialization to be made official. This study provides the story of how the program began and how it evolved over time. Other institutions that offer agricultural communications degrees, or are considering this program area, will learn about the gradual development of a lasting program

Meaningful dissemination produces the “long tail” that engenders community impact.

Lack of understanding of the needs of older LGBT individuals is a global issue and their needs are often ignored by health and social care providers who adopt sexuality-blind approaches within their provision. As a result public services can find it difficult to push the LGBT equalities agenda forward due resistance to change and underlying discrimination. This paper considers how a body of research concerning the needs and experiences of older LGBT people was used to create innovatory tools to engage communities in learning about the needs and experiences of older LGBT citizens. The paper will consider how research outputs have been used to develop creative learning tools, including film and a method deck of cards, offering opportunities to learn and critically reflect upon practice built upon a research informed knowledge base. The workshops developed as part of our social impact dissemination strategy demonstrate the importance of having a champion within an organisation to take forward the LGBT agenda

The effect of an 8-week classroom-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour programme on adolescents' motivation and physical activity

We determine the effect of "ActiveChat" - an 8-week classroom-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) programme on adolescents' motivation and PA. Results of the feasibility study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that an 8-week teacher-led classroom-based PA and SB programme has the potential to maintain adolescents' motivation towards PA, and increase in-class levels of PA. This indicates that pedagogical methods could be adapted to incorporate more PA within secondary school classrooms

Classroom-based physical activity and sedentary behavior interventions in adolescents : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: It is reported that 81% of adolescents are insufficiently active. Schools play a pivotal role in promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate classroom-based PA and SB interventions in adolescents. Methods: A search strategy was developed using the PICOS framework. Articles were screened using strict inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool ( http://www.ephpp.ca/tools.html ). Outcome data for preintervention and postintervention were extracted, and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: The strategy yielded 7574 potentially relevant articles. Nine studies were included for review. Study quality was rated as strong for 1 study, moderate for 5 studies, and weak for 3 studies. Five studies were included for meta-analyses, which suggested that the classroom-based interventions had a nonsignificant effect on PA (P=.55, d=0.05) and a small, nonsignificant effect on SB ( P=.16, d=−0.11). Conclusion: Only 9 relevant studies were found, and the effectiveness of the classroom-based PA and SB interventions varied. Based on limited empirical studies, there is not enough evidence to determine the most effective classroom-based methodology to increase PA and SB

Qualities and attributes of undergraduate advisement as perceived by academic advisors within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resourc

Agricultural Educatio