scholarly journals Contextual Inferencing Strategies and Changes in Reading Attitudes: the Case of Iranian EFL Undergraduates

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 306-323
Author(s):  
Танназ Садегжи ◽  
Амін Марцбан
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Reading Attitudes ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Attitudes Towards Reading

Objective. The present study examined the impact of contextual inferencing on Iranian EFL learners’ attitudes towards reading in English. Methods and techniques of the research. To achieve such goals, 60 BA undergraduate students at Islamic Azad University of Shiraz, majoring in English teaching and English translation studies within the age range of 19-23 participated in the study. They were divided into two groups of control and experimental randomly. The data were collected through an ‘Attitude towards Reading’ questionnaire and a revised version of Demet Kulac’s (2011) interview in two phases before and after the instruction. Results. The comparison of pre- and post-questionnaires showed that contextual inferencing strategies had a positive effect on learners’ attitudes towards reading, and there was a negative relationship between unknown vocabulary encounters and learners’ attitudes towards reading English texts. Finally, the analysis of the interview confirmed the effectiveness of strategy training in reading attitudes and showed some other factors which were enhanced by using contextual inferencing strategies. Conclusions. The findings contribute to syllabus designers and teachers in reading comprehension and international tests preparation courses.

scholarly journals Buyer’ Black Box Model Change in COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Daniel Hermawan
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Black Box ◽  
Box Model ◽  
Generation Z ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Media ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the structure of human life globally, starting from the social, economic, political, health aspects, and so on. This study attempts to map the impact of changes in Generation Z consumer behavior in the period before and after the COVID-19 pandemic took place with the black box model in 3 stages, namely stimuli, transformers, and responses. The study was conducted on 186 undergraduate students with an age range of 17-24 years in measuring changes in 3 aspects, namely consumption patterns, entertainment, and basic necessities. The research model uses mixed methods with concurrent models, through the type of concurrent triangulation strategy. The results showed that there was a significant change in consumption and entertainment patterns in terms of the selection of purchasing methods and processes. Surprisingly, the pattern of shopping for basic necessities tends to not experience significant changes and contrasts with the media coverage of panic buying.

scholarly journals The Demerger Impact upon Sustainable Development of Economic Entities: Evidence from Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8316
Author(s):  
Camelia Mirela Baba ◽  
Constantin Duguleană ◽  
Marius Sorin Dincă ◽  
Liliana Duguleană ◽  
Gheorghița Dincă
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Profitability Ratios ◽  
Positive Effect

The Covid-19 induced economic crisis has significantly affected almost all businesses from nearly every sector, causing severe financial problems, lack of cash assets, and decrease of revenues. In this context, the economic entities were forced to look for adjustment and rescue solutions of their activities. One possible solution for the recovery and reorganization of economic entities’ activities is demerger. This paper evaluates the impact of demerger upon the sustainable development of economic entities in terms of economic efficiency and financial performances. To achieve this goal, a statistical analysis of profitability ratios before and after the demerger, as well as a structural analysis of 268 demerger projects for the April 2012–April 2021 period, were performed. The results attest there are no significant differences between the ex-ante and ex-post financial performances. However, demerger seems to have a positive effect upon analyzed companies helping them to overcome economic hardships, rethink their business strategies, and continue their activity in the medium and long-term time horizon.

scholarly journals Improving the Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s Disease through Virtual Communities of Practice: A Quasiexperimental Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Montse Romero-Mas ◽  
Anna Ramon-Aribau ◽  
Dyego Leandro Bezerra de Souza ◽  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
Beni Gómez-Zúñiga
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ambiguous Result ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
The Impact

Caring for a person with dementia burdens family caregivers, and there is a close negative relationship between this burden and their quality of life (QoL). Research suggests that caregivers’ main needs are information and training about the disease and support from others experiencing the same situation, and Internet interventions hold considerable promise for meeting these needs. Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) are Internet frameworks to share knowledge where members collaborate and achieve a sense of trust in the community. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of participating in a VCoP (developed through an App) on the QoL of caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s. Results show QoL before and after the intervention changed significantly. The impact of VCoP on caregivers’ overall QoL is moderated by age and relation with the person with Alzheimer’s, specifically those over 65, and spouses. VCoPs allow interaction and knowledge sharing among caregivers which provide them mainly with information and support from peers helping them to meet their needs. Furthermore, caregivers’ QoL did not decrease when their relative deteriorated functionally, which could be due to the participation in VCoP. Although we found significant pre- and post differences in caregivers’ health literacy, we must report the ambiguous result that this variable only impacts on QoL’s physical domain. Participants also reported that they had a positive experience because the App was perceived to be a useful tool, because they could manage their own participation and they met peers and felt less lonely. Results suggest that participation in a VCoP impacts positively on caregivers’ QoL.

