Dimensions of trust and information seeking on natural disasters, hazards, and extreme weather in North Carolina (USA)

<p>To understand where people turn for information regarding natural disasters, hazards, and extreme weather, we surveyed residents of Ashe, Watauga, and Rockingham counties in North Carolina (n = 79). Respondents ranged from 27 years old to 87 years old. Approximately 22% (17/79) reported some college or less. We found general preference for local sources. Most respondents were open to signing up for a phone or text alert service regarding air quality but were more likely to sign up for a local service than for one offered by a federal organization, e.g., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, t = 2.4, <em>p</em> < .05. Those with less education were more likely to sign up for a local phone or text service than counterparts, standardized beta = - .32, <em>p</em> < .01, in an ordinary least squares regression with age and education as predictors. The most cited sources of information on natural disasters, hazards, or extreme weather in terms of frequent or very frequent engagement were primarily local:<strong> </strong>local online sources, local television news, a local newspaper, neighbors or family members (through face-to-face or phone conversations), and social media. Sources that were most often cited as being trusted almost completely or completely<strong> </strong>also were largely local.<strong> </strong>We asked a subset of respondents (n = 62) to define trust in their own words and found their conceptualizations of trust to be multidimensional. Three coders established intercoder reliability (Krippendorff’s alpha > .70) in coding potential dimensions of trust in the definitions: trust as perceived source competency, as perceived consistency by the source, or as encapsulated interest (or as a source acknowledging one’s own interest). Respondents harbored different visions of trust: 84% (52/62) defined trust in terms of competency, 23% (14/62) defined trust in terms of consistency, and 47% (29/62) defined trust in terms of encapsulated interest. Those who defined trust in terms of encapsulated interest differed from those who did not in seeking information about natural disasters, hazards, or extreme weather from a local health organization, <em>t</em> = -2.1, <em>p</em> < .05, from state government, <em>t</em> = -2.1, <em>p</em> < .05, from a local nonprofit, <em>t </em>= -2.3, <em>p</em> < .05, from a local college or university, <em>t</em> = -2.0, <em>p</em> < .05, and from local TV news, <em>t</em> = 2.2, <em>p</em> < .05. (They were more likely to turn to a local health organization, local nonprofit, state government, or local college or university and less likely to turn to local TV news.) Results suggest warning and preparation communication efforts should partner with local organizations as message sources and highlight shared values and interests with audiences.</p>

The Voices of the New Majority of Professors: The Adjuncts Speak

The results of this phenomenological study reveal the attitudes of adjunct college and university professors in the U.S. toward grade inflation. The 23 participants encompassed a range of ages, experience levels, geographic areas, education levels, and races. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions are used to explore 23 adjunct’s lived experiences with grade inflation. Three research questions directed the study: What experiences have adjunct faculty members working in a four-year college or university had with grade inflation? How do adjunct faculty members working in a four-year college or university perceive grade inflation? How do adjunct faculty members working a four-year college or university interpret their experiences with grade inflation? Findings substantiated that adjuncts have definite ideas about how to curb grade inflation, including increased training, increased resources, and use of rubrics. We concluded these results are useful for aiding college administrators in determining what the new majority, or adjuncts, believe should change in the area of grade inflation and future researchers should do further qualitative and quantitative research on grade inflation and adjuncts. Key words: Adjunct, grades, grade inflation, higher education, new majority

Veteran and Military Students Perceptions of Internships in College

<p>Through a qualitative phenomenological study, 8 military and veteran students were individually interviewed. Findings revealed that military and veteran students face transition difficulties when leaving a military environment and transitioning to a college or university. The significance of this study will expand career professionals’ overall knowledge on how to appropriately support this population and explore commonalities among similar experiences regarding this student population. </p>

Veteran and Military Students Perceptions of Internships in College

<p>Through a qualitative phenomenological study, 8 military and veteran students were individually interviewed. Findings revealed that military and veteran students face transition difficulties when leaving a military environment and transitioning to a college or university. The significance of this study will expand career professionals’ overall knowledge on how to appropriately support this population and explore commonalities among similar experiences regarding this student population. </p>

Digital Promise COVID-19 Student Survey Topline Data Report

This Digital Promise survey was conducted May 13-June 1, 2020, among a random national sample of 1,008 full- or part-time students enrolled in a two- or four-year college or university who were taking in-person or blended for-credit courses before the coronavirus outbreak began that then transitioned to remote instruction. The sample includes 620 students who took a STEM course that transitioned completely online. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.6 points for the full sample, 4.6 points among students who took a STEM course, and 5.8 points among those who did not take a STEM course. Error margins are larger for subgroups. At a 50/50 division of opinion, a difference of 8 points between STEM and non-STEM students is needed for significance at the 95 percent confidence level.

Career Flexibility: A Panacea to Skills Obsolescence

A survey was carried out in Harare on young people who have completed college or University. The main objective was to analyse the employment status of youth in relation to the skills they have. Results indicated that the majority of the respondents are not formally employed, or those employed are not employed in the jobs they trained for. As a result, there is a high level of skills mismatch leading to skills obsolescence. Many graduates are unemployed or have resorted to self- employment or some type of entrepreneurship. The results also indicate that most of the research participants are engaged in hybrid jobs, mainly technical jobs so as to reduce the impact of skills obsolescence and at the same time earn some money to make a living. The study recommends that young people be encouraged to train in multi disciplines whilst in University or College so as to have career flexibility and competitive advantage when they graduate.