Environmental enrichment for Killer whales Orcinus orca at zoological institutions: untried and untested

Despite a history in zoological institutions stretching back more than 50 years, with associated improvements in husbandry and breeding, the keeping of Killer whales Orcinus orca in zoos and aquariums has become highly controversial. The recent decision to stop the current breeding programme in the USA does not obviate the need to continue to improve husbandry as the whales in zoological institutions today will survive for decades to come. In this paper we outline several novel ideas for enriching the lives of Killer whales through provision of intergroup communication, and enhancement of feeding methods, health and fitness, and the ambient environment, all of which are aimed at eliciting natural behaviours seen in the wild. The enrichments proposed here may require adaptation for use with Killer whales and many could be modified for use with other cetacean species. We believe that by providing species-appropriate enrichment, both the welfare and educational value of Killer whales and other cetaceans can be greatly enhanced in the future

Cultural Engagement in California's Inland Regions

Cultural Engagement in California's Inland Regions explores patterns of cultural engagement in the San Joaquin Valley and the Inland Empire. Two major data collection efforts were undertaken. The first was a door-to-door intercept survey of more than 1,000 randomly selected households in six distinctly different neighborhoods, three in the Fresno area and three in Riverside and San Bernardino. The second was a self-administered survey of more than 5,000 residents of the two regions, promoted as the "California Cultural Census" and conducted online and through intercept work at various locations and events. It is important to note that this second data set aggregates multiple samples, including respondents who were selected at the convenience of outreach organizations. Although weighted to reduce potential biases, these data are not representative of all adults in the two regions. Results paint a detailed picture of the breadth and depth of cultural engagement in the two regions and reveal a range of activity in music, theater and drama, reading and writing, dance, and visual arts and crafts -- much of which occurs off the radar" of the traditional infrastructure of nonprofit arts organizations and facilities. The study identifies specific types of activities which, if supported at higher levels, might equitably raise participation levels and achieve higher levels of cultural vitality in millions of homes and hundreds of communities. It concludes that cultural providers and funders should look deeper into the fabric of their communities for new partners, new settings and innovative approaches to drawing residents into cultural experiences. This briefing provides a high level summary of the study's key findings, as well as discussion questions for cultural providers and funders. Comprehensive results are available at www.irvine.org, including an executive summary and detailed results by artistic discipline

Relationship Norm Strength: Measurement Structure, Dyadic Interdependence, Correlates, Causes and Consequences

The study of norms and close relationships are two pillars of social psychological scholarship, yet the two topics are rarely studied in tandem. When relationship norms have been the subject of empirical study, researchers have focused on evaluating the importance of their content for relational processes. In the present dissertation, I propose the strength of relationship norms as a topic worthy of empirical attention. Across five studies, including correlational, quasi-experimental, experimental, and dyadic designs, I evaluated the primary hypothesis that relationship norms would be stronger in relationships characterized by greater affiliative motivation, opertationalized both in terms of organically occurring relationship types, and ratings of relationship quality. Throughout the five studies, I also tested secondary hypotheses related to the association between relationship norm strength and perceived similarity, asset and resource sharing, and conflict between relationship partners, as well as the extent to which members of romantic couples abided by the norms of their relationship. In Study 1, participants (n = 100) perceived relationship types implying greater commitment (e.g., committed romantic relationships) as having stronger norms than those implying lesser commitment (e.g., casual sex relationships). In Study 2, I piloted a multidimensional measure of relationship norm strength and documented similar differences in norm strength and relationship quality among participants (n = 312) who were currently in the relationship types examined in Study 1. In Study 3, some aspects of relationship norm strength and relationship quality were positively associated for members of romantic dyads (ncouples = 25, nindividuals = 11). Individuals in a relationship with stronger norms generally reported complying with their relationship’s norms to a greater extent, though the opposite was sometimes true of their partner; individuals also exhibited a large amount of bias in appraising their partner’s level of norm compliance. In Study 4, participants currently in a romantic relationship (n = 286) primed to recall memories of high relationship quality reported feeling stronger norms in their romantic relationship, relative to those primed to recall moments of low relationship quality. Finally, in Study 5, participants currently in a romantic relationship (n = 239) primed to perceive their relationship norms as strong perceived their relationship as being higher quality than those in a control condition. These five studies provide initial promising support for the hypothesized role of relationship norm strength. I discuss their implications and the importance of continued investigations of relationship norm strength

