scholarly journals The Impact of Ideological Diversity on Educational Performance: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Elena Rouse ◽  
Elizabeth Levy Paluck ◽  
Jason C. Chin ◽  
Amy Wickett ◽  
John-Henry Pezzuto

What is known about the real-world educational effects of ideological diversity in the classroom? Surprisingly, given the amount of attention paid to the role of ideological diversity on higher education outcomes such as critical thinking and academic performance, scant causal evidence exists. We use a lab-in-the-field experiment to test whether the presence of ideologically more conservative students in academic discussion groups, as compared to groups of students who all slanted ideologically liberal, would improve academic outcomes in terms of the quality of each student’s individual academic work. The complete population of an incoming cohort of policy graduate students (N = 78) took part in the experiment. Results demonstrate that students assigned to the ideologically heterogeneous discussion groups subsequently wrote individual assignments that received significantly more negative grades by a professional grader blind to experimental condition and to student identity. Survey results from participating students also suggest that students in the ideologically heterogeneous discussion groups were also significantly more likely to perceive interpersonal conflict and to dislike their group dynamics—a result that was not driven by students of a particular ideological slant. As a small pilot, this study provides questions to resolve with future research, including the role of pedagogy in managing ideological diversity, and provides a template for future experimental designs.

Author(s):  
Dan Spencer ◽  
Margareta M. Thomson ◽  
Jason P. Jones

The ability to collaborate successfully with others is a highly valued skill in the modern workplace and has been reflected in the increase of collaborative learning methods within education. Research has highlighted the crucial role of self-regulation in successful collaboration, and more recently begun to focus on understanding how groups jointly regulate their interactions. The current chapter outlines a mixed-methods study that compared the impact of individual- and group-centered prompts on the frequency of social metacognitive activities during online group review activities with college students (N=48) from the USA. Tentative study findings suggested that group-centered problematizing prompts were moderately successful in shifting groups towards more social forms of regulation such as co-regulation; however, they were not enough to move groups towards shared metacognitive regulation. Further results revealed how the quality of group engagement was influenced by participants' perceived value towards activities, function and focus of metacognitive episodes, and group dynamics.


2020 ◽  
pp. 279-301
Author(s):  
Vivian Smits

Since taking off as an industry in Sweden in the 1980s, contract archaeology has changed not only the role of field archaeologists but also that of museums and the formation of collections. This paper discusses some of the effects of the commercialization of archaeological services through a case study of past and present collection practices. Data records are compared from three different archaeological investigations at the site Nya Lödöse (1473-1621) in Gothenburg. Each excavation represents a particular era in archaeological practice. The data are used to compare and analyse collecting practices within contemporary contract archaeology. Separately, a survey among contract archaeology units examines the implementation of legislative guidelines and day-to-day practices and suggests several causes for anomalies in the selection and discarding of finds in the case study. Combined, the findings of the case study and the survey results, suggest that contract archaeology leaves a specific imprint on collections in archaeological museums, impacting their compilation, and therefore influencing future research as well as the experience of the public.


Author(s):  
Andreas Kythreotis ◽  
Panayiotis Antoniou

The chapter aims to explore the various models proposed in the literature related with the impact of school leadership on student academic achievement. In doing so, and drawing mainly from the mediate and indirect models, the chapter also discusses the role of various intermediate/moderate variables that facilitate the impact of principal leadership on student-learning outcomes. Results from a qualitative exploratory study that took place in Cyprus are also presented. This study developed a framework of school principals' actions and strategies that teachers considered as effective in relation to improving their quality of teaching and student outcomes. Some of the problems related with measuring the impact of school leadership on student achievement, such as issues of conceptual and operational definitions of school leadership and methodological issues in research design are also elaborated. Finally, implications for policy and practice on school leadership are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Ginesti ◽  
Giuseppe Sannino ◽  
Carlo Drago

