A Comparative Analysis of Economics Graduates\u27 Learning Styles and Critical Thinking Skills

We report on the results of a two-phase survey aiming to explore the learning preferences and critical thinking skills of graduates in economics, compare the findings with graduates of other disciplines, and identify the determinant dimensions of their developed learning and thinking skills. Kolb\u27 LSIv3, Honey and Mumford\u27s LSQ-80-item, and CCTST Form B have been utilized and results show significant differences: in some dimensions of learning styles; in some scales of critical thinking skills; processing and transforming of information and experience to be the most common determinant dimension in student learning; the use of student active-learning modes to be the determinant of critical thinking skills development; the use of teaching methods to have an impact on learning but their impact on critical thinking is not documented, albeit a further exploration yields indications that need further research

A Comparative Analysis of Economics Graduates\u27 Learning Attitudes: Implications for Teaching

We report on the results of a two-phase survey aiming to explore the learning preferences of graduates in economics, compare the findings with graduates in other disciplines, and identify the determinant dimensions of their developed learning preferences. Economics graduates are compared against business administration, engineering, accounting-finance-banking, trading-maritime-marketing, maths-stats-informatics, and public administration graduates. A group of miscellaneous graduates is also included for graduates not-classifiable in the aforementioned groups. Kolb\u27s LSIv3 has been utilized in identifying student learning styles. First-phase sample consists of 288 graduates and second-phase sample consists of 496 graduates. All these graduates attended post-graduate programs classes at nine Greek major universities. Both samples are relatively balanced as regards gender participation with a small female prevalence over males. Results show assimilating types to be the prevailing group, followed by converging, diverging, and accommodating types for both phases. Economics graduates are predominantly assimilators, while significant differences are found mainly in the perceiving dimension of learning ((AC-CE) dimension in Kolb\u27s model) between them and same learning style type graduates in other disciplines. A grid presentation of individual scores for all participants reveals a higher concentration of assimilating types for the second phase sample, while accommodating types are in relative scarcity in both phases. Factor analyses reveal that processing and transforming of information and experience into knowledge ((AE-RO) dimension in Kolb\u27s model) is the most significant determinant dimension in student learning for all groups of graduates for both phases. Overall, results have implications for teaching of economics. The impact of selecting and implementing teaching strategies based on lectures is discussed and we argue in favor of active student engagement in the teaching-learning procedure. Finally, we put forward some propositions for further research

New Zealand contributions to the global earthquake model’s earthquake consequences database (GEMECD)

The Global Earthquake Model’s (GEM) Earthquake Consequences Database (GEMECD) aims to develop, for the first time, a standardised framework for collecting and collating geocoded consequence data induced by primary and secondary seismic hazards to different types of buildings, critical facilities, infrastructure and population, and relate this data to estimated ground motion intensity via the USGS ShakeMap Atlas. New Zealand is a partner of the GEMECD consortium and to-date has contributed with 7 events to the database, of which 4 are localised in the South Pacific area (Newcastle 1989; Luzon 1990; South of Java 2006 and Samoa Islands 2009) and 3 are NZ-specific events (Edgecumbe 1987; Darfield 2010 and Christchurch 2011). This contribution to GEMECD represented a unique opportunity for collating, comparing and reviewing existing damage datasets and harmonising them into a common, openly accessible and standardised database, from where the seismic performance of New Zealand buildings can be comparatively assessed. This paper firstly provides an overview of the GEMECD database structure, including taxonomies and guidelines to collect and report on earthquake-induced consequence data. Secondly, the paper presents a summary of the studies implemented for the 7 events, with particular focus on the Darfield (2010) and Christchurch (2011) earthquakes. Finally, examples of specific outcomes and potentials for NZ from using and processing GEMECD are presented, including: 1) the rationale for adopting the GEM taxonomy in NZ and any need for introducing NZ-specific attributes; 2) a complete overview of the building typological distribution in the Christchurch CBD prior to the Canterbury earthquakes and 3) some initial correlations between the level and extent of earthquake-induced physical damage to buildings, building safety/accessibility issues and the induced human casualtie

Seismic vulnerability assessment: Methodological elements and applications to the case of Romania