Surveying an institution's assessment mechanisms towards new measures of success

Widening participation can create challenges of student retention, an issue being constantly addressed by such initiatives as increased student support. Supposedly 'elite' universities, it has been argued, attract 'better' students, a term largely defined in terms of academic success. The research presented here argues that 'better' is entirely misleading and invites reflection as to whether a change from traditional didactic assessment approaches to more innovative modes could enhance achievement, success and therefore retention by recognising and recording the qualities of a student populace with widely varying experiences and talents without undermining academic rigour. An analysis of the types of assessment within a widening participation university as recorded on the validated module database against the highest weighting level revealed a wide variety of imaginative approaches to measuring student engagement reflecting the commitment and professionalism of staff in providing an educational context that is varied and meaningful. Whilst acknowledging this strength, it is argued that further flexibility is required to more exactly measure student abilities, both in assessment timing and form, the emphasis presently being very much upon tutor-led modes with insufficient attention given to recognising the potential of students to contribute to the assessment process. Present assessment modes can therefore perhaps be viewed as an additional barrier and there is a need to reflect upon form to recognise more fully student ability

An appraisal of the 2008 University of Bolton summer schools

This report provides an appraisal of the 2008 University summer schools to determine their efficacy as an instrument to meet students? developmental needs. Their introduction is not a new approach but one that has been encouraged to be developed to further increase retention rates

"You don’t know what you’ve got till its gone": The decline and marginalisation of adult education

This paper provides a short overview of characteristics frequently associated with adult education such as independence, informality, discovery and self-expression and provides a brief historical overview of some of the main developments. It is argued that the twentieth first century adult educational agenda is informed by narrow economic determinants with the short term aim of enhancing employment skills, pragmatism replacing aesthetics, which is in direct contrast to early pioneers who saw it as a movement towards enhancing democratic principles, a context for challenging hegemonic norms and as a process for self and societal enhancement. It is felt that such reductionism is a sad loss and reflects a new agenda of educational reductionism

Blitzer and the graminivorous quadruped: Oddities, myths and mysteries of the average and the normal

Introductory paper for the third issue of 'Practice and Research in Education' the University of Bolton education research student journa

Exploring the Relationship Between and Among Registered Nurses\u27 Spiritual Well-Being, Spiritual Care Perspectives, and their Provision of Spiritual Care in Acute Care Settings

Abstract Despite acknowledgment that spiritual care is an essential aspect of holistic nursing care, nurses often feel ill-prepared for, uncomfortable with, and uncertain about providing spiritual care. Studies have indicated that nurses who have a strong sense of their own spiritual well-being and/or a positive perspective [attitude, value, belief] about spiritual care are more inclined to provide spiritual care to their patients. However there is a scarcity of such studies among acute care nurses. This descriptive correlational study aimed to explore relationships between and among acute care nurses’ spiritual well-being (SWB), spiritual care perspectives (SCP), and their provision of spiritual care (SC) to hospitalized patients. The Spiritual Variable of the Neuman System Model provided a suitable framework for this study. Data were collected electronically via Survey Monkey® over a six week period from a convenience sample of acute care nurses (n = 130) through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. The Spiritual Well-being Scale by Paloutizan and Ellison (1982), the Revised Spiritual Care Perspective Scale by Taylor (2004), the Spiritual Care in Practice Questionnaire by Vance (2001), and a demographic/work-related survey were utilized for data collection. Participants in this study were primarily Christian (33.8%), or Catholic (31.5%), female, (90.8%), Caucasian (73.1%), average age 46.05 years, with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing as their highest educational qualification (61.5%). Most were employed in general medical-surgical units (63%) for an average of 14 years. Pearson’s r analyses revealed significant positive relationships between the dependent variable (provision of SC), and the two independent variables—nurses’ SWB (r = .27, p = .002), and SCP (r =.63, p = .0001). These findings indicate that nurses who possess a sense of high SWB, and a positive SCP (attitude) are more likely to provide SC to patients in acute care settings. Spearman Rho tests showed moderate to strong positive correlations between and among the dependent variable and three demographic/work related variables, namely —commitment to personal spiritual practices (rs = .31, p = .0001), confidence in providing SC (rs = .45, p = .0001), and comfort in providing SC (rs = .40, p = .0001) —signifying that nurses who were strongly committed to their spiritual care practices were also confident and comfortable in providing spiritual care and provided such care frequently to their patients in the acute care setting. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that SCP was the best predictor of SC practices. The nurses’ SCP (attitude) was also shown to have a significant mediating effect between the other predictors and provision of SC. Participants in this study understood that SC may involve non-traditional activities such as active listening and quiet presence. Findings from this study provide evidence that the nurse’s SCP is a significant contributing factor to provision of SC among acute care nurses. There are implications and recommendations for further research studies, nursing education, clinical practice, and policy making. Key Words: Spiritual well-being, spiritual care perspectives, provision of spiritual care, holistic nursing care, spiritual care practices in nursing