RESEARCHING SITUATED LEARNING AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICE FOR COLLEGE ACCESS PRACTITIONERS: A CASE STUDY OF THE COLLEGE ASSISTANCE MIGRANT PROGRAM

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-03

The Long and Winding Road: Heterogeneity in the Form and Timing of Postsecondary Education

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Primary personality trait correlates of religious practice and orientation

The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between Eysenck's primary personality factors and various aspects of religious orientation and practice. Some 400 UK undergraduates completed questionnaires constructed from the Batson and Schoenrade Religious Life Inventory (Batson & Schoenrade, 1991) and the Eysenck Personality Profiler (Eysenck, Barrett, Wilson, & Jackson, 1992). As is generally found, all the religious variables correlated negatively with the higher order personality factor of psychoticism. In contrast, among the primary factors, those associated with neuroticism appeared to be the strongest indicators of religiosity. In particular, all the primary traits classically linked to neuroticism correlate positively with the quest orientation. However, fewer primary traits predict religious behaviour in regression and of these, a sense of guilt is the greatest and a common predictor of extrinsic, intrinsic and quest religiosities. Upon factor analysis of the significant personality predictors together with the three religious orientations, the orientations formed a single discrete factor, which implies that extrinsic, intrinsic and quest religiosities have more in common with one another than with any of the personality traits included in the study. This suggests that religious awareness may itself be an important individual difference that is distinct from those generally associated with models of personality. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Binge drinking in university students: A test of the cognitive model

The aim of this study was to test the cognitive model [Addict. Behav. 29 (2004) 159] of binge drinking in university students. In Study 1, 202 participants completed the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire (DEQ), the Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (DRSEQ), and the Khavari Alcohol Test (KAT). The results showed that both alcohol expectancies (AEs) and drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) are needed to discriminate between binge, social, and heavy drinkers. In general, binge drinkers tend to have higher AEs than social drinkers, and have slightly lower DRSE. However, young social and binge drinkers can only be discriminated on the basis of their AEs. One hundred and fourteen students were recruited for the second study, to predict which individuals would engage in binge drinking during a 4-week self-monitoring period. Over 80% of predicted binge drinkers binged at least once during the monitoring period. These two studies confirmed the cognitive model of binge drinking, and thus, hold implications for the prevention of binge drinking among adolescents and young adults. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DO VIRTUAL AO REAL: COMUNICAÇÃO, SEXO E INTERNET

Este trabalho é um estudo exploratório sobre o Ambiente Comunicacional Internet que investiga tanto a possibilidade da influência de suas ferramentas de interação/comunicação sobre o comportamento sexual e de risco quanto o desenvolvimento de comportamento compulsivo no uso destas ferramentas na busca de parceiros sexuais. A metodologia adotada é, além da pesquisa bibliográfica, a da pesquisa exploratória, um levantamento e análise de dados quantitativos e pode ser considerada como pertencente ao paradigma tradicional empírico, pois a coleta de dados foi baseada em respostas a questionários semi-estruturados, aplicados a um grupo de informação composto por 428 estudantes universitários dos cursos ligados à área de Computação e Informática de uma instituição particular de Ensino Superior do município de São Paulo SP, Brasil. Para isso, obedece à Resolução do Conselho Nacional de Saúde CNS 196/96 e conta com o TCLE. Os resultados indicam que as práticas sexuais, a exposição a DST e vírus HIV e, particularmente, a tendência ao desenvolvimento do Transtorno de Adicção à Internet se distinguem de modo irrefutável. Os participantes que alegaram buscar parceiros sexuais reais na Internet são diretos nos seus objetivos, pois quando encontram esse parceiro concretizam o ato sexual, em ambientes impessoais, como por exemplo, o motel, e muitas vezes de modo arriscado no que toca à prevenção e à segurança no contato com outro. Destaca-se, ainda, que a compulsão não é reconhecida pelo grupo e que a procura de parceiros por intermédio das mídias digitais, para esse grupo, não está relacionada a itens negativos quanto a sua qualidade de vida o que suscita o estudo e a discussão mais aprofundada sobre a interação comunicação, sexo e Internet .(AU)

