Investigating the Relatedness of Cloze-Elide Test, Multiple-Choice Cloze Test, and C-test as Measures of Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension ability consists of multiple cognitive processes, and cloze tests have long been claimed to measure this ability as a whole. However, since the introduction of cloze test, different varieties of it have been proposed by the testers. Thus, the present study was an attempt to examine the relatedness of Cloze-Elide test, Multiple-choice (MC) cloze test, and C-test as three different types of cloze procedure used for measuring reading comprehension. To this end, one C-test consisting of four short texts, one fixed ratio (n=7) multiple-choice cloze test, and one cloze-elide test were prepared from reading passages with similar readability levels. The participants of the study were 30 (male &female) freshman university students majoring in English literature. The results of ANOVA test showed that there were not any statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level of significance among the performance of the students on the three tests measuring their reading comprehension. Therefore, it was concluded that against the advocates of each test who claim superiority of it over the other types, these three types of cloze tests in this study assessed the reading comprehension in a similar way. So, the testers can be confident to make use of these tests as reading comprehension tests interchangeably

The effect of nature on social interactions in urban squares (Case study: Squares of Tehran)

One of the issues that have been considered in the urban space is improving the quality of these spaces. Using nature and its elements can play a role in promoting them and this role can be sought in the relationship between man, nature and  identification of nature's effect on artificial environment and their interactions with each other. Because of the importance of urban environments and squares as one of the most important of these spaces and their role in the development of society, the focus is on squares the effect of nature on social interactions and the way nature responds to some psychological needs of human is assessed. In this study, using descriptive analytical design and through library research method, it was proved that vitality and sociability in urban areas, have a significant impact on increasing social interaction and increase of these factors improve urban spaces. Using correlation method, questionnaires and analysis of them using SPSS, it was  concluded that the use of natural space with the appropriate design, has a significant impact on satisfaction, sociability, creating vitality and local identity and ultimately increase of social interactions.Key words: urban space, square, natural space, vitality, sociability, social interactions

Analyzing the effect of nature on social interaction in urban squares (case examples: squares of Tehran)

One of issues that have been considered in the urban environment is improving the quality of these spaces. Enjoying nature and its elements can play a role in promoting them; this role can be searched in the relationship between man, nature and characterization of natural effects on the built environment and their interactions with each other. Because of the importance of urban environments as one of the most important of this space and their role in the development of society, the focus is on squares and the influence of nature on social interactions and how to respond to some psychological needs of human nature is assessed.In this study, using descriptive-analytical study and library method it was confirmed that vitality and sociability in urban areas, have a significant impact on increasing social interaction and increasing these factors improve urban spaces. By using correlation method and questionnaire and their analysis using SPSS software it was concluded that proper use of designed natural space, has a significant impact on satisfaction, socialization, creating vitality and ultimately increase local identity and social interaction.Keywords: Urban Space, Square, Natural Space, Vitality, Sociability, Social interactio

Cognitively Complex Tasks and Individual Differences: Two Influential Factors in Iranian EFL Learners’ Written Text Quality

Robinson’s Cognition Hypothesis and Skehan’s Limited Attentional Capacity Model provide the major impetus for this study. The present article reports the findings of a between-subject factorial experimental research study which explored 1) the effects of increased cognitive task complexity, manipulated through the intentional reasoning demands and number of elements on the lexical and syntactic complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) of EFL writers’ productions; and 2) the joint effects of cognitive task complexity factor and learners’ language learning aptitude (Low vs. High) on the written output. Firstly, we gave Carroll and Sapon’s Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) to 226 participants and then did a random stratification of the low- and high- aptitude learners into three groups. The participants received letter writing tasks with different cognitive complexity levels (low, medium, and high). The findings indicated that increasing cognitive task complexity resulted in significantly higher lexical and syntactic complexity and lower fluency, whereas no significant effect was found on writing accuracy. Moreover, the statistical results revealed no significant interaction effect between task complexity factors and learners’ language aptitude. With regard to the first objective of the study, the findings supported the predictions of Cognition Hypothesis while it is not the case in relation to the second objective of the study

The Differential Effects of Direct and Indirect Corrective Feedback on Impulsive and Reflective EFL Learners’ Writing Accuracy

Given the significant role of corrective feedback and individual differences in the process of foreign language acquisition, in the present study we set out to investigate the effect of direct and indirect corrective feedback on impulsive and reflective EFL learners’ writing accuracy. Sixty learners were selected and randomly assigned to three groups including two experimental groups and one control group. The first experimental group received indirect feedback, the second experimental group received direct feedback, and the control group received no feedback. The instrument employed in this study to determine the impulsivity or reflectivity of the participants was Barratt's impulsiveness scale. Writing accuracy was scored by the scale provided by Karim and Nassaji. The results revealed that both direct and indirect corrective feedbacks were effective in reducing the written errors of all the earners. Moreover, no significant difference was found between direct and indirect corrective feedbacks in terms of increasing writing accuracy. Although there was no significant difference between the impulsive and reflective learners’ performance, the mean scores showed that the latter seemed to benefit more from indirect type of the feedback while their counterparts showed better performance after receiving direct feedback. The findings have implications for EFL teachers and learners

The Role of Audio-visual Aids in General English Classes at Medical University: Reading Comprehension, Attitude, and Motivation (Research Article)

