Impact of a course in evidence-informed policy-making on the acquisition of methodological knowledge: Findings from before-and-after studies conducted on three consecutive cohorts of master students

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-311
Author(s):  
Luc Lapointe
Keyword(s):  
Policy Making ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
Master's Students ◽  
Simple Task ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

The practice of evidence-informed policy-making (EIPM) consists of systematically searching, analyzing, synthesizing and disseminating the best available research evidence to inform decision-makers about policy problems, policy tools, implementation options, and/or policy evaluation results. Identifying the best available scientific evidence is not a simple task. The vast majority of research evidence contains risks of bias that hinder the reliability of their conclusions. In order to select the soundest available research evidence, policy analysts need to know how to critically appraise research evidence and identify different risks of bias. Formal theories on expertise acquisition in public bureaucracies suggest that these skills and knowledge should be acquired within academia rather than within governmental agencies. We thus created a 45-hour course in EIPM, POL-7061, that was first offered in 2012 to students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Public Affairs at Université Laval (Québec, Canada). The course mainly teaches techniques for searching and appraising different types of empirical studies. In 2013, we conducted a before-and-after study to assess the impact of the course on the methodological knowledge of the students. We repeated the exercise on two consecutive cohorts in 2014 and 2015. Mean percent of pre-post improvement on the knowledge test was 37% for the 2013 cohort, 51% for the 2014 cohort and 31% for the cohort of 2015. Teaching techniques in EIPM to Master’s students in public affairs is thus feasible and can have a positive impact on their basic methodological knowledge.

Strategic Role of Zakat in Multidimensional Quality of Life in Sijunjung, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Status ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.

scholarly journals Fish Consumption: A Review of Its Effects on Metabolic and Hormonal Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863882110223
Author(s):  
Carlos O Mendivil
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Fish Consumption ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Endocrine Disorders ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
The Impact

Dietary habits are a major determinant of the risk of chronic disease, particularly metabolic and endocrine disorders. Fish as a food group are a unique source of nutrients with metabolic and hormonal importance including omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, selenium, vitamin D, taurine and carnitine. Fish are also a source of high quality protein and have in general low caloric density. The impact of these nutrients on cardiovascular risk has been extensively reviewed, but the impact of fish on the broader field of endocrine and metabolic health is sometimes not sufficiently appreciated. This article aimed to summarize the impact the effect of regular fish consumption on conditions like the metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and the menopausal transition, which are in and of themselves significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The review revealed that scientific evidence from food science, translational research, epidemiologic studies and interventional trials shows that regular fish consumption has a positive impact on thyroid homeostasis, facilitates maintenance of a healthy body weight, reduces the magnitude of age-associated increases in blood pressure, improves glucose homeostasis helping prevent diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and has a positive impact on muscle mass preservation among the elderly. These effects are mediated by multiple mechanisms, only some of which have been identified. For most of these effects it holds true that the potential benefits are more substantial when baseline fish consumption is low.

scholarly journals PENGGUNAAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN VIDEO GAME IPA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PENGUASAAN KONSEP SISWA

EDUSAINS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
Rosita Putri Rahmi Haerani
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Interactive Media ◽  
Learning Science ◽  
Instructional Video ◽  
School Students ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn education, many empirical studies have shown evidence that video games have the potential to improve student learning outcomes, but there is still great controversy in the literature regarding the impact of video game. More evidence is needed to convince educators and researchers regarding the actual value and the efficiency of video game in learning science. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of video game in learning to improve the mastery of concepts about the interaction of living beings and the environment of junior high school students who played the “Selamatkan Dunia Digital!” educational gaming application that has been developed by author in previous studies. This weak experimental study collected pretest and posttest results to determine students' mastery of concepts before and after Intervention. Normalized Gain of the pretest and posttest are assumed to be the effect of the intervention. The results show a low increasing mastery of concept by students who learned by playing game, so this study stated that learning science by using instructional video game media are still not able to facilitate mastery of concept of students.Keywords: interactive media; video game; mastery of conceptsAbstrakDalam dunia pendidikan, banyak penelitian empiris telah berhasil menunjukkan bukti bahwa video game memiliki potensi dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa, tetapi kontroversi besar masih ada pada literatur mengenai pengaruh game yang sebenarnya. Dibutuhkan lebih banyak bukti untuk meyakinkan pendidik dan peneliti mengenai nilai aktual dan efisiensi pembelajaran menggunakan video game. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui penggunaan game dalam pembelajaran untuk meningkatkan penguasaan konsep tentang Interaksi makhluk hidup dengan lingkungan siswa SMP.  Game yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah game yang berjudul “Selamatkan Dunia Digital!” yang telah dikembangkan oleh peneliti pada penelitian sebelumnya. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian eksperimen semu, dengan desain The one-Group Prettest-Posttest Design untuk memperoleh gambaran penguasaan konsep siswa sebelum dan sesudah perlakuan. Peningkatan nilai pada pretest dan posttest diasumsikan merupakan efek dari perlakuan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan nilai N-gain rata-rata siswa masih dalam kategori rendah, dan pencapaian skor posttest rata-rata siswa juga masih rendah, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa pembelajaran IPA dengan menggunakan media pembelajaran media video game masih belum dapat memfasilitasi penguasaan konsep IPA siswa pada konsep Interaksi Makhluk Hidup dengan Lingkungan.Kata Kunci: media pembelajaran interaktif; video game; penguasaan konsep Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15408/es.v8i2.1576

