scholarly journals The 2030 Challenge in the Quality of Higher Education: Metacognitive, Motivational and Structural Factors, Predictive of Written Argumentation, for the Dissemination of Sustainable Knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8266
Author(s):  
Rosario Arroyo González ◽  
Javier de la Hoz-Ruiz ◽  
Jesús Montejo Gámez

The United Nations 2030 agenda includes quality university education, highlighting the importance of writing competence, as a basic skill for the dissemination of sustainable knowledge. However, there is little evidence of the factors that predict effective written communication to support such quality. Among these factors, the literature highlights motivation and writing metacognition, as well as the adequate structuring of the academic and/or scientific genre. The main novelty of the present research is the study of the relationships between the mentioned factors, measured with validated instruments. To this end, content analysis is first applied to determine the rhetorical moves of argumentative essays written by a sample of 72 university students. Secondly, the correlations between each of the rhetorical moves, metacognition and argumentative writing self-efficacy are calculated. The relationships are studied in depth, applying step-by-step linear regression models. Finally, the dependence of the results, observed with respect to unmeasured factors, is contrasted by means of a confirmatory analysis based on structural equations. The analyses show that it is the practical ability to express rhetorical moves—Conclusion and Bibliographic References—which predicts a students’ writing metacognition. Moreover, the minor relationship that argumentative self-efficacy shows with the expression of rhetorical moves, compared to writing metacognition, point to the need to consider another motivational dimension that is driving the learning of the argumentative essay at university level, a hypothesis that is confirmed with the structural equations model. These, and other findings, allow for the establishment of a series of educational quality criteria for the empowerment of written argumentation in academic and scientific contexts.

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200064
Author(s):  
Felipe Ganz ◽  
Virginia Wright ◽  
Patricia J. Manns ◽  
Lesley Pritchard

Purpose: To determine how physical activity-related self-efficacy is associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour time among ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Children with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels I-III ( N = 26; aged 9–18 y), completed the task self-efficacy component of a self-efficacy scale and wore Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers for 5 days. Correlations (Pearson and Spearman’s rank-order; a = 0.050) were conducted to evaluate the relationships among age, GMFCS level, self-efficacy, and both daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time. Linear regression models were used to determine the relationships among the independent variables and MVPA and sedentary time. Results: Self-efficacy was positively associated with MVPA time ( r = 0.428, p = 0.015) and negatively correlated with sedentary time ( r = –0.332, p = 0.049). In our linear regression models, gross motor function (β = –0.462, p = 0.006), age (β = –0.344, p = 0.033), and self-efficacy (β = 0.281, p = 0.080) were associated with MVPA time ( R2 = 0.508), while GMFCS level (β = 0.439, p = 0.003) and age (β = 0.605, p < 0.001) were associated with sedentary time ( R2 = 0.584). Conclusions: This research suggests that self-efficacy, age, and gross motor function are associated with MVPA in children with CP. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings and further explore the influence of self-efficacy on sedentary behaviour.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bürgin ◽  
Nina Kind ◽  
Martin Schröder ◽  
Vera Clemens ◽  
Jörg M. Fegert ◽  
...  

Background: Professional caregivers in youth residential care institutions experience frequent verbal and physical aggression as well as multiple stressors as part of their everyday work, leading to high levels of burnout and staff turnover. Resilience might buffer against psychophysiological stress response and therefore be crucial for well-being in professional caregivers.Objectives: We aimed to investigate if measures related to resilience [sense of coherence (SoC), self-efficacy and self-care] and attachment security of caregivers were cross-sectionally associated with stress markers in hair samples [cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)].Method: Participants (n = 134; 64.2% women) reported on individual resilience measures and provided hair samples for cortisol and DHEA assays. Attachment was assessed in a subsample using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP, n = 69). Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between resilience measures and the Cortisol:DHEA ratio, cortisol and DHEA, controlling for gender and age.Results: SoC was associated with a lower Cortisol:DHEA ratio (β = −0.36, p &lt; 0.001), driven by a positive association between SoC and DHEA levels (β = 0.28, p = 0.002). Self-care was also associated with lower Cortisol:DHEA ratios (β = −0.24, p = 0.005), due to self-care being associated with higher DHEA (β = 0.21, p = 0.016). HPA-axis measures were not associated with self-efficacy nor with attachment patterns in a subsample.Conclusions: Our findings imply that youth residential care institutions might benefit from programs focusing on enhancing SoC and self-care practices. Fostering a meaningful, comprehensible and manageable professional climate in caregiving environments and implementing self-care in routine practices might enhance not only well-being but also physical health of professional caregivers and in this way buffer adverse health effects of chronic stressors.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Ruiz-Pérez ◽  
Álvaro Lleó ◽  
Elisabeth Viles ◽  
Daniel Jurburg

