The effects of a school intervention on year 10 students : a cognitive and attitudinal perspective : thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Education (Guidance)

This study examined the effectiveness of a school's new intervention called The Diploma Programme, which aimed to increase academic achievement by encouraging students to develop into self-regulated learners. The programme monitored and rewarded the study skills punctuality and attendance, social co-operation, class-work and homework completion, and bringing correct equipment, by awarding credits towards a diploma. Participants were 33 self-selected Year 10 students who were placed in three groups based on the Year 10 PAT reading comprehension class percentiles. A questionnaire administered before The Diploma Programme and at the end of the school year, examined students' self-reported changes in study skills, as well as in the attitudinal factors academic motivation, locus of control, and self-efficacy. Diploma credits were also examined for significant difference over the year, within and between the three groups. Results indicated that The Diploma Programme was initially effective in encouraging study skills across reading skill levels, but dropped in effectiveness over the year. Results also indicated that while reading skill level influences both study skills and academic achievement, the internal locus of control factor 'effort' can modify levels of performance. The group with high reading skills achieved the highest academically, tended to use the most study skills and to exhibit the highest levels of academic self-efficacy. However, the group with low reading skills, who reported using more 'effort' than the other groups, achieved higher academically and tended to use more study skills by the end of the year than the group with moderate reading skills. Recommendations made to develop and maintain the effectiveness of The Diploma Programme over the year included changes within The Diploma Programme, as well as changes in classrooms and the wider school

Predictive Variables for Success on Licensure Examinations for Practical and Registered Nursing Education Graduates

The purpose of this action research was to examine the relationships of demographic and academic variables to student performance in a laddered practical nursing (PN) and registered nursing (RN) education program. The information gained may be utilized to establish research-based admission, progression and graduation criteria to promote students successful completion of the program and pass the nurse licensure examination. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data related to the variables that were measured. Pearson correlations and regression analyses were used to examine various relationships and determine which of the admission demographic and academic variables were related to, or predictive of successful musing program performance. The t test was also used to compare mean scores of RN graduates who passed with those who failed the licensure exam. Predictive relationships that were found to exist in the PN sample between: (1) the American College Test (ACT) comprehensive score and Sandra Smith’s NCLEX Practical Nurse / Vocational Nurse (PN/VN) Assessment Test, graduation nursing grade point average (GPA) and cumulative graduation GPA outcomes; (2) age of the student and Sandra Smith PN/VN Assessment Test and graduation nursing GPA outcomes; and (3) admission GPA and the graduation nursing and cumulative GPAs. Since all of the 120 PN graduates passed the licensure exam on the first attempt, no changes for GPA requirements were suggested. It was recommended the ACT comprehensive score be considered as an admission screening criterion in addition to GPA. The RN sample (N = 93) had 78.5% pass the licensure exam and 21.5% failed. Predictive positive relationships in the RN sample were between: (1) admission cumulative and both the graduation nursing and cumulative GPA outcomes; and (2) admission nursing GPA and graduation nursing GPA. A low, inverse relationship existed between age and cum graduation GPA. Graduates who passed the licensure test had significantly higher admission nursing GPAs and Health Education Systems Incorporated Exit Exam scores than those who failed. Recommendations made from these findings were to consider increasing the cumulative and nursing GPAs for admission to the RN program and continue use of the HESI Exit Exam an assessment of preparedness to take the licensure exam

Barriers to Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Guideline Recommendations.

National guidelines recommend that providers counsel all patients with sickle cell anemia about hydroxyurea (HU) therapy and screen children with sickle cell anemia annually for the risk of stroke with transcranial Doppler (TCD). We surveyed a national convenience sample of sickle cell disease clinicians to assess factors associated with low adherence. Adherence was 46% for TCD screening. Low adherence was associated with a lack of outcome expectancy (eg, a belief that there would be poor patient follow-up to TCD testing; P < .05). Adherence was 72% for HU counseling. Practice barriers (eg, lack of support staff or time) and a lack of agreement with HU recommendations were associated with low adherence (P < .05). This study demonstrates that different types of strategies are needed to improve TCD screening (to address follow-up and access to testing) versus HU counseling (to address physician agreement and practice barriers)

Research into the efficacy of the New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Recording Scheme and the integration of archaeologists' knowledge into planning processes - with reference to the Kaikoura District and the typological debate

