Fitting in and feeling good: the relationships among peer alignment,instructor connectedness,and self-efficacy in undergraduate satisfaction with engineering

This study examined the relationships among peer alignment (the feeling that one is similar in important ways to one's engineering peers), instructor connectedness (the sense that one knows and looks up to academic staff/faculty members in the department), self-efficacy for engineering class work (confidence in one's ability to successfully complete engineering class work), and engineering students' satisfaction with the major. A total of 135 sophomore (second-year university students) and junior (third-year students) engineering students were surveyed to measure these three variables. A multiple regression analysis showed that self-efficacy, peer alignment, and instructor connectedness predicted student satisfaction with the major, and that self-efficacy acted as a mediator between both peer alignment and instructor connectedness on the one hand, and satisfaction on the other. The authors offer suggestions for practice based on the results.     

Effects of intensive use of computers in secondary school on gender differences in attitudes towards ICT: A systematic review

There is a wealth of interventions focusing on the intensive use of computers in secondary schools, largely aiming at improving students’ performance. However, global evidence on the effects of the use of computers on attitudinal outcomes has not been synthesised so far. Taking into account that the differences in the attitudes of boys and girls regarding the use of computers are one of the factors described as causes of the low number of girls following ICT studies, the aim of this article is to review the evidence on the effects of intensive use of computers in schools on gender differences in attitudes outcomes: anxiety, enjoyment, self-confidence and self-efficacy. Searches generated a total of 740 citations of which 59 were identified as relevant and nine were finally included. The methodological quality of included studies was poor to moderate. The results suggest that despite the intensive use of computers, boys are favoured in computer anxiety, self-confidence and self-efficacy; and suggest no differences in computer enjoyment. There is no evidence that intensive use of computers reduce gender differences in these outcomes. Further policy recommendations should be rooted on robust evaluations, which take into account implementations parameters, as well.     

Acquisition of schedule-induced polydipsia by rats in proximity to upcoming food delivery

Food-deprived rats that receive intermittent delivery of small amounts of food develop excessive drinking--specifically, schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP). A main characteristic of SIP is its occurrence at the beginning of interfood intervals. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that SIP can be developed toward the end of interfood intervals, in closer proximity to upcoming than to preceding food delivery. In Experiment 1, two groups were exposed to a fixed-time (FT) 30-sec food schedule with water available during the first or the last 15 sec of each interfood interval. Two additional groups, which had access to water throughout, were exposed to FT 30-sec or FT 15-sec schedules of food presentation. The FT 30-sec group with free access to water developed the highest level of intake; similar and intermediate levels were induced in all the remaining groups. In Experiment 2, three groups of rats were exposed to an FT 90-sec food schedule with water available during the first, the second, or the last 30 sec of each interfood interval. One additional group with access to water throughout was exposed to the FT 90-sec schedule of food presentation. The group with free access to water developed a higher level of consumption than did the other groups, but by the end of training none of the four groups showed statistical differences in polydipsic drinking. Results show that adjunctive drinking can be developed in proximity to upcoming food delivery even with long interfood intervals.     

Immunization to learned helplessness in appetitive noncontingent contexts

We examined immunization against learned helplessness in 36 dogs. The experiment consisted of five phases: (1) appetitive contingent training, (2) immunization training, (3) inescapable noise training, (4) recovery, and (5) an appetitive noncontingent test. There were six groups: (1) a group immunized by controllable and predictable noise, (2) a group immunized by controllable but unpredictable noise, (3) a group immunized by uncontrollable but predictable noise, (4) a group given uncontrollable and unpredictable noise during immunization training, (5) a group not submitted to any treatment during the immunization phase, followed by uncontrollable noise, and (6) a group not submitted to any treatment. The immunization effect was assessed by measuring the acquisition of an appetitive response when food was not contingent upon responding. Our results demonstrate that the immunization effect can be observed in a noncontingent appetitive context. The effects of escapable noises that ensure immunization against the motivational deficit and predictable noises that immunize against the associative deficit seem to be additive.     

“Orientation” in Spanish universities

In the present period of change, the Spanish systems of secondary and higher education, too, are confronted with new challenges. People have realized that factors within and outside universities demand the development of effective helping services for students, particularly on the level of orientation. Two different models are described, one that relies on tutors, mainly; the other one employs orientation professionals. The article also describes the skills and the training experiences that are necessary for professionals in orientation services.Facultat de Psicologia i Pedagogia, Universitat Roman Llull     

El desarrollo de la comprensión del contexto de la expresión emocional

Resumen

Uno de los problemas más interesantes en la investigación actual sobre reconocimiento de emociones se centra en el trabajo con niños. En concreto, los investigadores obtienen resultados contradictorios a la hora de establecer un patrón de desarrollo en la utilización de indicios expresivos e indicios contextuales para reconocer una emoción. La solución se halla, probablemente, en una mejor caracterización de los contextos que acompañan a la expresión. El propósito de este trabajo es logar un primer acercamiento a dicha caracterización.     

From research question to scientific publication: educational innovation with university students / De la pregunta de investigación a la publicación científica: innovación educativa con el alumnado universitario

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the expectations, evaluations and opinions expressed by students taking the course Models of Planning and Educational Research (Social Education Degree, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville), obtained at the beginning and end of a teaching process supported by the continued use of class sessions, semi-virtual sessions, group work, guided individual study and tutorials. This experience has been developed within the institutional framework of the call for educational projects aimed at designing and implementing new teaching and assessment methods, primarily focused on competence-based training, convened by the Vice President for Teaching and European Convergence. The data collection and evaluation of the teaching innovation was carried out in two phases: the first with an assembly or initial discussion of expectations at the beginning of the course, and a final assessment with a questionnaire at the end of the experience.