Effects of Career Preparation Experiences on the Initial Employment Success of College Graduates

The effectiveness of supplementary career preparation experiences is conceived as universal or conditional, the latter either enhancing existing assets such as ability or overcoming deficits such as lack of specialized preparation. Logistic regression was used to analyze the responses of 1,012 baccalaureate graduates to a questionnaire survey one month following graduation. Effectiveness was defined as securing baccalaureate level employment. Work experience related to career goals was the only experience of universal effectiveness, with participation in student organizations of marginal significance. Positive conditional effects, however, were found for internships, work experiences related to career goals, advanced skills courses in quantitative analysis and writing, and participation in student organizations. These latter experiences were primarily asset enhancers for those with specialized preparation. An interpretation is offered incorporating labor market conditions and employer behavior as constructs.     

Estimating Average Domain Scores

A simulation study was performed to determine whether a group's average percent correct in a content domain could be accurately estimated for groups taking a single test form and not the entire domain of items. Six Item Response Theory based domain score estimation methods were evaluated, under conditions of few items per content area perform taken, small domains, and small group sizes. The methods used item responses to a single form taken to estimate examinee or group ability; domain scores were then computed using the ability estimates and domain item characteristics. The IRT-based domain score estimates typically showed greater accuracy and greater consistency across forms taken than observed performance on the form taken. For the smallest group size and least number of items taken, the accuracy of most IRT-based estimates was questionable; however, a procedure that operates on an estimated distribution of group ability showed promise under most conditions.     

Factors associated with transitional shifts in college students' physical activity behavior

The Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska & Marcus, 1994) has been widely used as a framework for understanding exercise behavior change. The purpose of this study was to clarify equivocal research findings reported for model predictions when examining stage movement over time rather than static stages and to provide some evidence of the construct validity of transitional stages. Participants were female (n = 285) and male (n = 243) undergraduates (M age = 19.9 years, SD = 2.7) who completed previously validated questionnaires twice, separated by 9 weeks, that assessed stage of change, exercise behavior, processes of change, pros and cons of exercise, and exercise self-efficacy. Participants were classified into one of five transitional shift groups based on their responses at baseline and follow up: (a) stable sedentary, (b) stable active, (c) activity adopters, (d) activity relapsers, and (e) perpetual preparers. Results of a 5 (group) x 2 (time) repeated measures (RM) analysis of variance (ANOVA) examining exercise behavior revealed a significant interaction (p < .001) and supported transitional stage classification, with activity adopters and stable actives increasing exercise over time and relapsers decreasing activity. Separate 5 (group) x 2 (time) RM ANOVAs examining model constructs revealed no significant interaction for cognitive processes of change; however, activity adopters and stable actives reported significant (p < .01) increases in the use of behavioral processes over time, while only the activity relapsers and perpetual preparers reported decreases. Activity relapsers also reported significant (p < .05) decreases in the pros of exercise. No significant interactions were found for the cons of exercise behavior. Unlike findings reported in cross-sectional studies, increases in self-efficacy did not accompany increases in exercise stage. The findings strongly support examination of stage movement classifications rather than static stages, as these transitions provide greater insight into the mechanisms of exercise behavior change.     

Attending behavior of children near a child who is reinforced for attending

The present study investigated effects of a token program for one child on the behavior of other children in the class. Three nursery school children, sitting at adjacent desks, were observed under five conditions. In Baseline I and Reinforcement I the rewarded child sat between the two unrewarded children. In Baseline II, Reinforcement II and Baseline III the rewarded child sat on the end, and the two unrewarded children alternated at the middle desk. The rewarded child received tokens for attending behavior in the Reinforcement conditions. The teacher's behavior was carefully controlled. Results were: (a) The rewarded child's attending increased in the Reinforcement conditions; (b) The unrewarded children's attending increased in Reinforcement I but remained at baseline in Reinforcement II; (c) Both unrewarded children attended better when seated at the center desk in Reinforcement II; (d) No disturbing effects were found in the behavior of unrewarded children.     

Increasing appropriate classroom behaviour and academic performance by reinforcing correct work alone

The present study examined indirect effects of modifying appropriate classroom behaviour by itself and academic performance by itself. Of particular interest were changes in appropriate behaviour as students were reinforced for correct work. Five disruptive boys were given arithmetic assignments during daily 20-minute experimental sessions. Changes in appropriate behaviour and arithmetic performance were measured during the following phases: (a) an initial baseline phase; (b) reinforcement for appropriate behaviour alone; (c) return to baseline; (d) reinforcement for correct arithmetic work. It was found that reinforcing appropriate behaviour increased that behaviour, but produced little improvement in arithmetic performance. However, reinforcing arithmetic performance not only increased correct work, but resulted in a high rate of appropriate behaviour as well. The implications of these findings for the management of classroom behaviours were discussed.     

Ways in which Governing Bodies Contribute to School Improvement: Findings from a pilot project

ABSTRACT

Legislation over the last 10 years has increased considerably the responsibilities of school governors but there has been little research into their role in bringing about school improvement. This paper reports upon a pilot project designed to set the parameters and criteria for a more detailed and extensive study into this area. Based upon the data gathered, it is possible to suggest some ways in which governing bodies can enhance the conditions for improvement.     

Sexuality Education across the Lifecycle in the New Millennium

Everyone has the right to sexuality education. In the past, mainly in Western countries, this has been provided by parents and some schools, usually as formal programmes. However, many people receive sexuality education informally from other sources, such as peers, television, magazines and books. The technological age upon us now in the new millennium provides yet another source for everyone. The Internet has a growing number of sites specifically for sexuality education for all ages. Here, a selection of relevant sites are identified and presented for their developmental appropriateness. For the first time in history, sexuality education will be potentially accessible by everyone over the Internet, which is technology-derived, personal, instantaneous, on demand, accessible any time and any place, not controlled by social or educational structures, inexpensive and individualised. The opportunities this promotes are almost limitless for enhanced personal understanding and improved interpersonal relationships of all kinds for everyone on the globe.     

Analysis of reference transactions to inform library applications (apps)

Content analysis of questions asked at multiple reference service points are used to inform library application (app) development. Reduced library budgets create service gaps, and library apps present one potential solution to help users with simple wayfinding and library attribute questions. Content analysis of three years of questions asked at fifteen face-to-face service points on the campus of the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, as well as questions received via telephone, e-mail, and chat demonstrate that library location-based questions comprise 77.6% of the total questions asked. This approach shows the potential that the study of library location-based questions has for informing library apps.     

Do Library Fines Work?: Analysis of the Effectiveness of Fines on Patron's Return Behavior at Two Mid-sized Academic Libraries

Data on library fines imposed at Eastern Illinois University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa was extracted and compared to determine whether fines had an impact on the patron's return behavior. The results indicated that fines as well as patron group status (undergraduate, graduate, faculty) have an impact on the patron's return behavior.