32 research outputs found

    Developing Young Adolescents’ Psychological Need Satisfaction: A Feasibility Study of a Pupil-Focused Intervention in Secondary Schools

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    Education-based interventions traditionally focus on the teacher to better support pupils’ motivation. Grounded in self-determination theory, the study investigates the feasibility of a pupil-focused intervention to help pupils become more active in their search for basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS). Focus groups and a two week pupil completed diary-log were administered with 22 UK secondary school pupils from Years 7 and 8 (aged 11-13 years; 45% male, 55% female) and 12 teachers (42% male, 58% female). Despite perceived value from teachers, a written diary-log appeared to be ineffective in engaging pupils. Pupil-focused initiatives may benefit from support sessions to provide guidance on pupils’ reflections, should be incorporated into normal school practices with a showcase event, and be designed in an interactive electronic format. The study offers theoretical considerations regarding pupils’ intrapsychic experience of motivation, and provides teacher and pupil insights into the practicalities of conducting pupil-focused interventions based upon BPNS

    Trajectories in cognitive engagement, fatigue, and school achievement: The role of young adolescents' psychological need satisfaction

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    The study investigates whether between-person differences in school-based psychological need satisfaction may explain trajectories in cognitive engagement, fatigue, and academic attainment over a school year. A sample of 361 young adolescents in the United Kingdom (mean age = 11.89 years; 55 % male, 45 % female) completed self-report measures of psychological need satisfaction, cognitive engagement, and cognitive fatigue on four occasions. Official school grades for English and Maths were collected. Hierarchical growth modelling revealed that pupils higher in psychological need satisfaction reported stable levels of cognitive engagement and lower fatigue. Pupils lower in psychological need satisfaction displayed declining levels of cognitive engagement and consistently higher fatigue. All pupils showed increases in school grades, yet higher psychological need satisfaction was related to greater gains. These trends existed when controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and learning needs. The findings offer temporal insights into the role of school-based psychological needs in fostering cognitive engagement at school

    Autonomy and Competence Frustration in Young Adolescent Classrooms: Different Associations with Active and Passive Disengagement

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    Few studies have attempted to identify distinct psychological correlates of different forms of classroom disengagement. Drawing from basic psychological needs theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), this study investigated two divergent mechanisms predicting active and passive classroom disengagement. Pupils (N= 647; age = 11–14 years) and their respective teachers completed a questionnaire measuring the study variables. Using structural equation modelling, pupils’ perceptions of teacher psychological control positively predicted pupils’ autonomy and competence frustration in class. Pupils’ competence frustration indirectly and positively associated with teacher-rated passive disengagement (e.g. daydreaming in class), via reduced feelings of vitality. Pupils’ autonomy frustration demonstrated positive associations with both active disengagement (e.g. talking and making noise) and passive disengagement but neither relationship was explained by feelings of vitality. These distinct mechanisms may have implications for educators, identifying potential causes of different forms of pupil disengagement and the importance of avoiding psychological control in classrooms

    Diagnosis and Management of Iliac Artery Endofibrosis: Results of a Delphi Consensus Study

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    Objective Iliac endofibrosis is a rare condition that may result in a reduction of blood flow to the lower extremity in young, otherwise healthy individuals. The data to inform everyday clinical management are weak and therefore a Delphi consensus methodology was used to explore areas of consensus and disagreement concerning the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected iliac endofibrosis. Methods A three-round Delphi questionnaire approach was used among vascular surgeons, sports physicians, sports scientists, radiologists, and clinical vascular scientists with experience of treating this condition to explore diagnosis and clinical management issues for patients with suspected iliac artery endofibrosis. Analysis is based on 18 responses to round 2 and 14 responses to round 3, with agreement reported when 70% of respondents were in agreement. Results Initially there was agreement on the typical symptoms at presentation and the need for an exercise test in the diagnosis. Round 3 clarified that duplex ultrasound was a useful tool in the diagnosis of endofibrosis. There was consensus on the most appropriate type of surgery (endarterectomy and vein patch) and that endovascular interventions were inadvisable. The final round helped to inform aspects of the natural history and post-operative surveillance. Progression of the disease was likely with continued exercise but cessation may prevent progression. Surveillance after surgery is generally recommended yearly with at least a clinical assessment. Conclusions There is broad agreement about the presenting symptoms and the investigations required to confirm (or exclude) the diagnosis of iliac endofibrosis. There was consensus on the surgical approach to repair. Disagreement existed about the specific diagnostic criteria that should be applied during non-invasive testing and about post-operative care and resumption of exercise

