A grounded theory for teaching entrepreneurship using simulation games

A practical teaching difficulty provided the opportunity to turn a problem into a useful case study with generic implications for the pedagogical effectiveness of simulation games in teaching entrepreneurship. Students playing the simulation game submitted written assessments that became the units of analysis for a single-case research project. Analysis produced a grounded theory consisting of four attribute categories and associated properties required of a simulation game to make it an effective teaching device in entrepreneurship contexts. The theory provides at the very least a useful checklist for teachers of entrepreneurship and, potentially, a basis for developing a quality standard for educational simulation games.

Crash landing at INSEAD : initiating a grounded theory of the pedagogical effectiveness of simulation games for teaching aspects of entrepreneurship

A practical teaching difficulty arising in a conducive environment provided opportunity to turn the particular problem into a case study with generic implications. Little research has been conducted on the use or effectiveness of simulation games for teaching entrepreneurship. In the context of established literature critiquing the effectiveness of simulation games as teaching devices in managerial contexts and at a point where problems in using a simulation game as part of entrepreneurship course became evident, the authors designed and executed a single-case research project to generate initial theoretical propositions about the pedagogical effectiveness of simulation games for teaching various concepts and aspects of entrepreneurship. The case analysed the perceived learning environment created when the Sky-High simulation was played by 41 MBA students taking an elective entrepreneurship course at INSEAD. The research design embodied the established methodological principles specified by Yin (1989), for effective case research. Theory building was based upon the grounded-theorizing procedures articulated by Glaser and Strauss (1967). Analysis and synthesis produced a grounded theory, in the form of a normative argument, containing four attribute categories and associated properties required of a simulation game to make it an efficacious teaching device in entrepreneurship contexts. The establishment of this grounded theory has made it both desirable and feasible to contemplate creation of an ISO quality standard for educational simulation games.

Effective coordination of vertical IS standardisation initiatives

This paper investigates vertical IS standardisation initiatives from an Actor Network Theory (ANT) perspective. It describes the standardisation process as a series of translations of interests. The ANT lens provides an insight into how participating organisations attempt to align the interests of other organisations. The contributions of this paper are: (i) a deeper understanding of the vertical IS standardisation process; (ii) actions participating organisations can take to effectively coordinate vertical IS standardisation initiatives.

A new solution method for homogenization of effective properties of electromagnetic honeycombs

In this paper, an analytical model and its new numerical solution using the homogenization method are developed to determine the effective electromagnetic characteristics of honeycombs. Based on the proposed solution method, the electromagnetic properties are obtained by employing the multi-scale homogenization theory and periodical electric (magnetic) potential boundary conditions. Further, the effect of geometry of honeycomb's unit cell on effective electromagnetic properties is investigated with the use of the proposed method. The numerical results are compared with analytic results using the Smith-Scarpa's semi-empirical formula.

On the effective mechanical properties of fluid-saturated composites : a homogenization approach

Composites containing saturated fluid are widely distributed in nature, such as saturated rocks, colloidal materials and biological cells. In the study to determine effective mechanical properties of fluid-saturated composites, a micromechanical model and a multi-scale homogenization-based model are developed. In the micromechanical model the internal fluid pressure is generated by applying eigenstrains in the domain of the fluid phase and the explicit expressions of effective bulk modulus and shear modulus are obtained. Meanwhile a multi-scale homogenization theory is employed to develop the homogenization-based model on determination of effective properties at the small scale in a unit cell level. Applying the two proposed approaches, the effects of the internal pressure of hydrostatic fluid on effective properties are further investigated.

Morals, rights and practice in the human services : effective and fair decision-making in health, social care and criminal justice

Provides a synthesis of human rights theory and human services practice and offers a rights based model to aid professional decision making and practice.

