Higher Education Leadership and Management: From Conflict to Interdependence through Strategic Planning

Institutional leadership and management are two entirely different, yet intimately intertwined, aspects of the overall effective functioning of a higher education institution (HEI). This paper is intended to (1) define and differentiate between the two concepts, (2) critically discuss their importance and vital interdependence, (3) discuss circumstances that can create conflict or compatibility between these concepts, (4) critically examine models of strategic planning and suggest a better approach to this process, and (5) offer suggestions for the improvement of both leadership and management in the context of co-existence within a redefined strategic planning environment.     

Impact of sports participation on mortality rates among Brazilian adults

Objective: To analyze the possible dose-response association between components of sports participation (intensity, volume and previous engagement) and 4-year mortality rates among Brazilian adults.

Methods: 679 males and females (mean age among men = 66.7 ± 9.3 years old and mean age among women = 64.8 ± 8.9 years old) composed the study sample. Sports participation was assessed using Baecke’s questionnaire, which considers intensity, duration and previous engagement. Medical records were used to identify the cause of the death. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent associations of exercise components and mortality.

Results: Participants that reported exercising at moderate-vigorous intensity (Moderate/vigorous: 4.1% versus None/light: 10.3% [p-value = 0.012]; HR = 0.42 [0.1 to 0.94)] and for more than four months (≥4 months: 5.3% versus <4 months: 10.2% [p-value = 0.038]; HR = 0.47 [0.24 to 0.94]) had lower mortality risk. The percentage of survival according to all-cause mortality was significantly higher for participants engaged in sports at moderate-vigorous intensity (p-value = 0.014), as well as for those engaged in sports for periods superior than four months (p-value = 0.036).

Conclusion: We found higher percentage of survival among adults engaged in sports at moderate-vigorous intensity and with at least four months of previous engagement.     

Exposure of children to sexual content on the Internet in Croatia

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of children and youth exposure to sexual content and inappropriate sexual questions on the Internet; and to identify emotional and behavioral reactions of children after such exposures.MethodsSample of the study included 2,880 of children and youth aged 10–16 who identified themselves as Internet users. Participants were questioned using Questionnaire on Child Experiences in Internet Use.ResultsResults show that 27% of children were exposed to messages of sexual content, mostly containing images of human nudity and sexual activity. Study also shows that children have experienced inappropriate sexual questions on the Internet. Exposure to questions of intimate nature increased with their age with certain differences in exposure and disturbing emotional reactions related to gender and age.ConclusionResults obtained by this study show that about a quarter of children are at risk for exposure to sexual content on the Internet.Practical implicationsResearch results can be used as a starting point for further research in order to throw more light on children and youth exposure to sexual content on the Internet. Furthermore, results can be used in developing prevention strategies for high-risk behavior of children and youth using the Internet and in working with children, parents and teachers.     

Teaching values in physical education classes: the perception of Brazilian teachers

The contribution of Physical Education (PE) and School Sport to learning of values has been identified by teachers and researchers. However, we know little about how that teaching takes place during classes. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of teachers on teaching values in their classes and to analyse the conception of values that have guided their professional intervention. To do this, a qualitative study was conducted with a sample of three teachers, using class observations and interviews with the teachers as research tools. For all these teachers, teaching values is a central goal of PE classes; for two of the teachers, it is the main goal. Because of this conviction, their pedagogies prioritize the teaching of moral values over others that can be taught in PE. A belief in the possibility of teaching values in the classroom is part of the habitus of the PE teacher; it can sometimes be characterized as an illusio. For these reasons, teachers can set unrealistic expectations, disregarding their own limitations as well as the conflicts and complexity involved in the construction of value systems.     

Alternative assessment of knee joint muscle balance of soccer players through total work-based hamstring: quadriceps ratios

Isokinetic hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios are frequently used to assess knee muscle strength imbalances and risk of injuries/re-injuries. The use of peak torque (PT) or total work (TW) to estimate joint stability may lead to different results because of the differences between these two neuromuscular variables. Thus, the current study aimed to compare the conventional and functional H:Q ratios calculated by PT and TW. Ninety-three male professional soccer players from Brazilian first division teams performed isokinetic concentric and eccentric contractions of the quadriceps and the hamstrings at 60°/s. Muscle strength balance was calculated using the conventional torque ratio (CTR) and conventional work ratio (CWR), functional torque ratio (FTR) and functional work ratio (FWR) were highly and moderately correlated between them (r?=?0.83 and r?=?0.73, respectively). The Wilcoxon statistical test revealed significant differences between CTR and CWR, as well as FTR and FWR (p?T-test demonstrated significant differences in mean CTR–CWR and FTR–FWR, whereas Bland–Altman plots showed non-consistent bias. In addition, the chi-square test demonstrated significant differences between players below the conventional reference values and functional reference values (p?相似文献   

