Management and Analysis of Large Qualitative Data Sets: Lessons Learned From Daily Journals for a Behavioral RCT

As part of a national RCT of a resourcefulness skills training intervention, 342 grandmother caregivers, completed daily online journals for 4 weeks, reporting “challenges or difficulties you faced today with your grandchildren or other family members and how you handled them.” In this paper, we describe the challenges and benefits of using an entirely online design for the distribution and collection of daily journals. We used NVIVO-12 Plus to perform directed content analysis to assess intervention enactment fidelity and compare content between intervention (trained in and prompted to discuss skills) and control groups. Over 92%(n=317) of participants completed daily journals. There was variation in reporting of skill use between groups: 36% of controls spontaneously used the skill “seek professional help” whereas only 4% of the control group reported the skill “change from usual reaction”. With careful management, qualitative data from large samples can be obtained and effectively analyzed for fidelity.

Relationship between Asymmetries Measured on Different Levels in Elite Basketball Players

In this study, we investigated the association of magnitude and agreement in direction between asymmetries measured on single-joint (hip and trunk), complex movement (jumping), and skill (change of direction (CoD)) levels. The study sample comprised 43 junior- and senior-level (age = 20.5 ± 6.0 years; height = 194.5 ± 7.2 cm; body mass = 86.8 ± 10.1 kg) elite male basketball players. Both limbs/sides were tested in hip and trunk isometric strength; passive range of motion (RoM); unilateral, horizontal, and vertical jumping; and CoD tests, from which asymmetry indexes were calculated. The associations between asymmetry magnitudes were calculated with Spearman’s ρ correlation coefficient. The agreement between the direction of asymmetries on different levels was calculated with Cohen’’s Kappa (κ) coefficient. The average magnitude of asymmetry varied substantially (2.9–40.3%). Most associations between asymmetry magnitudes measured on different levels were small and statistically non-significant, with a few exceptions of moderate and large associations. Asymmetry in single-leg countermovement jump parameters was strongly associated with hip abduction maximal strength (ρ = 0.58 and 0.50, p < 0.01). Agreement between asymmetry directions was slight to fair, with a few moderate exceptions. Results indicate that multiple tests are needed to obtain a comprehensive picture of athletes’ asymmetries and that universal thresholds and golden standard tests for return to play should be reconsidered and reinvestigated.

Assessing Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Soccer Players: Magnitude, Direction and Association with Performance

In this study, we aimed to analyze the magnitude and direction of inter-limb asymmetries in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), power (using iso-inertial devices), and a neuromuscular skill (change of direction). Secondarily, we aimed to determine the relationship between inter-limb asymmetry scores for each test and also between these scores and the scores for the different performance tests. Sixteen semiprofessional male soccer players (age: 25.38 ± 6.08 years; body height: 1.78 ± 0.64 m; body mass: 79.5 ± 14.9 kg) participated in this study. We calculated inter-limb asymmetries using five tests: ankle dorsiflexion ROM, change of direction (COD 180º), and iso-inertial resistance tasks in the open (leg extension strength (LE), leg curl strength (LC)) and closed (crossover step (CRO)) kinetic chain. Our results showed that asymmetry magnitudes differed between all tests with highest inter-limb asymmetries displayed during iso-inertial overloading. In addition, we observed that the direction of asymmetries varied depending on the test-specificity, and that the CRO asymmetries had a negative association with LE and CRO performance. These findings highlight the independent nature of asymmetries and that CRO could be an appropriate test to detect asymmetries related with the performance of soccer-specific actions (such as changes of direction). Practitioners are encouraged to use multiple tests to detect existing inter-limb differences according to the specific characteristics of each sport.

Implementation Planning of Procurement Lecturers Based Islamic Boarding Schools

The research aims to know the implementation planning of procurement-based boarding school lecturer. Ethnographic studies done with case studies on the Institute Islamic Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi in boarding schools El-Nur El-Kasysyaf West Java Indonesia. Procurement planning lecturer research results-based boarding school is inseparable from the policy coordinator for the College of the religion of Islam, so that authorities of the College based boarding school only in determining the allocation of procurement lecturers and faculty based on the amount already approved by the Coordinator. Based on research, looks at the Institute Islamic Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi in boarding schools El-Nur El-Kasysyaf West Java Indonesia doing improved quality lecturers by setting some changes to qualifying skill. Change the skill qualification plan, could not be released from a venture planed changes, begun through the process of skills development diagnostic, mastering the strategy of relations in the form of the system as well as cultural similarities. Priority procurement planning lecturer not only with the appropriate skills course, However, with regard to changes in the development of expertise, skills and attitudes there are lecturers resources, so it is able to achieve the goal of college-based boarding school, and can compete on a national and international level

Improving Prospective Primary School Teachers’ Skill in Playing Gamelan Degung: An Action Research in Indonesia

Prospective primary school teachers had low skill in playing gamelan degung (Indonesian Gamelan). To improve skills in playing gamelan degung correctly, prospective primary school teachers need to be taught techniques of ringing, muffling (menengkep), and memorizing the compositions. Therefore, this research seeks to improve students in playing gamelan degung. The action research report presented in this article exemplified the work of the involved collaborative team in making reflective-critical steps to change the students’ ability from their initial state of being unable to play gamelan degung properly to be able to play gamelan composition properly. The results of the action had shown changes in the ability of students in playing gamelan degung with 97.6% skill change level of the students and 57.15% success rate of students improving from the inept category to the adept category in playing gamelan degung. As a result, the skills of prospective primary school teachers in playing gamelan degung can be improved through some development steps in action research.

The Skills Marketing Majors Believe They Acquire: Evidence From a National Survey

Drawing from a panel survey of over 400,000 college graduates from over 600 different colleges and universities in the United States, this article addresses three questions related to skill change during college tenure. First, as judged by the students themselves, how much change in 15 skill categories do marketing majors experience during college? Second, how do these skill changes compare with those reported by other business majors and college students from all other majors? Finally, controlling for a host of relevant student and institutional characteristics, what is the impact of marketing education on the changes reported for each of these 15 skills? Findings indicate that marketing students’ perceptions of their own skill developments are generally very positive, but in some cases other business majors or the broader array of college students rated themselves more favorably. Taken in combination with employers’ contrasting perceptions of graduates’ workforce readiness, these results have implications for the improvement of marketing curricula and course design including greater emphasis on experiential learning and other opportunities for students to apply the knowledge they gain.