Validation of a Norwegian Version of the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST): Application of structural equation modelling

The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) were administered to 573 under-graduate students in order to analyse a Norwegian version of this inventory. To cross-validate the factor structure, the subjects were divided into two equal samples. Principal axis factor analysis of sample 1 reproduced the three main factors of deep, surface and strategic approaches to learning. However, two of the subscales failed to load appropriately on the 'strategic approach'. When omitting these subscales, the principle of simple structure was better supported by the results. A subsequent CFA with comparison of samples 1 and 2 supported the existence of the expected three-factor model. It is concluded that this Norwegian version of ASSIST is valuable as a research tool for the assessment of approaches to learning among Norwegian students, but that caution should be taken with respect to the interpretation of particular subscales and possible sample effects.     

Cross-validation of the Norwegian Teacher's Self-Efficacy Scale (NTSES)

The study assesses the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Norwegian Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale – NTSES. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis was used to explore the measurement invariance of the scale across two countries. Analyses performed on Italian and Norwegian samples confirmed a six-factor structure of the scale with a strong factorial invariance. The analyses conducted on the Italian sample supported good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The Italian version of the NTSES showed expected correlations with measures of job-related well-being. These results confirm the good psychometric properties of the Italian version of the NTSES.     

Association between parental involvement in school and child conduct,social, and internalizing problems: teacher report

The present study examined the factor structure of the Teacher Involvement Questionnaire (Involve-T) by means of exploratory factor analysis and examined the association between children's socio-emotional and behavioural problems and teacher-reported parental involvement in school, using structural equation modelling. The study was conducted with a Norwegian sample of school children in Grades 1–3. Results of the factor analysis supported the use of 3 separate scales, as suggested by the scale author (Webster-Stratton, 1998); however, a number of items in each scale were reduced. Furthermore, the results showed among other findings that teachers reported more frequent contact with parents of children with conduct problems than with those of children who did not display conduct problems, and that parents of children with high levels of socio-emotional competence were more involved in their children's education than other parents. The results need to be replicated in future research in a more representative study population.     

Use, updating and integration of ICT in higher education: Linking purpose, people and pedagogy

In this article the use, updating and integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning purposes is discussed. Based on an empirical study using interviews and document analysis of the implementation of ICT in five Norwegian universities and colleges, the article analyse a number of factors that are of importance for the implementation of ICT in higher education. The analysis discloses that Norwegian higher education institutions often have adequate economic resources and a rather well developed technical infrastructure and support structure related to the use of ICT. However, attempts to link ICT initiatives to organisational development issues and to human resource management have not been very successful. In the conclusion it is argued that pedagogical issues and organisational and human development aspects must be better linked if ICT is to play a more effective role in teaching and learning in Norwegian higher education.     

Measuring self-determination in Norwegian students: adaptation and validation of the AIR Self-Determination Scale

This study describes the adaptation and validation of the American Institute for Research (AIR) Self-Determination Scale for use in Norwegian research and education. The study contributes to the field by enabling reliable assessment of self-determination of Norwegian students with intellectual disability. The operational equivalence of the construct of self-determination in American and Norwegian culture were examined. The article further describes the adaptations that were made to the scale to ensure its fitness for intended use. Psychometric reliability (Cronbach’s α and test-retest reliability) was tested on 121 students, and the underlying structure of the scale was examined by means of principal component analysis. The adapted version of the questionnaire (AIR-S-NOR) shows respectable psychometric properties. Suggestions for how the AIR-S-NOR can be used in future research and educational practices are presented.     

IRA码在全息存储系统中的应用研究

前向纠错码(FEC)是全息存储系统提高系统容量的一项关键技术,不规则重复累积码是接近Shannon限且具有线性时间编译码算法的好码。首先研究了全息存储信道,提出了x平方律分布模型与不对称高斯分布模型;并将高性能的IRA码应用于全息存储系统,并进行了仿真研究。仿真结果表明:在全息存储系统中,IRA码的性能优于RS码等传统码,而且x平方律信道下的性能优于高斯信道。     

Teacher Report of Children's Problem Behavior on The Sutter–Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory—Revised (SESBI-R) in a Norwegian Sample of Preschool and School Children

In the present study, the applicability of The Sutter–Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory—Revised (SESBI-R) was explored within a Norwegian sample of 983 children aged 3–8 years. By using an exploratory factor analysis the same 2-factor solution as the original SESBI-R was supported by Principal Component Analysis. Good internal consistency (alpha?>?.96) was found for both the SESBI-R Intensity and Problem scales. Teachers in Norway report relatively low levels of behavior problems among children in day-care units and school-aged boys receive higher Intensity and Problem scores than girls. The results show that the SESBI-R is a reliable assessment tool that can be used in the Norwegian population for efficient screening of behavior of conduct-disordered children.     

