scholarly journals Students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity and their relation to contextual factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Dotzel ◽  
Meike Bonefeld ◽  
Karina Karst
Keyword(s):  
School Environment ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Temporal Reference ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Component Theory ◽  
Heterogeneous Classes ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Performance Heterogeneity

AbstractPrevious studies examining attitudes towards performance heterogeneity have focused on attitudes among teachers. However, positive attitudes towards the school environment are also assumed to be conducive for students. The aim of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity with a sample of 784 5th-grade students. Based on the three-component theory of attitudes (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993), we investigated whether students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity are positive or negative. Furthermore, we analyzed contextual relations, focusing on whether students’ attitudes are linked to performance heterogeneity in the classroom and to a teachers’ behavior to manage performance heterogeneity. Descriptive statistics show that students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity are rather positive. Multi-level structural equation models reveal that contextual rather than individual characteristics relate to students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity. Accordingly, students in heterogeneous classes show a more positive attitude towards performance heterogeneity than students in less heterogeneous classes. In addition, a teachers’ capability of professionally managing heterogeneity is positively associated with students’ attitudes towards performance heterogeneity. Accordingly, students’ show more positive attitudes if teachers implement rules, effectively manage disruptions, orient themselves towards temporal reference norms, cultivate a positive error culture, and differentiate instruction in the classroom. We will discuss our results and consider implications for psychological aspects of education and learning.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards Mathematics: Effects of Individual, Motivational, and Social Support Factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Lourdes Mata ◽  
Vera Monteiro ◽  
Francisco Peixoto
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Towards Mathematics ◽  
Main Determinants

This paper aims to understand how certain different but interrelated variables such as background, motivation, and social support could lead to an explanation of student attitudes towards math and to an understanding of the defining characteristics of these attitudes in the school environment. Participants consisted of 1719 Portuguese students, from fifth-to-twelfth grade. The study utilizes an adaptation of the “Intrinsic Motivation Inventory” assessing main determinants of intrinsic motivation. One section of the questionnaire—“In my Math Class”—also assesses student perceptions of teacher and peer support as well as student attitudes. The results revealed that, in general, students held positive attitudes towards mathematics and also highlighted the main effects of grade and math achievement on these attitudes. No gender effect was identified although the girls showed a continuous decline in attitudes the further they progressed in school. A hierarchical analysis using structural equation modeling showed that motivation-related variables are the main predictors of attitudes towards mathematics and that teachers and the social support of peers are also highly significant in understanding these attitudes.

scholarly journals The Influence of Attitudes towards Cycling and Walking on Travel Intentions and Actual Behavior

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús García ◽  
Rosa Arroyo ◽  
Lidón Mars ◽  
Tomás Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Travel Behavior ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
On Line

The design and implementation of effective transport policies to reduce car use in urban areas requires a deep comprehension of the factors that influence travel behavior. In this context, psychological factors play an important role in explaining travel-related decisions. The purpose of this paper is to present a study on the effects of cognitive, affective and behavioral attitudes towards the use of walking and cycling on both intentions and real use of cars, public transport, bicycles, and walking. The data used was obtained from an on-line survey carried out in 2017. Analyses included reliability and validity of the questionnaire, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation models. Results indicate that cycling and walking are evaluated differently in terms of feelings of freedom, pleasure, and relaxation. Positive evaluation of elements related to past walking behavior are negatively associated to both the intention to walk and actual walking. Transport policies to encourage cycling should be different from those with the aim of promoting walking. Positive attitudes towards walking are not enough to increase real walking.

scholarly journals Up and Down: Trends in Students’ Perceptions about Learning in a 1:1 Laptop Model – A Longitudinal Study

10.28945/3613 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 169-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tal Berger-Tikochinski ◽  
Michal Zion ◽  
Ornit Spektor-Levy
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Students ◽  
School Norms ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Students Attitudes

This is a five-year study conducted with junior high school students studying in a 1:1-laptop program in order to test the effects of the program on various measures related to the students: their attitudes, motivation, perceived school norms, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention towards learning with laptops, according to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). These variables were tested at two dimensions: ‘duration of learning’ – the effect of learning in the program on the same students; ‘duration of program in school’ – the effect of the program on different students in different school years. Participants (N=770) answered a questionnaire structured according to motivational and TPB variables. Findings show that attitudes changed over time, but differently for each dimension. For the ‘duration of learning’, attitudes declined between 7th to 9th grade. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that students’ attitudes and self-efficacy explain part of their intention to learn with laptops, therefore ways of maintaining positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and strengthening school norms should be considered. However, for the ‘duration of program in school’, students’ attitudes increased over the years: The attitudes of students who started the program at a later stage were more positive than those who began earlier. This may indicate that students who experience the program at an advanced stage are better prepared, with more realistic expectations. Findings can assist teacher trainers and policymakers with the implementation of similar programs.