This research project has examined three aspects of archaeological resource management in New Zealand. The New Zealand Archaeological Association Site Recording Scheme is the national database for archaeological site information, and is often utilised by planning officers in the creation of district plans. Using a selection of sites from the Kaikoura District, an archaeological field survey and assessment was conducted in June 2005. The resulting data was used to facilitate an analysis of the accuracy of the data contained within the site record files. The Kaikoura District was chosen for analysis due to the convenience of a wide range of sites within a contained area, and due to a request on part of the local iwi, District Council officers for assistance in the upgrading of their provisions for the protection of archaeological sites. An analysis was done on the Kaikoura District Plan, currently still in the proposal stage. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are enjoying more prominence in archaeology as the technology becomes easier to use. To aid in the analysis of the Site Recording Scheme, each site was mapped with GPS and the information imported into a GIS program. This information was also incorporated into a discussion on the issue of typology, and the question of 'what is a site?'. These issues are relevant to both the Site Recording Scheme and the use of archaeologists' knowledge in planning processes. The findings of this research showed that the Kaikoura District Plan is strong on paper, but the fact that the archaeological information has been badly incorporated into the provisions means that protection will be lacking. Two problems arise with the Site Recording Scheme, the first is that many of the sites have only been recorded once, and this often in the 1960s when the scheme was first begun. The second problem relates to that of typology; because of the nature of archaeological sites, many require more than one type to fully describe what the site is. This poses problems for the integration of archaeologists' knowledge into the planning process, as planning officers and other stakeholders require more definite identification. Having two or more site types, combined with grid references that only indicate the presence of an archaeological site may lead to confusion which will make the protection of these features more difficult. It was suggested that in the future, a set procedure should be put in place to ensure continuity in the way in which grid references are created. Clearly, the Kaikoura District Plan would benefit most from a clearer understanding of the archaeological knowledge it employs, as well as an appreciation of the values of these archaeological sites. The question of typology will continue to be a problem, it will be most important for archaeologists and planners alike to make it clear what sort of typology they are following, and to outline their reasons for its use

The interaction of some halogenated anaesthetic agents with hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes

Bibliography: pages 183-200.This thesis comprises a report of investigations into the interaction of the volatile anaesthetic agents, fluroxene, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ethyl ether(TFEE), methoxyflurane and enflurane, with hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in vivo and in vitro. Each of the anaesthetic agents interacts with the type P-450 cytochromes of hepatic microsomes in vitro resulting in the appearance of a type I difference spectrum, enhancement of NADPH oxidation and production of potentially toxic metabolites, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) (from fluroxene and TFEE) and free fluoride ion (from methoxyflurane and enflurane)

SABER Observations of the OH Meinel Airglow Variability Near the Mesopause

The Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument, one of four on board the TIMED satellite, observes the OH Meinel emission at 2.0 m that peaks near the mesopause. The emission results from reactions between members of the oxygen and hydrogen chemical families that can be significantly affected by mesopause dynamics. In this study we compare SABER measurements of OH Meinel emission rates and temperatures with predictions from a 3-dimensional chemical dynamical model. In general, the model is capable of reproducing both the observed diurnal and seasonal OH Meinel emission variability. The results indicate that the diurnal tide has a large effect on the overall magnitude and temporal variation of the emission in low latitudes. This tidal variability is so dominant that the seasonal cycle in the nighttime emission depends very strongly on the local time of the analysis. At higher latitudes, the emission has an annual cycle that is due mainly to transport of oxygen by the seasonally reversing mean circulation

Enhancing Indigenous content in arts curricula through service learning with Indigenous communities

Executive summary At the heart of this project has been the desire to enhance the way in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content is embedded in higher education arts curricula. It comes at a time when higher education institutions are facing growing pressure to make curriculum content more representative of and responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. In response, many Australian universities have established formal initiatives to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and intercultural competency across the curriculum. This has taken the form of policies and reconciliation action plans, community engagement initiatives, networks and councils of Elders. Despite the proliferation of such initiatives, the incorporation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into higher education curricula and cultures remains a challenging political, social and practical task. This project has sought to address this challenging task by positioning arts based service learning (ABSL) as a strategy through which Australian higher education institutions can promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content for students in ways that also directly support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Impact of Household Income on Poverty Levels

The relationship between poverty and household income is an important political topic concerning a country's economy. This study tests the commonly held theory that poverty and household income are negatively correlated. This analysis uses county-level data in the United States in 2013. The simple regression model looks at median household income's effect on total poverty in each county. Then, we added the independent variables: total unemployment, population, and total number of people with less than a high school education. After finding that poverty and household income appeared to be positively correlated, even with these control variables, we then added two dummy variable to test if there was a significant difference in our finding between urban, suburban, and rural counties