Reviewing of Indonesian students’ scientific communication skills: A structural equation modeling analysis

To ensure the success of science learning oriented to higher order thinking skills, especially scientific communication skills (SCS), valid and effective instruments are needed. The existing instruments, although helpful, are still too general and have not touched the socio-cultural context. Therefore, we developed an instrument to measure SCS according to the characteristics of students in Indonesia. This study tested the validity, reliability and assumptions of the hypothetical model of the scientific communication skills inventory (SCSI) instrument developed. This study involved 1,287 students in Indonesia. The test was carried out through confirmatory factor analysis with structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS version 21. The results of the analysis show that the reliability of the instrument based on Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.720. The convergent validity test detected one item of the oral presentation indicator as invalid and the discriminant validity test confirmed that all instrument items were declared valid. The goodness of fit test shows all scores according to the recommended standard criteria so that SCSI can be used to identify the SCS ability profile of students in Indonesia. For further research, we recommend the development of a learning model that prioritizes the context of social issues to grow students’ SCS

Acupuncture for Sleep Disturbances in Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has emerged as a significant problem among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans. Disturbed sleep is one of the most frequently reported symptoms among OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD. PTSD itself is impairing, but the burden of this disorder is likely heightened when accompanied by sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances have been associated with a 75-90% increased risk of co-morbid conditions, increased levels of depression and anxiety, daytime sleepiness and fatigue, reduced psychomotor performance, diminished work productivity, and decreased quality of life. These consequences of disturbed sleep emphasize the critical need for additional evidence based therapies to treat PTSD related sleep disturbances among OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD. Increasingly, non-pharmacologic therapies are being investigated for sleep disturbance among PTSD patients. However, few investigations have examined the efficacy of Complementary and Alternative (CAM) therapies on sleep disturbances among veterans with PTSD. CAM practices are emerging in the Department of Defense, yet, there are a limited number of well designed methodologically sound studies to investigate CAM therapies. The overall purpose of this study was to conduct a small scale feasibility study to examine whether the use of an auricular acupuncture regimen improves sleep quality for OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD and self-reported sleep disturbance. Our approach was to conduct a small scale feasibility study to test the acceptability of an auricular acupuncture regimen for sleep disturbance, examine feasibility of study design, and test efficacy of an auricular acupuncture regimen for sleep disturbance among OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD

THE MOTIVATION OF WORKING PRACTITIONERS SEEKING A DOCTORAL EDUCATION: FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF CONFUCIAN LEARNING PHILOSOPHY

This doctoral study explores the motivational orientations of working practitioners pursuing a professional doctoral program who are former and current DPS-IM program students at Syracuse University, School of Information Studies. The found motivational orientations are compared to Confucian philosophy principles of self-cultivation illustrated in The Great Learning (DaXues`å\u3e{t) which is considered the first of a set of Four Books (Sishusl`t). The manuscript\u27s structure consists of a brief of three principles, followed by eight steps that promote individual self-cultivation. Researchers frequently utilize these steps as a connection between civil conduct applied to social and political order (e.g. Keenan, 2011, p. 37). This study uses this Confucian philosophical framework to reveal self-cultivation components related to the motives and aspirations of this select group; Western older adult learners. This study also aims to bridge Eastern motivation theory with Western approaches, making a contribution to both motivational theory and adult education fields of study. This research utilized semi-structured interviews of twenty one DPS-IM students (80.77% participation). Collected data revealed that the majority of the participants were working professionals who have been in their field for at least 10 years. The interview data revealed that self-cultivation was found to be the greatest motivational factor for this study group followed by self-improvement, self-transformation, and sense of responsibility; which are all supported by Confucian learning philosophy found in The Great Learning. This study suggests that even though in modern times, a 2000 year-old Eastern philosophy of learning is synonymous with the motives of adults seeking further education regardless of their cultural background