To move more but sit less: The roles of students’ attitudes and knowledge

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senlin Chen ◽  
Xiangli Gu ◽  
Yang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Middle School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
The United States ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Perceived Enjoyment ◽  
Students Attitudes

An important goal of physical education (PE) is to educate children to become physically literate and active of their own accord. This study capitalized on examining the roles of students’ attitudes toward PE and physical activity and fitness (PAF) knowledge in physical activity and sedentary behavior participation. Students from a public middle school in a Midwestern state in the United States of America responded to two surveys. One survey consisted of demographic and PAF knowledge questions for middle school students, and the other survey included the Attitude Toward Physical Education Questionnaire and the Youth Activity Profile. Structural equation models showed that perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness, as affective and cognitive dimensions of attitude toward PE respectively, demonstrated small effects on physical activity and sedentary behavior, while perceived enjoyment further showed a moderate effect on PAF knowledge, after controlling for gender and grade. These findings indicate the need to deliberately foster students’ positive attitudes toward PE in middle school years. It is argued that future pedagogy research on youth physical activity should also include sedentary behavior as a focal variable.

scholarly journals Some Green is Better than Nothing: Associations between Dfferent Measurements of Land Patterns and Depression among Nursing Students in El Paso, Texas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Nazif-Munoz ◽  
Jose Cedeno Laurent ◽  
Matthew Browning ◽  
John D Spengler ◽  
Héctor Olvera Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Rate Ratios

Background: While greenness has been associated with lower depression, the generalizability of this association in arid landscapes remains undetermined. We assessed the association between depression and greenness among nursing students living in El Paso, Texas (the Chihuahuan desert). Methods: Depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale, and greenness with the normalized difference vegetation index (at buffer sizes =250m, 500m, 1000m). Using data from the National Land Cover Database two additional measures of land patterns were analyzed: grayness and brownness. Structural equation models were used to assess the relationships of these land patterns to depression and quantify the indirect effects of peer alienation. Results: After adjusting for individual characteristics, at buffers 250 m greenness was associated with a decrease in the Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) of depression by 49% (IRR, 0.51; 95%CI, 0.12-2.10), greyness with increases by 64% (IRR, 1.64; 95%CI, 1.07-2.52) and brownness with decreases by 35% (IRR, 0.65; 95%CI, 0.42-0.99). At buffer 250 m peer alienation explained 17.43% (95% CI, -1.79-36.66) of the association between depression and brownness, suggesting a pathway to depression. Conclusions: We did not observe an association between depression and residential greenness in El Paso, Texas. However, we did observe a protective association between brownness and depression as well as an adverse association with grayness. These results have theoretical implications as based on commonly used frameworks in this literature and adverse association of brownness (and the lack of greenness) and depression was expected.

scholarly journals Green, Brown, and Gray: Associations between Different Measurements of Land Patterns and Depression among Nursing Students in El Paso, Texas

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8146
Author(s):  
José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz ◽  
José Guillermo Cedeno Laurent ◽  
Matthew Browning ◽  
John Spengler ◽  
Héctor A. Olvera Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Rate Ratios

Background: While greenness has been associated with lower depression, the generalizability of this association in arid landscapes remains undetermined. We assessed the association between depression and residential greenness, but also brownness and grayness among nursing students living in El Paso, Texas (the Chihuahuan desert). Methods: Depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale and greenness with the normalized difference vegetation index across three buffer sizes (i.e., 250, 500, and 1000 m). Using data from the National Land Cover Database, two additional measures of land patterns were analyzed: grayness and brownness. Structural equation models were used to assess the relationships of these land patterns to depression and quantify the indirect effects of peer alienation. Results: After adjusting for individual characteristics, at buffers 250 m, greenness was not associated with a decrease in the Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) of depression (IRR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.12–2.10); however, grayness and brownness were respectively associated with increases by 64% (IRR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07–2.52) and decreases by 35% (IRR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.42–0.99). At buffer 250 m, peer alienation explained 17.43% (95% CI, −1.79–36.66) of the association between depression and brownness, suggesting a pathway to depression. Conclusions: We did not observe an association between depression and residential greenness in El Paso, Texas. However, we did observe a protective association between brownness and depression and an adverse association with grayness. These results have theoretical implications as they were based on commonly used frameworks in this literature, and adverse association of brownness (and the lack of greenness) and depression was expected.

Does feeling holier than others predict good deeds? Self-construal, self-enhancement and helping behavior

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 441-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon Yong Seo ◽  
Debra L. Scammon
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Helping Behavior ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Self Construal ◽  
Helping Behaviors ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between self-enhancement and helping behavior/intentions. Some people are more inclined than others to engage in helping behaviors. Determining what individual characteristics are related to helping behavior could have important implications for both marketers and non-profit organizations. Drawing on research on self-enhancement, this paper examines the relationship between the “above-average effect” (the tendency of individuals to rate themselves more favorably than they rate others) specifically on altruistic traits and helping behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through two surveys and analyzed with correlation analysis, path analysis and structural equation models. Findings – In two studies, we find a positive relationship between interdependence and self-enhancement and a positive relationship between self-enhancement and helping behavior (volunteering in Study 1 and donation behavior in Study 2). We further show that self-enhancement mediates the effect of interdependence on helping. Personal importance of altruistic traits is shown to underlie these relationships. Practical implications – By understanding the antecedents of helping behaviors, non-profit and charity organizations, social marketers and other advocates of pro-social behaviors can enhance the effectiveness of their appeals. Our findings provide insights for both messaging and targeting. Originality/value – This study examines the relationship between self-enhancement and helping behavior. In so doing, it contributes to the self-enhancement literature by identifying the relationship between self-construal and self-enhancement. It also extends understanding of the relationship between these two constructs and helping behavior by revealing the mediating role of self-enhancement on helping behavior.

