Celebrating our wins

Setting of objectives, statistics, measurement and consequence of poor performance

Although it is generally accepted that assessment steers learning, this is generally viewed as an undesirable side effect. Recent evidence suggests otherwise. Experimental studies have shown that periodic formative assessments can enhance learning over equivalent time spent in study (Roediger & Karpicke 2006). However, positive effects of assessment at a curriculum level have not been demonstrated. Progress tests are a periodic formative assessment designed to enhance learning by providing objective and cumulative feedback, and by identifying a subgroup of students who require additional remediation. McMaster adopted the progress test methods in 1992–1993, as a consequence of poor performance on a national licensing examination. This article shows the positive effect of this innovation, which amounts to an immediate increase of about one-half standard deviation in examination scores, and a consistent upward trend in performance. The immediate effect of introducing objective tests was a reduction in failure rate on the licensing examination from 19% to 4.5%. Various reasons for this improvement in performance are discussed.

Reviewed by: Contradictions in Women's Education: Traditionalism, Careerism, and Community at a Single-Sex College Barbara K. Townsend (bio) Barbara J. Bank and Harriet M. Yelon. Contradictions in Women's Education: Traditionalism, Careerism, and Community at a Single-Sex College. New York: Teachers College Press, 2003. 198 pp. Paper: $27.95. ISBN 0-8077-4363-1. Cloth: $60.00. ISBN 0-8077-4364-X. In Contradictions in Women's Education, Barbara Bank examines women's higher education as exemplified in one women's college. Harriet Yelon, formerly one of Bank's graduate students and a faculty member at the institution being studied, helped with the research. Bank explains her role: "Although the research on which this book is based would not and could not have been done without Harriet's instigation and efforts, she is not responsible for the book" (p. ix). Using a mixed-methods approach and acknowledging her feminist perspective, Bank studied the effects of an institution identified as Central Women's College (CWC) on 185 full-time students from the time they entered CWC in fall 1991 until they left it or graduated in spring 1995. CWC is a small, rural, Midwestern, non-elite institution, classified as Baccalaureate II at the time of the study. To study CWC's effects, Bank frames her study in terms of "three sets of contradictions surrounding women's higher education" (p. 2): gender traditionalism, careerism, and community. First she asks whether the education received at CWC reinforces traditional perspectives on women or provides an emancipatory perspective. Bank then juxtaposes careerism with academic orientation and also with collegiate culture, asking: (a) For what kind of careers are women being educated? (b) How appropriate is careerism or vocationalism as the major reason for a college education? and (c) Are students insufficiently oriented toward careers and more oriented to partying/socializing and finding a husband? Finally, Bank asks whether community at CWC comes at the expense of individualism and autonomy, what the sources of community within the college are, and what other communities affect students' integration within the college community. Bank found that the college (as represented by its administrators, faculty, and staff) was neither a bastion of gender traditionalism nor a frontrunner in gender emancipation. Also, the majority of the students were apparently "ambivalent" about either approach and sought a "middle ground" (p. 30). There was a "strong careerism" in the student culture and a "tilt toward careerism in the official college culture" (p. 75). The majority of liberal arts graduates were interested in traditionally female occupations as compared to only 20% of the students with vocational majors. However, the majority of vocational majors were not seeking nontraditional jobs for women but rather jobs that were not dominated by either sex. Another finding was that the college's collegiate elements were not strong enough to affect negatively most students' academic performance. Finally, a number of the institutional characteristics that created community for some students "repelled others and motivated them to leave" (p. 133). Sororities and athletics, at least for in-state students, were communities that helped bind students to the college. Extracurricular activities allowed for "individual achievement and for enhancing credentials useful in future careers" (p. 131). Friendships were important but did not retain students unless they were stronger friendships than those developed before coming to CWC. Sororities neither advanced nor harmed students collectively: Individual students claimed both positive and negative effects of belonging or not belonging. Perhaps there was a muted effect of sororities at CWC because, like the institution, they were non-elite: Almost anyone who wanted to be in a sorority could be and there was not really a campus press to join. Bank's study makes several contributions to the literature on college effects. One is its use of mixed methods, including several surveys of students and one of faculty, three sets of student interviews, and CWC records and documents. Another contribution is the focus on sororities since the impact of Greek societies on students is an understudied area (Pascarella & Terenzini, 1992). The strongest contribution is her focus on a non-elite institution simply because these institutions are so understudied. While the focus on students in a non...