Semantic Models of Host-Immigrant Relations in Norwegian Education Policies

Education has continuously been regarded as a vital tool in Norwegian policymakers' immigrant integration agendas. This study analyzes semantic structures substantiating the policy language of historical Norwegian immigrant education policies from their inception in 1973 until today (2013). The analysis is framed by Kronenfeld's linguistic anthropological theory “semantic extensionism”. Four distinct semantic models are identified through the historical period. Each model comprises specific overall policy programs, education system characters, teaching methods, and parameters for equality output evaluations. We show how the core semantic structures of each model, and the changes between them, derive from three interacting factor domains: (1) semantic inclusion and contrast relations, (2) pragmatic characteristics of practice fields, and (3) broader welfare state policy histories.     

适于IR-HARQ协议的速率匹配删截IRA码设计

基于非规则重复累加码（IRA）提出一种冗佘递增自动重传协议（IR-HARQ）且该自动重传协议的性能取决于速率匹配删截IRA码的性能．在此基础上提出用线性规划结合一维概率密度演化算法解决核心的速率匹配删截IRA码的设计问题,并给出了设计结果．仿真表明：相比于基于turbo码的相应方案,所提方案的性能在短帧（帧长1024）下大体相仿,而在长帧（帧长4096）下表现出一定的优势．相比于turbo和低密度校验码,基于IRA码的方案在解码的复杂性以及并行化方面具有独到的优势．     

Informational reception apprehension,educational motivation,and achievement

This study explored the relationship among informational reception apprehension (IRA) factors, student motivation, and student achievement. Based on Wheeless, Preiss, and Gayle's (1997) recently developed construct, the authors hypothesized that IRA scores for listening and inflexibility would predict educational motivation scores and measures of achievement. Furthermore, this study extended existing research on student motivation and the effects of antecedent conditions, such as trait‐like IRA. Results indicated that informational reception apprehension can be taken into consideration in order to account more adequately for student motivation and achievement.     

Teacher self-efficacy and teacher burnout: A study of relations

The purpose of this study was partly to test the factor structure of a recently developed Norwegian scale for measuring teacher self-efficacy and partly to explore relations between teachers' perception of the school context, teacher self-efficacy, collective teacher efficacy, teacher burnout, teacher job satisfaction, and teachers' beliefs that factors external to teaching puts limitations to what they can accomplish. Participants were 2249 Norwegian teachers in elementary school and middle school. The data were analyzed by means of structural equation modelling using the AMOS 7 program. Teacher self-efficacy, collective efficacy and two dimensions of burnout were differently related both to school context variables and to teacher job satisfaction.     

On the Exploratory Road to Unraveling Factor Loading Non-invariance: A New Multigroup Rotation Approach

Multigroup exploratory factor analysis (EFA) has gained popularity to address measurement invariance for two reasons. Firstly, repeatedly respecifying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models strongly capitalizes on chance and using EFA as a precursor works better. Secondly, the fixed zero loadings of CFA are often too restrictive. In multigroup EFA, factor loading invariance is rejected if the fit decreases significantly when fixing the loadings to be equal across groups. To locate the precise factor loading non-invariances by means of hypothesis testing, the factors’ rotational freedom needs to be resolved per group. In the literature, a solution exists for identifying optimal rotations for one group or invariant loadings across groups. Building on this, we present multigroup factor rotation (MGFR) for identifying loading non-invariances. Specifically, MGFR rotates group-specific loadings both to simple structure and between-group agreement, while disentangling loading differences from differences in the structural model (i.e., factor (co)variances).     

Aggressive communication and informational reception apprehension: The influence of listening anxiety and intellectual inflexibility on trait argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness

Recent training efforts designed to strengthen student argumentation skills and decrease verbally aggressive tendencies have yielded mixed results (Rancer et al., 1997, 2000). Inherent in these efforts is the belief that an individual's use of verbal aggression is implicitly related to law argumentative behavior and a weak system for generating arguments (Infante, 1988). As an extension of this research, we examined the relationships among trait‐like argumentativeness (Infante & Rancer, 1982), trait‐like verbal aggressiveness (Infante & Wigley, 1986) (VA), and Wheeless, Preiss, and Gayle's (1997) construct of informational reception apprehension (IRA). Results indicated that two IRA factors, listening anxiety and intellectual inflexibility, were significant predictors of both aggressive communication traits. Further, both IRA factors accounted for greater variance in trait‐like argumentativeness than in trait‐like VA. Implications of these findings as they relate to Infante's (1987) “argumentative skill deficiency model,” as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Motivation to Become a Teacher: a Norwegian Validation of the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice Scale

The act of newly qualified teachers leaving the profession is a growing challenge, both in Norway and internationally. To address recruitment difficulties, there is a need for further knowledge of prospective teachers’ career motivations. The current study validated a Norwegian translation of the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) Scale. Using a sample of 635 preservice teachers, confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The results indicated that the translated scale offers a valid measure of Norwegian students’ motivation to become teachers. Self-perception of teaching-related abilities was one of the main motivational sources, together with the desire to shape the future of children and adolescents and an interest in teaching. Findings are discussed in relation to previous studies based on the FIT-Choice Scale in other countries.     

