Grade Level Differences in the Cognitive, Behavioral, and Physiological Components of Test Anxiety

The capacity to cope with test anxiety that contain high concentrations of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological manifestations, is becoming increasingly important in educational contexts as well as evaluative settings. The developing ability to deal with test anxiety relative to the increasingly strict evaluative practices students encounter points that students’ test anxiety may decline as they move through school years. This study examined three test anxiety components (thoughts, off-task behaviors, and autonomic reactions) with students from 3 public schools in İstanbul, Turkey. Using a diverse sample of elementary (Grade 4; N = 414) and middle (Grade 6; N = 201) school students, grade level differences in these components were investigated. Applying a multivariate approach, significant differences were found in the overall test anxiety, favoring fourth grade students. The results also revealed Grade 4 advantage for off-task behaviors and autonomic reactions, = .014 and = .011, but no grade level differences in the thoughts. Educational implications of the findings are discussed

Calculation method for the determination of the unit costs of fabrics woven in semi-automatic looms in small-sized enterprises

The most basic way of maximizing the profit in small-sized weaving enterprises, which manufacture in a highly competitive environment in textile industry, is to reduce the costs provided that the product manufacturing quality is kept stable. However, as most of the small-sized enterprises in the industry have a workshop-type manufacturing structure on a per order basis, the cost calculation processes are usually conducted based on professional experiences without a specific method. This complicates the cost control and profit maximization in small-sized weaving enterprises. Within this study, the objective was to raise awareness on the significance of proper cost calculation in small-sized weaving enterprises and to propose a basic calculation method for the calculation of unit costs. In addition, the cost calculation method, which was developed considering the requirements of the enterprises within the region, was applied in calculation of the unit costs of “peshtemal” and “scarf” items, which are the most popular woven products in the small-sized weaving enterprises in the region

Test anxiety: do gender and school-level matter?

The study investigated differences in students’ reported overall test anxiety before, during, or after test taking among two school-levels and gender. Differences among three test anxiety components (thoughts, off-task behaviors, and autonomic reactions) were also examined. Participants were 725 primary (349 females, 376 males) and 375 middle (180 females, 195 males) school students from a metropolitan city in Turkey. Turkish students’ reported overall test anxiety declined from primary to middle school, with females showing higher test anxiety throughout school years. Whereas students rated thoughts high, autonomic reactions were rated low; followed by off-task behaviors. Female and male students did not differ in thoughts and autonomic reactions. School-level differences were found in off-task behaviors and autonomic reactions. The pattern of Turkish students’ overall test anxiety derived as a combination of thoughts, off-task behaviors, and autonomic reactions was discussed, and educational implications were offered

Conceptual and procedural angle knowledge: do gender and grade level make a difference?

The study examined differences in students’ conceptual and procedural knowledge of angles among two grades and gender. Participants were 382 sixth and 376 seventh graders from a metropolitan city in Turkey. Turkish students’ conceptual and procedural knowledge of angles declined from sixth to seventh grade. Gender differences were found for procedural knowledge, but not for conceptual knowledge. Since conceptual and procedural knowledge of angles may have significant influences on the essential subsequent topics in geometry, we need to seriously consider the implications of these gender- and grade-related differences and pay attention particularly to males in Grade 7. The patterns of Turkish students’ conceptual and procedural angle knowledge were discussed, and educational implications were offered

The thinking-about-derivative test for undergraduate students: development and validation

Utkun Aydın (MEF Author)Two studies were conducted for the development and validation of a multidimensional test to assess undergraduate students' mathematical thinking about derivative. The first study involved two phases: question generation and refinement of the Thinking-about-Derivative Test (TDT). The second study included four phases as follows: test administration, generalizability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and subgroup validity analysis. Findings suggested that the 30-item multiple-choice TDT, which comprises 6 mathematical thinking aspects, enactive, iconic, algorithmic, algebraic, formal, and axiomatic thinking, demonstrates acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Followed by additional cross-validation studies, the TDT may be a useful tool for mathematics education researchers and mathematicians. Directions for future research and implications for educational practice are discussed.WOS:000365728500005Scopus - Affiliation ID: 60105072Social Sciences Citation IndexQ3ArticleUluslararası işbirliği ile yapılmayan - HAYIRAralık2015YÖK - 2015-1

Comparing the profit margin of textiles woven on a hand loom and automatic loom in the textile industry: Case of Buldan city

The ever-changing senses of consumption and fashion factor in the world have caused an ongoing increase on the demand towards hand woven textiles in recent years. Therefore, the prices of hand woven textiles, where the supply is limited, are on the rise. It is known that Buldan city, one of the centers of hand woven production in Anatolia, has a significant commercial potential in this respect. The purpose of this study is to provide an insight to the industry by comparing the profit margin of products woven in hand looms and automatic looms in textile industry in Buldan city and to raise awareness regarding the importance of production in hand looms. “Scarf”, which is the most produced textile item in Buldan, was preferred in the application study. In the study, the unit costs of the scarves woven with insect silk, floss silk, cotton and linen yarn, which are widely used in production, in hand looms and automatic looms were calculated and the profit margins to be calculated through the average sales prices were compared. At the end of the application study, it was seen that the profit margin of hand woven textiles was almost twice as high as the textiles woven in automatic looms

Bilişüstü Yetiler Envanteri’nin Türkçe’ye Uyarlanması: Geçerlilik Çalışması

This articledescribes a studymeasuringmetacognitionbymeansofthe JuniorMetacognitive Awareness Inventory developed in the USA which was then adapted to be used in Turkey. The survey data from 314 middle school students and 589 tenth grade students were collected in two phases to facilitate both the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Furthermore, the reliability analysis of the scores and convergent, discriminant, and subgroup validity coefficients were examined. Findings suggested that the inventory measures two constructs, namely, the knowledge and regulation of cognition. These results demonstrated that the Turkish version of Jr. MAI is a valid and reliable instrument which may serve as useful in guiding future research aiming to understanding students’ metacognitive awareness.Bu çalışmanın iki amacı vardır. İlki, bilişüstü yeti boyutlarını belirlemek üzere Bilişüstü Yeti Envanteri’ni Türkçeye uyarlamak, ikincisi ise envanterin geçerlik ve güvenirliğini Türk kültüründe test etmektir. Bilişüstü yeti, bireylerin kendi öğrenme yapısını algılama ve kendi öğrenme özelliklerinin farkında olma gibi zihinsel güçlerini kapsamaktadır. Çalışma, farklı sınıf düzeylerinde 314 ilköğretim öğrencisinin bilişüstü yeti puanlarının yer aldığı açımlayıcı faktör analizi ve 589 onuncu sınıf öğrencisinin bilişüstü yeti puanlarının yer aldığı doğrulayıcı faktör analizi olmak üzere iki aşamadan oluşmaktadır. Öğrencilerin bilişüstü yeti puanlarının güvenirlik analizleri yapılmış ve uyuşum, ayırtedici ve altgrup geçerlikleri incelenmiştir. Bulgular, envanterin “Bilişin Bilgisi” ve “Bilişin Düzenlemesi” olmak üzere iki boyuttan oluştuğunu göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar envanterin, öğrencilerin bilişüstü yetilerini ölçmede geçerli ve güvenilir bir araç olduğunu kanıtlamaktadır