A meta-framework for conducting mixed methods impact evaluations: Implications for altering practice and the teaching of evaluation

Educational interventions are becoming increasingly more complex, far-reaching, and high-stakes. Thus, there is a need for an evaluation meta-framework that is comprehensive, flexible, and meets enhanced complexity. Therefore, we provide a new and comprehensive definition of impact evaluations—what we call a comprehensive impact evaluation—that draws out the importance of collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, thereby resulting in a rigorous approach that can allow for strong inferences. Further, we provide an overview of impact evaluation designs that can be used in comprehensive impact evaluations along with a rationale for using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. This leads to the central purpose of the article: to provide a meta-framework for conducting what we call a Mixed Methods Theory-Based Impact Evaluations, wherein mixed methods techniques are used at every phase of the process. Building on White’s (2009) work, we outline an 8-phase Mixed Methods Theory-Based Impact Evaluation.     

Household head's educational level and household education expenditure in China: The mediating effect of social class identification

Fairness in education is an issue of great concern for China's development. At the same time, household education expenditure is a key factor and objective material embodiment of the educational resources and educational opportunities for Chinese children. Using the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS2016), this study analyzes the mechanisms of action in household education expenditure affected by both the educational level and the social class identification of household heads. The empirical results indicate that the Chinese household heads' social class identification is affected positively by their educational level. After controlling for the potential endogeneity, the education expenditure tends to increase as the subjective social class identification of the household heads is promoted. Class identification plays a partial mediating role in the process of the household head's educational level, affecting the household education expenditure. The findings provide important insights for understanding the intergenerational transmission mechanism of cultural capital in China.     

Child sexual abuse research knowledge among child abuse professionals and laypersons

The purposes of this study were to: (1) Assess child abuse professionals’ and nonprofessionals’ knowledge of scientific research findings that are relevant to forensic child sexual abuse (CSA) evaluations and (2) describe associations between child abuse professionals’ levels of research knowledge and their education and experience. An 18-item multiple-choice test was administered to 188 child abuse professionals and 457 nonprofessionals (undergraduate college students) in Brazil and the United States. The nonprofessionals’ average percent correct, M = 44%, was not significantly different than what would be expected for random guessing (45%). The professionals’ average percent correct, M = 55%, was higher than that of nonprofessionals and random guessing (both ps < .001). The average percent correct score for the US-sample psychologists, M = 76%, was higher than the average score of the other professionals, M = 51%, p < .001. Professionals’ educational level, as measured by the highest academic degree obtained, was positively associated with percent correct scores, Spearman's ρ = .46, p < .001. Controlling for educational attainment, professional experience, as measured by the total number of CSA evaluations performed, was weakly associated with percent correct scores, partial r = .15, p = .04. Percent correct scores were low for both nonprofessionals and professionals. Most of the participants in this study were uninformed or misinformed about scientific research findings that are important for conducting optimal forensic CSA evaluations and for making accurate judgments about the validity of sexual abuse allegations.     

Predicting subjective well-being among mHealth users: a readiness – value model

mHealth applications (MHA) have recently attracted great attention from various stakeholders as they are indeed important means to enhance users’ subjective well-being. While prior research has mainly focused on intention or adoption phase, little work has empirically examined the post-adoption effects of MHA with scarce attention given to the well-being outcome. Actual users are likely to conceive the values of MHA based mainly on their direct experience with it. In this paper, the dimensions of users’ technology readiness are regarded as major impetuses for perceived utilitarian and hedonic values, which in turn influence subjective well-being among MHA users. The proposed readiness-value model is analyzed using survey data collected from 731 users of MHA. The findings show that the model significantly predicts users’ subjective well-being considering that utilitarian value is more important for male users, whereas hedonic value has a more salient effect for female users. It also reveals that enablers of technology readiness (i.e., innovativeness and optimism) exert a stronger influence than that of inhibitors (i.e., discomfort and insecurity) on the perceived values of MHA. These results have essential implications for theory and practice.     

影响高校学生主观幸福感的因素及其应对策略

主观幸福感是衡量个人心理状态、生活质量的重要综合性心理指标。本文在分析高校学生主观幸福感、心理健康、应对方式特点的基础上,探讨高校学生应对方式对其主观幸福感和心理健康的影响,为高校有效开展大学生幸福教育,提升大学生生活质量提供科学理论依据。     

野外监测站群组集成知识平台可持续能力建设——以中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所为例

在数字信息环境和数字科研模式下,野外台(站)研究领域知识信息环境急需得到改善和提升。本文针对中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所野外站(点)集成知识平台建设必要性、意义、内容、目标、团队、子项目建设、建设成效等进行了论述。期望呈现给大家一个全新野外监测站群组集成知识环境,为今后更好地在野外台站开展学科信息服务提供参考,为生地所的"一三五"规划的顺利实施提供重要支撑。     

单向贴近度方法在主观题评判中的应用

主观题的自动评判一直制约着在线考试系统的发展。在引入传统的基于模糊数学中贴近度方法的同时对其进行改进,并为不同的关键词使用不同的权重以体现语义的重要性,设计一种基于模糊数学理论中带权单向匹配的算法。经实验证明该方法的准确率有所提高,达到了预期的效果。     

基于因子分析的陕西上市公司财务绩效综合评价

以陕西26家A股上市公司为研究对象,建立了包含14个指标在内的企业财务绩效评价递阶层次结构体系,采用因子分析的方法从盈利能力,偿债能力,成长能力,营运能力四个方面对上市公司财务绩效进行了综合评价。结果证实,盈利能力在上市公司财务绩效综合评价中起主导作用,整体陕西上市公司盈利能力较差,财务竞争力低下,与区域经济发展的要求不相称,且行业分布不均衡,地域分布不合理,未能体现陕西区域经济特色。对此,文章提出了相关建议以促进陕西资本市场的快速健康发展。     

新课标观照下的中考语文试题特点分析

自新课改实施以来,各地中考语文试题,尽管在题型设置、选材风格、制卷样式上存在差异,但在诸多理论和实践问题上存在共性,都能运用新课标、新理论、新思路、新技巧于测试中,以读写为轴心自然展开,更加关注对学生语文素养的考查,体现出贴近生活、题型开放、偏重主观表达的特点。     

Spillover in the Academy: Marriage Stability and Faculty Evaluations

The literature on the relationship between work and family has shown that there is a spillover effect between both domains. In particular, research that has investigated the influence of home environment on work has shown that family instability affects work satisfaction and performance. This study investigates the spillover between family and work by examining the link between marital status and work performance across the three phases of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Specifically, this article links marital status and work performance through a longitudinal analysis of a set of university teaching evaluations. A polynomial regression model was fit to the data and a cubic curve through the three periods of marriage, divorce, and remarriage was statistically significant. Implications of the study and areas for future research are discussed.