Internal/External Frame of Reference Model

Employee poor performance is a very negative aspect especially if left unattended. The aim for this study was to find the root causes and the impact of employee poor work performance and to explore the possible solutions. It was also noticed that the performance for the province was deteriorating; since the province is vast the study was conducted from one of the stations that are contributing towards poor performance to establish the reasons for the predicament. It was acknowledged that Cambridge Police Station as one of the contributors was not yielding the expected and desired result on performance especially on the operational programmes. The study explores the main drivers of poor performance focusing on Visible Policing and Detective Components; the reasons for the employees low morale and the relationship between employer and employee. The study also looked into working conditions regarding resources and skills required for the members to perform their duties with the aim to maximize their performance. The study followed a quantitative research approach using an interpretive descriptive design. The data was obtained by means of structured questionnaires. The reaction to the study was marginal with a response rate of 70% [n=30]. Data analysis included identifying and comparing existence of factors that affect the members personally and work related factors that threatens turnover intensions. The target population was composed of members working at the Community Service Centre, Complaint attendance and Investigating Officers at Cambridge Police Station regardless of levels. The response results revealed various factors which affects the performance of the station. The study revealed that the station have a problem with regard to management aspects in terms of effective communication, lack of resources, implementation of performance appraisal system, recognition of good performance done by members and members views are not given recognition. These aspects had a negative effect on member’s morale that adversely affected the overall performance; hence the members lacked motivation and recognition by managers. It transpired that the poor performance regulatory policy was either unknown or there was very little knowledge by members who heard about the policy. The results indicated that the policy was not correctly implemented instead managers did not care about the welfare of members and they dealt with members in accordance to disciplinary procedures without giving them a chance for explain their perspective.

Adolescents' academic engagement mediates the association between Internet addiction and academic achievement: The moderating effect of classroom achievement norm

The “Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect” (BFLPE), an application of social comparison theory of educational settings, posits that a student will have a lower academic self-concept in an academically selective school than in a non-selective school. Several studies have been conducted and results supporting and disagreeing with the theory have been documented. However, most of these studies were conducted in Europe, United States of America (USA), Asia and Australia. Relatively none has been conducted in an African setting and indeed in West Africa. The present study was therefore designed to provide empirical information on the tenability of the hypothesis in African setting. Three hundred and twenty eight Junior Secondary School Two (JSS II) students randomly selected from two schools (one academically selective school N= 194 and one non-selective school N = 124) in Ibadan, Nigeria, participated in the study. The responses of the students to mathematics self-concept questionnaire and their annual scores in Mathematics in JSS I were analysed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient, One-way Analysis of Variance andtwo-level multi-level models in which students (level 1) were nested within schools (level 2). Results show that there was a positive relationship between individual student’s annual score in mathematics and mathematics self-concept. High ability students had higher mathematics self-concept than low ability students. This was observed among the students in both schools. However, the mean score, in mathematics self-concept, of students in academically selective schools was higher than the mean score of students in non-selective schools. The two-level multilevel analyses models showed that individual student achievement in mathematics had positive and statistically significant effect on mathematics self-concept. This result laid credence on the findings of Marsh and his colleagues. However, school-average achievement in mathematics had non-significant negative effect on mathematics self-concept. These results show that mathematics self-concept may not be a function of whether the school is academically selective or non-selective. Therefore attending academically selective schoolmay not be detrimental for high ability student if he or she can maintain his or her high ability level.The result of the present study is a challenge to assertions of BFLPE, at least from an African setting.

In this study, we examine how business units of multidivisional (M-form) firms adapt their activities in response to poor performance at the corporate and business unit levels. By linking performance feedback theory with theories of attention and M-form organizations, we show that corporate structure influences the relationship between performance below aspirations and business unit adaptation. Because corporate structure vertically differentiates performance goals and problemistic search, solutions to performance problems vary across corporate and business unit levels, with divergent implications for business unit adaptation. We examine business unit adaptation empirically through new product introductions in the global mobile device industry, finding that poor performance at the business unit level leads to greater new product introductions. In contrast, corporate-level responses to performance problems have a negative cross-level effect on new product introductions. We also find that these negative effects are attenuated for strategically significant business units, which have more input into corporate responses. By linking structural and behavioral drivers of action, this paper contributes to the knowledge and understanding of adaptive behavior in multidivisional firms.