Creating teacher capacity in Early Childhood Education and Care institutions implementing an authoritative adult style

The being together intervention intends to raise teacher capacity in Norwegian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions and promote social and emotional development in preschoolers by implementing an authoritative (warm and predictable) adult style in the institution. An authoritative adult balances between building up high quality interactions with children, while at the same time having a predictable structure with clear norms and social expectations in the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate what helped the ECEC institutions to successfully implement the program principles and core components, and what were the challenges. The staff groups of seven Norwegian ECEC institutions in different municipalities who took part in the innovation were interviewed at the beginning and before the end of the first year of implementation. Data analysis identified five success criteria in the implementation process; strong commitment to the authoritative adult style, strong focus on the implementation process, advanced support systems, highly involved leaders, and a collective orientation. These elements resulted in a shared vision and an academically grounded practice in the ECEC institutions. Staff members without formal professional training and a lack of written documentation in the ECEC institutions should be given more consideration in further improvement of the capacity building.     

Psychometric characteristics of the Persian version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised

The Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised (MSAI-R) is a measurement tool to evaluate high school students' anger. Its psychometric features have been tested in the USA, Australia, Japan, Guatemala, and Italy. This study investigates the factor structure and psychometric quality of the Persian version of the MSAI-R using data from an administration of the inventory to 585 Iranian high school students. The study adopted the four-factor underlying structure of high school student anger derived through factor analysis in previous validation studies, which consists of: School Hostility, Anger Experience, Positive Coping, and Destructive Expressions. Confirmatory factor analysis of this four-factor model indicated that it fit the data better than a one-factor baseline model, although the fit was not perfect. The Rasch model showed a very high internal consistency among items, with no item misfitting; however, our results suggest that to represent the construct sufficiently some items should be added to Positive Coping and Destructive Expression. This finding is in agreement with Boman, Curtis, Furlong, and Smith's Rasch analysis of the MSAI-R with an Australian sample. Overall, the results from this study support the psychometric features of the Persian MSAI-R. However, results from some test items also point to the dangers inherent in adapting the same test stimuli to widely divergent cultures.     

Rater strategies for reaching agreement on pupil text quality

Novice members of a Norwegian national rater panel tasked with assessing Year 8 pupils’ written texts were studied during three successive preparation sessions (2011–2012). The purpose was to investigate how the raters successfully make use of different decision-making strategies in an assessment situation where pre-set criteria and standards give a rather strict framework. The data sources were the raters’ pair assessment dialogues. The analysis shows that the raters use a ‘shared standards strategy’, but when reaching agreement on text quality they also seem to make very good use of assessment strategies related to their work as writing teachers. Moreover, asymmetries in knowledge and participation among raters contribute to creating an image of writing assessment as a challenging hermeneutic practice. It is suggested that future rater preparation would gain from being attentive to the internalised assessment practices teachers bring to the fore when working as raters.     

The Teacher's Voice: Vocal training in teacher education

The voice is a basic tool in human communication and an important factor in a positive self‐understanding and identity, both for the teacher's sense of profession and for the pupils' ability to express themselves orally; two perspectives of great importance in the Norwegian National Curriculum. Voice disorders are common among teachers world‐wide and seem to be increasing. Voice problems influence the teachers' ability to teach effectively. An historical review illustrates the significance of the oral tradition in Norwegian teacher education. Against the background of recent studies that show that voice training courses given to different professional groups prevent voice disorders, a proposal is presented for the organisation of vocal training in Norwegian teacher education. The purpose is to emphasise the clear link between teaching and voice disorders and to focus on the prevention of voice problems among teachers by reintroducing voice training in teacher training.     

Validation of the elementary social behaviour assessment: teacher ratings of students’ social skills adapted to Norwegian,grades 1–6

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Elementary Social Behaviour Assessment (ESBA), a teacher-report measure of students’ social skills and academic engagement adapted for use in Norwegian schools. At two times, 8 weeks apart, 151 teachers rated 793 students in Grades 1–6 on the ESBA and the Social Skills Rating System Teacher’s form (SSRS-T). Exploratory factor analysis with the first assessment suggested one or possibly two factors. Confirmatory factor analysis with the second assessment confirmed the one- or two-factor models but did not offer strong evidence for one over the other. The ESBA demonstrated good to excellent reliability. Strong concurrent and predictive correlations with the SSRS-T established criterion validity. The school and teacher levels explained only a limited amount of the total variance in ESBA scores, suggesting that teachers rate students quite similarly. The Norwegian-adapted ESBA paralleled the reliability and validity evidence from US samples.