This paper is intended to present some studies undertaken in order to develop a seismic vulnerability estimation system to fit the needs of development of earthquake scenarios and of development of an integrated disaster risk management system for Romania. Methodological aspects are dealt with, in connection with the criteria of categorization of buildings, with the definition of parameters used for characterizing vulnerability, with the setting up of an inventory of buildings and with the calibration of parameters characterizing vulnerability. Action was initiated along the coordinates referred to in connection with the methodological aspects mentioned above. The approach was made, as far as possible, specific to the conditions of Romania. Some data on results obtained to date are presented.seismic vulnerability, vulnerability estimation, earthquake scenarios, categorization of buildings, inventory of buildings, expected earthquake impact

Implications of the 2011 Great East Japan Tsunami on sea defence design

After the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, much of the world's effort to defend against tsunami concentrated on tsunami warning and evacuation. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami led to direct and indirect losses as well as the deaths of many vulnerable members of Japan's coastal communities. This event has resulted in Japan rethinking and revising its design codes for sea defence structures. The new guidance emerging from this process is a valuable resource for other countries re-evaluating their own current mitigation strategies and this paper presents details of this process. The paper starts with the history of sea defence design standards in Japan and explains the process of revision of design guidelines since 2011. Examples of sea defences that failed and have since been rebuilt, observed during the two Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) missions of 2011 and 2013, are also presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of international approaches and their application to nuclear power stations in Japan and the UK

Tsunami design procedures for engineered buildings: A critical review

Tsunamis have the potential to cause enormous loss of life and socio-economic impacts on coastal communities. Central to tsunami risk mitigation is the protection of critical infrastructure and evacuation-designated buildings, which are often necessarily located within tsunami inundation zones. As such, these must be designed to withstand and remain fully or partially operational after a tsunami. Guidance documents for tsunami design of buildings exist in the USA and Japan, including the recent release of the US ASCE 7 chapter 6 on tsunami loads and effects. This paper outlines the key engineering principles of tsunami design of buildings, summarises and compares how these principles are addressed by US and Japanese standards, and outlines considerations not yet covered

Using rapid damage observations for Bayesian updating of hurricane vulnerability functions: A case study of Hurricane Dorian using social media

Rapid impact assessments immediately after disasters are crucial to enable rapid and effective mobilization of resources for response and recovery efforts. These assessments are often performed by analysing the three components of risk: hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Vulnerability curves are often constructed using historic insurance data or expert judgments, reducing their applicability for the characteristics of the specific hazard and building stock. Therefore, this paper outlines an approach to the creation of event-specific vulnerability curves, using Bayesian statistics (i.e., the zero-one inflated beta distribution) to update a pre-existing vulnerability curve (i.e., the prior) with observed impact data derived from social media. The approach is applied in a case study of Hurricane Dorian, which hit the Bahamas in September 2019. We analysed footage shot predominantly from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other airborne vehicles posted on YouTube in the first 10 days after the disaster. Due to its Bayesian nature, the approach can be used regardless of the amount of data available as it balances the contribution of the prior and the observations

Development of a Nationwide Seismic Vulnerability Estimation System

This paper is intended to present some studies undertaken in order to develop a seismic vulnerability estimation system to fit the needs of development of earthquake scenarios and of development of an integrated disaster risk management system for Romania. Methodological aspects are dealt with, in connection with the criteria of categorization of buildings, with the definition of parameters used for characterizing vulnerability, with the setting up of an inventory of buildings and with the calibration of parameters characterizing vulnerability. Action was initiated along the coordinates referred to in connection with the methodological aspects mentioned above. The approach was made, as far as possible, specific to the conditions of Romania. Some data on results obtained to date are presented

Development of a Nationwide Seismic Vulnerability Estimation System

This paper is intended to present some studies undertaken in order to develop a seismic vulnerability estimation system to fit the needs of development of earthquake scenarios and of development of an integrated disaster risk management system for Romania. Methodological aspects are dealt with, in connection with the criteria of categorization of buildings, with the definition of parameters used for characterizing vulnerability, with the setting up of an inventory of buildings and with the calibration of parameters characterizing vulnerability. Action was initiated along the coordinates referred to in connection with the methodological aspects mentioned above. The approach was made, as far as possible, specific to the conditions of Romania. Some data on results obtained to date are presented