scholarly journals The Effect of Memory Strategy Training on Vocabulary Learning by EFL Female Students of the College of Languages and Translation: An Experimental Study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Ghadah Fahad Alzaidi
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Instruction ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
King Saud University ◽  
New Words ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of memory strategies (MSs)in improving students' ability to recall and spell newly learned vocabulary items. The researcheronly considered three types of MSs: grouping, placing new words in to a context and structuredreviewing. In addition, the study used a questionnaire that explored students' attitudes towardsMSs in general, and towards the specific MSs that they have been trained to use, as well as therelationship between MSs and motivation and between MSs and anxiety. intact groups (63 students in total) were selected from level three of the College of Languages and Translation (COLT) at King Saud University (KSU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two groups were assigned to the experimental group (36 students) and the control group(27students). The control group received traditional instruction that depended on the textbook without any MS training, whereas the experimental group received a combination of traditional instruction and MS training. A pre- and post-test were administered to both groups before and after the experiment to examine students' ability to recall the meaning of vocabulary items and their ability to spell them correctly. The experiment lasted for fourteen weeks through which the participants received seven MS training sessions. The study found out that MS training was effective in improving students' ability to recall the meaning of vocabulary items when needed and their ability to spell them correctly. Moreover, the results showed that the subjects of the experimental group showed positive attitude towards MSs and most of them agreed on the positive effect that MSs had on raising their motivation and reducing their anxiety while learning vocabulary.

scholarly journals Impact of an Online Sleep and Circadian Education Program on University Students’ Sleep Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10180
Author(s):  
Caitlin R. Semsarian ◽  
Gabrielle Rigney ◽  
Peter A. Cistulli ◽  
Yu Sun Bin
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Course Grades ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

University students consistently report poor sleep. We conducted a before-and-after study to evaluate the impact of an online 10-week course on undergraduate students’ sleep knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours at 6-month follow-up. Data were collected via baseline course surveys (August–September 2020) and follow-up surveys distributed via email (February–March 2021). n = 212 students completed baseline surveys and n = 75 (35%) completed follow-up. Students retained to follow-up possessed higher baseline sleep knowledge and received higher course grades. At the 6-month follow-up, sleep knowledge had increased (mean score out of 5: 3.0 vs. 4.2, p < 0.001). At baseline, 85% of students aimed to increase their sleep knowledge and 83% aimed to improve their sleep. At follow-up, 91% reported being more knowledgeable and 37% reported improved sleep. A novel Stages of Change item revealed that 53% of students’ attitudes towards their sleep behaviours had changed from baseline. There was a reduction in sleep latency at follow-up (mean 33.3 vs. 25.6 min, p = 0.015), but no change in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score. In summary, completion of an online course led to increased sleep and circadian knowledge and changed sleep attitudes, with no meaningful change in sleep behaviours. Future interventions should consider components of behavioural change that go beyond the knowledge–attitudes–behaviour continuum.

scholarly journals PENGARUH REVIU RKA-K/L OLEH APIP TERHADAP EFISIENSI ALOKASI ANGGARAN KEMENTERIAN AGAMA

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Edy Effendi ◽  
Muhammad Imron
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Simple Linear Regression ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

Research on the role of the APIP review of the Ministry/agency Work Plan and Budget document to determine the impact on the efficiency of ministry/agency spending (case study at the Ministry of Religion). The method used in this study uses simple linear regression with dummy. The use of linear regression is used to examine the relationship between independent variables (certain types of expenditure) and dependent variables (total expenditure). Whereas, dummy is used to find out before and after the APIP review is done. Throughout the author's search, this research has never been done. Based on the results of linear regression obtained, the APIP review significantly had a positive effect on official travel expenditure and honorarium but did not significantly affect building spending and equipment. Abstrak   Penelitian atas peran reviu APIP atas dokumen Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Kementerian Negara/Lembaga untuk mengetahui dampaknya terhadap efisiensi belanja kementerian/lembaga (studi kasus pada Kementerian Agama). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan regresi linier sederhana dengan dummy. Penggunaan regresi liner digunakan untuk meneliti hubungan antara variable independen (jenis belanja tertentu) dan variable dependen (total belanja). Sedangkan, dummy digunakan untuk mengetahui sebelum dan setelah reviu APIP dilakukan. Sepanjang penelusuran penulis, penelitian ini belum pernah dilakukan. Berdasarkan hasil regresi linier diperoleh, reviu APIP signifikan berpengaruh positif terhadap  belanja perjalanan dinas dan honorarium tetapi tidak signifikan berbengaruh terhadap belanja gedung dan alat.

