scholarly journals Finding classroom tasks interesting: Building towards a lasting desire to re-engage in four foundation courses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke K. Fryer ◽  
Alex Shum ◽  
Evan Pickett ◽  
George Viche Akom ◽  
Timothy Wotherspoon
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Interest And Knowledge

The paired development of an individual’s knowledge and interest in an object/topic has well-established theoretical and empirical support. Their shared role within learning experiences has similar support but has less often been researched intensively in formal contexts such as classrooms. To address this gap, four studies in four foundation university courses were conducted across an academic semester. The research was conducted at one research intensive university in Hong Kong, with a mixture of first- and second-year students. This research was embedded into course lectures/tutorials by utilising a mobile platform to conduct short formative tests and surveys (QR codes presented with course materials). Difference testing compared pre-post domain interest and levels of interest in different tasks. Structural equation modelling tested the predictive relationships between prior domain interest and knowledge with students' interest in a range of lecture and tutorial tasks, and later interest in the course and/or domain. The pattern of results from the four studies suggest separate and sometimes contrasting roles for prior interest and knowledge within task interest. Findings confirmed the critical role of social learning experiences for building interest in courses. These studies support the evidenced based strategic choice of a variety of course tasks to ensure students individual differences are addressed and long-term interest is supported. The theoretical and practical implications, as well as future directions for research in this area are discussed.

The Affiliative Role of Empathy in Everyday Interpersonal Interactions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney R. Ringwald ◽  
Aidan G.C. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Interpersonal Behavior ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Empathy theoretically serves an affiliative interpersonal function by satisfying motives for intimacy and union with others. Accordingly, empathy is expected to vary depending on the situation. Inconsistent empirical support for empathy’s affiliative role may be due to methodology focused on individual differences in empathy or differences between controlled experimental conditions, which fail to capture its dynamic and interpersonal nature. To address these shortcomings, we used ecological momentary assessment to establish typical patterns of empathy across everyday interactions. Associations among empathy, affect, and interpersonal behavior of self and interaction partner were examined in a student sample (N=330), then replicated in a pre-registered community sample (N=279). Multi-level structural equation modeling was used to distinguish individual differences in empathy from interaction-level effects. Results show people are more empathetic during positively-valanced interactions with others perceived as warm and when expressing warmth. By confirming the typically affiliative role of empathy, existing research to the contrary can be best understood as exceptions to the norm.

Cognitive Treatment for OCD

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen L. Whittal ◽  
Melisa Robichaud
Keyword(s):  
Term Treatment ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cognitive Treatment ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Inflated Responsibility ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Of Thoughts

The cornerstone of cognitive treatment (CT) for OCD is based upon the knowledge that unwanted intrusions are essentially a universal experience. As such, it is not the presence of the intrusion that is problematic but rather the associated meaning or interpretation. Treatment is flexible, depending upon the nature of the appraisals and beliefs, but can include strategies focused on inflated responsibility and overestimation of threat, importance and control of thoughts, and the need for perfectionism and certainty. The role of concealment and the relationship to personal values are important maintaining and etiological factors. The short-term and long-term treatment outcome is reviewed, along with predictors of treatment response and mechanisms of action, and the chapter concludes with future directions regarding CT for OCD.

Understanding destination evangelism: a social media viewpoint

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Purvendu Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Role Of Information

PurposeThe present research aims to introduce and understand the promising nature of destination evangelism in the context of social media-based tourism communities (SMTCs). Further, factors that influence evangelism and information-seeking behaviors on SMTCs are examined.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model is developed that features an interplay of destination distinctiveness, destination evangelism, travel commitment and information-seeking engagement. Data were collected from 215 active users of SMTCs and analyzed using structural equation models.FindingsThe research findings indicate that destination distinctiveness and information-seeking positively lead to destination evangelism. Information-seeking is found to mediate the relationship between (1) destination evangelism and travel commitment and (2) destination evangelism and distinctiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe research offers meaningful insights into exploring constituents of destination evangelism. The research also understands and highlights the critical role of information-seeking engagement about distinct destinations.Practical implicationsThis research highlights key areas to build, improve and inspire destination evangelism on SMTCs.Originality/valueThis study offers a fresh contribution to tourism literature by investigating destination evangelism and its drivers. This is explained by closely uniting vital research streams of evangelism, tourism and engagement. It further highlights the dual mediating role of information seeking, suggesting that these engagements are critical to evangelizing destinations.

