Does the Use of Computer-Generated Slide Presentations in the Classroom Affect Student Performance and Interest?

This paper examines how computer-assisted instruction affects students. The use of computer-generated slide presentations in an introductory economics course is examined for potential effects on student performance, student attitudes, and the evaluations of the instructor. Multiple sections of Introductory Economics are used to determine if the use of computer-generated slide presentations has any effect on students in the areas listed above. Control variables used are student ability, gender, classification, and prior exposure to economics. The results indicate that the use of computer-generated slide presentations has no effect on student performance, attitudes, or evaluation of the instructor.Economics; Introductory Economics

How do psychiatrists address delusions in first meetings in acute care? A qualitative study

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Facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: a systematic review of qualitative studies

Pulmonary rehabilitation has short-term benefits on dyspnea, exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD, but evidence suggests these do not always translate to increased daily physical activity on a patient level. This is attributed to a limited understanding of the determinants of physical activity maintenance following pulmonary rehabilitation. This systematic review of qualitative research was conducted to understand COPD patients’ perceived facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation. Electronic databases of published data, non-published data, and trial registers were searched to identify qualitative studies (interviews, focus groups) reporting the facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD. Thematic synthesis of qualitative data was adopted involving line-by-line coding of the findings of the included studies, development of descriptive themes, and generation of analytical themes. Fourteen studies including 167 COPD patients met the inclusion criteria. Seven sub-themes were identified as influential to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation. These included: intentions, self-efficacy, feedback of capabilities and improvements, relationship with health care professionals, peer interaction, opportunities following pulmonary rehabilitation and routine. These encapsulated the facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation and were identified as sub-themes within the three analytical themes, which were beliefs, social support, and the environment. The findings highlight the challenge of promoting physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD and provide complementary evidence to aid evaluations of interventions already attempted in this area, but also adds insight into future development of interventions targeting physical activity maintenance in COPD

Economists as political philosophers : a critique of normative trade theory

Economists are political philosophers. This claim is defended based on an investigation of normative arguments made in economics textbooks. The paper aims to explain, reconstruct and contest the neoclassical vision implicit in mainstream economic trade theory. Analyzing arguments made by international economists from the perspective of political philosophy, I show how the contemporary defence of free markets and trade liberalization is linked to a specific normative ideal of the political and social good.Political philosophy, Neoclassical economics, Normative trade theory, Free trade, Efficienc