Self-Efficacy and Use of Electronic Information as Predictors of Academic Performance

Abstract Students’ ability to find and retrieve information effectively is a transferable skill useful for their future life as well as enabling the positive and successful use of the electronic resources while at school. It is a known fact in this digital era that any student at the higher level who intends to better achieve and go further in academics should have the ability to explore the digital environment. Students are increasingly expected to use electronic information resources while at the university. Research was undertaken to determine the level of influence of self-efficacy and the use of electronic information resources on students’ academic performance. This study examined self-efficacy and the use of electronic information as predictors of academic performance. Its participants were comprised of 700 students (undergraduate and postgraduate) randomly drawn from seven departments in the faculty of education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Data on the study was collected through the Morgan-Jinks (1999) academic self-efficacy scale and the use of the electronic information scale (UEIS) with r = 0.75. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. The results indicate that self-efficacy and the use of electronic information jointly predict and contribute to academic performance; that respondents with high self-efficacy make better use of electronic information and have better academic performance; that a correlation exists among self-efficacy, use of electronic information and academic performance; and that the use of electronic information influenced respondents\u27 performance in General Education subjects more than other subjects. Finally, the results reveal that the Internet is the electronic information source students access for information most often. Implications of these results and recommendations are discussed

Happiness and the Human Development Index : the paradox of Australia

According to the well-being measure known as the U.N. Human Development Index, Australia now ranks 3rd in the world and higher than all other English-speaking nations. This paper questions that assessment. It reviews work on the economics of happiness, considers implications for policymakers, and explores where Australia lies in international subjective well-being rankings. Using new data on approximately 50,000 randomly sampled individuals from 35 nations, the paper shows that Australians have some of the lowest levels of job satisfaction in the world. Moreover, among the sub-sample of English-speaking nations, where a common language should help subjective measures to be reliable, Australia performs poorly on a range of happiness indicators. The paper discusses this paradox. Our purpose is not to reject HDI methods, but rather to argue that much remains to be understood in this area

Post-operative results of tricuspid annuloplasty with teflon felt

Background: Surgical treatment of functional tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) with left-sided valvular disease still remains a challenge for the cardiac surgeon. We present our observations and results on the usage of Teflon felt as an economic and easily available option for the management for tricuspid disease with an emphasis on the ease of procedure.Methods: In this study 50 (27 male and 23 female) adult skulls were investigated to determine the type of asterion, its distance from important bony landmarks and also the nearby venous sinuses were measured.Results: Epidemiological data like age, gender, symptomatic status using NYHA class, intraoperative details including the procedure performed, cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp time were noted. Patients’ preoperative echocardiograms, postoperative echocardiograms done at 1 month, 3 month and 6 month and yearly follow ups were made note of. Most of the patients in our study group are in 4th decade of life with slight female preponderance. Tricuspid regurgitation secondary to rheumatic valvular disease involving left sided valves is the most common etiology. The average size of the teflon felt was sized to the standard SJM sizer and sized to 28.56±3.7 mm. The average CPB time is 138 min 19 sec and average cross clamp time 89 min 14 sec. Five patients had postoperative RV dysfunction out of which three patients recovered with medical management. Overall in-hospital mortality in our study group is 6 (8%). 3 of them died due to low cardiac output, two patients due to sepsis and MODS and one due to bleeding.Conclusions: Annuloplasty with customised hard teflon felt is a safe, easily reproducible, economic alternative with good results and less mortality and morbidity

The Emerging Aversion to Inequality: Evidence from Poland 1992-2005

This paper provides an illustration of the changing tolerance for inequality in a context of radical political and economic transformation and rapid economic growth. We focus on the Polish experience of transition and explore self-declared attitudes of the citizens. Using monthly representative surveys of the population, realized by the Polish poll institute (CBOS) from 1992 to 2005, we identify a structural break in the relation between income inequality and subjective evaluation of well-being. The downturn in the tolerance for inequality (1997) coincides with the increasing distrust of political elites.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64387/1/wp919.pd

Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction secondary to bilateral aberrant vessels and renal stones – case report.

Obstructive uropathy is one of the causes of morbidity and mortality in children because it may lead to renal dysfunction. Pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction secondary to concomitant aberrant vessels and renal stones is uncommon. Method: We describe an adolescent patient with a bilateral obstructive uropathy secondary to renal stones and bilateral aberrant blood vessels crossing the lower poles of the kidneys. Conclusion: Co-existence of aberrant crossing blood vessels and renal stones as a cause of obstructive uropathy in children is rare and when left untreated for a prolonged period of time can lead to chronic kidney disease

Study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of user-driven intervention to prevent aggressive events in psychiatric services

Background People admitted to psychiatric hospitals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia may display behavioural problems. These may require management approaches such as use of coercive practices, which impact the well-being of staff members, visiting families and friends, peers, as well as patients themselves. Studies have proposed that not only patients’ conditions, but also treatment environment and ward culture may affect patients’ behaviour. Seclusion and restraint could possibly be prevented with staff education about user-centred, more humane approaches. Staff education could also increase collaboration between patients, family members and staff, which may further positively affect treatment culture and lower the need for using coercive treatment methods. Methods This is a single-blind, two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial involving 28 psychiatric hospital wards across Finland. Units will be randomised to receive either a staff educational programme delivered by the team of researchers, or standard care. The primary outcome is the incidence of use of patient seclusion rooms, assessed from the local/national health registers. Secondary outcomes include use of other coercive methods (limb restraint, forced injection, and physical restraint), service use, treatment satisfaction, general functioning among patients, and team climate and employee turn-over (nursing staff). Discussion The study, designed in close collaboration with staff members, patients and their relatives, will provide evidence for a co-operative and user-centred educational intervention aiming to decrease the prevalence of coercive methods and service use in the units, increase the functional status of patients and improve team climate in the units. We have identified no similar trials