PurposeThis paper unifies previous research literature on employee participation in continuous improvement (CI) activities through the development and validation of a conceptual model. The purpose of this model is to illustrate how organizational drivers foster organizational and individual enablers which, in turn, strengthen employee participation in CI. The article also discusses the results and managerial implications.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, the article introduces the main variables affecting employee participation in CI, looking at the different possible relationships proposed in existing literature. In accordance with the Kaye and Anderson (1999) framework, these variables are categorized into organizational drivers, organizational and individual enablers and individual outcomes. Based on these categories, a model was put forward and empirically validated using data collected from three Spanish companies (n = 483) and using partial least squares structural equations modelling (PLS–SEM).FindingsA model was put forward, proposing PIRK systems (power, information, rewards, knowledge) as the main organizational driver of employee participation in CI activities. PIRK impacts positively on social influence (organizational enabler), self-efficacy and job satisfaction (individual enablers). These enablers, together with employee intention of participating, help determine employee participation in CI activities.Practical implicationsOrganizations with CI programmes should develop systems based on employee empowerment, information, rewards and knowledge in order to foster their self-efficacy and seek out a culture where social influence may help to improve job satisfaction. By suitably managing these organizational drivers, managers can help to further develop certain organizational and individual enablers responsible for fostering employee participation in CI activities.Originality/valueBy unifying different behavioural and CI-related frameworks, this paper carries out an in-depth study into the process of fostering employee participation as the key aspect in helping organizations sustain CI programmes. This paper shows the importance of managing PIRK organizational drivers as levers in the process of developing certain organizational and individual enablers, which are responsible for enhancing employee participation in CI.


Author(s):  
José Ricardo Claudino Ribeiro ◽  
Camila Cristina Fonseca Bicalho ◽  
Marcos Teixeira de Abreu Soares Onofre ◽  
Franco Noce

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a percepção de autoeficácia em professores do Ensino Superior e avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Autoeficácia para Professores do Ensino Superior para o contexto brasileiro. Participaram deste estudo 188 professores do Ensino Superior de instituições da rede privada de Minas Gerais. Os professores lecionavam nas áreas da Educação Física, Nutrição, Ciências Biológicas, Geografia, Fisioterapia, Medicina, Análise de Sistemas, Enfermagem, Turismo e Pedagogia. A amostra foi composta por 61,5% de professores do sexo masculino. Em relação à formação, foi predominante a participação de professores com especialização Lato Sensu (52,9%). Todos os professores responderam a Escala de Autoeficácia para Docentes do Ensino Superior-EADES. Os resultados mostraram que a escala está adequada para a avaliação da autoeficácia em professores (α=0,92). Em relação ao quanto os professores se sentem capazes de realizar suas tarefas docentes, foram verificados valores médios entre 5,01 e 5,65, o que representa um alto valor de percepção de autoeficácia pelos professores. Conclui-se que os principais fatores responsáveis pela autoeficácia dos professores são a Satisfação, a Persuasão Social e as Experiências Pregressas. Estes aspectos fornecem uma importante sugestão sobre as possibilidades de exploração destes fatores no que diz respeito às futuras aquisições, programas de formação e pesquisas futuras. Palavras-chave: Validação. Eficácia Docente. Educação Superior. AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of self-efficacy in higher education teachers and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Self-efficacy Scale for higher education teachers in the Brazilian context. A total of 188 higher education teachers from institutions of the private network of Minas Gerais participated in this study. Teachers taught in the areas of Physical Education, Nutrition, Biological Sciences, Geography, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Systems Analysis, Nursing, Tourism and Pedagogy. The sample consisted of 61.5% male teachers. All teachers answered the Self-Efficacy Scale for Teachers of Higher Education-EADES. Lato Sensu teachers (52.9%), followed by master teachers (34.8%), doctors (9.6%) and graduates (2.7%) predominated. The results showed that the scale is adequate for the evaluation of self-efficacy in teachers (α=0.92). In relation to how much teachers feel capable of performing their teaching tasks, mean values between 5.01 and 5.65 were verified, which represents a high value of self-efficacy perception among teachers. It is concluded that the main factors responsible for teachers' self-efficacy are satisfaction, social persuasion and previous experiences. These aspects provide an important suggestion about the possibilities of exploring these factors with regard to future acquisitions, training programs and future research. Keywords: Validation. Professor Efficacy. University Education. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Fika Megawati

