Process Evaluation of the Roots of Empathy Program

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative process evaluation of the Roots of Empathy (ROE) programme. ROE is a universal, classroom-based intervention, which aims to enhance social and emotional learning of primary (elementary) school children. Effective delivery of such complex social interventions in real-world settings requires in-depth knowledge and understanding of factors that interact to influence implementation and fidelity. A case study methodology was employed with six schools, to explore the views of key actors and stakeholders involved in the delivery and receipt of the programme. Overall, ROE was delivered with high fidelity and the programme was viewed positively across the schools. However, one issue was the varied level of interest and awareness of the programme from parents.

The Well London program - a cluster randomized trial of community engagement for improving health behaviors and mental wellbeing: baseline survey results

Background The Well London programme used community engagement, complemented by changes to the physical and social neighbourhood environment, to improve physical activity levels, healthy eating and mental wellbeing in the most deprived communities in London. The effectiveness of Well London is being evaluated in a pair-matched cluster randomised trial (CRT). The baseline survey data are reported here. Methods The CRT involved 20 matched pairs of intervention and control communities (defined as UK census lower super output areas; ranked in the 11% most deprived LSOAs in London by Index of Multiple Deprivation) across 20 London boroughs. The primary trial outcomes, sociodemographic information and environmental neighbourhood characteristics were assessed in three quantitative components within the Well London CRT at baseline: a cross-sectional, interviewer-administered adult household survey; a self-completed, school-based adolescent questionnaire; a fieldworker completed neighbourhood environmental audit. Baseline data collection occurred in 2008. Physical activity, healthy eating and mental wellbeing were assessed using standardised, validated questionnaire tools. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data in the outcomes and other variables in the adult and adolescent surveys. Results There were 4107 adults and 1214 adolescent respondents in the baseline surveys. The intervention and control areas were broadly comparable with respect to the primary outcomes and key sociodemographic characteristics. The environmental characteristics of the intervention and control neighbourhoods were broadly similar. There was greater between cluster variation in the primary outcomes in the adult population compared to the adolescent population. Levels of healthy eating, smoking and self-reported anxiety/depression were similar in the Well London population and the national Health Survey for England. Levels of physical activity were higher in the Well London population but this is likely to be due to the different measurement tools used in the two surveys. Conclusions Randomisation of social interventions such as Well London is acceptable and feasible and in this study the intervention and control arms are well balanced with respect to the primary outcomes and key sociodemographic characteristics. The matched design has improved the statistical efficiency of the study amongst adults but less so amongst adolescents. Follow-up data collection will be completed 2012.

Increasing the use of group interventions in a pediatric rehabilitation program: perceptions of administrators, therapists, and parents

Objectives. To explore perceptions related to increased utilization of group interventions as a part of the service reorganization within a pediatric rehabilitation program. Methods. Individual interviews with program administrators (n=13) and focus groups with therapists (n=19) and parents of children with disabilities (n=5) were conducted. Data were analyzed using a coding grid inspired by the organized action systems theory. Results. Administrators and therapists identified several issues including the need to improve the referral process for groups and the coordination across services. Groups considerably modified practice and required substantial efforts from therapists. Administrators felt groups contributed to increased service accessibility. Although therapists had some doubts about service quality in groups, especially in regard to the reduced attention to individual needs, they reported positive benefits on children’s social participation. Generally, parents were satisfied with group interventions. Conclusion. Groups appear to be a promising method of service delivery, but organizational-related issues should be considered.

Screening for success in a visual arts program.