A PROMOÇÃO DE SAÚDE EM SALA DE AULA NA PERSPECTIVA DE ESTUDANTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS

Essa dissertação de mestrado aborda as temáticas de saúde, promoção de saúde e o lúdico na sala de aula do estudante universitário durante a aprendizagem. O objetivo geral foi verificar a partir do ponto de vista dos universitários a existência da promoção de saúde na sala de aula. Optou-se por um método descritivo e exploratório com emprego de análise de conteúdo. O autor utilizou as entrevistas de 15 alunos dos cursos de pedagogia, direito e administração de empresas de vários semestres dos cursos. Os resultados permitem afirmar que os entrevistados possuem uma percepção acerca dos conceitos de promoção de saúde, sobretudo no que diz respeito à saúde como a conjugação de bem estar e a boa manutenção dos aspectos que configuram a saúde física e mental. Alguns entrevistados afirmaram que o lúdico seria passível de utilização apenas em cursos que visam à formação para a prática docente. A sala de aula pode ser entendida como um espaço de promoção de saúde e disparador dos processos criativos na aprendizagem. Apontou-se também a possibilidade de se manter abertos os canais que possibilitam a melhora da saúde por meio da realização de atividades lúdicas sabendo que essas trazem benefícios não somente no processo de socialização necessário ao enfrentamento das situações cotidianas que permeiam o universo escolar, mas, acima de tudo, na manutenção de um ambiente relacional que pode trazer benefícios em todas as dimensões do convívio escolar.

MANIFESTAÇÕES PSICOSSOMÁTICAS EM UNIVERSITÁRIOS PORTUGUESES, A PARTIR DA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE SINTOMAS DE ANSIEDADE, DEPRESSÃO E STRESS

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos investigar a presença de manifestações psicossomáticas em estudantes universitários, a partir da identificação e da prevalência de sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e stress entre outros transtornos; identificar sinais e sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e stress em universitários portugueses; e correlacionar os sinais e sintomas entre si. Utilizou-se o método quantitativo descritivo de corte transversal. Como meio de investigação, foram utilizados três instrumentos: O Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado de Spilberber IDATE, a Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stress EADS-21 (DASS) e o Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp ISSL. A amostra resultou em 147 universitários de primeiro ingresso na universidade com idade variando entre 18 e 26 anos da Universidade do Algarve Ualg (Portugal), em seus diversos cursos. Os dados obtidos foram analisados e correlacionados com o auxilio do software estatístico SPSS - Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), versão 19.0 para Windows, utilizando a análise estatística descritiva de frequência e média, Teste T de Student e ANOVA. Os resultados apontaram uma amostra em sua maioria de mulheres, solteiras, que saíram da casa dos pais para estudar e que no momento da coleta dos dados não exerciam atividades de trabalho, apenas estudavam. Houve presença de indicadores de ansiedade, depressão e stress, sendo o nível de ansiedade encontrado moderado e vinculado à probabilidade de depressão associada. Em relação a manifestações psicossomáticas, foi identificada uma dificuldade em auto-avaliação da presença destas, porém entendeu-se que há associação de manifestações psicossomáticas em relação aos sintomas de stress, ansiedade e depressão, encontrados. Levantou-se a hipótese de associação desses sintomas com a situação atual de crise econômica que passa a sociedade portuguesa, principalmente no período de coleta desses dados. Assim, verificou-se um possível estado de vulnerabilidade nesta população com alguma dificuldade em se adaptar às novas exigências de vida, necessitando então de medidas preventivas que auxiliem a adaptação e reestruturação do estilo de vida desses estudantes.