Happiness at work and organisational citizenship behaviour

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Salas-Vallina ◽  
Joaquín Alegre ◽  
Rafael Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Learning Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Motivation For Learning ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between happiness at work (HAW), organisational learning capability (OLC) and organisational citizenship behaviour. Design/methodology/approach Through structural equation models, a sample of 167 allergists of public health services was analysed. Findings Results suggest that the relationship between HAW and organisational citizenship behaviour is fully mediated by OLC. Hence, OLC has a critical role to describe how HAW improves organisational citizenship behaviour. Basically, HAW promotes motivation for learning, and a better quality of the interactions between employees, which results in pro-social behaviours. Research limitations/implications The sample is focussed in a knowledge-intensive context. Future research might consider other service sectors, such as a private business sector. In addition it would be interesting to examine a longitudinal perspective of the model. Practical implications The results confirm the direct and positive effect of HAW on organisational citizenship behaviour. Nevertheless, showing positive attitudes as HAW does not assure to achieve perceived service quality. It is needed to take into account certain conditions that promote learning. Originality/value Current attitudinal theories do not contemplate environments that promote learning to explain pro-social attitudes. The research offers a theoretical model and provides evidence that the attitudes-behaviours relationship needs to be explained bearing in mind OLC.

scholarly journals Teachers’ Perception of Their Work Environment: Evidence from the Primary and Secondary Schools of Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Muhammad Rehan Masoom
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Background Information ◽  
After School ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Conducive Environment

The work environment includes conducive aspects such as (1) organizational encouragement, (2) supervisory encouragement, and (3) workgroup support, as well as toxic conditions like (4) teaching impediments and (5) workload pressure; the objective of the research is which of the factors and what are the elements of those factors teachers perceive as constituting the conducive and toxic environment. The research also outlines the effects of years of experience and the level of teaching on the specified factors. The study used a quantitative-based cross-sectional survey to analyze teachers’ perceptions of their work environment. A questionnaire comprised some background information, and 34 close-ended questions were used to elicit the responses. About 368 (230 males and 138 females) teachers participated in the survey. Structural equation models were constructed, where the five mentioned factors were part of two second-order formative constructs. Independent sample t-test was estimated to outline gender-wise and teaching level-wise (primary and secondary) variation, whereas Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to check whether the experience was correlated with any of the perceived factors of the work environment. It is found that workgroup encouragement, particularly having good relations with the principal, is the most important factor in the conducive environment of the school. The physical facilities were the least, whereas promoting positive behavior by avoiding conflict and ensuring fairness was the most important aspect of organizational encouragement. Teaching impediments were mostly shaped by how often teachers require dealing with disruptive and violent pupils. Teachers perceived too many after-school meetings, unreasonable deadlines, and office staffs’ inspections enhance their workload pressure. The more a teacher became experienced, the more he or she positively perceived the conducive environment of the school. The findings can serve as a guide for educational policymakers and school administrators to identify which factors in the school environment need urgent attention and modification.

scholarly journals Activity-Trip Chaining Behavior of Urban Low-Income Populations in Nanjing, China: A Structural Equations Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Zhaoming Chu ◽  
Hui Chen ◽  
Lin Cheng ◽  
Xuewu Chen ◽  
Senlai Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Travel Survey ◽  
Household Characteristics ◽  
Activity Duration ◽  
Trip Chaining ◽  
Nanjing City

This paper analyzes the activity-trip chaining behavior of urban low-income populations in Nanjing, China, based on a specific travel survey of low-income residents of Nanjing city (2010), and the database of residents travel survey of Nanjing city (2009). Individual’s information of activity participation and trip chains is extracted from the daily travel diary and matched with individual and household characteristics. On top of correlation analysis and normalization process, using the software AMOS, two structural equation models are formulated to analyze the relationship among individuals’ sociodemographics, activity duration, and trip chains of low-income populations and non-low-income populations, respectively. Seven household characteristics and six individual characteristics are chosen as the exogenous variables, while 4 indices of activity duration and 4 indices of trip chains are sleeted as the endogenous variables. The result shows that the activity-travel behavior of urban low-income populations is quite unique, which offers promising insights into activity-trip chaining behavior of the poor and extends the need to crafting effective transportation policies specifically for urban low-income populations in developing countries.

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