Validation and Exploration of Instruments for Assessing Public Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Nanotechnology

The purposes of this study were to develop instruments that assess public knowledge of nanotechnology (PKNT), public attitudes toward nanotechnology (PANT) and conduct a pilot study for exploring the relationship between PKNT and PANT. The PKNT test was composed of six scales involving major nanotechnology concepts, including size and scale, structure of matter, size-dependent properties, forces and interactions, tools and instrumentation, as well as science, technology, and society. After item analysis, 26 multiple-choice questions were selected for the PKNT test with a KR-20 reliability of 0.91. Twenty items were developed in the PANT questionnaire which can be classified as scales of trust in government and industry, trust in scientists, and perception of benefit and risk. Cronbach alpha for the PANT questionnaire was 0.70. In a pilot study, 209 citizens, varying in age, were selected to respond to the instruments. Results indicated that about 70 % of respondents did not understand most of the six major concepts involving nanotechnology. The public tended to distrust government and industry and their levels of trust showed no relationship to their levels of knowledge about nanotechnology. However, people perceived that nanotechnology provided high benefits and high risks. Their perceptions of the benefits and risks were positively related with their knowledge level of nanotechnology. People’s trust showed a negative relationship to their risk perception. Implications for using these instruments in research are discussed in this paper.     

Assessing Clients' Level of Hope: A Preliminary Study at a College Counseling Center

Assessing clients' hopefulness may provide documentation of counseling effectiveness. Results of this outcome study involving 22 students who presented for help at a college counseling center indicated that individual counseling elevated their hope levels, thereby increasing their sense of goal-directed planning (pathways) and determination (agency). Findings and implications are discussed.     

Attitudes toward computers: A study of post-secondary students in Singapore

Research has found that computer attitudes not only play an influential role in determining the extent to which students accept the computer as a learning tool but also future behaviours towards the computer such as using it for further study and vocational purposes. A sample of 183 post-secondary students was assessed for their computer attitudes using a Likert-type questionnaire with three subscales, Computer Importance, Computer Enjoyment, and Computer Anxiety. Additionally, the effects of gender and computer ownership at home were also examined. One-way MANOVA revealed no significant differences in computer attitudes by gender although male students reported more positive attitudes towards the computer than female students. Significant differences in computer attitudes were found between students who own computers at home and those who do not. Students who own a computer at home also reported a lower level of computer anxiety compared to those who do not.     

Attitudes toward Dual Language Immersion Programs in China

With the development of economy and the English learning reform in China,the role of English has increased than ever before.Dual language immersion(DLI)programs,as a new way to offer both languages and content instructions,will gradually take place of traditional English learning and become a new tendency in China.The attitudes of related groups toward the DLI programs are very important to its further development.This paper will first give a brief introduction to the current situation in China,and then analyze the attitude toward DLI programs,includingones of students,teachers and administrators,to find out problems existing in current DLI programs.     

Attitudes of researchers toward deception in communication research

Eighty communication researchers representing twenty‐six universities responded to a questionnaire designed to assess attitudes toward deception‐related practices in conducting communication research. Nearly seven out of ten of the respondents perceived misleading and/or misinforming human subjects as an acceptable research strategy when accompanied by debriefing. The majority of the respondents favored research review boards and informed consent procedures and indicated familiarity with the APA standards for ethical research involving human subjects.     

Attitudes toward Dual Language Immersion Programs in China

With the development of economy and the English learning reform in China, the role of English has increased than ev?er before. Dual language immersion (DLI) programs, as a new way to offer both languag...     

Attitudes toward occupations for deaf youth in Sweden

The study investigated the expressed advice of parents, teachers, and Deaf community leaders regarding careers for deaf students in Sweden. The research was conducted: (a) in a country where consensus has been achieved on recognition and accommodation of the educational needs of deaf students; (b) in a city with a very high concentration of deaf individuals, a continuum of educational facilities, and support for deaf students ranging from preschool through college; and, (c) in a community with a strong and active deaf organization and parent organization. The authors found that, despite many advances in the country, communication in the language of the greater society is a potent factor in limiting occupational possibilities for the Deaf.     

Social Workers' Attitudes toward Peer-Reviewed Literature: The Evidence Base

Social workers from one state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers were surveyed to assess their use of and attitudes toward the peer-reviewed literature and their engagement in evidence-based practice. Results reveal that, in general, the practitioners in this study did not read the peer-reviewed literature, particularly articles describing research. One-half of the social workers reported feeling prepared by their social work education to read and critically evaluate the theoretical and empirical literature. Yet, they typically did not believe that the literature, particularly the empirical literature, was relevant for their practice, nor did they feel they were able to understand the implications of what they read for their practice. Further, the respondents generally did not engage in activities associated with evidence-based practice including using the results of research to guide practice, evaluating their practice, and using practice techniques for which there is empirical support.     

