Translating Research into Practice: HEADS UP and K-12 Science Inspiring Health and Careers in Youth

Introduction: HEADS UP {Health Education And Discovering Science while Unlocking Potential} aims to improve health literacy and increase student interest in health science careers by providing cutting-edge content from world-renowned researchers in the Texas Medical Center and beyond to the K-12 school community. [See PDF for complete abstract]

A Neural Trait Approach to Exploring Individual Differences in Social Preferences

Research demonstrates that social preferences are characterized by significant individual differences. An important question, often overlooked, is from where do these individual differences originate? And what are the processes that underlie such differences? In this paper, we outline the neural trait approach to uncovering sources of individual differences in social preferences, particularly as evidenced in economic games. We focus on two primary methods—resting-state electroencephalography and structural magnetic resonance imaging—used by researchers to quantify task-independent, brain-based characteristics that are stable over time. We review research that has employed these methods to investigate social preferences with an emphasis on a key psychological process in social decision-making; namely, self-control. We then highlight future opportunities for the neural trait approach in cutting-edge decision-making research. Finally, we explore the debate about self-control in social decision-making and the potential role neural trait research could play in this issue.

Linking Applied Ethnobotany to Social Learning: A Participatory Tool for the Promotion of Indigenous Plants Use in Matutuíne, Southern Mozambique

In its search for pathways towards a more sustainable management of natural resources, development oriented research increasingly faces the challenge to develop new concepts and tools based on transdisciplinarity. Transdisciplinarity can, in terms of an idealized goal, be defined as a research approach that identifies and solves problems not only independently of disciplinary boundaries, but also including the knowledge and perceptions of non-scientific actors in a participatory process. In Mozambique, the Centre for Development and Environment (Berne, Switzerland), in partnership with Impacto and Helvetas (Maputo, Mozambique), has elaborated a new transdisciplinary tool to identify indigenous plants with a potential for commercialization. The tool combines methods from applied ethnobotany with participatory research in a social learning process. This approach was devised to support a development project aimed at creating alternative sources of income for rural communities of Matutuíne district, Southern Mozambique, while reducing the pressure on the natural environment. The methodology, which has been applied and tested, is innovative in that it combines important data collection through participatory research with a social learning process involving both local and external actors. This mutual learning process provides a space for complementary forms of knowledge to meet, eventually leading to the adoption of an integrated approach to natural resource management with an understanding of its ecological, socio-economic and cultural aspects; local stakeholders are included in the identification of potentials for sustainable development. Sustainable development itself, as a normative concept, can only be defined through social learning and consensus building between the local and external stakeholders.

Preservice, Secondary Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions of Gender Equity

This study examines preservice, social studies teachers’ perceptions of gender equity. The assumption that preservice teachers recognize gender as an important issue and are willing and able to take the initiative to remedy inequities in their classroom structures and content is considered. Six participants were interviewed using Seidman’s (2006) three-round, interview protocol. A focused life history was compiled to situate participants’ perceptions within their personal and professional experiences. Findings suggest a disconnect between preservice teachers' intentions and their practice in regards to gender equity. More explicit attention to gender equity in teacher education programs is recommended.

Federally regulated institutional review boards: The aspects of a "model" IRB---Is the current system in need of a tune up or complete overhaul?

