The Effects of Rehearsal and Mediation Under Two Temporal Conditions of Stimulus-Response Presentation in Paired-Associate Learning with Normal and Retarded Children

The effects of two stimulus-response durations (2 and 5 seconds) on performance in a paired-associate learning (PAL) task was assessed. The 3 x 3 x 2 design also permitted a comparison of the effects of rehearsal, mediated interference and the differential performance of normals and non-institutionalized and institutionalized retardates (n = 30, mean age = 12.6). The retarded groups were further matched on I.Q. scores on three factors of the Adaptive Behavior Scales (ABS). The stimuli were conceptually related, black and white, line drawn pictures of common objects. The results were twofold: a facilitating effect for increased S-R duration which could not be attributed to either rehearsal or mediation. Also the groups differed significantly in mean number of errors in the order: normals, institutionalized and non-institutionalized retarded. This study implies the need for greater specificity in selecting retarded subjects for comparative purposes

Trade unions as a platform for change? A study on the empowerment of Zambian trade union members in the commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors

In Zambia, the privatisation of state owned companies is challenging job security, working conditions and workers’ rights. It has also weakened the role of government as a regulator of labour legislation, which in Zambia is quite progressive, compared to other countries in the region. Workers struggle to survive and therefore turn to trade unions in order to change their situation. This study examines two specific Zambian trade unions from the industrial and commercial sector, and the agricultural sector, through a lens of social empowerment theory. The point of departure is the ability of the two trade unions to empower their members to claim their rights to better working and living conditions, further, what influences challenge this ability and how their ability extends to collective action and large scale change for all Zambian trade union members and workers. This thesis is a qualitative study, which uses semi-structured interviews as the main source of empirical data. The findings show that there are differences between the extent of empowerment of ordinary and branch members. Further the influence of the employer, processes of privatisation and, lack of and controlled resources are all factors, which are limiting the empowerment process. The lack of members’ empowerment is preventing collective action, which leads to the implementation of labour laws and the challenging of private employers and government

Walk well:a randomised controlled trial of a walking intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities: study protocol

Background - Walking interventions have been shown to have a positive impact on physical activity (PA) levels, health and wellbeing for adult and older adult populations. There has been very little work carried out to explore the effectiveness of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities. This paper will provide details of the Walk Well intervention, designed for adults with intellectual disabilities, and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test its effectiveness. Methods/design - This study will adopt a RCT design, with participants allocated to the walking intervention group or a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of three PA consultations (baseline, six weeks and 12 weeks) and an individualised 12 week walking programme. A range of measures will be completed by participants at baseline, post intervention (three months from baseline) and at follow up (three months post intervention and six months from baseline). All outcome measures will be collected by a researcher who will be blinded to the study groups. The primary outcome will be steps walked per day, measured using accelerometers. Secondary outcome measures will include time spent in PA per day (across various intensity levels), time spent in sedentary behaviour per day, quality of life, self-efficacy and anthropometric measures to monitor weight change. Discussion - Since there are currently no published RCTs of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities, this RCT will examine if a walking intervention can successfully increase PA, health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual disabilities

Hacking Entrepreneurship Pedagogy With Near-Peer Mentoring at UC Berkeley

The productivity of an entrepreneurship program is assessed by its socio-economic impact, not just graduation rates. A study at UC Berkeley used social cognitive measures to evaluate the program, focusing on ethics and near-peer mentoring. Students present innovations addressing social issues. Social Cognitive Career Theory examines career development through social cognition, considering individual traits and environmental influences. The research employed pre- and post-program surveys to assess entrepreneurial self-efficacy and education effectiveness, with 25% and 34% improvements respectively. Adapted from prior studies, the measures for self-efficacy and learning were calibrated at the program's start and end. Entrepreneurial pedagogy should address ethics, risk-taking, and success/failure patterns with near-peer mentors like Innovators-in-Residence. This study aims to enhance entrepreneurship education for a more impactful transformation of capitalism and social entrepreneurship

Kant on the Highest Moral-Physical Good: The Social Aspect of Kant's Moral Philosophy

In §88, entitled ‘On the highest moral-physical good’, in his Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View (hereafter Anthropology for short), Kant argues that ‘good living’ (physical good) and ‘true humanity’ (moral good) best harmonize in a ‘good meal in good company’. The conversation and company shared over a meal, Kant argues, best provides for the ‘union of social good living with virtue’ in a way that promotes ‘true humanity’. This occurs when the inclination to ‘good living’ is not merely kept within the bounds of ‘the law of virtue’ but where the two achieve a graceful harmony. As such, it is not to be confused with Kant's well-known account of the ‘highest good’, happiness in proportion to virtue. But how is it that the humble dinner party and the associated practices of hospitality come to hold such an important, if often unrecognized, place as the highest moral-physical good in Kant's thought? This question is in need of further investigation. Of the most recent studies in English that have taken seriously the importance of Kant's Anthropology for understanding his wider moral philosophy, very few have considered §88 in any depth. This paper aims to help bridge this signifcant gap in the literature.36 page(s

Managing catchments for multiple objectives: the implications of land use change for salinity, biodiversity and economics

Policy developed for the management of natural resources in agricultural landscapes in recent years has emphasised the need for an integrated approach. Operationally however, natural resource objectives have been pursued independently with little consideration of the link between components of ecosystems and therefore the possibility of trade-offs between components. In the absence of this information, decision makers cannot adequately assess the cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for improving the condition of the natural resource base. The aim of this study is to assess the extent of trade-offs between multiple catchment objectives viz. biodiversity, stream salinity, stream yield, salt load, sequestration of carbon and farm profit in the Little River Catchment in Central New South Wales. Seven scenarios describing different land use alternatives for the catchment were assessed using spatial datasets of catchment characteristics. A suite of models was used to determine the impact of land use change on these characteristics over a 50-year timeframe. The results of the analysis indicate that changes in farm production methods may deliver small improvements in some indicators of catchment health. However, significant improvements would require the establishment of large areas of woody perennials and this is only likely to occur with significant public investment, given the consequent large reduction in farm profit. Trade-offs between several catchment indicators were identified. Significantly the benefits of reducing stream salinity were outweighed by the losses resulting from reduced stream flow. Generally, the financial benefits of improving the indicators of resource condition were low relative to the investment required. It was concluded therefore that the environmental value of these improvements would need to be substantial to justify the investment. </jats:p

Teaching students about two-dimensional heat transfer effects in buildings, building components, equipment, and appliances using Therm 2.0.

THERM 2.0 is a software program, available for free, that uses the finite-element method to model steady-state, two dimensional heat-transfer effects. It is being used internationally in graduate and undergraduate laboratories and classes as an interactive educational tool to help students gain a better understanding of heat transfer. THERM offers students a powerful simulation engine combined with a simple, interactive interface and graphic results. Although it was developed to model thermal properties of building components such as windows, walls, doors, roofs, and foundations, it can be used to model thermal bridges in many other contexts, such as the design of equipment. These capabilities make it a useful teaching tool in classes on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); energy conservation; building design; and other subjects where heat-transfer theory and applications are important. The program’s interface and graphic presentation allow students to see heat-transfer paths and to learn how changes in materials affect heat transfer. It is an excellent tool for helping students understand the practical application of heat-transfer theory