Starting Pitch Selection is Precise in Exploratory Study of Collegiate Nonmusic Majors

Starting pitch selection—whether intentional or habitual or otherwise— has been theorized to vary according to multiple variables. The purpose of this study was to explore starting pitch selection in undergraduate nonmusic major singers by using four well known songs and nonsinging tasks. Participants were actively singing in a college choir and majoring in fields outside of music. Performances indicated very small deviations in the median starting pitch for each criterion song (100–200 cents). Data indicated discrimination in starting pitch selection between songs. Active singers may place songs in the middle portion of the vocal range compared with the tendency toward lower range in nonsingers in previous research. A history of voice lessons was significantly associated with a positive response to a follow-up questionnaire item “I chose an intentional range for my voice.”

Optimalisasi Fungsi Laboratorium IPAMelalui Kegiatan Praktikum Di SMP Negeri 4 Sinjai Timur Kabupaten Sinjai

ABSTRACK. This study aims to determine the optimization of the science laboratory function through practical activities for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 4 Sinjai Timur, Sinjai Regency. The type of research used in this research is descriptive qualitative research which will describe the results of measurements on the optimization of the functions of the science laboratory through practicum. The population of this study were all students of class VIII A of SMP Negeri 4 Sinjai Timur, Sinjai Regency, totaling 31 people with a distribution of 11 males and 20 females. The research instruments used were questionnaires, observations and document studies. The data obtained were then analyzed using data processing and data analysis. Based on data analysis that research on how to optimize the function of the science laboratory through student practicum activities, it was concluded that the implementation aspect of biology practicum learning showed that on average each questionnaire item given to students gave an answer category above 50% with categories strongly agree and agree and at aspects of laboratory utilization based on the questionnaires that researchers have distributed regarding optimizing the functions of the science laboratory through practical activities for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 4 Sinjai Timur on average give answers strongly agree and agree with a percentage above 50%.

A Study of the Grading of English Language Scripts of Technical University Students in Ghana

This paper assesses how English language texts of Technical University (TU) students in Ghana are graded. In their quest for their certificates, Higher National Diploma (HND) students are required to write Communication Skills I and II papers in the first year. Nonetheless, most HND students do not normally perform well in these two courses. The objectives of the paper were, therefore, to find out the type of errors TU students make; and the influence that Direct Corrective Feedback (DCF) has on their texts. The paper was grounded in Noticing Hypothesis theoretical framework. The design of the research was sequential exploratory mixed method (Note 1). The participants for the study were selected from four technical universities – Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi, and Sunyani Technical Universities. From each of the technical universities, 20 participants were randomly selected. Therefore, the sample size, in terms of the participants, was 80. However, 240 raw data were collected. That is each of the 80 participants composed one letter at the pre-test stage. After grading their scripts with DCF technique, the participants were, again, asked to compose another letter at the post-test stage. Also, the participants were made to fill questionnaire item each. SPSS and BLAF were used in analyzing the questionnaire items and the scripts respectively (Note 2). The findings of the study showed that DCF treats written errors effectively. The study, therefore, recommends that assessments of letter-based tasks of TU students should be made up of both pre- and post-test items, and DCF should be used in assessing HND students’ letter or essay-based scripts.

Creating Full English Atmosphere in Teaching English to Young Learners: Teachers’ Perspectives

The research had two objectives; 1) to explore teachers’ belief about the use of full English during learning activities, and 2) to determine the factors that affected the use of full English in teaching English to teach English to young learners. Embedded mixed method was used in this study. The quantitative data were gained by distributing 1 set of closed-response questionnaire item to 38 teachers of English who teach English at elementary schools in Palembang, a capital city of South Sumatera Province, Indonesia. Meanwhile, the qualitative data were gained from one-to-one in depth interview to 15 teachers of English who were willing to be interviewed. Students’ responses to each questionnaire item were analyzed by using descriptive statistics analysis by Employing SPSS program. Meanwhile, the qualitative data gained from the interview were analyzed by using thematic analysis. It was revealed from the study that first, teachers shared positive belief about the use of full English while teaching English in the class. Secondly, there are five factors that affected the use of full English during learning activities; 1) The English Proficiency of the teachers; 2) School Policy; 3) The homogeneous level of students’ language performance 4) Teacher’s classroom management skills and 5) Students’ attitude toward English.