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are the primary gatekeepers for the protection of ethical standards of federally regulated research on human subjects in this country. This paper focuses on what general, broad measures that may be instituted or enhanced to exemplify a "model IRB". This is done by examining the current regulatory standards of federally regulated IRBs, not private or commercial boards, and how many of those standards have been found either inadequate or not generally understood or followed. The analysis includes suggestions on how to bring about changes in order to make the IRB process more efficient, less subject to litigation, and create standardized educational protocols for members. The paper also considers how to include better oversight for multi-center research, increased centralization of IRBs, utilization of Data Safety Monitoring Boards when necessary, payment for research protocol review, voluntary accreditation, and the institution of evaluation/quality assurance programs. ^ This is a policy study utilizing secondary analysis of publicly available data. Therefore, the research for this paper focuses on scholarly medical/legal journals, web information from the Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Drug Administration, and the Office of the Inspector General, Accreditation Programs, law review articles, and current regulations applicable to the relevant portions of the paper. ^ Two issues are found to be consistently cited by the literature as major concerns. One is a need for basic, standardized educational requirements across all IRBs and its members, and secondly, much stricter and more informed management of continuing research. There is no federally regulated formal education system currently in place for IRB members, except for certain NIH-based trials. Also, IRBs are not keeping up with research once a study has begun, and although regulated to do so, it does not appear to be a great priority. This is the area most in danger of increased litigation. Other issues such as voluntary accreditation and outcomes evaluation are slowing gaining steam as the processes are becoming more available and more sought after, such as JCAHO accrediting of hospitals. ^ Adopting the principles discussed in this paper should promote better use of a local IRBs time, money, and expertise for protecting the vulnerable population in their care. Without further improvements to the system, there is concern that private and commercial IRBs will attempt to create a monopoly on much of the clinical research in the future as they are not as heavily regulated and can therefore offer companies quicker and more convenient reviews. IRBs need to consider the advantages of charging for their unique and important services as a cost of doing business. More importantly, there must be a minimum standard of education for all IRB members in the area of the ethical standards of human research and a greater emphasis placed on the follow-up of ongoing research as this is the most critical time for study participants and may soon lead to the largest area for litigation. Additionally, there should be a centralized IRB for multi-site trials or a study website with important information affecting the trial in real time. There needs to be development of standards and metrics to assess the performance of the IRBs for quality assurance and outcome evaluations. The boards should not be content to run the business of human subjects' research without determining how well that function is actually being carried out. It is important that federally regulated IRBs provide excellence in human research and promote those values most important to the public at large.^

THE EFFECT OF PERSON-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION ON ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUBJECTIVE DISTRESS OF OPTOMETRY STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an incongruence between personality characteristics of individuals and concomitant charcteristics of health professional training environments on salient dimensions contributes to aspects of mental health. The dimensions examined were practical-theoretical orientation and the degree of structure-unstructure. They were selected for study as they are particularly important attributes of students and of learning environments. It was proposed that when the demand of the environment is disparate from the proclivities of the individual, strain arises. This strain was hypothesized to contribute to anxiety, depression, and subjective distress.^ Select subscales on the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) were the operationalized measures for the personality component of the dimensions studied. An environmental index was developed to assess students' perceptions of the learning environment on these same dimensions. The Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and General Well-Being schedule measured the outcome variables.^ A congruence model was employed to determine person-environment (P-E) interaction. Scores on the scales of the OPI and the environmental index were divided into high, medium, and low based on the range of scores. Congruence was defined as a match between the level of personality need and the complementary level of the perception of the environment. Alternatively, incongruence was defined as a mismatch between the person and the environment. The consistent category was compared to the inconsistent categories by an analysis of variance procedure. Furthermore, analyses of covariance were conducted with perceived supportiveness of the learning environment and life events external to the learning environment as the covariates. These factors were considered critical influences affecting the outcome measures.^ One hundred and eighty-five students (49% of the population) at the College of Optometry at the University of Houston participated in the study. Students in all four years of the program were equally represented in the study. However, the sample differed from the total population on representation by sex, marital status, and undergraduate major.^ The results of the study did not support the hypotheses. Further, after having adjusted for perceived supportiveness and life events external to the learning environment, there were no statistically significant differences between the congruent category and incongruent categories. Means indicated than the study sample experienced significantly lower depression and subjective distress than the normative samples.^ Results are interpreted in light of their utility for future study design in the investigation of the effects of P-E interaction. Emphasized is the question of the feasibility of testing a P-E interaction model with extant groups. Recommendations for subsequent research are proposed in light of the exploratory nature of the methodology. ^

