Editorial: The politics of evidence, data and research in anti-trafficking work

Since the mid-2000s, critical commentators have raised concerns about both the paucity of evidence on important aspects of human trafficking, and the difficulty of obtaining meaningful data. Policy formations, advocacy campaigns, concrete interventions, and popular understandings of human trafficking have all had accusations of wild claims and unfounded assumptions levelled at them. Guesstimates prevail and take on a life of their own in such a context. Calls for more robust evidence to prove or disprove claims about the nature, extent and location of human trafficking, the characteristics of trafficked persons, and the continued investment in particular types of responses have abounded. This has occurred in light of the growing potential for unsubstantiated claims to fulfil the place of rigorous evidence to inform anti-trafficking work

Over the rim where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?

My paintings are about the short span of human existence in comparison with the rhythms of the eternal cosmos based on Christianity. To illustrate this, I explored the icons of the moon (soul) and the iceberg (physical body). The painting technique used is the juxtaposition of passages of heavy impasto with thin glazes of earthly monochromatic colors, which represent time and age. I am seeking a depth of spiritual space. My works consists of ten large-scale oil paintings on masonite/canvas, and a series of small oil paintings on panels. In order to represent the unpredictable fate of human beings, I sometimes work on separate and bendable panels

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SLEEP PROBLEMS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING AMONG YOUTH IN SOUTH KOREA

Sleep problems are common among children and adolescents. Children and adolescents with and without and psychiatric diagnosis experience sleep problems. Furthermore, secondary to sleep problems they suffer from psychological sequelae and academic difficulties. Although sleep problems are universal, Asian youth tend to sleep less and have more sleep problems. In South Korea, children and adolescents experience high levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties including depression, suicidal ideation, and disruptive behaviors. The current study aimed to investigate how sleep problems among a non-clinical sample of South Korean youth were related to psychological functioning including emotional problems, aggressive behaviors, and academic performance. A sample of 196 South Korean children and adolescents and their parents completed the Sleep Disorder Inventory for Students (SDIS) and the Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS). Academic grades were also obtained from the parents. The translated SDIS had good reliability, good concurrent validity, but poor replicated factor structure. Consistent with previous literature, results indicated that children with more symptoms of sleep difficulties as measured by scores on the New Total Sleep Disturbance Index (New SDI) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) exhibited higher levels of emotional distress. Similarly, adolescents with higher scores on the New SDI, EDS, and delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) presented with more emotional distress and aggressive behaviors as well as poorer academic functioning. Furthermore, the relationship between sleep problems and academic functioning was mediated by emotional distress, such that children and adolescents with more sleep problems exhibited poor psychological functioning, which in turn negatively influenced their academic functioning. These findings suggest the importance of recognizing sleep problems on youth’s psychological and academic functioning. It is important to provide interventions to reduce sleep problems, which in turn improve psychological and academic functioning. Despite significant findings, the factor structures of the translated SDIS were not replicated and there were limited variances within sleep problems and psychological and academic functioning in the sample. Thus, further research should use psychometrically stronger measures to examine the complex relationships among sleep problems, psychological functioning, and academic difficulties among youth with clinically significant sleep problems

THE ESL TEACHERS’ WILLINGNESS TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH

Willingness to communicate (WTC) as introduced by McCroskey and Bear (1985) has developed and been perceived by many as a critical field. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable gap in research on the willingness to communicate (WTC) in English among ESL teachers in the Malaysian context. This study aims to investigate the ESL teachers’ willingness to communicate in English in terms of gender and school locations. The four constructs of communication in WTC are group discussions, interpersonal, public, and talking in meetings. Through both criterion and convenience sampling, 250 ESL teachers from twenty-five schools were chosen for this research. Survey questionnaire with a total of 20 items adopted from McCroskey (1992) was used as the data collection instrument. Findings reveal that ESL teachers' willingness to communicate in English is generally high and that the teachers were more willing to converse and exchange ideas orally in English during the meeting rather than in group or public. Female participants were significantly different in their overall willingness to communicate as they were more willing to communicate in groups and public. The within-group comparison also shows that school locations (urban and rural) affect ESL teachers' willingness to communicate in English. The findings also suggest that schools should encourage more ESL teachers to participate in activities such as debates, drama, public speaking, English language clubs/society, and empower them by providing professional development workshops or training

Exploring The Connections Among Number Sense, Mental Computation Performance, And The Written Computation Performance Of Elementary Preservice School Teachers

The purpose of this study is to a) explore connections among number sense, mental computation performance and the written computation performance of elementary preservice school teachers; and b) explore the correlation among mental computation skills, computation skills, effect issues and number sense. The sample was composed of students in six intact entry?level mathematics sections of a course populated by preservice elementary school teachers. One hundred fifty-five participants from these six classes completed data collection tasks during the Spring 2002 semester for the study. Regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation of written computation skills, mental computation skills, and affective domain with regard to number sense. Three of these subscales of Conference Learning Mathematics, Mathematics Anxiety, Effectance Motivation of Mathematics, Mental Computation Test score, and Written Computation Test score were found to positive significantly correlate with Number Sense Test score success at the a= 0.001 level. Overall, the six independent variables considered in this study accounted for 57.1% of the variation in Number Sense Test score, with Mental Computation Test, and Written Computation Test having the strongest effects