Rape : psychopathology, theory and treatment

Whether treatment programs are effective at rehabilitating rapists is yet to be determined empirically. From a scientist–practitioner perspective, treatment should be based on an empirical understanding of rape and rapists, and evidence-based knowledge of treatment outcome with rapists. In this paper we comprehensively review the characteristics of rapists, etiological features implicated in the commission of rape, and relevant treatment outcome research. We pay particular attention to contemporary knowledge about the core vulnerabilities and features required to understand and treat rapists effectively, and, where possible, highlight similarities and differences between rapists, child molesters and non-sexual violent offenders. We use an epistemological framework to (a) critique the various etiological accounts of rape available and (b) help guide professionals' use of such knowledge in both treatment design and evaluation. Gaps in the understanding of rapists' characteristics and etiological features are highlighted, as are discrepancies between current knowledge and treatment approaches. We conclude by highlighting areas for future research and practice innovation.

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) adsorption in tertiary wastewater treatment : experiments and models

Wastewater treatment has always been a major concern in the developed countries. Over the last few decades, activated carbon adsorption has gained importance as an alternative tertiary wastewater treatment and purification process. In this study, granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption was evaluated in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) removal from low strength synthetic wastewater. This paper provides details on adsorption experiments conducted on synthetic wastewater to develop suitable adsorption isotherms. Although the inorganics used in the synthetic wastewater solution had an overall unfavourable effect on adsorption of organics, the GAC adsorption system was found to be effective in removing TOC from the wastewater. This study showed that equation of state (EOS) theory was able to fit the adsorption isotherm results more precisely than the most commonly used Freundlich isotherm. Biodegradation of the organics with time was the most crucial and important aspect of the system and it was taken into account in determining the isotherm parameters. Initial organic concentration of the wastewater was the determining factor of the model parameters, and hence the isotherm parameters were determined covering a wide range of initial organic concentrations of the wastewater. As such, the isotherm parameters derived using the EOS theory could predict the batch adsorption and fixed bed adsorption results of the multi-component system successfully. The isotherm parameters showed a significant effect on the determination of the mass transfer coefficients in batch and fixed bed systems.

Pressurized internal lenticular cracks at healed mica interfaces

The equilibrium states of internal penny cracks at interfaces in thin-sheet bodies are investigated. Consideration is given to cracks held open by a center-loading force from an entrapped particle in combination with a uniform pressure from a fixed mass of entrapped gas. A fracture mechanics analysis indicates that under these conditions the cracks are stable, but are amenable to growth from an enhancement in net pressure (increase in internal pressure or decrease in external pressure) or effective particle size. Essential details of the theory are confirmed by experiments on lenticular cracks at healed interfaces in muscovite mica. The results are pertinent to flaw responses in brittle ceramic systems where structural integrity is an issue.

Effective anomaly detection in sensor networks data streams

This paper addresses a major challenge in data mining applications where the full information about the underlying processes, such as sensor networks or large online database, cannot be practically obtained due to physical limitations such as low bandwidth or memory, storage, or computing power. Motivated by the recent theory on direct information sampling called compressed sensing (CS), we propose a framework for detecting anomalies from these largescale data mining applications where the full information is not practically possible to obtain. Exploiting the fact that the intrinsic dimension of the data in these applications are typically small relative to the raw dimension and the fact that compressed sensing is capable of capturing most information with few measurements, our work show that spectral methods that used for volume anomaly detection can be directly applied to the CS data with guarantee on performance. Our theoretical contributions are supported by extensive experimental results on large datasets which show satisfactory performance.

Implications for the prevention of aggressive behavior within psychiatric hospitals drawn from interpersonal communication theory

Although interpersonal style is a defining feature of personality and personality disorder and is commonly identified as an important influence on aggressive behavior, treatment completion, and the development of an effective therapeutic alliance, it is rarely considered in practice guidelines for preventing, engaging, and managing patients at risk of aggression. In this article, the authors consider three potential applications of interpersonal theory to the care and management of patients at risk of aggression during hospitalization: (a) preventing aggression through theoretically grounded limit setting and de-escalation techniques, (b) developing and using interventions to alter problematic interpersonal styles, and (c) understanding therapeutic ruptures and difficulties establishing a therapeutic alliance. Interpersonal theory is proposed to offer a unifying framework that may assist development of intervention and management strategies that can help to reduce the occurrence of aggression in institutional settings.