scholarly journals Firm Growth and R&D in the Korean Pharmaceutical Industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunseog Chung ◽  
Soomin Eum ◽  
Chulung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Sales Growth ◽  
Young Firms ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

We explore the impact of research and development (R&D) on sales growth rate with firm-specific factors under the Korean pharmaceutical industry structure using listed Korea pharmaceutical company data from 2007 to 2018 with the quantile regression technique. We find that R&D intensity has a positive effect on firm growth rate while R&D scale a negative effect on the firm growth rate at the upper quantile, whereas the result is opposite at the lower quantile. Firm size has a mixed relationship with sales growth at the upper quantile, thus Gibrat’s law is rejected in the Korean pharmaceutical industry. Firm age has a negative relationship with the sales growth rate at the upper quantile, which shows the consistent result with previous research that young firms grow faster. Patent persistence has a negative relationship with sales growth at the upper quantile, while a positive effect at the lower quantile. We show that young firms and firms with high R&D intensity contribute to the high growth rate, while the relationship is not clear at the lower quantile. Therefore, policy implication in this research is that the government should pay attention to encouraging and supporting R&D investment activities and small firms as well as consider ways to enhance patent rights.

scholarly journals A pilot interventional study to evaluate the impact of cholecalciferol treatment on HbA1c in type 1 diabetes (T1D)

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Perchard ◽  
L Magee ◽  
A Whatmore ◽  
F Ivison ◽  
P Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Background Higher 25(OH)D3 levels are associated with lower HbA1c, but there are limited UK interventional trials assessing the effect of cholecalciferol on HbA1c. Aims (1) To assess the baseline 25(OH)D3 status in a Manchester cohort of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). (2) To determine the effect of cholecalciferol administration on HbA1c. Methods Children with T1D attending routine clinic appointments over three months in late winter/early spring had blood samples taken with consent. Participants with a 25(OH)D3 level <50 nmol/L were treated with a one-off cholecalciferol dose of 100,000 (2–10 years) or 160,000 (>10 years) units. HbA1c levels before and after treatment were recorded. Results Vitamin D levels were obtained from 51 children. 35 were Caucasian, 11 South Asian and 5 from other ethnic groups. 42 were vitamin D deficient, but 2 were excluded from the analysis. All South Asian children were vitamin D deficient, with mean 25(OH)D3 of 28 nmol/L. In Caucasians, there was a negative relationship between baseline 25(OH)D3 level and HbA1c (r = −0.484, P < 0.01). In treated participants, there was no significant difference in mean HbA1c at 3 months (t = 1.010, P = 0.328) or at 1 year (t = −1.173, P = 0.248) before and after treatment. One-way ANCOVA, controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, BMI and diabetes duration showed no difference in Δ HbA1c level. Conclusion We report important findings at baseline, but in children treated with a stat dose of cholecalciferol, there was no effect on HbA1c. Further studies with larger sample sizes and using maintenance therapy are required.

scholarly journals Pre-Reading Activities and Iranian EFL Learner’s Performance in Reading Comprehension

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Massoud Rahimpour ◽  
Mohaddeseh Hodaei ◽  
Davoud Amini
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Written Form ◽  
Reading Activity ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Reading Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study is an attempt to investigate the impact of two different types of pre-reading activities<br />of 1: glossary of unknown vocabulary items and 2:content related support on EFL learners’<br />performance on reading comprehension across low proficiency (LP) and high proficiency (HP) levels.<br />80 language learners with an age range of 18-28(male and female) participated in this study. Each<br />level consisted of two experimental groups. One experimental group received glossary of unknown<br />vocabulary items while the other group received content related support (in written form) with the aim<br />of activating prior knowledge before administering reading comprehension questions. The results of the<br />statistical analysis of the data revealed that two types of pre-reading activity and proficiency level shad<br />positive effect on the learners’ reading comprehension. The study suggests that appropriate and<br />relevant pre-task activities should be employed at different proficiency levels to facilitate and improve<br />the learners’ reading comprehension.

scholarly journals Expressive Writing to Relieve Academic Stress at University Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-33
Author(s):  
Juanita Argudo
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Expressive Writing ◽  
Academic Stress ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
University Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Shed Light

This paper reports on a descriptive mixed-method study that aimed to identify the impact of expressive writing on relieving the academic stress of 157 undergraduate students at an Ecuadorian university. Data were gathered through two questionnaires and from focus groups. Results showed enduring relief of academic stress. Furthermore, they help to shed light on the need to study the impact of academic stress on university students and to look for different strategies that can alleviate it. These findings could help to understand students’ needs, as they have essential implications in teachers’ practices and, consequently, in students’ performance. In conclusion, expressive writing has a positive effect on helping to ease academic stress and overcome some difficulties caused by this issue.

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