A systems approach to students' motivation and academic achievement

This research followed earlier work (reported in a thesis presented in 1970) on factors associated with the academic performance of a sample of technical college students, which recommended the further study of students' motivation. The technical college then became part of a polytechnic, but the courses chosen for the continuation of the research were all of a specifically vocational character. The approach was influenced by Angyal (1941) in seeking to relate symbolic processes to broader behaviour patterns within a systems framework. Forms of semantic differential were developed to obtain the students' responses to words representing various activities and various people both within and outside the academic environment. Also, a "!growth motivation questionnaire" was produced using ideas from self-actualisation, job satisfaction and expectancy theory and examination marks were recorded. From pre-coded responses to the growth motivation questionnaire, scores on a 'study satisfaction' factor were calculated, and subsamples of students were taken at the extremes of this scale. Wriitten responses from the same questionnaire and semantic differential factor scores showed contrasting patterns between the two subsamples. Interpretation of these patterns suggested a diversity of approach to academic work among the students which calls for greater flexibility in the educational system serving them.

Differential effectiveness of two anxiety induction procedures in youth and older adult populations

In this study, we tested in older and younger adults the efficacy of two well-known procedures to experimentally induce anxiety: a) Velten self-statements combined with music; b) film scenes. We extended the pre-vious findings in this field to the understudied area of mood induction in older adults. Fifty-seven older adults and 94 college students were random-ly assigned to one of the experimental conditions or to a control group. Results indicated that both procedures were effective, according to a series of ANOVAs for several self-report, physiological, and behavioral measures. Likewise, the highest effect sizes were observed for the Velten procedure (g = .81 vs. g = .71), and the effects were significantly higher in younger (g = 1.0 in the Velten condition) than in older adults (g = .62), Q = 4.25, X2(1), p = .0392. Both procedures were effective to induce inducting anxiety in both age groups, especially the Velten procedure in younger adults. Therefore, Velten self-statements combined with music may be very useful anxiety induction procedure for further research in controlled situa-tions of emotions across the life-span.

Consumer behaviour and lifestyle patterns of Hungarian students in view of environmental awareness

The aim of this paper is to describe the consumer behaviour and everyday lifestyle patterns of Hungarian university and college students. The results are gained from an international survey, carried out by the Department of Environmental Economics and Technology at the Corvinus University of Budapest, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. As background literature, characteristics of the consumer society and the development of sustainable consumption as a concept are interpreted in the paper. The empirical analysis aims to describe the most important clusters of students, based on the factors of their consumer behaviour, environmental activism and pro-environmental everyday habits. Our results identify two extreme clusters which most significantly differ from each other: the environmental activists and the indifferent group. However, a third cluster has the most modest consumer behaviour, namely the group which considers product features, energy consumption and the behaviour of producers. They spend the least on consumer goods. The three other clusters show quite mixed lifestyle patterns.

Transcultural experiences: A literature bridge to English for ESOL students from Cuba

This qualitative study is concerned with exploring the transcultural experiences of ESOL students and connecting their lived experiences to literature in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the transcultural perspectives of six high school and community college students: four Cuban born students and two American born/raised students of Cuban-American culture. The participants were from Barbara Goleman Senior High School and Miami-Dade Community College. The six phenomenological portraits were explored in the form of lived experience pieces, representing the students' transcultural experiences. The data was collected in the form of student interviews, researcher's journal, and document reviews. The following exploratory questions guided this study: (1) From the perspective of four Cuban-born, non-native English-speaking students (NNS), what are the essential structures of their transcultural identities? (2) What are the underlying themes that account for the Cuban NNS students' transcultural experiences? (3) What are the universal transcultural structures among the Cuban NNS students' transcultural experiences and the Cuban-American, native English/Spanish speaking (NESS) students' experiences? (4) What are the possible structural meanings of the Cuban NNS students' interests in relation to their transcultural experiences? (5) What are some connections between the structural themes inherent in the Cuban NNS students' transcultural experiences and teaching literature in ESOL? ^ A phenomenological approach was used to investigate the participants' transcultural experiences, focused on the students' lived experiences. The study consisted of three interview sessions for each of the six participants. The analysis of the data was conducted following the principles of qualitative research, which included participant interviews, thematic analysis, researcher's journal, document reviews, and triangulation. The researcher created portraits representing students' transcultural experiences. Subsequently, the participants' transcultural experiences were used to respond to the exploratory questions, including comparing and contrasting themes and drawing connections among teaching literature in the ESOL classroom. ^ The results of this study show some relevant specific statements and themes that emerged from the students' transcultural data. The results serve as a better understanding of these students' transcultural experiences and the potentiality of connecting their perspectives to literature in the classroom. In addition, this study shows the need for a better understanding of the connection between transcultural experiences and literature in ESOL. ^