Secondary Science Teachers' Attitudes About Microcomputer-Based Laboratory Techniques:

No abstract available for this article.     

微机接口技术复习指导

1 微机接口技术概述 本章内容相当于本门课程的一个概述,并起到为学习以后章节准备的作用。1.1 微机在与外设进行数据交换或是控制外设时必须通过接口1.1.1 主要教学内容 若要利用微机控制外部设备,在一般情况下,不能直接将微机与外设连接起来,而是在微机与外设之间必须要有一个起连接作用的电路,这个起连接作用的电路就是接口电路,简称接口。设计一个微机控制系统很重要的一项工作就是设计接口电路。由于外设的种类很多以及微机控制的方式不同,因此,微机控制外设的接口电路的形式也各不相同。     

论科技政策选择的问题意识

问题意识是科技政策选择的对象性源泉,也是科技政策选择的方法论前提。问题意识体现了科技研究的规律,没有问题就没有科技创新,问题意识是科技创新在本体论上的要求;问题意识凸显出科技政策选择本身的必然要求。科技政策选择的问题意识的方法论原则包括,公众福祉原则、长远利益原则和生态环境原则。     

The Use of ICT in School Guidance: Attitudes and Practices of Guidance Counselors in Metro Manila, the Philippines

A survey was conducted among a sample of school guidance counselors in Metro Manila, the Philippines, to determine their level of awareness, attitudes, and extent of practice of ICT in the conduct of their work. The respondents showed a higher level of awareness of communication technologies than of information technologies. They spent an average of 1.2 h per day using a computer in the workplace. Most used ICT for writing letters and reports, calling parents, and keeping records. Appraisal and counseling were conducted frequently but these were done mainly using paper-based and face-to-face methods respectively. Their primary sources of guidance-related information were print-based, but a few also cited the Internet. The respondents had a positive attitude to the use of ICT in guidance. They reported confidence and productivity in using ICT in their work, while also reporting a need for further training. They also believed that ICT proficiency should be a required skill for professional counselors. However, costs, confidentiality, and security were important issues that the respondents identified as needing to be addressed.     

Assessing statistics attitudes among college students: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Survey of Attitudes toward Statistics (SATS)

The aim of the present research was to test the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics (SATS) in order to acquire a valid instrument to measure attitudes inside the Italian educational context. The SATS was administered to Italian-speaking undergraduate students enrolled in introductory statistics courses. A confirmatory factor analysis validated the four-factor structure of the scale, and good indices for both reliability and validity were obtained. A multi-group analysis confirmed the time invariance (beginning vs. end of the course) of the SATS, with a minor exception. Given the invariance across time, latent mean structures analysis revealed small to large significant changes in the four attitude dimensions. The present study provided evidence for the validity and reliability of the SATS when applied to the Italian learning framework.     

Visual Guidance in Infants' Reaching toward Suddenly Displaced Targets

This experiment evaluated the role of visual input about the location of a target object and the location of the hand in reaching by infants and adults. 5- and 9-month-old infants were presented with illuminated toys to reach for in a dark room. On no-switch trials, the toy remained illuminated throughout the infant's reach, whereas on switch trials the first-lit toy was replaced during the reach by a second-lit toy at a different position. On approximately half of the trials of each type a luminescent marker was attached to the reaching hand. Adult subjects (tested without the hand marker) fully compensated to the second-lit toy on switch trials, during a second reaching segment. On switch trials, 9-month-olds partially adjusted to the second-lit toy when wearing the hand marker and did not adjust without it. On no-switch trials, 9-month-olds reached just as accurately with or without the hand marker. 5-month-olds were generally inaccurate in their reaching and were unaffected by the presence or absence of the hand marker. The findings suggest that during the development of reaching there is an increase in visual guidance during the approach phase of reaches.     

Assessing teachers' attitude toward the handicapped: A methodological investigation

The attitude of 48 pre- and in-service regular and special educators toward teaching the special needs pupil was assessed physiologically via changes in pulse and skin temperature and with self-report. The self-report data were contradicted by the physiological evidence. Statistically significant differences were not observed among the four groups on the self-report measure; however, the physiological index of change in mean pulse rate indicated that preservice regular and special educators, in comparison to experienced teachers, perceived teaching the handicapped child to be significantly more stressful. The lack of agreement between the two assessment procedures was interpreted as suggesting that one should consider cautiously the results of investigations that assess attitude toward the handicapped only by means of self-report.     

Attitudes toward the level of men's involvement in abortion decisions

College students completed a questionnaire that assessed their attitudes toward the level of male responsibility in abortion decisions. Overall, both men and women thought that men should have some degree of involvement in the abortion decision. However, as expected by the first hypothesis, men indicated a desire for more responsibility in the abortion decision than women thought the men should have. A second hypothesis predicted women would feel more strongly than men that abortion was strictly a woman's issue. Contrary to the hypothesis, women tended to disagree that abortion was strictly a women's issue. Implications of the findings are discussed.