A systematic review of pliance, tracking, and augmenting

A

Analytical Study of the Organisational Culture- Related Practices in Colleges of Education in Western and Central Regions of Ghana

This study was undertaken to ascertain the organisational culture related practices in Colleges of Education in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana. The conduct of the research was guided by two research questions. The main research instrument used was a questionnaire. Both open-ended and close-ended questions were used. The statistical tools used for the analysis were Frequency, Percentage distributions, Mean and Standard deviations and ANOVA.The study revealed that in spite of the elevation of the Colleges of Education to the tertiary level, most of the practices of the colleges are still based on second cycle organisational culture. The elevation of the Colleges of Education to the tertiary status has imposed challenges on discipline as teacher trainees perceive the rules and regulations of the Colleges as being too strict. Recommendations made include: Measures should be put in place by College authorities to create democratic, open and transparent administration to ensure that both students and tutors operate without fear of being maligned or discriminated against in the performance of their duties. College principals are enjoined to put in place pragmatic measures to facilitate governance of the colleges as tertiary institutions and to ensure that second cycle cultural practices are eschewed. Keywords: Organisational Culture, Colleges of Education, Cultural Practices, Tertiary Status DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-13-01 Publication date:June 30th 202

How an understanding of our ability to adhere to verbal rules can increase insight into (mal)adaptive functioning in chronic pain

Research on chronic pain has traditionally focused on how direct pain experiences lead to maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and actions that set the stage for, and maintain, pain-related disability. Yet the capacity for language (and more specifically verbal instructions or rules) to put people into indirect contact with pain has never been systematically investigated. In this article, we introduce a novel theoretical perspective on verbal processes and discuss how the study of verbal rules may increase our understanding of both maladaptive and adaptive functioning in chronic pain. Several useful characteristics of verbal rules and rule-following in the context of chronic pain are outlined. Future research directions and implications for clinical practice are then discussed. Perspective: This focus article argues that, by studying verbal rules and rule-following, we will gain a better understanding of (mal)adaptive functioning in the context of chronic pain. Future research directions are outlined and suggestions for improving clinical practice are considered

The rule-based insensitivity effect : a systematic review

Background. Adherence to inaccurate rules has been viewed as a characteristic of human rule-following (i.e., the rule-based insensitivity effect; RBIE) and has been thought to be exacerbated in individuals suffering from clinical conditions. This review intended to systematically examine these claims in adult populations. Methodology. We screened 1464 records which resulted in 21 studies that were deemed eligible for inclusion. Each of these studies was examined to determine: (1) if there is evidence for the RBIE in adults and (2) if this effect is larger in those suffering from psychological problems compared to their non-suffering counterparts. In addition, we investigated how (3) different operationalizations of the RBIE, and (4) the external validity and risks of bias of the experimental work investigating this effect, might influence the conclusions that can be drawn from the current systematic review. Results. (1) Out of the 20 studies that were relevant for examining if evidence exists for the RBIE in adults, only 11 were eligible for vote counting. Results showed that after the contingency change, the rule groups were more inclined to demonstrate behavior that was reinforced before the change, compared to their non-instructed counterparts. Critically, however, none of these studies examined if their no-instructions group was an adequate comparison group. As a result, this made it difficult to determine whether the effects that were observed in the rule groups could be attributed to the rules or instructions that were manipulated in those experiments. (2) The single study that was relevant for examining if adults suffering from psychological problems demonstrated larger levels of the RBIE, compared to their non-clinical counterparts, was not eligible for vote counting. As a result, no conclusions could be drawn about the extent to which psychological problems moderated the RBIE in that study. (3) Similar procedures and tasks have been used to examine the RBIE, but their precise parameters differ across studies; and (4) most studies report insufficient information to evaluate all relevant aspects affecting their external validity and risks of bias. Conclusions. Despite the widespread appeal that the RBIE has enjoyed, this systematic review indicates that, at present, only preliminary evidence exists for the idea that adults demonstrate the RBIE and no evidence is available to assume that psychological problems exacerbate the RBIE in adults

Task interference and distraction efficacy in patients with fibromyalgia: an experimental investigation

Pain has the capacity to interfere with daily tasks. Although task interference by pain is largely unintentional, it can be controlled to a certain extent. Such top-down control over pain has been thought to be reduced in fibromyalgia patients. In this study, we investigated task interference and distraction efficacy in fibromyalgia patients (FM) and a matched healthy control group. Forty-nine fibromyalgia patients and 49 heathy volunteers performed as quickly as possible (a) a visual localization task in the presence of non-painful vibrating or painful electric somatic stimuli, and (b) a somatosensory localization task (using non-painful or painful stimuli). Participants reported on their experience of the somatic stimuli on some of the trials during both localisation tasks. Results indicated that pain interferes with performance of the visual task, in both FM patients and healthy individuals. Furthermore, participants experienced the pain stimulus as less intense when directing attention away from the pain than when focusing on the pain. Overall, task performance of FM patients was slower compared to the task performance in the healthy control group. In contrast to our hypotheses, FM patients and healthy volunteers did not differ in the magnitude of the interference effect and distraction-efficacy. In conclusion, current study provides support for contemporary theories claiming that attention modulates the experience of pain and vice versa. However, no evidence was however found for an altered attentional processing of pain in fibromyalgia patients. Furthermore, results indicate that task interference and distraction-efficacy are not just two sides of the same coin

Design and Fabrication of Metal Key Holders and Cufflinks as Souvenirs for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

This study explored how to merge creativity in design with the Crest of KNUST to design and fabricate quality metal key holder and cufflink as souvenirs for KNUST. Based on the assumption that the various KNUST souvenirs seem to be limited in design and therefore lack creativity and variety, which limit the option of those purchasing. In executing the study, the philosophical underpinnings of the crest of KNUST was brought to bear. The study employed aesthetics and studio- based research methods under qualitative research approach to design and fabricate quality metal key holder and cufflinks to be used as souvenirs for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. By using the Gestalt theory of design, which is concerned with the relationship between the parts and the whole of a composition, the researchers carefully select parts of the emblem of KNUST to design and fabricate a key holder and a cufflinks. Metal working techniques such as chasing and repoussé, fording and piercing were used to these souvenirs for KNUST.  The researchers made use of the various tools and machinery available at the various studios of Meta T l Product Section of Industrial Art Department, KNUST. These included the milling studio, 4th Year production studio where all the piercing vices, drilling machines, stakes and soldering turntable are made available and finally the forging studio where brass scraps were melted into ingot. Results of the study revealed that by adopting the fundamental processes such as idea development, forming processes, joining processes and finishing processes coupled with the fact that local metal scraps are used, underpin the argument that producing quality and professional metal souvenirs can be done here in Ghana to meet any standard elsewhere. This shows that other metal products could be produced as souvenirs for KNUST. After carefully observing some souvenirs of KNUST and other institutions of higher learning, unique designs based on the emblem of KNUST can be done. Keywords: fabricate, Gestalt, key holder, cufflinks, souvenirs, chasing and repousse. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/83-01 Publication date:July 31st 202