Coronary heart disease risk factors among tri-ethnic students at Florida International University

The present study identified and compared Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk factors quantified as “CHD risk point standards” (CHDRPS) among tri-ethnic (White non-Hispanic [WNH], Hispanic [H], and Black non-Hispanic [BNH]) college students. All 300 tri-ethnic subjects completed the Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Instruments and had blood pressure readings recorded on three occasions. The Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) was used to measure body composition. Students' knowledge of CHD risk factors was also measured. In addition, a 15 ml fasting blood sample was collected from 180 subjects and blood lipids and Homocysteine (tHcy) levels were measured. Data were analyzed by gender and ethnicity using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni's pairwise mean comparison procedure, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square test with follow-up Bonferroni's Chi-square tests. ^ The mean score of CHDRPS for all subjects was 19.15 ± 6.79. Assigned to the CHD risk category, college students were below-average risk of developing CHD. Males scored significantly (p < 0.013) higher for CHD risk than females, and BNHs scored significantly (p < 0.033) higher than WNHs. High consumption of dietary fat saturated fat and cholesterol resulted in a high CHDRPS among H males and females and WNH females. High alcohol consumption resulted in a high CHDRPS among all subjects. Mean tHcy ± SD of all subjects was 6.33 ± 3. 15 μmol/L. Males had significantly (p < 0.001) higher tHcy than females. Black non-Hispanic females and H females had significantly (p < 0.003) lower tHcy than WNH females. Positive associations were found between tHcy levels and CHDRPS among females (p < 0.001), Hs (p < 0.001), H males (p < 0.049), H females (p < 0.009), and BNH females (p < 0.005). Significant positive correlations were found between BMI levels and CHDRPS in males (p < 0.001), females (p < 0.001), WNHs (p < 0.008), Hs (p < 0.001), WNH males (p < 0.024), H males (p < 0.004) and H females (p < 0.001). The mean knowledge of CHD questions of all subjects was 71.70 ± 7.92 out of 100. The mean knowledge of CHD was significantly higher for WNH males (p < 0.039) than BNH males. A significant inverse correlation (r = 0.392, p < 0.032) was found between the CHD knowledge and CHDRPS in WNH females. The researcher's findings indicate strong gender and ethnic differences in CHD risk factors among the college-age population. ^

Academic and nonacademic experiences that affect first-generation college student attrition

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the academic and nonacademic experiences of self-identified first-generation college students who left college before their second year. The study sought to find how the experiences might have affected the students' decision to depart. The case study method was used to investigate these college students who attended Florida International University. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six ex-students who identified themselves as first-generation college students. The narrative data from the interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed. Analysis was informed by Pascarella, Pierson, Wolniak, and Terenzini's (2004) theoretical framework of important college academic and nonacademic experiences. An audit trail was kept and the data was triangulated by using multiple sources to establish certain findings. The most critical tool for enhancing trustworthiness was the use of member checking. I also received ongoing feedback from my major professor and committee throughout the dissertation process. The participants reported the following academic experiences: (a) patterns of coursework; (b) course-related interactions with peers; (c) relationships with faculty; (d) class size; (e) academic advisement; (f) orientation and peer advisors; and (e) financial aid. The participants reported the following nonacademic experiences; (f) on- or off- campus employment; (g) on- or off-campus residence; (h) participation in extracurricular activities; (i) noncourse-related peer relationships; (j) commuting and parking; and (k) FIU as an HSI. Isolationism and poor fit with the university were the most prevalent reasons for departure. The reported experiences of these first-generation college students shed light on those experiences that contributed to their departure. University administrators should give additional attention to these stories in an effort to improve retention strategies for this population. All but two of the participants went on to enroll in other institutions and reported good experiences with their new institutions. Recommendations are provided for continued research concerning how to best meet the needs of college students like the participants; students who have not learned from their parents about higher education financial aid, academic advisement, and orientation.