Mindfulness-based interventions are effective for reducing depressive symptoms. However, the psychological and neural mechanisms are unclear. This study examined which facets of trait mindfulness offer protection against negative bias and rumination, which are key risk factors for depression. Nineteen male volunteers completed a 2-day functional magnetic resonance imaging study. One day utilized a stress-induction task and the other day utilized a mindful breathing task. An emotional inhibition task was used to measure neural and behavioral changes related to state negative bias, defined by poorer performance in inhibiting negative relative to neutral stimuli. Associations among trait mindfulness [measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)], trait rumination, and negative bias were examined. Non-reactivity scores on the FFMQ correlated negatively with rumination and negative bias following the stress induction. Non-reactivity was inversely correlated with insula activation during inhibition to negative stimuli after the mindful breathing task. Our results suggest non-reactivity to inner experience is the key facet of mindfulness that protects individuals from psychological risk for depression. Based on these results, mindfulness could reduce vulnerability to depression in at least two ways: (i) by buffering against trait rumination and negative bias and (ii) by reducing automatic emotional responding via the insula.

ABSTRACTClay minerals are widely present in various ore deposits as gangue minerals. The processing of high-clay-content ores is becoming a significant challenge for the mining industry owing to the poor flotation performance caused by the presence of clay minerals. Different types of clay minerals are typically present in ore bodies, and they cause several detrimental effects to flotation that require different treatments. In this article, a comprehensive review of the studies on understanding and mitigating the negative effects of clay minerals in flotation is presented. It starts with a review of the classification and structures of clay minerals commonly occurring in ore deposits and their properties that determine the behavior of clay minerals in flotation. It is followed by a critical review of two main negative effects of clay minerals on flotation, the recent research findings mainly from The University of Queensland group. The first negative effect is the coating of clay minerals on the surface of valuable minerals that decreases the floatability of valuable minerals. The second negative effect is the formation of network structures in the slurry. Depending on the type and strength of the network structure, it can cause either high pulp viscosity or increased gangue entrainment, which reduces the flotation recovery and flotation product grade, respectively. In this section, the mechanisms and key factors behind each negative effect are presented and critically discussed. Then, the approaches and techniques developed to mitigate the different negative effects of clay minerals are reviewed. To conclude, future directions for a more complete understanding of mechanisms and problem solving are recommended.

Understanding the impact of employee poor performance and dealing with it immediately is very important to curb the negative element in the organization especially if left unattended. The study aimed at identifying the root causes and consequences of employee poor work performance and to explore the possible solutions. The results of the study exhibited how much the role of the management in the performance of the members. The morale of the members is important for the organisation’s success to improve the level of performance and productivity. Cambridge Police Station was identified as one of the contributors and was producing the expected desired result on performance especially on the operational programmes. Main drivers of poor performance were explored focusing on Visible Policing and Detective Components; the reasons for the employee low morale and the relationship between employer and employee. The study also takes into consideration the work environment with regard to resources and skills required for the members to perform their duties with the aim to maximize their performance. In any company or organisation it becomes imperative to consider return on investment, to ensure that resources utilized are yielding the desired outcome. Quantitative research approach was followed utilising an interpretive descriptive design to obtain the information. Structured questionnaires deemed to be relevant for data collection for this study. The response to the study was marginal with 70% [n=30] responses received. Data analysis included identifying and comparing existence of factors that affect the members personally and work related factors that threatens turnover intensions. The study participants composed members working at the Community Service Centre, Complaint attendance and Investigating Officers in the Cambridge Police Station precinct regardless of levels. The results revealed various factors that affect the performance of the station. The study findings showed a problem with regard to management aspects in terms of effective communication, lack of resources, implementation of performance appraisal system, recognition of good performance done by members and members’ views are not given recognition. These aspects played a negative effect on member’s morale that adversely affected the overall performance; hence the members lacked motivation and recognition by managers.

