scholarly journals Measuring Equity Across the Nordic Education Systems—Conceptual and Methodological Choices as Implications for Educational Policies

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-71
Author(s):  
Oleksandra Mittal ◽  
Trude Nilsen ◽  
Julius K. Björnsson
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Educational Equity ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Eighth Grade Students ◽  
Status Measure ◽  
Education Decision ◽  
Analytical Approaches

AbstractEver since international large-scale student assessments made it possible to rank countries according to their equitability, Nordic countries have topped these rankings. Nevertheless, a decline in equity has been reported lately. However, the process of empirical enquiry that leads to specific inferences on equity partly stays obscure to education decision-makers. This unawareness of the boundaries of specific methodological and analytical approaches may lead to wrong interpretations and policy implications. Therefore, our aim is to discuss and empirically illustrate how the array of choices taken throughout the research process, from equity conceptualization and operationalization to its measurement, may affect the inferences on educational equity for Nordic countries. Our sample includes fourth- and eighth-grade students from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland who participated in TIMSS 2015. We applied two-level multigroup regression models within the structural equation modelling framework to investigate the sensitivity of the countries’ level of equity to: (a) operationalization of the socioeconomic status measure; (b) operationalization of equity or, in other words, the method of analysis employed (e.g., bivariate analysis versus univariate); (c) single-level against multilevel analytical approaches; (d) the grade/age of students; and (e) the choice of the learning outcome across subject domains. Prior to the analyses, we estimated the comparability of SES as a latent construct between Nordic countries. Our results confirmed that some of the most common choices to measure educational equity do matter. Thus, we would encourage a researcher to report elaborately on the research process and inform on its limitations because if interpreted wrongly, it may have unfavourable consequences for a particular group of individuals.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Role in Enhancing Equity—A Multilevel Structural Equation Modelling with Mediated Moderation

2020 ◽  
pp. 173-196
Author(s):  
Trude Nilsen ◽  
Ronny Scherer ◽  
Jan-Eric Gustafsson ◽  
Nani Teig ◽  
Hege Kaarstein
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Quality ◽  
Student Outcomes ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Science Achievement ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Instructional Quality ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Eighth Grade Students ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Random Slopes

AbstractEven though equity is an important aim for the Nordic countries, for many of these countries, the effect of a student’s home background on their achievement seems to increase over time. If the aim is to reduce the effect of SES (socioeconomic status) on student outcomes, there is a need to identify the factors that moderate this relation. One such factor could be teachers and their instruction because they have been found to be key to student outcomes. However, few have linked teachers and their instruction to equity, and fewer still have made this link in Nordic countries. The aim of the present study is to identify the aspects of teacher quality and their instruction that may reduce the relationship between SES and student achievement in the Nordic countries. Eighth-grade students from the only two Nordic countries participating in TIMSS 2015 (Norway and Sweden) were selected. Multigroup, multilevel (students and classes) structural equation models with random slopes were employed to investigate which aspects of teacher quality moderate the relation between SES and student science achievement via instructional quality. The findings show that teacher professional development and specialisation reduce the relation between SES and science achievement via instructional quality in Sweden, while there were no significant findings for Norway. This study contributes to the fields of equity and teacher effectiveness, demonstrating that teachers may make a difference in reducing inequity through their competence and instruction.

Digital Adaptability: A New Measure for Digital Inequality Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 089443932092608
Author(s):  
Cassidy Puckett
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Students ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Eighth Grade Students ◽  
And Mathematics

Past research suggests the ability to adapt to technological change by learning new technologies is a core feature of technological competence and consequential for inequality. Yet there exists no definition or measure of what people do to learn technologies that are new to them and empirically link this to inequality. To address this gap, I conducted studies involving over 2,000 adolescents to develop and validate a measure of what I call “digital adaptability,” the use of five habits that help individuals learn technologies that are new to them. The studies included observation and cognitive interviews to describe adaptability and develop an initial item pool, a pilot to narrow items using structural equation modeling, a full test with 897 eighth-grade students in Chicago with analysis of convergent and discriminant validity, and a replication study with 1,285 high school students near Boston. Finally, using Chicago and Boston area data, I find adaptability correlates with students’ educational plans and career aspirations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics —linking digital adaptability to students’ futures. Overall, the digital adaptability measure provides a critical theoretical and empirical tool for digital inequality research, practice, and policy.