Predictors of Courage in Adolescents

Adolescence can be a difficult phase of life. Adolescents may experience drastic physical, psychological, social changes, which can lead to uncertainty and anxiety. Courage is an important construct to study because it could help adolescents carry out tasks, work more effectively, and pursue goals (Koerner, 2014). Few studies have investigated predictors of general courage (e.g., personality; Muris et al., 2009), and moral courage (i.e., parenting, gender; Bronstein et al., 2009). The present study examined intrapersonal and interpersonal predictors (Time 1) of courage (Time 3) among adolescents, as well as potential mediating and moderating mechanisms. Data were collected from a larger longitudinal study with 3 time points and the present study’s data used Time 1 and Time 3 (one year apart). The sample included 203 adolescents (51.7% girls, Mage=15.08). Hierarchical multiple regression models indicated that autonomy support of mothers and fathers, self-esteem, and cognitive reappraisal at Time 1 were positively associated with adolescent courage at Time 3, whereas maternal helicopter parenting negatively related with adolescent courage at Time 3, over and above gender and socioeconomic status. Findings from exploratory mediation models demonstrated that autonomy support of parents predicted greater self-esteem, which explained greater courage. Anxious and avoidant attachment of parents predicted less self-esteem, which in turn explained less courage. In addition, cognitive reappraisal indirectly linked avoidant attachment to mothers, maternal helicopter parenting, and courage (more avoidantly attached to mothers reported less cognitive reappraisal and less courage; and greater maternal helicopter parenting related with more cognitive reappraisal and greater courage). This study contributes to the limited empirical research on courage as well as the first to examine predictors which may contribute to adolescents’ development of courage

Effects Of A Problem-Solving-Based Mathematics Course On Number Sense Of Preservice Teachers

The purpose of this study was to investigate what level of number sense was possessed by preservice elementary school teachers. The sample was composed of students in six intact entry?level mathematics sections of a course populated by preservice elementary school teachers. One hundred fifty-five participants from these six classes completed data collection tasks during the Spring 2002 semester for the study. These courses are all problem-solving-based. A problem-solving-based mathematics course was designed to utilize manipulatives, problem solving approaches, and the cooperative learning environment. Students actively participate in problem-solving mathematical exploration. Research designs using a control group could not be used for this study, as the problem?solving?based classroom is the required method by the institution to teaching this mathematics class. The six combined classes form “one-group” with pretest/posttest corresponding to the pre-post-surveys. T?tests were used to compare the paired changes in number sense across time.The participating elementary school preservice teachers’ number sense changed between the beginning and the completion of the undergraduate mathematics content course. This change was significant at a = 0.01 for issues

Reverie and the image making process

This thesis examines the creative process involved in the creation of a work of art; in this case, a painting. First, the artist creates a visual language, which becomes his instrument of communication. Then in the studio, the practical process activates visual representation of the language, communicated in brushstrokes. The visual image created through this process stimulates the artist emotionally, while imparting a sense of satisfaction to the viewer who understands that he has been brought into the aesthetic world created by the artist

Profiles of Positive and Negative Risk-taking among Asian and Non-Asian American Emerging Adults

Emerging adults can engage in both positive and negative risk-taking. Based on recent previous research that identified various risk-taking profiles (Duell et al., 2022), the current project extends the literature in several ways. The purpose of this study was to (1) identify profiles of risk-taking behavior among US college students, (2) examine how correlates of cognitive values and interpersonal factors relate to risk-taking groups, and (3) investigate the role of cultural values in risk-taking profiles among Asian and non-Asian American college students. The sample was 401 participants recruited from universities in the US. Latent Profile Analyses indicated that 4-profile solution (Low Positive No Negative, High Positive and Extreme Negative, Average on Both, Low Positive and High Negative) had the best fit of indicators for positive and negative risk-taking. Multinomial logistic regression models demonstrated that greater eudaimonic motives, hedonic comfort motives, peer positive risk-taking, collectivistic orientation, and familial ethnic socialization related to belonging in Profile 1 (Low Positive No Negative). Greater thrill-seeking beliefs, psychological control of fathers, and Asian American values associated with belonging in Profile 2 (High Positive and Extreme Negative). Greater thrill-seeking beliefs and behavioral control of mothers related with belonging in Profile 3 (Average on Both), whereas greater peer negative risk-taking, behavioral control of fathers, individualistic orientation, and identifying as Non-Asian American related with belonging in Profile 4 (Low Positive and High Negative). As risk-taking research has more often focused on negative risk-taking and as Asian Americans are underrepresented in risk-taking research (Yip et al., 2022), this study promoted a more balanced view on Asian American and Non-Asian American emerging adults’ positive and negative risk-taking. Given that this study examined the relation between modifiable factors (than demographic factors) and risk-taking subgroups, findings of this study can help researchers develop future interventions