Two Sides of the Same Coin or Two Different Currencies? Representations of Happiness and Unhappiness among Finnish Women

This paper presents results from a study exploring representations of “happiness” and “unhappiness.” Word associations with these concepts were produced by 16–18 and 29–34-year-old women from Finland, the country that the United Nation’s World Happiness Report has ranked the “happiest” in the world. Correspondence Analysis (CA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis show that participants in both age groups share three clusters of words associated with “happiness”: Tangible happiness, Affective happiness and Serene happiness. We noted more differences in the associations with “unhappiness,” for which the two groups share only two clusters: Loss and Everyday problems. A distinct third cluster, Affective unhappiness, emerged for the younger women, whereas older women’s associations are further differentiated into a more complex structure, including two more clusters: Dejection and Apprehension. Additionally, CA shows that in both age groups, self-reported happiness levels do not discriminate which words are associated with happiness and unhappiness. Finally, qualitative content analysis of a questionnaire item investigating how to reach complete happiness suggested that there are three recurring answer types: happiness can be improved through external changes, internal changes, or not at all because complete/permanent happiness does not exist. The study provides a methodological design which, unlike most happiness studies, allows participants the freedom to bring up the meaning of happiness and unhappiness. Thus, the study constitutes a contribution to a more nuanced understanding of happiness.

Improving radiologic communication in oncology: a single-centre experience with structured reporting for cancer patients

Objectives Our aim was to develop a structured reporting concept (structured oncology report, SOR) for general follow-up assessment of cancer patients in clinical routine. Furthermore, we analysed the report quality of SOR compared to conventional reports (CR) as assessed by referring oncologists. Methods SOR was designed to provide standardised layout, tabulated tumour burden documentation and standardised conclusion using uniform terminology. A software application for reporting was programmed to ensure consistency of layout and vocabulary and to facilitate utilisation of SOR. Report quality was analysed for 25 SOR and 25 CR retrospectively by 6 medical oncologists using a 7-point scale (score 1 representing the best score) for 6 questionnaire items addressing different elements of report quality and overall satisfaction. A score of ≤ 3 was defined as a positive rating. Results In the first year after full implementation, 7471 imaging examinations were reported using SOR. The proportion of SOR in relation to all oncology reports increased from 49 to 95% within a few months. Report quality scores were better for SOR for each questionnaire item (p < 0.001 each). Averaged over all questionnaire item scores were 1.98 ± 1.22 for SOR and 3.05 ± 1.93 for CR (p < 0.001). The overall satisfaction score was 2.15 ± 1.32 for SOR and 3.39 ± 2.08 for CR (p < 0.001). The proportion of positive ratings was higher for SOR (89% versus 67%; p < 0.001). Conclusions Department-wide structured reporting for follow-up imaging performed for assessment of anticancer treatment efficacy is feasible using a dedicated software application. Satisfaction of referring oncologist with report quality is superior for structured reports.

Using predictive analytics to improve pragmatic trial design

Clinical trials embedded in health systems can randomize large populations using automated data sources to determine trial eligibility and assess outcomes. The suicide prevention outreach trial used real-world data for trial design and randomized 18,868 individuals in four health systems using patient-reported thoughts of death or self-harm (Patient Health Questionnaire item 9). This took 3.5 years. We consider if using predictive analytics, that is, suicide risk estimates based on prediction models, could improve trial “efficiency.” We used data on mental health outpatient visits between 1 January 2009 and 30 September 2017 in seven health systems (HealthPartners; Henry Ford Health System; and Colorado, Hawaii, Northwest, Southern California, and Washington Kaiser Permanente regions). We used a suicide risk prediction model developed in these same systems. We compared five trial designs with different eligibility criteria: a response of a 2 or 3 on Patient Health Questionnaire item 9, a response of a 3, suicide risk score above 90th, 95th, or 99th percentile. We compared the sample that met each criterion, 90-day suicide attempt rate following first eligible visit, and necessary sample sizes to detect a 15%, 25%, and 35% relative reduction in the suicide attempt rate, assuming 90% power, for each eligibility criterion. Our sample included 24,355,599 outpatient visits. Despite wide-spread use of Patient Health Questionnaire, 21,026,985 (86.3%) visits did not have a recorded Patient Health Questionnaire. Of the 2,928,927 individuals in our sample, 109,861 had a recorded Patient Health Questionnaire item 9 response of a 2 or 3 over the study years with a 1.40% 90-day suicide attempt rate and 50,047 had a response of a 3 (suicide attempt rate 1.98%). More patients met criteria requiring a certain risk score or higher: 331,273 had a 90th percentile risk score or higher (suicide attempt rate: 1.36%); 182,316 a 95th percentile or higher (suicide attempt rate 2.16%), and 78,655 a 99th percentile or higher (suicide attempt rate: 3.95%). Eligibility criterion of a Patient Health Questionnaire item 9 response of a 2 or 3 would require randomizing 44,081 individuals (40.2% of eligible population in our sample); eligibility criterion of a 3 would require 31,024 individuals (62.0% of eligible population). Eligibility criterion of a suicide risk score of 90th percentile or higher would require 45,675 individuals (13.8% of eligible population), 95th percentile 28,699 individuals (15.7% of eligible population), and 99th percentile 15,509 (19.7% of eligible population). A suicide risk prediction calculator could improve trial “efficiency”; identifying more individuals at increased suicide risk than relying on patient-report. It is an open scientific question if individuals identified using predictive analytics would respond differently to interventions than those identified by more traditional means.