scholarly journals What Is the Consensus from Multiple Conclusions of Future Crop Yield Changes Affected by Climate Change in China?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9241
Author(s):  
Chengfang Huang ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Zhengtao Zhang ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Systematic Review Methodology ◽  
Uncertainty Interval ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Yield Decrease

Many studies have shown that climate change has a significant impact on crop yield in China, while results have varied due to uncertain factors. This study has drawn a highly consistent consensus from the scientific evidence based on numerous existing studies. By a highly rational systematic review methodology, we obtained 737 result samples with the theme of climate change affecting China’s crop yields. Then, we used likelihood scale and trend analysis methods to quantify the consensus level and uncertainty interval of these samples. The results showed that: (i) The crop yield decrease in the second half of the 21st century will be greater than 5% of that in the first half. (ii) The crop most affected by climate change will be maize, with the decreased value exceeding −25% at the end of this century, followed by rice and wheat exceeding −10% and −5%. (iii) The positive impact of CO2 on crop yield will change by nearly 10%. Our conclusions clarify the consensus of the impact of future climate change on China’s crop yield, and this study helps exclude the differences and examine the policies and actions that China has taken and should take in response to climate change.

scholarly journals Active involvement of patients in pharmacist education has a positive impact on students’ perspective: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hache ◽  
Stéphane Honoré ◽  
Guillaume Hache
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Patient-led education contributes to the implementation of practical experience of working with patients in health care professional curricula. There are few descriptions of patients’ involvement in pharmacists’ training and most often, the patients have been used as passive props to facilitate training. More recently, greater emphasis has been given to a more active form of patient involvement but the application in the curriculum of pharmacy has not been conceptualized. Thus, the aim of our study was to implement a workshop involving patients as partners in undergraduate pharmacy educational programme, and to evaluate its impact of on students’ perspectives. Method On a prospective observational study basis, the impact was assessed in terms of relevance, learning outcomes and achievement transfer using the Kirkpatrick training assessment method. In addition, we evaluated social representations of the students before and after the workshop. Results Ninety-four students attended the sessions. All participants were satisfied and emphasized the relevance of the involvement of patients. Postworkshop scores were significantly improved in both competencies to be acquired. At the end of the workshop, students reported two to three actions to implement in order to meet patients’ expectations, illustrating an intent to transfer learning outcomes in professional context. Interestingly, about patients’ expectations on pharmacist’s role, students’ social representations had evolved significantly after the session. Conclusion These results highlight the positive impact of the innovative workshops and the additive value of patients’ involvement in the pharmacy undergraduate programme.

scholarly journals The impact of salt, fat and sugar levels on toddler food intake

2010 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Bouhlal ◽  
Sylvie Issanchou ◽  
Sophie Nicklaus
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Green Beans ◽  
Added Sugar ◽  
Salt Level ◽  
Sugar Addition ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Sugar Levels ◽  
The Impact