This study aims to describe the students’ self-efficacy on their writing competence. Descriptive study was implemented by distributing closed-ended questionnaires in addition to interview and the result of writing task. The subjects of this study were three students from Thailand. The students’ responses in questionnaire were analyzed through frequency distribution and percentage. For the result of interview, it was transcribed in written form and used coding technique to classify the relevant points. The result of writing task became the supplementary data to confirm the findings and support conclusion. In a nutshell, the subjects of this study have moderate level of writing self-efficacy. Each student showed diverse selection in writing stage. The first student had moderate self-efficacy, but he relatively could cope with the writing problems. In the second student, the writing self-efficacy was the highest one, and it was proven from her better writing result. For the last student, similar to the writing quality, he considered himself weak in this skill.


Author(s):  
Luisa A. Streckenbach ◽  
Laura Castiglioni ◽  
Pia S. Schober

This study examines how multidimensional gender and fathering beliefs of fathers may explain their relative involvement in childcare after considering paid leave uptake. We draw on cross-sectional survey data from one German state, which allow us to distinguish three belief dimensions: (1) gender traditionalism and essentialism, (2) fathering attitudes, and (3) fathering self-concepts and self-efficacy. By means of multiple linear regression models we investigate how the different dimensions of gender and fatherhood beliefs relate to fathers’ relative involvement in basic and indirect childcare tasks. Our results show that gender (essentialist) ideologies and fatherhood attitudes were strongly associated with fathers’ relative involvement in both childcare domains. The higher fathers perceived self-efficacy in fathering, the more involved they were in basic but not indirect care. All belief dimensions mediated the positive association of fathers’ uptake of paid leave with their involvement in basic childcare.


Author(s):  
Yair Levy ◽  
Theon L. Danet

A recent presidential directive mandated that all U.S. government agencies establish a centralized identification system. This study investigated the impact of users’ involvement, resistance, and computer self-efficacy on the implementation success of a centralized identification system. Information System (IS) usage was the construct employed to measure IS implementation success. A survey instrument was developed based on existing measures from key IS literature. The results of this study indicated a strong reliability for the measures of all constructs (user involvement, computer self-efficacy, user’s resistance, and IS usage). Factor analysis was conducted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation. Results of the PCA indicate that items of the constructs measured had high validity, while Cronbach’s Alpha for each factor demonstrates high reliability for all constructs measured. Additionally, results of a structural equations modeling analysis using Partial Least Square (PLS) indicate that computer self-efficacy and user involvement had positive significant impact on the implementation success. However, the results also demonstrated that user’s resistance had no significant impact on IS usage, while end user involvement had a strong negative impact on user’s resistance.