The quicker, the better? The antecedents and consequences of response timing strategy in the aftermath of a corporate crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nengzhi (Chris) Yao ◽  
Jiuchang Wei ◽  
Weiwei Zhu ◽  
Alexander Bondar
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Response Timing ◽  
Buffering Effects

Purpose The conclusions on the importance of corporate response timing to a crisis have remained inconsistent. Some studies suggest that active response may reduce negative impacts, whereas managers argue that issuing official response frustrates stakeholders and thus decreases the firm value. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of external media in the response timing strategy and the consequent stock market reaction. Design/methodology/approach Based on 130 corporate crises that befell publicly listed firms in China from 2007 to 2014, this paper uses the Baidu News Search Engine and Chinese Lexical Analysis System to construct the variables of the media characteristics. A structural equation model is established to test the hypotheses. Findings The results of this paper suggest that media coverage drives response timing after a crisis. Although an official response is a burden for firms, the timing strategy has multidimensional benefits including effectively alleviating negative effects (defined as buffering effects) and repairing the market (defined as restoring effects). Moreover, the buffering effects of response timing are stronger when completeness of response is low. Originality/value This study mainly contributes to crisis communication literature by introducing the role of media in prompting managers to make timing decisions. The findings of this study provide empirical support for the importance of timing response strategy.

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn: Role of Nitric Oxide

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 270-282
Author(s):  
Stella Kourembanas
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Cell Contractility ◽  
Vasoactive Mediators ◽  
Nitric Oxide Therapy

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a common cause of respiratory failure in the full-term neonate. Molecular and cellular studies in vascular biology have revealed that endothelial-derived mediators play a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of PPHN. Endothelial-derived vasoconstrictors, like endothelin, may increase smooth muscle cell contractility and growth, leading to the physiologic and structural changes observed in the pulmonary arterioles of infants with this disease. On the other hand, decreased production of the endothelial-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide, may exacerbate pulmonary vasoreactivity and lead to more severe pulmonary hypertension. Exogenous (inhaled) nitric oxide therapy reduces pulmonary vascular resistance and improves oxygenation. The safety and efficacy of this therapy in reducing the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and decreasing long-term morbidity is being tested in several trials nationally and abroad. Understanding the basic mechanisms that regulate the gene expression and production of these vasoactive mediators will lead to improved preventive and therapeutic strategies for PPHN.

Not Only Individualism: The Effects of Long-Term Orientation and Other Cultural Variables on National Innovation Success

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Bukowski ◽  
Seweryn Rudnicki
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Support ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Causal Mechanism ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Cultural Predictors ◽  
Cultural Variables ◽  
Single Pattern ◽  
The Impact

This article re-examines the effects of culture on national innovation rates. Pointing to the innovation success of some East Asian countries, it argues that the cultural dimension of individualism is not able to fully account for the role of culture in national innovativeness, and there is a need to include a wider set of cultural factors in the analysis. Several competing measures of national innovation performance over the last decade and Hofstede’s measures of culture, as well as their recently revised versions proposed by Minkov and collaborators, are employed to test the hypotheses. The findings show that, apart from individualism, long-term orientation, and flexibility, the dimensions omitted in the prior studies are positive and strong cultural predictors of national innovation intensity, whereas the role of other cultural factors finds little empirical support. The study suggests that there is no single pattern for the impact of culture on national innovation rates that should be taken into account in seeking effective innovation strategies and policies. It also highlights the need to advance the understanding of the causal mechanism between culture and innovativeness to guide further theoretical and empirical analysis.

scholarly journals Innovative CRM and Performance of SMEs: The Moderating Role of Relational Capital

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Nagwan AlQershi ◽  
Sany Sanuri Mohd Mokhtar ◽  
Zakaria Bin Abas
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Key Customer

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is more than an information tool and plays a critical role in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The present study explored the moderating effect of relational capital (RC) on the relationship between CRM dimensions and the performance of 284 Yemeni manufacturing SMEs. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the study’s hypotheses. Results indicate that only three of the CRM dimensions have a significant effect on performance. The moderating effects of relational capital on this relationship were also examined and were found to be significant for only two CRM dimensions: technology-based CRM and CRM organization. Key customer focus and CRM knowledge management had no effect. The findings of this study offer important insights for owners and managers of SMEs, researchers, and policymakers to further understand the effects of relational capital and CRM on SMEs’ performance. SMEs should be encouraged to develop their CRM and relational capital to improve their performance.

scholarly journals MicroRNA in Pancreatic Cancer: From Biology to Therapeutic Potential

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawat ◽  
Kadian ◽  
Gupta ◽  
Kumar ◽  
Chain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Conclusion Section

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies, accounting for more than 45,750 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. The aggressive nature and late diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, coupled with the limitations of existing chemotherapy, present the pressing need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Recent reports have demonstrated a critical role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Furthermore, aberrant expressions of miRNAs have often been associated with the cause and consequence of pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the possible use of miRNAs in the effective management of pancreatic cancer patients. In this review, we provide a brief overview of miRNA biogenesis and its role in fundamental cellular process and miRNA studies in pancreatic cancer patients and animal models. Subsequent sections narrate the role of miRNA in, (i) cell cycle and proliferation; (ii) apoptosis; (iii) invasions and metastasis; and (iv) various cellular signaling pathways. We also describe the role of miRNA’s in pancreatic cancer; (i) diagnosis; (ii) prognosis and (iii) therapeutic intervention. Conclusion section describes the gist of review with future directions.

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