Understanding the early determinants of food intake, in particular the role of food sensory quality, is a necessary step to improve the prevention of unhealthy food habits. However, the extent to which food intake varies according to salt, fat and sugar content is imperfectly known. The present study aimed at evaluating whether toddler food intake varied during lunches or snacks in which salt, fat or sugar contents had been modified in common foods. Seventy-four children (30 (se 0·5) months old) participated in the study in their usual day-care centres. Every other week, they were served lunches composed, among other items, of green beans and pasta with varying salt (0, 0·6 and 1·2 % added salt) or fat (0, 2·5 and 5 % added butter) levels and afternoon snacks composed of fruit purée varying in sugar level (0, 5 and 10 % added sugar). During each meal, children could eat as much as they wanted from the target foods. Each food was weighed before and after the meal. Salt level had a positive impact on the intake of the target foods. On the contrary, no impact of added fat or added sugar levels was observed. This implies that fat and sugar addition could be avoided in foods for children without having an impact on palatability, allowing the energy density of children's diet to be limited. Salt addition should be limited, but its suppression in vegetables, whose intake is to be promoted, should be considered cautiously.

The impact of motivations and meanings on the wellbeing of caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Quinn ◽  
Linda Clare ◽  
Robert T Woods
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Dementia Caregiving ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Kin Relationship ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackground: The majority of people in the early and middle stages of dementia are cared for at home by non-paid caregivers, the majority of whom will be family members. Two factors which could have an impact on the quality of care provided to the care-recipient are the caregiver's motivations for providing care and the meaning s/he finds in caregiving. The aim of this review is to explore the potential impact of both meaning and motivation on the wellbeing of caregivers of people with dementia. The review also explores individual differences in motivations to provide care.Methods: This was a systematic review of peer-reviewed empirical studies exploring motivations and meanings in informal caregivers of people with dementia. Four studies were identified which examined the caregiver's motivations to provide care. Six studies were identified which examined the meaning that caregivers found in dementia caregiving.Results: Caregivers' wellbeing could be influenced by the nature of their motivations to care. In addition, cultural norms and caregivers’ kin-relationship to the care-recipient impacted on motivations to provide care. Finding meaning had a positive impact on caregiver wellbeing.Conclusions: The limited evidence currently available indicates that both the caregiver's motivations to provide care and the meaning s/he finds in caregiving can have implications for the caregiver's wellbeing. More research is needed to explore the role of motivations and meaning in dementia caregiving.

scholarly journals The Evolvement of Rail Transit Network Structure and Impact on Travel Characteristics: A Case Study of Wuhan

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 789
Author(s):  
Jiandong Peng ◽  
Changwei Cui ◽  
Jiajie Qi ◽  
Zehan Ruan ◽  
Qi Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Transportation Demand ◽  
Traffic Demand ◽  
Transit Network ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
The Impact

The expansion of the rail transit network has a positive impact on travel characteristics under spatial and temporal constraints by changing accessibility. However, few empirical studies have examined the longitudinal evolution of the impact of accessibility and travel characteristics. In this paper, a model of the Wuhan rail transit network is constructed and the evolution of the spatial pattern of accessibility over different periods is analyzed. The correlation of accessibility with rail transit travel characteristics is studied longitudinally to provide theoretical support for rail transit construction and traffic demand management. The study shows that: (1) Wuhan’s rail transit network has evolved from a tree to a ring, improving the operational efficiency. (2) The accessibility of Wuhan’s rail transit network has evolved into a circular structure, showing a decreasing trend away from the city center. (3) The change of accessibility greatly affects travel characteristics. The higher the accessibility, the higher the traffic volume, and the lower the travel frequency, the more residents travel during peak hours, and the shorter the travel distance. These findings are useful for gaining insight into public transportation demand in large cities, and thus for developing reasonable transportation demand management policies.

scholarly journals Dampak Program GEMAR dalam Pendampingan Pemberdayaan Perempuan Rawan Sosial Ekonomi di Kelurahan Belawan Bahari Kecamatan Medan Belawan

