Effect of Virtual Reality on Motivation and Achievement of Middle-School Students

The introduction of low-cost hand-held devices has provided K-12 educators with the opportunity to teach using virtual reality (VR). However, the efficacy of VR in K-12 classrooms for teaching and learning has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the influence of virtual reality field trips on middle-school students social studies academic achievement and motivation. The district chosen for the study is in a rural, economically depressed county, where generational poverty persists. However, the district has a history of being an early adopter of technology. Participants included 76 seventh-grade students at two middle schools, who participated in social studies instruction using either the traditional lecture method or a virtual reality system. The virtual reality system used in this study was the Google Expeditions Virtual Reality System, which uses smartphone technology and iBlue Google VR 3-D Glasses. Before and after the instruction was provided, participants were assessed using the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS) and teacher designed social studies test. The results of the two one-way ANCOVAs, demonstrated that students using virtual reality scored significantly higher than students participating in traditional instruction on both their academic achievement and motivation. These findings provide support for the use of virtual reality in middle-school social studies classrooms

The simplicial volume of closed manifolds covered by H^2 x H^2

We compute the value of the simplicial volume for closed, oriented Riemannian manifolds covered by $\mathbb{H}^{2}\times\mathbb{H}^{2}$ explicitly, thus in particular for products of closed hyperbolic surfaces. This gives the first exact value of a nonvanishing simplicial volume for a manifold of nonconstant curvature.Comment: 19 pages; added consequences: Milnor-Wood type inequality, nonexistence of affine structur

Cerebral aneurysm treatment: modern neurovascular techniques.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysm continues to evolve with the development of new technologies. This review provides an overview of the recent major innovations in the neurointerventional space in recent years

A new perspective on word association: how keystroke logging informs strength of word association

For many years, word association (WA) data has informed theories of the mental lexicon by analyzing the words elicited. However, findings are inconsistent and WA research is still waiting for ‘a breakthrough in methodology which can unlock its undoubted potential’ (Schmitt 2010. Researching vocabulary: A vocabulary research manual. Palgrave Macmillan, 248). In this paper, we offer a new perspective on WA by using keystroke logging (Inputlog, Leijten & Van Waes 2013. Keystroke logging in writing research: Using Inputlog to analyze and visualize writing processes. Written Communication 30(3). 358–92. Online: www.inputlog.net/description.html) to captures the processes of word production. More specifically, we analyze pause behavior during a continued, typed, word association task with 30 cue words eliciting 4 responses, per cue, to evaluate the strength of links in lexical selection processes. We show a strong positive correlation between pause length and inter-response location, providing empirical evidence which supports the established hypothesis that as more responses are elicited, links between them become weaker. Furthermore, using Fitzpatrick's response classification (2007. Word association patterns: unpacking the assumptions. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 17(3). 319–31), we found meaning-based responses were most common in the dataset generally, but, they particularly occurred after longer pauses, and exclusively so after the longest pauses. Position and form-based responses, whilst less frequent overall, typically followed the shortest pauses. In our conclusion we highlight the importance of our methodology in fine-tuning ongoing understanding of how we access the mental lexicon

Airline Customer Satisfaction 2015-2017 Results

Previous research on perceptions, satisfaction, and attitudes regarding the major commercial air carriers in the United States has provided little more than an interesting descriptive representation of the average air traveler. This study moves beyond basic descriptive information of air travelers to identify attitudinal patterns and relationships in the way consumers at varying levels of travel frequency view the commercial air industry. The Airline Passenger Survey (APS) elements developed via the utilization of rigorous scientific methodology, with the intention of capturing the most important data from passengers while reducing confusion or variability in comprehension of questions. APS items are a combination of demographic variables, categorical data, and Likert-type scale responses asking participants to evaluate statements regarding the current state of the airline industry

West Virginia Economic Outlook 2019-2023

West Virginia’s economy enjoyed its strongest year of growth in nearly a decade during 2017, emerging from several years of severe economic weakness. Most of the bounce back in the state’s economy is connected to the energy sector, not only from the increased production of coal and natural gas but also as a result of a massive build-out of new natural gas pipeline infrastructure throughout the state. Growth has broadened to include more of the state’s regions over the past year or so, but the overall magnitude of gains in jobs and output have remained concentrated in just a few areas as some portions of West Virginia continue to struggle with a range of weak economic fundamentals. Overall, this report provides a broad and detailed foundation to help you understand the long-run economic challenges and opportunities facing West Virginia

A Concept Model for Comparative Analysis Applied to the U.S. Airline Industry

The objective of this research is to analyze the trends in quality and performance of US airlines over the past ten years and determine what economic factors influence the level service. By identifying variables that directly affect the level of performance using data from Airline Quality Rating (AQR), service benchmarks for the airline industry can be established. Industry standard is set by AQR providing consumers and industry watchers objective performance-based data to compare performance quality among different US airlines. The AQR weighted average formula highlights criteria including baggage handling, customer complaints, denied boarding and on-time arrivals. Analyzing the data over the past ten years (2004-2014), this research will utilize the application of a comparable trend analysis methodology resulting in both industry wide and airline specific benchmarks. Data used in this research are readily available from the Department of Transportation and are considered important to the consumers regarding airline quality. Through the collected data and analysis, airlines, government entities and the traveling public will be able to make better decisions, implement policies and develop best practices

Community beliefs about treatments and outcomes of mental disorders: A mental health literacy survey in a rural area of Maharashtra, India

Objectives: Mental health remains a neglected issue in most developing countries, especially in rural areas where access to effective mental health services is limited. The integration of mental health into primary health care is being promoted as a strategy to address this problem. Consequently, there is an urgent need to enhance mental health awareness among communities, and to provide mental health training for primary healthcare staff. In order to do this effectively, it is important to understand and take account of local views on mental health and illness. As such, a mental health literacy (MHL) assessment was undertaken in a poor, rural area of Maharashtra, India to inform the development of a mental health training programme. Study design: A cross-sectional MHL survey was undertaken in late 2007. Methods: Data were collected from 240 systematically sampled community members and 60 purposively sampled village health workers (VHWs) using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants were presented with two vignettes describing people experiencing symptoms of mental disorders (depression, psychosis), and were asked to name the problems, and to identify the treatments and people that were most likely to be helpful (or otherwise), and the likely outcomes for people with such problems. Results: Most participants recognized that the people in the vignettes were experiencing a mental health problem. 'Depression' was the most common label for the problems experienced in the depression vignette, and 'a mind/brain problem' was the most common label in the case of the psychosis vignette. Socio-economic interventions provided by family, friends and neighbours were considered to be most helpful. Local VHWs and doctors were also viewed as potentially helpful, but psychiatrists less so. Approximately half of the sample thought that dealing with the problem alone would be helpful. Special diets, tonics, appetite stimulants and sleeping pills were also strongly endorsed, but awareness of psychiatric medications was negligible. Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight the need to enhance MHL in this community. Additionally, there is a need to build the capacity of the primary healthcare staff, including the VHWs, so that they are equipped to provide an effective local response for people experiencing mental health problems