Validity in quantitative content analysis

Over the past 15 years, educational technologists have been dabbling with a research technique known as quantitative content analysis (QCA). Although it is characterized as a systematic and objective procedure for describing communication, readers find insufficient evidence of either quality in published reports. In this paper, it is argued that QCA should be conceived of as a form of testing and measurement. If this argument is successful, it becomes possible to frame many of the problems associated with QCA studies under the well-articulated rubric of test validity. Two sets of procedures for developing the validity of a QCA coding protocol are provided, (a) one for developing a protocol that is theoretically valid and (b) one for establishing its validity empirically. The paper is concerned specifically with the use of QCA to study educational applications of computer-mediated communication.     

The hospital library as a "magnet force" for a research and evidence-based nursing culture: A case study of two magnet hospitals in one health system

When Baptist Hospital of Miami, then South Miami Hospital, became Magnet award-winning hospitals, their libraries' challenges increased. Could their librarians ease the transition of research and evidence-based practice into the "real world" of nursing? Did library services have a role in the ongoing Magnet re-credentialing process? This case study defines hospital library magnet force strategies that worked in the quest for this prestigious award for nursing excellence at two hospitals at Baptist Health South Florida.     

Do You Enjoy TV,while Tweeting? Effects of Multitasking on Viewers’ Transportation,Emotions and Enjoyment

The present study seeks to extend the extant body of work on media multitasking by examining the impact of second screen use (tweeting while watching television) on transportation into a narrative and enjoyment of a TV sitcom, mediated through affective experiences. In a between-subjects experiment, participants watched a TV show with or without tweeting about it. The findings support the assumption that media multitasking decreases people’s experience of transportation, which then impairs their emotional responses; reduced emotions further decrease enjoyment of the show. However, trait empathy does not moderate the impact of concurrent TV-viewing and tweeting.     

The Wisdom Project: virtual education in primary care

This article examines the development of the Wisdom Project, a pilot for the teaching of informatics to primary health care professionals, using an original educational model based on e-mail and Web pages. The article begins by placing the development of the Wisdom Project in the context of changes in medical education and training. The aims and objectives of Wisdom are outlined, and the methodologies for setting up and evaluating the project are described. The article then presents the results of the evaluation, including the identification of significant improvements in knowledge of CD ROMs (P = 0.01), e-mail (P = 0.03), Medline (P = 0.02), operating systems (P = 0.02), Web browsers (P = 0.003) and word processing (P = 0.03). Improvements in evidence-based practice (EBP) did not reach significance. Finally, a number of conclusions are presented, considering the lessons learnt for the future development of such projects.     

‘It doesn’t seem like work,it seems like good fun’: perceptions of primary students on the use of Handheld Game Consoles in mathematics classes

A Chinese proverb suggests ‘Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.’ How to involve or engage today’s learner is at the forefront of much educational research and was the impetus for the study reported herein. This study explored the perceptions of Year 4/5 students from nine separate schools in Western Australia about the use of the Handheld Game Console (HGC) Nintendo DS to develop mental mathematics skills. It revealed that students perceived the use of the HGCs as both fun and engaging. Further, students identified that they were challenged, developed strategies for success and made independent choices during these classes. These discussions are presented as a framework of factors that impacted on the participating students’ self-improvement, self-determination and self-esteem.     

Author! author!: creating a digital archive of publications in a hospital library setting

Baptist Hospital of Miami has been honoring its staff authors annually during National Library Week since 1979, at the time the library was relocated. Upon "doing the math" and realizing that twenty-five years had passed, a special event was planned to celebrate the occasion in 2004. A merger of four hospitals in 1995 to form Baptist Health South Florida, and an addition of a fifth hospital in 2003 added into the complexity of these publications. Organizing the event led to the conclusion that there had to be a "better way" to manage the publication archive. This paper will include a look back at the event's past, present efforts to develop an archival database, and future plans to make articles available electronically to users, copyright permitting.     

Perceptions of Secondary School Students with Mild Disabilities to the Academic and Social Support Mechanisms Implemented in Regular Classrooms

The Student Perceptions of Classroom Support Scale (SPCS), which measures the perceptions of students with mild disabilities of academic and social support mechanisms implemented in regular classrooms, was administered to 60 secondary school‐aged students. Data were obtained with reference to curricular, instructional, physical and peer support mechanisms. Item affectivity and multivariate analysis of variance revealed that significant differences were evident in student’s perceptions in regard to academic versus social support mechanisms. Support mechanisms rated highly by students in terms of positive academic and social outcomes often represented traditional teaching values. Conversely, support mechanisms such as one‐to‐one assistance from teacher assistants or volunteers were perceived as positive in terms of completing classroom activities, but of limited value in establishing friendships with peers. The SPCS not only provides researchers, clinicians and educators with a method of objectively evaluating students’ perceptions of support mechanisms, but also as a method of developing effective practical applications for students included in regular classrooms.     

GENDER BIAS: ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CAUSING MALE UNDERREPRESENTATION IN SURVEYS

Using data from a 1987 telephone survey of over 1,000 Illinoisadult residents, this research looked into factors causing maleunder-representation in surveys using the last-birthday methodof respondent selection. Differences by sex in rates of refusaland non-contact (after respondent selection) were evaluatedfor relative contribution to gender bias. Accuracy of informant'sresponse to the birthday question was gauged by checking againstbirth dates of adults rostered during the interview. Other factors,such as the proportion of informants who do not know the lastbirthday, or who misreport from a desire to be the one interviewed(or not interviewed), were evaluated for relative effect onsample representation of males and females.