Cumulative childhood trauma and psychological maladjustment of sexually abused children in Korea: Mediating effects of emotion regulation

The purpose of the present study was to identify the mediating effects of emotion regulation on the association between cumulative childhood trauma and behavior problems in sexually abused children in Korea, using structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were collected on 171 children (ages 6–13 years) referred to a public counseling center for sexual abuse in Seoul, Korea. Cumulative childhood traumas were defined on the basis of number of traumas (physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, neglect, traumatic separation from parent, and sexual abuse) and the severity and duration of traumas. Children were evaluated by their parents on emotion regulation using the Emotion Regulation Checklist and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems using the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist. SEM analyses confirmed the complete mediation model, in which emotion dysregulation fully mediates the relationship between cumulative childhood traumas and internalizing/externalizing behavior problems. These findings indicate that emotion regulation is an important mechanism that can explain the negative effects of cumulative childhood traumas and that there is a need to focus on emotion regulation in sexually abused children exposed to cumulative trauma.     

Comparative analysis of OECD member countries’ competitive advantage in National Human Resource Development system

The purpose of this study was to assess, evaluate, and compare the competitive advantages of the human resource development systems of advanced countries. The Global Human Resource Development Index was utilized for this study, since it has been validated through an expert panel’s content review and analytic hierarchy process. Using a sample of 34 OECD member countries, the following conclusions were drawn. First, Switzerland, Sweden, and United States ranked top three in order in National Human Resource Development (NHRD) competitiveness and such Nordic countries as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland showed outstanding NHRD competitiveness. Second, thirty-four countries differed significantly in key aspects of supply, demand, environment, and supporting systems of NHRD. Strong, intermediate, and weak groups classified based on NHRD competitiveness significantly differed from one another in all factors of the NHRD system. Third, changes in NHRD competitiveness between 2005 and 2011 did not exhibit specific patterns depending on the level of economic development. Fourth, little changes in NHRD system occurred in a short period of time. The most significant positive changes in NHRD competitiveness were identified in only two cases of Luxemburg (△6) and Poland (△6) among 34 countries. Only striking case of decrease in NHRD competitiveness was Israel (▽6). The findings of this research will be able to assist each country in identifying its strengths and weaknesses in the NHRD system.     

The effectiveness of using computer simulated experiments on junior high students' understanding of the volume displacement concept

Several researchers have suggested that the computer holds much promise as a tool for science teachers for use in their classrooms (Bork, 1979, Lunetta & Hofstein, 1981). It also has been said that there needs to be more research in determining the effectiveness of computer software (Tinker, 1983). This study compared the effectiveness of microcomputer simulated experiences with that of parallel instruction involving hands-on laboratory experiences for teaching the concept of volume displacement to junior high school students. This study also assessed the differential effect on students' understanding of the volume displacement concept using sex of the students as another independent variable. In addition, it compared the degree of retention, after 45 days, of both treatment groups. It was found that computer simulated experiences were as effective as hands-on laboratory experiences, and that males, having had hands-on laboratory experiences, performed better on the posttest than females having had the hands-on laboratory experiences. There were no significant differences in performance when comparing males with females using the computer simulation in the learning of the displacement concept. This study also showed that there were no significant differences in the retention levels when the retention scores of the computer simulation groups were compared to those that had the hands-on laboratory experiences. However, an ANOVA of the retention test scores revealed that males in both treatment conditions retained knowledge of volume displacement better than females.     

Relationship between student designers’ reflective thinking and their design performance in bioengineering project: exploring reflection patterns between high and low performers

Educational technology research and development - The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between students’ patterns of reflective thinking and their performance in...     

Identifying indicators of university autonomy according to stakeholders’ interests

Tertiary Education and Management - This paper is an attempt to reconcile two different perspectives and come up with a more comprehensive conceptualization of university autonomy by adopting a...