Teachers’ insights into the role of teamwork among students in public schools

Despite the fact that establishing a culture of teamwork among students is one of the most important functions and duties of the school, very few studies have addressed this issue in Saudi Arabia. This study investigates the role of all-female schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in promoting a culture of teamwork among its students from the point of view of teachers. The study followed the descriptive- analytical approach: a random sample of teacher participants were selected to represent the public school community. A questionnaire was distributed among all teacher participants for data collection, and the SPSS software was used to analyze the data. The study’s results revealed that all areas regarding the culture of teamwork received high approval ratings. Further, the study recommends involving teachers and students in drafting the school's vision by providing all means of communication between departments, especially electronic platforms, including recognition of outstanding teamwork. Keywords: collective achievement; public education, teamwork

The COVID States Project #70: MA Governor Charlie Baker's Approval

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement last week that he would not seek re-election comes on the heels of a wave of retirements of moderate Republican politicians who have found themselves at odds with former President Donald Trump and his vision of the Republican Party. Governor Baker’s decision to not seek re-election is somewhat surprising, given the Republican has consistently garnered some of the highest gubernatorial approval ratings according to numerous polls (including our own). However Baker has struggled to garner support from members of his own party, with numerous polls finding higher approval among Democrats and Independents than among Republicans. Baker’s struggles with his own party were on full display when President Trump endorsed Baker’s primary challenger, Geoff Diehl, in October. Baker faced grim primary prospects according to a Public Policy Polling1 poll that found Baker trailing Diehl in a hypothetical matchup between the two candidates. Baker has already served two terms as leader of the Bay state, and a third consecutive term would have been unprecedented for a Massachusetts governor.The Covid States Project regularly asks people in all 50 states about their approval of their governor’s handling of the pandemic and, in our most recent survey, about approval of their governor’s overall job performance. In this report, we focus on the approval of Governor Charlie Baker’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020, and Baker’s most recent general approval rating.

Under the Microscope: Gender and Accountability in the US Congress

We study how officeholder gender affects issue accountability and examine whether constituents evaluate women and men legislators differently on the basis of their policy records. Data from 2008 through 2018 show that constituents’ approval ratings and vote choices in US House elections are more responsive to the policy records of women legislators than of men legislators. These patterns are concentrated among politically aware constituents, but we find no evidence that the results are driven disproportionately by either women or men constituents or by issues that are gendered in stereotypical ways. Additional analyses suggest that while constituents penalize women and men legislators at similar rates for policy incongruence, women legislators are rewarded more than men as they are increasingly aligned with their constituents. Our results show that accountability standards are applied differently across legislator gender and suggest a link between the quality of policy representation and the gender composition of American legislatures.

Mexico reshuffle aims to facilitate agenda approval

Significance The change preceded the start of the first legislative period of the newly elected Chamber of Deputies on September 1, in which AMLO’s ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena) and its allies no longer hold a two-thirds majority. Impacts AMLO’s popular approval ratings suggest he will remain in office beyond March’s recall referendum. Despite requiring support from at least some of the opposition to pass key bills, AMLO will not abandon his polarising rhetoric. Co-opting opposition figures may become easier towards the end of the current legislature as internal competition for nominations grows.

A Uniform Conspiracy Mindset or Differentiated Reactions to Specific Conspiracy Beliefs? Evidence From Latent Profile Analyses

Conspiracy theories arise for virtually any public event (e.g., pandemics, assassinations, disasters). In light of positively correlated endorsements of such beliefs, many have pointed to a more general mindset behind this. Others have argued against this notion of a consistent mindset. Applying Latent Profile Analyses, we examine the evidence for either uniform or differentiated response patterns to various items in five studies (reanalyzed datasets, total N = 7877). Overall, the results speak strongly to uniform reactions that could be summarized as a general mindset, but also revealed important qualifications. First, small parts of the samples show more differentiated patterns in relation to extraterrestrial cover-up narratives (Studies 2 to 4) or contradictory theories (Study 5). Second, indicators dealing with the general suppression of relevant information in the public were among the items with the highest approval ratings across all classes. One discussed implication is that existing scales are useful tools to measure conspiracy mindsets. Another implication is that the average endorsement of any conspiracy theory is a function of both the respondents’ conspiracy mindset and the item’s psychometric difficulty, strongly suggesting interpreting item endorsement only in relative terms, but refraining from interpreting a high agreement as an absolute number.

Explaining Presidential Approval, 1993-2020: An Examination of the Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump Presidencies

Can public support for recent presidents be explained by long-held findings in the presidential approval literature? The presidencies, of Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump seem to counter the existing literature, suggesting that recent approval ratings have become disconnected from the political environment. We synthesize prior scholarship on the environmental connection, salience, and economic handling to develop a general model to evaluate approval during the 1992-2020 period. The model estimates show the environmental connection remains intact. Looking at these four presidents together, we find the public punished and rewarded presidents in a manner consistent with the long-held findings of the literature. Even though each of these four presidents served in unique circumstances, the foundation of the public’s approval remained consistent. Our results point to an enduring environmental connection that holds presidents accountable for the conditions of the day.

Explaining Presidential Approval, 1993-2020: An Examination of the Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump Presidencies

Can public support for recent presidents be explained by long-held findings in the presidential approval literature? The presidencies, of Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump seem to counter the existing literature, suggesting that recent approval ratings have become disconnected from the political environment. We synthesize prior scholarship on the environmental connection, salience, and economic handling to develop a general model to evaluate approval during the 1992-2020 period. The model estimates show the environmental connection remains intact. Looking at these four presidents together, we find the public punished and rewarded presidents in a manner consistent with the long-held findings of the literature. Even though each of these four presidents served in unique circumstances, the foundation of the public’s approval remained consistent. Our results point to an enduring environmental connection that holds presidents accountable for the conditions of the day.

Feasibility of Providing Unguided Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia to Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Western Australia: A Non-Randomised Feasibility Study

Background: Approximately 60% of adults over the age of 60 years report that they have trouble sleeping. Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), an evidence-based form of talk therapy, is considered an effective treatment option. This feasibility study examined the suitability of an online CBT-I programme for older adults aged 60 -80 years in Western Australia.Methods: Participants with and without insomnia completed the first out of four online CBT-I modules and provided feedback via an online questionnaire regarding programme acceptability, utility and accessibility.Results: High approval ratings (91.7%) suggest that study participants believed the online CBT-I programme to be acceptable, useful and accessible, independent of their insomnia status. Potential areas for improvement were noted, including making the online programme more customisable and interactive.Conclusions: Findings from this feasibility study indicate that respondents viewed the online CBT-I programme as appropriate for adults aged 60-80 years. The full-scale study will subsequently be conducted without any protocol alterations.

Provinces blamed for COVID third wave shortcomings

Significance Some of Canada’s largest provincial governments have seen their approval ratings fall in the wake of the third wave, although there has been little impact on the Liberal government in Ottawa. The political consequences will remain significant in the coming months. Impacts Changes in government could see all provinces except Saskatchewan have a carbon tax in place by 2023. Manitoba could see the election of Wab Kinew as Canada’s first Indigenous provincial premier if current trends continue. Universal pharmacare is off the table for now, as Ottawa and provinces seek to woo back pharmaceutical investment. A return to power of the NDP in Alberta would see several significant mining and oil sands projects cancelled.