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Dedek Syahrani ◽  
Agus Suriadi
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Case Processing ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Statistics Analysis ◽  
Paired Sample ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to find out how much the impact was felt directly and related to the positive impact of the GEMAR program in assisting the empowerment of socio-economic prone women in Belawan Bahari Village, Medan Belawan District. This type of research is descriptive research that is analyzed quantitatively. Sampling techniques using the formula N = n, the sample in this study were 30 respondents, namely women who received the benefits of the GEMAR program. This research instrument uses a questionnaire distributed to 30 respondents. The data obtained tabulated into the table is then analyzed and processed quantitative data by analysis of Case Processing Summary and Test of Normality that before and after the GEMAR program valid data amounts to 30 and no data is missing with a percentage of 100% and significance values before the program GEMAR is 0.083 and after the GEMAR program is 0.719 and greater than 0.05, the two data are declared to be normally distributed. Paired Sample Statistics analysis, Paired Samples Correlation and Paired Samples Test analysis. Based on the results of Paired Sample Statistics analysis after the GEMAR program is higher than before the GEMAR program with an average value before = 35.97 and after average value = 47.20 from 30 data, the results of Paired Samples Correlation analysis that the correlation value before and after the GEMAR program, which produces a number 0.622 with a probability value (Sig.) 0,000 that the correlation between before and after the GEMAR program relates strongly and positively, because the probability value is <0.05. Paired Samples analysis results calculated values for the impact of the GEMAR program are 7.157 with probability (Sig.) 0,000. Because the probability (Sig.) 0,000 <0,05 is rejected. This means that there is a significant influence before and after the GEMAR program in assisting the empowerment of socio-economic prone women.Keywords: Impact, GEMAR Program, Empowerment Assistance for Women in Socio-Economic Prone, Poverty AbstrakTujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui seberapa besar dampak yang dirasakan langsung dan berkaitan dengan dampak positif program GEMAR dalam pendampingan pemberdayaan perempuan rawan sosial ekonomi di Kelurahan Belawan Bahari Kecamatan Medan Belawan. Tipe penelitian ini adalah penelitian deskriptif yang dianalisis secara kuantitatif. Jumlah sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah 30 responden yaitu perempuan yang menerima manfaat program GEMAR. Teknik pengumpulan data adalah dengan wawancara. Analisis data dilakukan analisis Case Processing Summary dan Test of Normality bahwa sebelum dan sesudah program GEMAR data yang valid berjumlah 30 dan tidak ada data yang hilang (missing) dengan persentase 100% dan nilai signifikansi sebelum program GEMAR sebesar 0,083 dan sesudah program GEMAR sebesar 0,719 dan lebih besar dari 0,05 maka kedua data dinyatakan berdistribusi normal. Analisis Paired Sample Statistics, Paired Samples Correlation dan analisis Paired Samples Test. Berdasarkan hasil analisis Paired Sample Statistics sesudah adanya program GEMAR lebih tinggi di banding sebelum ada program GEMAR dengan nilai rata-rata sebelum = 35,97 dan nilai rata-rata sesudah = 47,20 dari 30 data, hasil analisis Paired Samples Correlation bahwa nilai korelasi sebelum dan sesudah program GEMAR, yang menghasilkan angka 0,622 dengan nilai probabilitas (Sig.) 0,000 bahwa korelasi antara sebelum dan sesudah adanya program GEMAR berhubungan secara kuat dan positif, karena nilai probabilitas <0,05. Hasil analisis Paired Samples nilai t-hitung untuk dampak program GEMAR adalah 7.157 dengan probabilitas (Sig.) 0,000. Karena probabilitas (Sig.) 0,000 < 0,05 maka H₀ ditolak. Artinya terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan sebelum dan sesudah adanya program GEMAR dalam pendampingan pemberdayaan perempuan rawan sosial ekonomi. Kata Kunci: Dampak, Program GEMAR, Pendampingan Pemberdayaan Perempuan Rawan Sosial Ekonomi, Kemiskinan

scholarly journals The Impact of Information Technology on Family Values Transformation

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Bagus Haryono
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Family Values ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Message Service ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact

This research explains the impact of Contemporary Information Technology Application Progress (CITA-P), WhatsApp/WA application, in transforming the family values from face-to-face contact (Emotional and Personal Value or EPV) to non-personal contact (Pragmatic Value or PV). It uses quasi-experimental design conducted by pre-test, treatment, and post-test in Hagen lineage (HaL) as Experiment Group (EG). Then it compares by Control Group (CG) with the Limited-Treatment (L-T) by phone, Short Message Service/SMS, and Facebook/Fb in Sumer lineage (SuL). Data were collected by sending the Eid messages. Respondent consisted of HaL and SuL members. Contemporary treatment is manipulated by CITA-P at the HaL member. Findings showed that CITA-P has positive impact to transform the EPV toward PV, as indicated by significant increase in the larger IT-P score in the EG than the L-T effect in CG before and after implementing it.

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