2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592095205
Author(s):  
Donald E. Bailey ◽  
Jia Yao ◽  
Qing Yang

Illness uncertainty is prevalent in patients awaiting liver transplant. We described high levels of illness uncertainty in these patients and examined relationships between uncertainty and person factors and the antecedents of uncertainty. Mishel uncertainty in illness scale was used to measure illness uncertainty. We used modes and interquartile range (IQR) to describe illness uncertainty levels in 115 patients. Multiple logistic and linear regression models estimated the associations of uncertainty with hypothesized antecedents. High total illness uncertainty score was reported by 15.6% of the patients. After adjusting for all variables, illness uncertainty was associated with two antecedents of uncertainty, low social well-being (OR = 0.816; p = .025) and low self-efficacy (OR = 0.931; p = .013). Complexity was negatively associated with social well-being; ambiguity and inconsistency were negatively associated with self-efficacy. One in seven patients experienced high illness uncertainty. Social well-being and self-efficacy were negatively related to illness uncertainty.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B. Robinson ◽  
Mary Bishop

Objective: Contemporary advanced professional nursing requires the ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms. Many registered nurses enter graduate nursing school with experience writing in medical records but with no experience writing scholarly papers or writing for publication. This article describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a writing course developed in an online graduate nursing program in the southeastern United States. The goal of this research was to determine if graduate nursing students’ writing self-efficacy increased after the completion of a newly developed one-credit online writing course.Methods: Fifty-three first-semester graduate nursing students participated in a 16-week online asynchronous writing course developed at a school of nursing. The course instructors designed writing experiences with the goal of increasing writing competency. The faculty defined writing competence as achieving mastery of the necessary writing skills to produce an organized, logical, understandable message containing the effective use of language, grammar, and punctuation.Results: The students’ writing self-efficacy increased significantly from pretest and posttest. The results revealed a significant increase in self efficacy scores with the second administration of the tool. The mean of the 20-question Likert scale pretest was 70.59. Results obtained after the conclusion of the course resulted in a mean of 80.12. The finding of a mean increase of 9.529 was found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: The information from this research can be used to develop effective strategies to support online graduate students with their writing skills. This experience highlights the fact that we cannot leave the development of academic writing to chance. Achieving academic writing success requires structured instruction, practice and frequent feedback from faculty who have the passion for and expertise in scholarly writing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Estradé ◽  
Angela Trude ◽  
Marla Pardilla ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn

Abstract Objectives To identify sociodemographic and psychosocial factors associated with diet quality among Native American adults. Methods Cross-sectional data from the baseline assessment of a cluster-randomized obesity prevention trial (OPREVENT2) of 580 Native American adults from six tribal communities in the Midwest and Southwest. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) was used to define diet quality, calculated from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (modified Block FFQ). Sociodemographic (age, sex, education, food assistance) and psychosocial factors (nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, health eating intentions) were assessed via questionnaires administered by trained data collectors. One-way ANOVA, linear regression models, and two-tailed t-tests assessed compared mean total HEI scores among sociodemographic categories. Bivariate linear regression models assessed the relation between psychosocial factors and diet quality. Results Overall diet quality was low, with a mean HEI-2015 score of 49 (SD + 8), which is 10 points lower than in the general U.S. population. The HEI scores of smokers were an average of 3 points lower than those of non-smokers (P < 0.001), and females had better diet quality (2.2 points higher) than males (P < 0.01). Those receiving commodity food assistance had mean total HEI scores 2.7 points lower than those who did not receive commodities (P < 0.005), and no other source of food assistance was associated with HEI. Self-efficacy (b = 0.66; P < 0.001) and healthy eating intentions (b = 0.72; P < 0.001) were positively associated with mean HEI. Conclusions While nutrition knowledge has been a key focus of many dietary interventions, it does not appear to be associated with better diet quality among Native Americans. This finding suggests that it is necessary to focus interventions on factors other than nutrition knowledge that may impact food choice. Because higher self-efficacy and healthy eating intentions were associated with better diet quality, a social-cognitive approach to dietary interventions may be more effective in Native American populations. Funding Sources OPREVENT2 is funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.


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