Abstract: Little research has been directed towards determining means of predicting success in visual arts programs. Therefore, this study attemps to profile a typical successful student in a visual arts program, namely the Illustration & Design program at Dawson College. To this end, questionnaires, designed by the researcher, served to investigate the students' reasons for choosing the program as well as provide demographic data. In addition, students' personality types were investigated by means of the online Sternberg & Wagner Thinking Styles Inventory (SWTSI) questionnaire. Using the SPSS statistical software, an analysis was done to determine whether students who offer intrinsically motivated reasons for applying to the Illustration & Design program are those who also demonstrate greater academic success. Furthermore, grounding this study in Sternberg's theory of mental self governance, students' college grades were correlated to their personality type to determine if Type I personality types perform better academically than Type II or Type III (Zhang, 2005), The participants consisted of three cohorts (128 students form semester 1, 3 and 5) of the Illustration & Design program, as well as two comparison groups, one from the Fine Arts program (24 students), and another from the Business Administration program, a non-visual arts program at Dawson College (20 students).||Résumé: Les recherches portant sur l'identification de moyens qui permettent de prédire la réussite dans les programmes d'arts plastiques sont très rares. Par conséquent, cette étude tente de dresser le profil de l'élève type qui réussit dans un programme d'arts visuels, à savoir le programme Illustration & Design au Collège Dawson. À cette fin, des questionnaires conçus par le chercheur ont servi à déterminer les raisons pour lesquelles l'élève a choisi ce programme et ont permis de fournir des données démographiques. En outre, les étudiants ont été catégorisés par type de personnalité au moyen du questionnaire Sternberg & Wagner Thinking Styles Inventory (SWTSI). Grâce au logiciel statistique SPSS, une analyse a été effectuée afin de déterminer si les élèves dont la motivation comptait beaucoup dans leur choix du programme Illustration & Design étaient aussi ceux qui affichaient un taux de réussite plus élevé. En outre, en s'appuyant sur la Théorie d'autonomie de gestion mentale de Sternberg, cette étude avait pour but de corréler les résultats scolaires des élèves à leur personnalité afin de déterminer si les étudiants du Type de personnalité I avaient de meilleurs résultats scolaires que ceux de Type II et de Type III (Zhang, 2005). Les participants étaient composés de trois cohortes (128 étudiants des 1er, 3e et 5e semestres) du programme Illustration et Design ainsi que de deux groupes témoins, un groupe de 24 élèves du programme de Techniques de l'Administration, programme en dehors des arts visuels.

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species and Communities Tracked by the SC DNR Heritage Trust Program

This species lists for South Carolina provides the scientific name, common name, USESA designation, state protection level, global rank, and state rank of rare, threatened, and endangered species and communities known to occur in the state.

Environmental Implications of Hotel Growth in China: Integrating Sustainability with Hotel Development

China has embarked on the largest program of new hotel construction the world has ever seen. Even though the nation’s growth rate has eased somewhat in the past year, China’s hotel development continues at a pace that would see at least three new 150+ room hotels open every day for the next 25 years.1 Even if the industry does not continue to expand at this rate, China’s hotel growth carries substantial consequences in terms of increases in energy and water consumption, and an expanding carbon footprint. In this paper, we outline the dimensions of this issue, and we urge hotel developers to heed the national government’s push for greater sustainability.

Efficiency in the Enrollment Process for the South Carolina Intellectual Disability and Related Disabilities Waiver Program

The Intellectual Disability and Related Disabilities waiver has had many changes over the years and has evolved into a robust service package that can be a significant help to individuals who wish to remain in the community or at home but would otherwise require institutional level care. Due to the limited amount of funds, it was necessary to create a waiting list for individuals who wish to participate in the ID/RD Waiver program. This project was undertaken to assess if there were practical steps that could be taken to assist in reducing the time and cost involved in the ID/RD Waiver enrollment process.

Annual Christmas Program, December 3, 1939

Concert program for Annual Christmas Program, December 3, 1939

The Contemporary Group Program Notes, May 15, 1974

Concert program for The Contemporary Group Program Notes, May 15, 1974

University Chorale in a Program for the American Choral Directors Northwest Division Convention, February 27, 1976

Concert program for University Chorale, February 27, 1976

Program slice metrics and their potential role in DSL design, position paper

The advantages a DSL and the benefits its use potentially brings imply that informed decisions on the design of a domain specific language are of paramount importance for its use. We believe that the foundations of such decisions should be informed by analysis of data empirically collected from systems to highlight salient features that should then form the basis of a DSL. To support this theory, we describe an empirical study of a large OSS called Barcode, written in C, and from which we collected two well-known 'slice' based metrics. We analyzed multiple versions of the system and sliced its functions in three separate ways (i.e., input, output and global variables). The purpose of the study was to try and identify sensitivities and traits in those metrics that might inform features of a potential slice-based DSL. Results indicated that cohesion was adversely affected through the use of global variables and that appreciation of the role of function inputs and outputs can be revealed through slicing. The study presented is motivated primarily by the problems with current tools and interfaces experienced directly by the authors in extracting slicing data and the need to promote the benefits that analysis of slice data and slicing in general can offer.

A Program of Original Compositions, May 6, 1943

Concert Program for A Program of Original Compositions, May 6, 1943

A Concerto Program, February 20, 1966

Concert program for A Concerto Program, February 20, 1966

Program February 1, 1980

Concert Program for Program, February 1, 1980