Learning environment, attitudes and anxiety across the transition from primary to secondary school mathematics

Past research has revealed that, relative to primary-school students, high-school students have less-positive attitudes to mathematics and perceive their classroom environments and teacher–student relationships less favourably. This study involved the transition experience of 541 students in 47 classes in 15 primary (year 7) and secondary (year 8) government and Catholic schools in metropolitan and regional South Australia. Scales were adapted from three established instruments, namely, the What Is Happening In this Class?, Test of Mathematics Related Attitudes and Revised Mathematics Anxiety Ratings Scale, to identify changes across the transition from primary to secondary school in terms of the classroom learning environment and students’ attitude/anxiety towards mathematics. Relative to year 7 students, year 8 students reported less Involvement, less positive Attitude to Mathematical Inquiry, less Enjoyment of Mathematics and greater Mathematics Anxiety. Differences between students in Years 7 and 8 were very similar for male and female students, although the magnitude of sex differences in attitudes was slightly different in Years 7 and 8

EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT FOR QUITTING SMOKING AND MARAS POWDER USE IN

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of treatment for quitting smoking and Maras powder use in patients aged 60 years or older, and to examine factors likely to be effective in stopping tobacco use.Materials and Method: Out of 178 patients aged 60 years or older, who presented to our outpatient clinic for quitting smoking and Maras powder use, 115 for whom there were no missing data were enrolled in this study.Results: Out of 100 patients who presenting to quit smoking, 76 (76.0%) were male and 24 (24.0%) were female. Fifteen patients who presenting to quit Maras powder use were all male. The mean age of the participants was 62.98 +/- 4.30 years (min=60, max=81) and did not differ between the female and male participants (p=0.351). Forty-eight smokers (48.0%) gave up smoking during treatment, but 52 smokers (52.0%) were still smoking during treatment. Eight Maras powder users stopped using the powder after treatment, but seven Maras powder users continued using Maras powder despite treatment.Conclusion: We found that a high proportion of patients aged 60 years or older stopped using tobacco after treatment. Determination to stop tobacco use, appropriate treatment and regular follow-up play an important part in quitting tobacco use