Depression severity is associated with impaired facial emotion processing in a large international sample

<p>Southern Brazil is in a transitional zone between tropical and extratropical climates. The rainfall regime in such transitional zones can be rather sensitive to climate change and related expansion of the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere. It is expected that rainfall will increase up to 30% over this area in the next decades. It is important, however, to investigate if the mechanisms that generate rainfall are simulated correctly in the models to know when downscaling and bias correction methods should be applied. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the CMIP5 climate models in terms of precipitation in southern Brazil. This study addresses fundamental aspects of model evaluation and aims to give guidance on the proper use of climate model outputs for southern Brazil. We use 41 historical climate simulations and 22 RCP8.5 future climate simulations for the periods of 1980-2005 and 2070-2100, respectively. We compare the historical simulations with an interpolated product database obtained from ground stations. To evaluate the model performance regarding its marginal distribution, we use the following metrics: annual rainfall, variance, skewness, dry day fraction, wet day fraction, high percentiles and similarity of distributions (trough Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). There is a negative bias in all of them except for wet day fraction. All metrics of temporal aspects such as Markham’s seasonality index, autocorrelation, time of the annual maxima, dry spell average and maximum lengths, wet spell average and maximum lengths show a positive bias, apart from the time of annual maxima. Overall, annual rainfall is expected to increase in southern Brazil. Spatial patterns of annual rainfall are similar in the RCP 8.5 future pathways to the ones found in the historical period, with wetter areas expanding toward the north. However, the spatial pattern of observed rainfall is not captured by climate models. They simulate smaller volumes of precipitation in the southern border. A similar pattern was found in extreme precipitation, with bias almost twice as large than the one found in annual rainfall. Furthermore, the models do not properly represent the seasonal cycle, the Markham’s seasonality index reached four times the observed in some areas. Given the poor performance in the area, the use of future simulations in impact studies should be done carefully once the direct use of climate model precipitation in hydrological studies could result in misleading conclusions.</p><p>This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001</p>

Background: Test anxiety is one of the medical student’s problems that need attention in medical education. Test anxiety can have negative effect on students such as negative self-evaluation beliefs, low motivation, poor performance, and decreased concentration which can result in increased dropout rates and trigger general anxiety. Test anxiety can affect performance on clinical skill examination and outcomes.Aim: To identify factors correlated with medical students’ anxiety in clinical skills examination.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the second and fourth year medical students in Universitas Mataram. Possible Anxiety Determinant Instrument (PADI) was used to measure factors associated with test anxiety and Performance Test Anxiety (PTA) inventory to measure students’ anxiety in clinical skills examination. Data collection took place after the clinical skill exam. Pearson and Spearman correlation test were used in analyzing the data.Results: Total of 185 students participated in this study (response rate 96,9%). Factors found to be correlated with test anxiety score were internal belief factors (r = -0,686), health and lifestyle factors (r = -0,424), curriculum factors (r= -0,414), social support factors (r = -0,395), learning atmosphere factors (r = -0,312), and examination factors (r = -0,270). Preparedness and experience of examination were not correlated with the test anxiety.Conclusion: Students’ internal belief was found to have the strongest correlation with the test anxiety, while examination factor showed the weakest correlation. These findings can guide medical education institution in developing strategies to reduce students’ anxiety toward the clinical skills examination.

Organizational goals can be achieved with the company's HR performance. Poor performance will have an impact on the company's image and certainly slow down the process in achieving organizational goals. This study was conducted to determine the effect of workload and work environment on employee performance and the role of work stress as mediating variables. This study took 42 employees as respondents using a questionnaire, with a saturated sampling method. Path analysis was used. The results of the study indicate that workload has a negative effect on employee performance. Work environment has a positive effect on employee performance. Job stress has a negative influence on employee performance. This study also found that work stress mediates the effect of workload and work environment on employee performance. Based on the results of this study, it is expected that further research is able to examine the performance of employees with respondents and more complex research locations. The results of this study are also expected to be used as a reference and consideration for companies in decision making related to employee performance.
 Keywords: employee performance , workload, work environment , work stress