From foster care to college: Young adults' perceptions of factors that impacted their academic achievement

Despite increased Federal, state, and local efforts in the United States to improve outcomes among young adults who emancipate from foster care, low educational achievement and attainment continue to characterize this vulnerable subpopulation. Approximately 50% of foster children do not obtain a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). Only about 20% of former foster children enroll in college, compared to 60% of youth not in foster care. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and explain the perceptions of college students who had lived in foster care regarding the external and internal influences that impacted their academic achievement and attainment. Interviews with a purposefully selected sample of 24 Florida college students were conducted; transcripts were coded and analyzed thematically. Findings included that participants experienced a particular set of external and internal influences at school, in foster care settings, and in the community. External influences include interactions with (a) multiple non-relative guardians and case workers, (b) relatives, especially siblings, (c) mentors, (d) teachers and school administrators, and (e) school counselors. Internal influences include the barriers of anger and bad behavior and a newly identified set of internal characteristics, called success strengths by the researcher, that promote academic achievement and college attainment. Implications are as follows: (a) Future theory on academic achievement concerning foster youth should reflect the importance of the affective aspect of school interactions. (b) Policy should mandate awareness training for educators, social workers, and other adults who work with former foster youth to increase professionals' awareness of the barriers, supports and success strengths that impact the academic lives of children and youth in foster care. (c) Adult educators and human resource development professionals should develop and implement appropriate new education and training materials and interventions. Future research may include a similar interview with former foster youth who graduated from college and with foster youth who leave school before graduating. Finally, a study with a nationally representative sample of college enrolled former foster children should be conducted to determine the relative importance of the barriers, supports and success strengths identified in this study.

Explaining the effects of class size on faculty and students

This study explored the effects of class size on faculty and students. Specifically, it examined the relationship of class size and students' participation in class, faculty interactive styles, and academic environment and how these behaviors affected student achievement (percentage of students passing). The sample was composed of 629 students in 30 sections of Algebra I at a large, urban community college. A survey was administered to the students to solicit their perceptions on their participation in class, their faculty interaction style, and the academic environment in their classes. Selected classes were observed to triangulate the findings. The relationship of class size to student participation, faculty interactive styles, and academic environment was determined by using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). A significant difference was found on the participation of students related to class size. Students in smaller classes participated more and were more engaged than students in larger classes. Regression analysis using the same variables in small and large classes showed that faculty interactive styles significantly predicted student achievement. Stepwise regression analyses of student and faculty background variables showed that (a) students' estimate of GPA was significantly related to their achievement (r = .63); (b) older students reported more participation than did younger ones, (c) students in classes taught by female, Hispanic faculty earned higher passing grades, and (d) students' participation was greater with adjunct professors. Class observations corroborated these findings. The analysis and observational data provided sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that small classes were not always most effective in promoting achievement. It was found that small classes may be an artifact of ineffectual teaching, actual or by reputation. While students in small classes participate and are more engaged than students in larger classes, the class-size effect is essentially due to what happens in instruction to promote learning. The interaction of the faculty with students significantly predicted students' achievement regardless of class size. Since college students select their own classes, students do not register for classes taught by faculty with poor teaching reputation, thereby leading to small classes. Further studies are suggested to determine reasons why classes differ in size.