Os (des)caminhos de um pesquisador do futebol brasileiro

The research in professional football within the human and social sciences, despite increased, still faced limitations and restrictions imposed by the clubs, hindering its realization. As part of my master's thesis, this article aims to portray the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group and to detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers. Furthermore, the relationship between the researcher and the football club was analyzed and described, as well as the limitations and obstacles encountered during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having social psychology as a theoretical background (Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière), this research resulted from the analysis of a professional football club (players, staff and executives of a club with national and international importance) during 5 days of daily contact with the group in games, practice, concentration and meals. The difficulties in analyzing the group's leadership and cohesion were vast, among which stand out the difficulty or impossibility of access to the places-situations suggested as methodology, their refusals to interviews and rejection of the administration of a free choice test. The bond created and the roles taken harmed attempts for further analysis. Therefore, due to the characteristics of contemporary football, especially the financial and political interests the difficulties likely to arise range according to the characteristics of the institution

La enseñanza de las Ciencias Sociales en los profesorados de educación primaria de la provincia de Buenos Aires : La Geografía, gran ausente : Análisis de situación y aporte superador

Alejandro Kaufman (2008) señala que grandes transformaciones se están produciendo desde una perspectiva histórico - cultural en la relación que se establece entre la educación y la sociedad. Y que muchas de las tensiones entre ambas son el producto de lo que denomina "novedades" culturales. Sostiene que la educación se ha sustentado en una cierta previsibilidad y que, en cuanto que la modernidad representa progreso, el cual estaría asociado a la desaparición o transformación de muchas de esas certidumbres, la escuela estaría sufriendo ciertas modificaciones que involucran los propios cimientos de la institución escolar. La formación de los futuros maestros en el área de Ciencias Sociales debe ser ajustada a los requerimientos de esta nueva sociedad. El abordaje de la Didáctica de las Ciencias Sociales debe considerar las nuevas aproximaciones epistemológicas y temáticas relevantes en las propuestas pedagógicas. Es indispensable que, así como existen contenidos de Geografía en los planes de estudio de los profesorados y profusas indicaciones para su tratamiento en los diseños curriculares de Primero y Segundo ciclo, se verifique el desarrollo de los mismos desde una mirada crítica que permita tanto a docentes como alumnos un compromiso con el mundo en el que la escuela está inserta

Utilidad social de conocimientos científicos, grupos de investigación académicos y problemas sociales

El trabajo analiza, desde la perspectiva de los Estudios Sociales de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, el proceso de construcción de significados de utilidad de conocimientos científicos en el marco de interacciones entre actores heterogéneos en el caso de tres grupos de investigación académicos que orientan parte de su tarea hacia la resolución de problemas sociales. Como resultado, se presenta un análisis de las modificaciones que sufren los procesos de producción de conocimiento y organización del trabajo académico una vez que los investigadores ingresan en redes de relaciones con otros actores; las diferentes modalidades de vinculación entre productores y usuarios de conocimientos y los procesos de negociación de alternativas de uso y de definición de "demandas" en escenarios de interacción.

Os (des)caminhos de um pesquisador do futebol brasileiro

The research in professional football within the human and social sciences, despite increased, still faced limitations and restrictions imposed by the clubs, hindering its realization. As part of my master's thesis, this article aims to portray the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group and to detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers. Furthermore, the relationship between the researcher and the football club was analyzed and described, as well as the limitations and obstacles encountered during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having social psychology as a theoretical background (Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière), this research resulted from the analysis of a professional football club (players, staff and executives of a club with national and international importance) during 5 days of daily contact with the group in games, practice, concentration and meals. The difficulties in analyzing the group's leadership and cohesion were vast, among which stand out the difficulty or impossibility of access to the places-situations suggested as methodology, their refusals to interviews and rejection of the administration of a free choice test. The bond created and the roles taken harmed attempts for further analysis. Therefore, due to the characteristics of contemporary football, especially the financial and political interests the difficulties likely to arise range according to the characteristics of the institution