Polymorphic response patterns under frequency-dependent selection

In a discrete-trials procedure, a frequency-dependent schedule shaped left-right choice proportion toward various equilibrium values between 0 and 1. At issue was (1) whether pigeons match when the overall reinforcement probabilities for two responses depend inversely on their recent frequency, and (2) how pigeons meet the schedule constraint in terms of local responding. That is, do they respond quasi-randomly (Bernoulli mode), or do they learn the stable pattern of the schedule (stable-pattern mode)? Molar choice behavior always tracked the equilibrium solution of the schedule, but the molecular response patterns varied substantially. Markov chains applied to the data revealed that responding was generally intermediate between the memoryless Bernoulli mode, and the perfect memory stable-pattern mode. The polymorphism of molecular patterns, despite molar regularities in behavior, suggests that (1) in order to engender the Bernoulli or stable-pattern modes, the reinforcement rule must strongly discourage competing response patterns (e.g., perseveration), and (2) under frequency-dependent schedules, molar matching is apparently not the outcome of momentary maximizing.     

Cognitive Processes,ICT, and Education: A Critical Analysis

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have brought about renewed spaces for the societies of today, full of possibility and transformation. Bordering on the infinite, these spaces have generated new activities and behaviors. This technological scenario is now commonplace, an everyday reality that has taken root in our lives with remarkable speed. Now would therefore be an appropriate time to open up a line of inquiry into how this is shaping educational practice and how it is affecting our cognitive structures. We have chosen to conduct a review of relevant literature that will enable us to adopt a critical analysis to our subject: education and, above all, the learner, seen from the perspective of neuroscience and social analysis. However, the principal aim of this paper is to lay bare the disparities between research findings and current educational practices that use ICT.     

Gender and Management in HEIs: Changing organisational and management structures

This paper reports on the second phase of a multi-country study examining cross cultural perspectives of gender and management in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It examines the broader labour market context and legislative frameworks for higher education in each country and then analyses the literature on women in university management. The paper presents the findings of research with male and female senior managers about their perceptions of women as HEI managers within changing organisational and management structures. It concludes that although HEI’s are now largely aware of barriers to women getting into and on in senior management, they have not addressed the organisational structures and cultures that perpetuate this inequity.

     

The learning of response patterns in choice situations

This study presents a theory by which to understand how pigeons learn response patterns in simple choice situations. The theory assumes that, in a choice situation, patterns of responses compete for the final common path; that the competition is governed by two variables, the overall reinforcement probability obtained by emitting the patterns,T, and the differences in reinforcement probabilities among the patterns,D; and that the ratioD/T determines the final strength of specific response patterns. To test these predictions, three experiments were run in which pigeons were more likely to receive food when they pecked the momentarily least-preferred of three response keys. On the basis of previous research, it was predicted that the birds would be indifferent among the keys (molar aspect) and would also acquire a response pattern that consisted of pecking each key once during three consecutive trials (molecular aspect). The present theory went further and predicted that the strength of that pattern would increase with the ratioD/T. In the first two experiments,D was manipulated whileT remained constant, and in the third,T was manipulated whileD remained constant. The results agreed with the theory, for the strength of the response pattern increased withD and decreased withT, whereas overall choice proportions were always close to the matching equilibrium.     

Child and partner abuse: self-reported prevalence and attitudes in the north of Portugal

OBJECTIVES: To determine the self-reported prevalence of child and partner physical and emotional abuse in the north of Portugal and to investigate attitudes about these forms of family violence. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaire from a representative sample of parents in two-parent families with children under the age of 18 years. A total of 2,391 parents participated (1,057 males), aged 20-67 years. Four questionnaires were used, one behavioral and one attitudinal, for each of the forms of abuse: child and partner. RESULTS: At least one act of emotional or physical abuse towards a child during the previous year was reported by 25.9% of participants (12.3% reported physically abusive and 22.4% emotionally abusive acts). Abuse of a partner was reported by 26.2% of participants; at least one act of physical abuse during the previous year was reported by 12% and of emotional abuse by 23.7%. The attitudinal data, however, showed general disapproval of the use of violence, both for disciplining children and within marital relationships. The degree of self-reported support for physical punishment was higher in participants who reported using abusive behavior. Females more commonly reported acts of child abuse, and males reported acts of partner abuse. Both forms of self-reported abuse showed an association with low educational and socio-economic status. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Portugal to analyze family violence through self-report using a representative sample. The findings indicate that child and partner abuse constitute a significant problem in the region of northern Portugal. The discrepancy between the self-reported behavioral and attitudinal data may reflect conflicts in Portuguese society, which is undergoing substantial cultural changes.