    Pilot testing of a sampling methodology for assessing seed attachment propensity and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires

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    Land managers of natural areas are under pressure to balance demands for increased recreation access with protection of the natural resource. Unintended dispersal of seeds by visitors to natural areas has high potential for weedy plant invasions, with initial seed attachment an important step in the dispersal process. Although walking and mountain biking are popular nature-based recreation activities there are few studies quantifying propensity for seed attachment and transport rate on boot soles and none for bike tires. Attachment and transport rate can potentially be affected by a wide range of factors for which field testing can be time-consuming and expensive. We pilot tested a sampling methodology for measuring seed attachment and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires traversing a known quantity and density of a seed analog (beads) over different distances and soil conditions. We found % attachment rate on boot soles was much lower overall than previously reported but that boot soles had a higher propensity for seed attachment than bike tires in almost all conditions. We believe our methodology offers a cost-effective option for researchers seeking to manipulate and test effects of different influencing factors on these two dispersal vectors

    Industrial democracy in Australia: a comparative view.

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    Science and cycling: current knowledge and future directions for research.

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    In this holistic review of cycling science, the objectives are: (1) to identify the various human and environmental factors that influence cycling power output and velocity; (2) to discuss, with the aid of a schematic model, the often complex interrelationships between these factors; and (3) to suggest future directions for research to help clarify how cycling performance can be optimized, given different race disciplines, environments and riders. Most successful cyclists, irrespective of the race discipline, have a high maximal aerobic power output measured from an incremental test, and an ability to work at relatively high power outputs for long periods. The relationship between these characteristics and inherent physiological factors such as muscle capilliarization and muscle fibre type is complicated by inter-individual differences in selecting cadence for different race conditions. More research is needed on high-class professional riders, since they probably represent the pinnacle of natural selection for, and physiological adaptation to, endurance exercise. Recent advances in mathematical modelling and bicycle-mounted strain gauges, which can measure power directly in races, are starting to help unravel the interrelationships between the various resistive forces on the bicycle (e.g. air and rolling resistance, gravity). Interventions on rider position to optimize aerodynamics should also consider the impact on power output of the rider. All-terrain bicycle (ATB) racing is a neglected discipline in terms of the characterization of power outputs in race conditions and the modelling of the effects of the different design of bicycle frame and components on the magnitude of resistive forces. A direct application of mathematical models of cycling velocity has been in identifying optimal pacing strategies for different race conditions. Such data should, nevertheless, be considered alongside physiological optimization of power output in a race. An even distribution of power output is both physiologically and biophysically optimal for longer ( > 4 km) time-trials held in conditions of unvarying wind and gradient. For shorter races (e.g. a 1 km time-trial), an 'all out' effort from the start is advised to 'save' time during the initial phase that contributes most to total race time and to optimize the contribution of kinetic energy to race velocity. From a biophysical standpoint, the optimum pacing strategy for road time-trials may involve increasing power in headwinds and uphill sections and decreasing power in tailwinds and when travelling downhill. More research, using models and direct power measurement, is needed to elucidate fully how much such a pacing strategy might save time in a real race and how much a variable power output can be tolerated by a rider. The cyclist's diet is a multifactorial issue in itself and many researchers have tried to examine aspects of cycling nutrition (e.g. timing, amount, composition) in isolation. Only recently have researchers attempted to analyse interrelationships between dietary factors (e.g. the link between pre-race and in-race dietary effects on performance). The thermal environment is a mediating factor in choice of diet, since there may be competing interests of replacing lost fluid and depleted glycogen during and after a race. Given the prevalence of stage racing in professional cycling, more research into the influence of nutrition on repeated bouts of exercise performance and training is required

    Comparing cycling world hour records, 1967-1996: modeling with empirical data.

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    To break the current world hour record, field measurements and the model indicate that a cyclist would have to deliver over 440 W for 1 h at sea level, or correspondingly less at altitude. The optimal elevation for future hour record attempts is predicted to be about 2500 m for acclimatized riders and 2000 m for unacclimatized riders
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