Attitude toward Christianity among secondary school pupils in Northern Ireland: shifts in denominational differences

Background Northern Ireland is a province that remains deeply divided between Protestants and Catholics and maintains a segregated system of schools.

Purpose The research builds on a series of studies conducted in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s to monitor the attitude toward Christianity of males and females educated in Protestant and Catholic schools.

Sample A sample of 2359 16- to 18-year-old pupils attending Catholic and Protestant schools in Northern Ireland.

Design and methods A random sample of seven Protestant and nine Catholic schools invited all pupils attending their lower and upper sixth-form classes to participate in the survey and to complete the Francis scale of attitude toward Christianity.

Results The data demonstrate that, while males attending Catholic schools maintained a more positive attitude towards Christianity than males attending Protestant schools, females attending Catholic schools reported a less positive attitude toward Christianity than females attending Protestant schools. These findings are compared with studies conducted during the 1970s and 1980s when both males and females attending Catholic schools recorded a more positive attitude toward Christianity than their peers attending Protestant schools.

Conclusions Repeated cross-sectional studies of this nature help to profile the changing religious climate of Northern Ireland.     

Use of problem-based learning in the teaching and learning of horticultural production

Purpose: Problem-based learning (PBL), a relatively novel teaching and learning process in horticulture, was investigated. Proper application of PBL can potentially create a learning context that enhances student learning. Design/Methodology/Approach: Students worked on two complex ill-structured problems: (1) to produce fresh baby greens for a 4-week catering event and (2) to produce seedlings for a grower. Data collected were analyzed by the concurrent method and presented as case studies. Findings: Students developed positive attitudes through active engagement. Their presentations and reports demonstrated leadership roles, critical thinking and conflict management. Practical professional, social and affective skills were developed through production of 5?kg baby greens, and 2500 vegetable seedlings. Successes and limitations were identified. Theoretical Implication: The quality of the PBL problem is critical for the stimulation and elaboration of prior knowledge, development of epistemic curiosity and the relevant semantic framework. These are motivators that inspire effective learning. Practical Implication: Cognitive and emotional intelligence skills are realized by trusting the PBL process, identifying enhancers and inhibitors. Enhancement of creativity, social and employability skills manifest through challenges that help to develop for the ‘whole’. Originality/Value: In the horticulture industry, stakeholders interact with each other and the agro-ecological system. Consequently, competencies in production and emotional intelligence are invaluable.     

Test Norms and Sampling Theory

The authors investigated predictive relationships among student characteristics that influence motivation for learning and achievement. Participants were students (N = 900) from all 4 grade levels in 18 rural public high schools in the south-western United States. The authors used AMOS 4.0 (J. L. Arbuckle &; W. Wothke, 1996) to test a hypothesized path model in development and validation subsamples. Variables included perceptions of classroom climate, perceived ability, perceived instrumentality of instruction, and achievement goals as predictors of engagement and effort in school. The model fit the data reasonably well, with relatively minor variations in the strength of the paths between subsamples. The authors discuss implications for research and classroom practice.     

Achieving and Maintaining Metadata Quality: Toward a Sustainable Workflow for the IDEALS Institutional Repository

This article documents the steps taken to assess metadata errors within the IDEALS repository. It describes the workflows established to create accurate and consistent metadata, focusing especially on the batch ingest and retroactive metadata remediation processes. It also seeks to address theoretical issues surrounding the concept of metadata quality.     

Truchet tilings and their generalisations

Tilings and patterns dominate our visual and material world. Cyril Stanley Smith was acutely sensitive to this in every aspect of his work. In a diversion he rediscovered the Truchet tilings of 1704 and added to their richness and variety.     

Dearing on Dearing and the 2003 White Paper

Lord Dearing delivered the Inaugural Annual Lecture of the Higher Education Policy Institute on 18 February 2003. This is a summary of the lecture, which can be viewed in full on www.hepi.ac.uk