An Investigation of Case-Based Instruction with Feedback in a Research Methods Module

Case-based instruction (CBI) is a strategy that has shown positive outcomes for promoting learner engagement, improving attitudes toward instruction, and increasing measures of learning. Research methods courses are an area for which CBI may effectively improve learning performance and attitudes. Studies have shown that research methods is a topic that students often find especially difficult and stressful. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether students who received online CBI with feedback would score higher on a posttest and satisfaction questionnaire, compared to students who received the same CBI without feedback. The sample used for this study included students that were enrolled in a psychology graduate course in research methods; an interdisciplinary graduate course in educational research methods; and an undergraduate course in educational technology. The independent variable was online case-based instruction, with two levels: with feedback, and without feedback. The dependent variables were student knowledge performance, and student satisfaction. Student knowledge performance was measured by a multiple-choice posttest, and student satisfaction was measured by a 11-item questionnaire. viii The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for performance and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for satisfaction, with the alpha level set at .05. No statistically significant differences were found for test performance nor satisfaction with the instruction. Given this finding of no statistically significant differences, follow-up analyses were conducted on categories of question topics (independent/dependent variables; experimental/non-experimental research designs; and causation). No statistically significant differences were found when results were examined by question topic. Further follow-up analyses were conducted on question topic categories for each of the three courses in the study. No statistically significant differences were found in the psychology and research methods courses. The sample size for the educational technology course was not large enough for statistical analysis. Several factors may have contributed to this finding of no statistically significant difference. These factors include preexisting knowledge and insufficient difference between the control and treatment conditions. Further research is suggested, including investigation of the effects of CBI with feedback on reflective thinking, and the enhanced use of multimedia to deliver CB

Stereotypes: Racism and its Effects on the 2008 Presidential Election and our Citizens

This is such a historic time in our country\u27s story, due to the reprieve from the usual choice of middle-aged White males in a presidential election. The make-up of candidates\u27 age, race, and sex in the 2008 primaries and general election allowed the unique opportunity for multiple stereotypes to be engaged. This was an exploratory qualitative study, relying on descriptive data, participant observation during the general election campaign, and in-depth interviews (N-8) that happened within six months after the election of Barak H. Obama, first African-American elected president of the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the influences stereotypes of race had on the 2008 presidential election. My finding was that the preponderance of negative stereotypes in the campaign counter-intuitively catalyzed the positive discussion of race

Procedural Rates, Economic Costs, and Geographic Variation of Primary and Revision Lumbar Total Disc Replacement

Lumbar degenerative disc disease is a remarkably common condition among patients presenting with chronic low back pain and physical disability. When a surgical treatment option is warranted, patients now have the option of undergoing lumbar total disc replacement (TDR), a relatively new procedure that is designed to replace lumbar fusion, the traditional surgical intervention for degenerative disc disease. The lumbar TDR procedure has demonstrated clinical efficacy equivalent to that of lumbar fusion, although concern remains about the longevity, safety, and costs related to the procedure. These issues were addressed in three separate observational studies using administrative claims data. The first study estimated the revision burden and economic revision burden of lumbar TDR. The second study examined the lumbar TDR hybrid procedure, where both a lumbar TDR and lumbar fusion are performed simultaneously. No observational data have been reported on the frequency, cost, and diagnostic indications related to the TDR hybrid procedure. The third study mapped the geographic variation of procedural rates of lumbar TDR. Previous research has found substantial geographic variation in lumbar spine surgery rates and a similar analysis of lumbar TDR variation has yet to be reported. The present series of studies found the revision burden and economic revision burden of lumbar TDR to be similar to data reported for this procedure from the mid-2000s, though the overall occurrence of the procedure appears to have declined. The economic revision burden made this a lower-cost procedure than lumbar fusion, with a tradeoff in terms of revision burden being higher for lumbar TDR. The lumbar TDR hybrid procedure was found to make up approximately 16% of the total number of TDR procedures, involving much higher costs than a single-level TDR procedure. Finally, geographic variation of the procedural rate of lumbar TDR varied dramatically across the U.S., surpassing the variation observed in lumbar fusion surgery. Limitations of the observational data used in these studies are described. Recommendations for future observational research are offered as well. Finally, implications for these studies on practice guidelines and reimbursement policies are provided

Stereotypes: Racism and its effects on the 2008 presidential election and our citizens