Purpose This study aims to determine the impact of information-sharing disseminated through the firms’ board connections on the readability of the management discussion and analysis (MD&A). Design/methodology/approach The investigation conducted in this study is performed by using a regression analysis. The readability of the MD&A is measured by the Flesch reading ease. The level of information-sharing is determined by the degree centrality index. The sample is composed of 83 Italian-listed firms that comprise over 4,000 directors for the period 2008-2012. Findings The main results of this study show a significant relationship between the degree centrality and MD&A readability, suggesting that board connections play a crucial role in improving the quality of external reporting. Research limitations/implications This study uses a limited sample size. Further, we do not isolate the possible effect of other reporting incentives that may affect the readability of external reporting. Practical implications This study argues that for a non-English-speaking country such as Italy, information-sharing is a vehicle for improving the quality of external reporting and the competitiveness of firms in international capital markets. Originality/value This research offers an original contribution to the existent literature by highlighting the role of the firms’ board connections in determining the level of the corporate disclosure readability. This implies the opportunity for future research to take into account the firms’ board connections when they analyze related phenomena.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 746-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Currie ◽  
Paul Gorczynski ◽  
Simon M Rice ◽  
Rosemary Purcell ◽  
R Hamish McAllister-Williams ◽  
...  

Bipolar and psychotic disorders are relatively common and likely to have a significant impact on quality of life and functioning which, in the context of elite sport, includes a potential negative impact on sporting performance. For this narrative review article, the literature on bipolar and psychotic disorders in elite athletes was comprehensively searched, and little empirical research was found. A diagnosis of bipolar or psychotic disorders may be challenging in elite athletes because of complicating factors related to the modifying role of exercise and potential precipitating impact of substance use. Medications used to treat bipolar and psychotic disorders may have side effects particularly problematic for elite athletes. Future research should be tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of elite athletes and to the sporting context in which the disorders may arise. Specifically, further research is needed on the prevalence and incidence of these conditions in elite athletes and the impact of both the disorders and their treatments on sporting performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asad

This study empirically examined the impact of breach of psychological contract on employees’ quality of life via the mediating mechanism of psychosomatic strain, while facilitating effect of power distance was also examined. Data were collected from a sample of 183 employees using a questionnaire. Results confirm that the breach of psychological contract declines employees’ quality of life, while mediating role of psychosomatic strain in this particular relationship was also established. Contrary to expectations, power distance does not act as a moderating variable. Implications, limitation and future research direction are discussed.


Author(s):  
Andreas Kythreotis ◽  
Panayiotis Antoniou

The chapter aims to explore the various models proposed in the literature related with the impact of school leadership on student academic achievement. In doing so, and drawing mainly from the mediate and indirect models, the chapter also discusses the role of various intermediate/moderate variables that facilitate the impact of principal leadership on student-learning outcomes. Results from a qualitative exploratory study that took place in Cyprus are also presented. This study developed a framework of school principals' actions and strategies that teachers considered as effective in relation to improving their quality of teaching and student outcomes. Some of the problems related with measuring the impact of school leadership on student achievement, such as issues of conceptual and operational definitions of school leadership and methodological issues in research design are also elaborated. Finally, implications for policy and practice on school leadership are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Dr. Irfan Sabir ◽  
◽  
Azhar Tanveer ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Majid ◽  
Prof. Dr. Mohd Sadad Mahmud ◽  
...  

The aim of the current study was to analyze the impact of Nurses Emotional Intelligence on Patients Quality-of-Care with the mediating role of Job Involvement. Deductive approach was used to study the constructs, derived from theory. Research hypotheses are formulated from existing theory and knowledge relating to emotional intelligence and patientscentered care. The sample was calculated through an online calculator ”Raosoft”. The recommended final simple size was 292 with a population size of 1200 at 95% confidence level, 5% error of margin and 50% response distribution. Correlations and regression analysis were performed to measure the mediation analysis. The statistical outcomes confirmed nurses emotional intelligence positively affects patients quality of care. Furthermore, the association between emotional intelligence and job involvement and job involvement and patients quality of care are also positive. Job involvement has a partial mediation impact in the said association. The study concludes by discussing future research directions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.


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