Validating the new student evaluation form

In 1997 the University introduced a new module evaluation form. The design of theform differed considerably from the typical 5 point Likert type scoring questionnaireencountered at many institutions. Instead, much greater weight was given toqualitative comments, only two scoring questions were asked instead of the typical15 to 30. Although adoption of this form was voluntary it soon became the standardthroughout the University. The purpose of this project was to reflect on thisexperience both from an institutional and educational point of view. There have beentwo outcomes. Firstly, this work formed the basis of a confidential report to theexternal University Audit team as evidence of the University as an innovative andreflective practitioner. Secondly, two working papers have been written and will beincluded in the School’s working paper series. The titles are: A content analysis ofstudent written comments and From Quantitative to Qualitative Assessment:evaluating student questionnaires of teaching effectiveness. Both papers areavailable from the author. The first paper compares our results with the only knownother study of its kind in the US. The conclusions are that statistical analysis ofcomments provides a clear picture of students’ views on courses with similarities anddifferences in priorities with that of the US study. The second paper records theimmediate reactions of the faculties as gathered by a questionnaire. The paperfurther reflects on the interpretation problems of the numerical and qualitative(comments based) approaches by means of a case study. It is intended to progressthis work, which was unfortunately delayed through staff changes, by publicising itmore widely. To date one paper has been given at a Student Feedback SystemsConference at Loughborough University June 1999 as part of an FDTL projectfunded by HEFCE (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/sd/sfs/aims_and_objectives.html)

Blended learning: out of the lab?

Blended learning is often considered to be too costly to meet teaching in the traditional context. This paper questions such an assertion by examining the outcome and reflecting on the use of HTML and podcasts to replace a single traditional accounting lecture. The context was staff absence due to illness at the very end of a module, but the relevance could equally apply to student absences – can students make up for a missed lecture

Beyond NPV

Net Present Value is a deceptively simple prescription that has dominated academic advice. Discount all expected cash flows at a risk adjusted discount rate and if the result is positive, invest, otherwise do not invest. It is still possible to read the following in textbooks: “NPV considers all of the costs and benefits of each investment opportunity” and “we have seen that NPV is a totally logical way of assessing investment opportunities” and even that it is the academically preferred method. Nowadays, few academics and, we suspect, no practitioners support this view. In this article we present a schema that summarizes the more recent theoretical developments. Their effect is to change the whole approach to investment analysis from just trying to predict expected cash flows to a far more business like analysis of the investment problem. Such is the extent of the change when going beyond NPV that it is something of a puzzle that many accounts still maintain that NPV is a complete answer

Size and emotion or depth and emotion? Evidence, using Matryoshka (Russian) dolls, of children using physical depth as a proxy for emotional charge

Background: The size and emotion effect is the tendency for children to draw people and other objects with a positive emotional charge larger than those with a negative or neutral charge. Here we explored the novel idea that drawing size might be acting as a proxy for depth (proximity).Methods: Forty-two children (aged 3-11 years) chose, from 2 sets of Matryoshka (Russian) dolls, a doll to represent a person with positive, negative or neutral charge, which they placed in front of themselves on a sheet of A3 paper. Results: We found that the children used proximity and doll size, to indicate emotional charge. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with the notion that in drawings, children are using size as a proxy for physical closeness (proximity), as they attempt with varying success to put positive charged items closer to, or negative and neutral charge items further away from, themselves

Social, environmental and psychological factors associated with objective physical activity levels in the over 65s

Objective: To assess physical activity levels objectively using accelerometers in community dwelling over 65 s and to examine associations with health, social, environmental and psychological factors. Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: 17 general practices in Scotland, United Kingdom. Participants: Random sampling of over 65 s registered with the practices in four strata young-old (65–80 years), old-old (over 80 years), more affluent and less affluent groups. Main Outcome Measures: Accelerometry counts of activity per day. Associations between activity and Theory of Planned Behaviour variables, the physical environment, health, wellbeing and demographic variables were examined with multiple regression analysis and multilevel modelling. Results: 547 older people (mean (SD) age 79(8) years, 54% female) were analysed representing 94% of those surveyed. Accelerometry counts were highest in the affluent younger group, followed by the deprived younger group, with lowest levels in the deprived over 80 s group. Multiple regression analysis showed that lower age, higher perceived behavioural control, the physical function subscale of SF-36, and having someone nearby to turn to were all independently associated with higher physical activity levels (R2 = 0.32). In addition, hours of sunshine were independently significantly associated with greater physical activity in a multilevel model. Conclusions: Other than age and hours of sunlight, the variables identified are modifiable, and provide a strong basis for the future development of novel multidimensional interventions aimed at increasing activity participation in later life.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Narratives of self and identity in women's prisons: stigma and the struggle for self-definition in penal regimes

A concern with questions of selfhood and identity has been central to penal practices in women's prisons, and to the sociology of women's imprisonment. Studies of women's prisons have remained preoccupied with women prisoners’ social identities, and their apparent tendency to adapt to imprisonment through relationships. This article explores the narratives of women in two English prisons to demonstrate the importance of the self as a site of meaning for prisoners and the central place of identity in micro-level power negotiations in prisons