Systematics and palaeoecology of Changhsingian (Late Permian) Ambocoeliidae brachiopods from South China and implications for the end-Permian mass extinction

Four Ambocoeliidae brachiopod species including one new species (Crurithyris tazawai sp. nov., Crurithyris sp., Paracrurithyris pygmaea and Attenuatella mengi) are described from the Changhsingian (Late Permian) deep-water facies of South China. Analysis of the morphology, palaeoecology and palaeogeographical and temporal distributions of these species revealed that the presence of a delthyrium and/or the micro-ornaments among three of the four species (Crurithyris tazawai sp. nov., Paracrurithyris pygmaea and Attenuatella mengi) favoured an epifaunal (epiphytic) lifestyle. Morphological differences suggest that Paracrurithyris pygmaea may have been more effective metabolically in forming the shell compared with Attenuatella mengi and Crurithyris tazawai. The temporal and palaeogeographical distribution of Attenuatella suggests that A. mengi inhabited cool or cold deep waters. Both Crurithyris tazawai and Attenuatella mengi disappeared earlier in the stratigraphic record than Paracrurithyis pygmaea during the Permian–Triassic mass extinction. These differences in timing of extinction, morphology and palaeogeographical distributions suggest that oxygen deficiency and trophic resource limitation (a consequence of the changing composition of marine phytoplankton in the seas) may have contributed to the end-Permian mass extinction.

Using the theory of planned behaviour and implementation intentions to predict and facilitate upward family communication about mammography

Regular mammography facilitates early detection of breast cancer, and thus increases the chances of survival from this disease. Daughter-initiated (i.e. upward) communication about mammography within mother–daughter dyads may promote mammography to women of screening age. The current study examined this communication behaviour within the context of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and aimed to bridge the intention-behaviour gap by trialling an implementation intention (II) intervention that aimed to facilitate upward family communication about mammography. Young women aged 18–39 (N = 116) were assigned to either a control or experimental condition, and the latter group formed IIs about initiating a conversation with an older female family member about mammography. Overall, those who formed IIs were more likely to engage in the target communication behaviour, however the intervention was most effective for those who reported low levels of intention at baseline. Perceived behavioural control emerged as the most important variable in predicting the target behaviour. The altruistic nature of this behaviour, and the fact that it is not wholly under volitional control, may have contributed to this finding. Future studies that systematically explore the relative roles of intention and perceived behavioural control in behaviours of this nature are warranted.

Interventions designed to limit gestational weight gain: a systematic review of theory and meta-analysis of intervention components

Limiting gestational weight gain (GWG) to recommended levels is important to optimize health outcomes for mother and baby. Surprisingly, a recent review revealed that theory-based interventions to limit GWG were less effective than interventions that did not report a theory-base; however, strict criteria were used to identify theory-informed studies. We extended this review and others by systematically evaluating the theories of behaviour change informing GWG interventions using a generalized health psychology perspective, and meta-analysing behaviour change techniques reported in the interventions. Interventions designed to limit GWG were searched for using health, nursing and psychology databases. Papers reporting an underpinning theory were identified and the CALO-RE taxonomy was used to determine individual behaviour change techniques. Nineteen studies were identified for inclusion. Eight studies were informed by a behaviour change theory; six reported favourable effects on GWG. Overall, studies based on theory were as effective as non–theory-based studies at limiting GWG. Furthermore, the provision of information, motivational interviewing, behavioural self-monitoring and providing rewards contingent on successful behaviour appear to be key strategies when intervening in GWG. Combining these behaviour change techniques with dietary interventions may be most effective. Future research should focus on determining the exact combination of behaviour change techniques, or which underpinning theories, are most useful for limiting GWG.

Using online video-recorded interviews to connect the theory and practice of inclusive education in a course for student teachers

This article reports on a study into university preservice teachers’ perceptions of online video-recorded interviews as an alternative to the traditional lecture format in a course on inclusive education. With the aim of assisting preservice teachers to link theory and practice, the series of video-recorded interviews focused on key concepts around educating students with diverse needs and abilities. The interviews were conducted between the course coordinator and a number of professionals with relevant field experience in special education and inclusion, and were then made available to preservice teachers online. Survey data indicated that this type of delivery model was perceived as effective in promoting engagement and learning, and in facilitating an understanding of the connection between theory and practice. Implications for teacher education are discussed.