The general consensus on the invaluable contributions of audio-visual materials based on cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) to enhancing the quality of language classes has turned them into indispensable tools which teachers utilize for more effective teaching of different language skills. The primary aim of this study was to explore the effect of audio visual aids on reading skill at university level. The secondary aim was to find out if this change in materials could have any impact on the motivation and attitudes of the students toward English learning. To this end, this quasi-experimental study adopted a pre-test post-test research method. A total of 256 General English university students were divided to experimental (n=184) and control (n=81) groups. The experimental group received audio-visual aids as the treatment while the control group was taught by a conventional text-based method, commonly practiced in General English classes at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). The reading section of preliminary English test (PET) and Gardner’s attitude and motivation test battery (AMTB) were used for data collection. The results of independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney tests revealed that the students provided with audio-visual materials obtained greater reading outcomes and also showed more positive attitudes and higher motivation toward English learning. Thus, our research revealed that the higher productivity and livelihood of reading classes can be tangible even in the in the narrow space of a single university semester

Comparing the early maladaptive schemas of dishonored check prisoners and normal people

Objective: The present research aimed at comparing the early maladaptive schemas of dishonored check prisoners and normal people. Materials and Methods: In this research Cross-Sectional Causal-Comparative method is used. Population of the study was ordinary people and all the financial offenders found guilty by the courts of Maku and Khoy. Sample population is selected using convenience sampling 60 ordinary people and 60 people of the mentioned group. Then both groups answered inventory revised short form Young Schema questionnaire (SQ-SF) and the data analyzed using Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: The results showed that the mean scores of emotional deprivation schema, failure,l emotional inhibition, hyper criticalness of dishonored check prisoners and ordinary people are different (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, recommended to experts and Therapists that to identifying and modifying schemas and incompatible understandings in the dishonored check prisoners by the use of treatments including Schema therapy should be apply in programs their work

Different Task Complexity Factors and Cognitive Individual ‎Differences: The Effects on EFL Writers’ Performance

This study aimed at examining the main and interaction effects of increased intentional reasoning demands, planning time, and also language learning aptitude on syntactic complexity, accuracy, lexical complexity, and fluency (CALF) of 226 EFL learners’ performance on letter writing tasks. The participants were first randomly assigned to three experimental groups to be given a task with differing degrees of reasoning demand (low, medium, and high) to each group. Then, within each reasoning group, we reassigned an equal number of high- and low- aptitude learners to Planning and No-planning groups by random stratified sampling. The results revealed that (a) increasing task complexity with regard to the amount of intentional reasoning demands resulted in greater lexical and syntactic complexity and less fluency while no significant effect was observed on accuracy; (b) increasing task complexity through planning time led to significantly lower syntactic complexity and fluency; (c) reasoning demands and planning time had a significant interaction effect on accuracy; and (d) the interaction effect of language aptitude was significant with neither planning nor reasoning factor, but a three-way interaction effect was found on accuracy. The findings are discussed in relation to cognitive task complexity (CTC) models which were the main impetus for this study

Effect of mindfulness training on reduction of depressive symptoms among students

Background and Objective: In psychotherapy, mindfulness is intended as a mode promotion of self- awareness think to improve well-being. This study was done to determine the effect of mindfulness training on reduction of depressive symptoms among students. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 female students with depressive symptoms were divided into mindfulness training and control groups. Subjects in experimental group received training mindfulness-based stress reduction and the control group did not receive any training. Training was performed eight sessions for experimentl group. Subjects completed the beck depression questionnaire prior and after the training. Results: The mean±SD of depression symptoms was 21.10±5.6 but after mindfulness training significantly reduced to 11.5±3.70 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mindfulness training reduces depression symptoms among female students

Budget impact analysis of breast cancer medications: a systematic review

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer globally among women, with 2,261,419 new cases in 2020; systemic treatment may be neo-adjuvant, adjuvant, or both. BC subtype guides the standard systemic therapy administered, which consists of endocrine therapy for all HR + tumors, trastuzumab-based HER2-directed antibody therapy plus chemotherapy for all HER2 + tumors (with endocrine therapy given in addition, if concurrent HR positivity), and chemotherapy alone for the triple-negative subtype. This study aimed to identify, evaluate, and systematically review all budget impact analyses (BIAs) of BC medications worldwide. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection databases were thoroughly searched up to 26th March 2022 to identify original published studies which evaluate BIA of BC medications. ISPOR Task Force guidelines were used to assess the quality of included studies. This study was conducted and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results In total, 17 BIAs were included in the study. About half of the studies were conducted in Europe. The results of the BIAs showed that most of the included BIAs are conducted from the payer’s perspective; they have different methodological frameworks for recommended chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy agents to treat BC. For the same medications, the results of budgetary effects are not consistent in diverse countries. Nine out of the 17 studies were focused on trastuzumab, in which the biosimilar form reduced costs, but the brand form increased costs, especially in a 52-week treatment period. Conclusion Researchers should conduct the budget impact analysis of high-value medications such as anti-tumor drugs more objectively, and the accuracy of parameters needs to be more strictly guaranteed. Furthermore, it is worthy of declaring that the budgetary impact of the same drug is not always consistent over time, so the researchers should measure access to medication in the long run