Bystander Intervention in Bullying: Role of Social Skills and Gender

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndsay N. Jenkins ◽  
Amanda B. Nickerson
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Bystander Intervention ◽  
Intervention Model ◽  
Know How ◽  
Eighth Grade Students ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
And Gender

The Bystander Intervention Model proposed by social psychologists Latané and Darley has been used to examine the actions of peer bystanders in bullying. The five-stage model consists of notice the event, interpret event as an emergency, accept responsibility for intervening, know how to intervene, and implement intervention decisions. The current study examined associations among gender, social skills, and the bystander intervention model among 299 sixth- to eighth-grade students. Analyses revealed that girls reported significantly greater cooperation and empathy, and noticed bullying events, interpreted them as an emergency, and intervened more often than boys. The best fitting structural equation model included both empathy and cooperation, with significant positive path coefficients between empathy and bystander intervention. Students with greater empathy were more likely to engage with each step of the model, except noticing the event. Assertiveness was positively associated and cooperation was negatively associated with greater knowledge of how to intervene.

scholarly journals SEM model for technological, ecological and inclusive teacher training in times of pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e33640
Author(s):  
Antonio Hernández Fernández ◽  
Claudia de Barros Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Correlational Research ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

This work tries to analyze the relationship between teacher training (TT), teacher training in inclusive education (TTIE), teacher training in technologies (TTT), teacher training in ecology (TTE) and teacher training in time of pandemic (TTP), through a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with structural equation model (SEM) of a Likert scale created ad hoc, validated and confirmed. For the search for answers, a non-experimental, descriptive, explanatory and correlational research process has been carried out. The instrument used to collect the data has been a scale, which has been validated in content and with an excellent Cronbach's alpha (.902). The construct validity has been carried out with an exploratory factorial analysis (EFA). The sample has been of 598 students of Master's Degree in Teacher Training and the last year (4th) of the Primary Education Degree from the University of Jaen (Spain). It can be concluded that there is a relationship between the different forms of teacher training, from the correlational analysis the highest coefficient is between teacher training and teacher training in ecology and teacher training in inclusive education. From the CFA it is confirmed that this correlation is a very strong one, so that inclusion and ecology should be central axes in all teacher training, on the other hand, it concludes the low relationship between teacher training and teacher training in times of pandemic, so that, at least in theory, Covid-19 should not affect teacher training.

scholarly journals Brief Report: Predictors of Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Murat Baldwin ◽  
Chloe Fawns-Ritchie ◽  
Drew Altschul ◽  
Archie Campbell ◽  
David Porteous ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
School Attendance ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
School Students ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Linear Regressions

Purpose: This study explored predictors of COVID-19-related stress and wellbeing of Scottish adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown to identify potentially malleable risk and protective factors.Methods: 5,548 participants were surveyed regarding stress, loneliness, wellbeing, schoolwork, support from school, and interaction with friends and family. Multiple linear regressions within a structural equation modelling framework were fit to predict COVID-19-related stress and wellbeing during the UK’s first lockdown.Results: Loneliness, variables related to the ability to continue with schoolwork, and perceived support from school were important predictors of greater COVID-19-related stress and wellbeing during the first lockdown. Female adolescents were also more likely to show higher stress and poorer wellbeing.Conclusions: Facilitating meaningful social interaction and ensuring the ability to continue with schoolwork, and providing social support from school should be priority strategies to help protect the mental health and wellbeing of secondary school students during lockdowns and other disruptions to school attendance.

scholarly journals A Multi-Analytical Approach to Predict the Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption in Higher Education Institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 4905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef A. M. Qasem ◽  
Shahla Asadi ◽  
Rusli Abdullah ◽  
Yusmadi Yah ◽  
Rodziah Atan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Cloud Computing Adoption ◽  
Analytical Approaches

Cloud computing (CC) delivers services for organizations, particularly for higher education institutions (HEIs) anywhere and anytime, based on scalability and pay-per-use approach. Examining the factors influencing the decision-makers’ intention towards adopting CC plays an essential role in HEIs. Therefore, this study aimed to understand and predict the key determinants that drive managerial decision-makers’ perspectives for adopting this technology. The data were gathered from 134 institutional managers, involved in the decision making of the institutions. This study applied two analytical approaches, namely variance-based structural equation modeling (i.e., PLS-SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN). First, the PLS-SEM approach has been used for analyzing the proposed model and extracting the significant relationships among the identified factors. The obtained result from PLS-SEM analysis revealed that seven factors were identified as significant in influencing decision-makers’ intention towards adopting CC. Second, the normalized importance among those seven significant predictors was ranked utilizing the ANN. The results of the ANN approach showed that technology readiness is the most important predictor for CC adoption, followed by security and competitive pressure. Finally, this study presented a new and innovative approach for comprehending CC adoption, and the results can be used by decision-makers to develop strategies for adopting CC services in their institutions.

scholarly journals Implementasi Program Pengendalian Penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue (P2DBD) di Wilayah Kota Medan

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Rapotan Hasibuan ◽  
Sri Suwitri ◽  
Sutopo Patria Jati
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
District Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Centres ◽  
Resource And Environment