This is such a historic time in our country’s story, due to the reprieve from the usual choice of middle-aged White males in a presidential election. The make-up of candidates’ age, race, and sex in the 2008 primaries and general election, allowed the unique opportunity for multiple stereotypes to be engaged. This was an exploratory qualitative study, relying on descriptive data, participant observation during the general election campaign, and in-depth interviews (N=8) that happened within six months after the election of Barack H. Obama, first African-American elected president of the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the influences stereotypes of race had on the 2008 presidential election. My finding was that the preponderance of negative stereotypes in the campaigns counter-intuitively catalyzed the positive discussion of race

Revealing Relationships among Relevant Climate Variables with Information Theory

A primary objective of the NASA Earth-Sun Exploration Technology Office is to understand the observed Earth climate variability, thus enabling the determination and prediction of the climate's response to both natural and human-induced forcing. We are currently developing a suite of computational tools that will allow researchers to calculate, from data, a variety of information-theoretic quantities such as mutual information, which can be used to identify relationships among climate variables, and transfer entropy, which indicates the possibility of causal interactions. Our tools estimate these quantities along with their associated error bars, the latter of which is critical for describing the degree of uncertainty in the estimates. This work is based upon optimal binning techniques that we have developed for piecewise-constant, histogram-style models of the underlying density functions. Two useful side benefits have already been discovered. The first allows a researcher to determine whether there exist sufficient data to estimate the underlying probability density. The second permits one to determine an acceptable degree of round-off when compressing data for efficient transfer and storage. We also demonstrate how mutual information and transfer entropy can be applied so as to allow researchers not only to identify relations among climate variables, but also to characterize and quantify their possible causal interactions.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of the Earth-Sun System Technology Conference (ESTC 2005), Adelphi, M

Rethinking Gaming & Representation Within Digital Pedagogy: An Instructor’s Guide

This work fully analyzes the creation process and implementation of a deeply-structured social commentary in the form of a digital interactive-fiction, created in the open software known as Twine. My co-developer, Raven Gomez, and I created a game that explores the challenges of navigating spaces within higher education as someone who identifies as something considered to be “other” by the standards of the common Western curriculum. Once the infrastructure of the product itself is outlined, this work follows students in an English Composition I course throughout their experiences creating digital interactive-fiction games based on pivotal moments in their lives that shaped an aspect of their current identities. The unit in which this digital project is implemented is supported by themes of identity, social issues, and our relationships with technology not only as scholars but as a society as well. This project was created with the goal of integrating game studies under the wider tent of digital humanities into undergraduate-level courses, creating a case for using other technological mediums as an alternative form of scholarly communication

CITE Faculty Spotlight: Drs. Noble and Powietrzynska

Spotlights offer in-depth profiles of teacher education faculty from across CUNY who participated in Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE)\u27s Summer Learning Institute 2022

A multi-centre study of adults with learning disabilities referred to services for antisocial or offending behaviour: demographic, individual, offending and service characteristics

This study was carried out as part of a larger study commissioned by the UK Department of Health to investigate the service pathways for offenders with learning disabilities (LD). The study covered three health regions in the UK and included 477 people with LD referred to services because of antisocial or offending behaviour during a 12-month period. Data were collected concerning demographic, individual, offending behaviour and service characteristics. The findings of the study are broadly consistent with contemporary research concerning this population, particularly in relation to the nature and frequency of offending, history of offending, psychopathology, age and gender distribution. However, very few of those referred had any form of structured care plan, despite having significant offending histories, and this may have compromised early identification of their needs and communication between the health, social and other services involved

Referrals into services for offenders with intellectual disabilities: variables predicting community or secure provision

Background There is a need for research to promote an understanding among service developers on why people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are referred to offender services in order for them to receive appropriate assessment and treatment. Previous studies investigating referrals into forensic ID services have concentrated on referral sources and administrative variables such as legal status. Aims To construct a predictive model for choice of service referral based on a comprehensive range of information about the clientele. Method We conducted a case record study of 336 people referred to community services and 141 to secure provision. We gathered information on referral source, demographics, diagnosis, index behaviour, prior problem behaviours and history of abuse. Results Comparisons revealed 19 candidate variables which were then entered into multivariate logistic regression. The resulting model retained six variables: community living at time of referral, physical aggression, being charged, referral from tertiary health care, diverse problem behaviour and IQ < 50, which correctly predicted the referral pathway for 85.7% of cases. Conclusions An index act of physical aggression and a history of diversity of problem behaviours as predictors against the likelihood of community service referral suggest that professionals have similar concerns about people with ID as they do about their more average offending peers; however, the more severe levels of ID mitigated in favour of community referral, regardless. Offenders with ID tend to be referred within levels of service rather than between them, for example, form tertiary services into generic community services