An incidence rate (IR) and a case fatality rate (CFR) of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Medan City tended to increase since 2012. This might be due to a problem in implementing DHF Disease Control Program (P2DBD). The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of factors of communication, attitude, health centres’ characteristics, understanding of a standard and a target, resource, and environment towards the success of the P2DBD implementation program in Medan City. This was an observational study using a cross-sectional approach. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observation followed by conducting indepth interview for qualitative data. Number of respondents were 39 DHF officers working at all main health centres in Medan City. Furthermore, data were analysed using a technique of structural equation model (SEM) processed by a software of visual partial least square (VPLS). The results of this research showed that most of the respondents had very good communication (66.7%), positive attitude in supporting the program (82.1%), good characteristics of health centres (84.6%), good understanding of a standard and a target (66.7%), good resource (74.4%), conducive environment (76.9%), and good implementation of P2DBD (51.3%), a moderate level. Bivariate analysis demonstrated that communication and environment influenced the implementation. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that the implementation could be explained by the factors of communication, attitude, health centres’ characteristics, standard and target, resource, and environment equal to 67.4%. The R 2 value was included as a substantial category in which the most influenced factor was the environment. District Health Office needs to regularly conduct training of DHF case management, to supervise a program at health centres, and to initiate the existence of cadres for monitoring mosquito wrigglers. Health workers need to motivate, to persuasively ask a community, and to coordinate revitalisation of a DHF working group.

Faktor-Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Keluhan Mata pada Pekerja Las Industri Kecil di Kecamatan Tungkal Ilir Kabupaten Tanjab Barat Tahun 2017

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Putri Sahara Harahap ◽  
Irwandi Rachman ◽  
Firdaus Simanjuntak
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Fire Hazard ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Heat Radiation ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
P Value ◽  
Explosion Hazard ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstrak   Latar Belakang : Hasil observasi ditemukan bahwa 8 dari 10 tenaga kerja  hanya menggunakan kacamata biasa namun dalam jangka waktu 3 tahun bekerja mereka merasakan keluhan pada mata dan gangguan penglihatan. Pekerja rata-rata bekerja selama 8 jam  dalam sehari. Risiko bahaya yang ada pada pekerjaan las adalah debu, gas, sengatan listrik, cahaya dan sinar, radiasi panas, bahaya ledakan, bahaya kebakaran, dan bahaya percikan las. Pada mata, sinar tersebut dapat mengakibatkan iritasi dan penyakit mata Metode : analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional yaitu suatu penelitian untuk mempelajari dinamika korelasi antara faktor-faktor penelitian observasi atau pengumpulan data dilakukan sekaligus pada suatu saat secara bersamaan/point time aprroach. Tujuan : Penelitian ini merupakan analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional  yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan keluhan mata pada pekerja. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh pekerja las yang berjumlah 106 orang.  Proses penelitian dilakukan pada tanggal 4-23 Agustus Tahun 2017  di Kecamatan Tungkal Ilir Kabupaten Tanjab Barat. Data dianalisis secara univariat dan bivariat Hasil : Hasil penelitian secara univariat diperoleh bahwa sebagian besar (56,6%) lingkungan kerja baik, (84,0%) responden dalam masa kerja bersisiko, (68,9%) responden menggunakan kaca mata standar APD dan (74,5%) responden mengalami keluhan mata. Hasil analisis bivariat menggunakan uji chi-square menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan antara lingkungan kerja dengan p-value= 0,019,  masa kerja dengan p-value= 0,000 dan pemakaian APD dengan p-value= 0,022 terhadap keluhan mata pada pekerja las. Saran : Diharapkan pemilik usaha bengkel las menerapkan lingkungan kerja yang baik diantaranya adanya aturan dan SOP dalam bekerja maupun kelengkapan dan fasilitas APD yang sesuai dengan standar.   Kata Kunci    : Lingkungan Kerja, Masa Kerja, Pemakaian APD, Keluhan Mata   Abstract   Background : Observations found that 8 out of 10 laborers only used regular glasses but within 3 years of working they felt complaints on the eyes and impaired vision. Workers work on average for 8 hours a day. The hazards present in welding work are dust, gas, electric shock, light and light, heat radiation, explosion hazard, fire hazard, and the dangers of weld splashes. In the eyes, these rays can cause irritation and eye disease Method : This research is an analytic with cross sectional approach which is aimed to know the factors related to eye complaints to the workers. Population in this research is all welder worker which amounted to 106 people. The research process was conducted on August 4-23 Year 2017 in District Tungkal Ilir West Tanjab Regency. Data were analyzed univariat and bivariate Results : The result of univariate research showed that most (56,6%) good work environment, (84,0%) respondent in working period at risk, (68,9%) respondents using standard APD eye glass and (74,5%) respondent have eye complaints. The result of bivariate analysis using chi-square test shows that there is a relation between work environment with p-value = 0,019, working period with p-value = 0,000 and APD usage with p-value = 0,022 to eye complaints on welding workers. Conclusion : It is expected that the owner of the welding workshop to implement a good working environment such as the rules and SOPs in the work and completeness and facilities of PPE in accordance with the standards.   Key words: Work Environment, Work Period, Use of PPE, Eye Complaint

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