Integrating the theory of planned behavior and behavioral attitudes to explore texting among young drivers in the US

The proliferation of cell phones and the growing culture of constant connectivity has introduced a plethora of new challenges for mobile citizens. One of the major challenges transportation professionals desire to address involves the use of cell phones to text while driving, especially for less experienced drivers. In this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in conjunction with psycho-social factors is utilized to explore the intention to text while driving among young drivers. The results of a survey administered to 524 drivers suggest that the TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) along with the perceived disadvantages of abstention and age of the driver explain a significant amount of variance in the intention to send text messages while driving (adjusted R² = 0.71).     

SNS社交网络个人用户持续使用行为的影响因素研究

以SNS社交网络个人用户持续使用行为为研究对象,以信息系统持续使用理论为参考框架,整合计划行为理论,针对SNS的特点引入感知娱乐、感知信任及习惯,建立研究模型进行实证研究。研究结果表明:信息系统持续使用理论在SNS情境下有良好的适用性;主观规范和感知行为控制对用户的使用意向和实际使用行为影响显著;感知娱乐对满意度和持续使用意向影响显著;习惯对实际使用行为的影响及对持续使用意向和行为之间的调节效应显著。     

精神家园的守望——由《圣诞颂歌》看狄更斯的生态关怀

《圣诞颂歌》是狄更斯《圣诞故事集》中的经典之作。通过塑造斯科鲁奇这一由自私冷漠到慷慨大方,由心灵荒芜走向精神富饶的典型人物,狄更斯辛辣地讽刺了资本主义的虚伪贪婪和金钱之上的功利主义,并以此寄托了自己对美好的精神家园的守望。基于此,从精神生态视角解读狄更斯的生态关怀,以期启发现代人对自我精神生存状况的的思考。     

What do I think about inclusive education? It depends on who is asking. Experimental evidence for a social desirability bias in attitudes towards inclusion

Recently, research has focused on attitudes towards inclusive education, and the majority of studies use questionnaires to measure this vital variable. In two consecutive experiments, we showed that attitudes towards inclusive education are not stable but instead are significantly influenced by social context. We manipulated information on the organisation conducting a survey regarding attitudes of participants towards inclusive education. The results show that the attitude of the organisation conducting the survey – as perceived by the participant – outperforms well-documented variables (e.g. sex, age, and contact to a person with disability) in predicting the attitudes of the participant towards inclusion. This one variable explains as much variance as all other predictors combined. We argue that social desirability is a neglected issue in research on attitudes towards inclusive education. Our findings challenge the validity of numerous studies on this topic because they show a positive bias in the attitudes of participants when they were surveyed by a university. Thus, we outline the first steps to reduce social desirability-induced validity problems in research on attitudes towards inclusion.     

农村养老制度对家庭人力资本积累影响研究述评

自新增长理论形成以来,将养老保障制度与人力资本积累相联系进行研究成为社会保障、社会学等领域的研究热点之一。无论是国外的理论研究还是实证研究均表明,养老保障制度对于人力资本积累的影响作用是十分明显的。但我国目前理论界直接对养老保障制度与人力资本积累之间关系展开研究的尚属少数。因此,关于养老保障制度对家庭人力资本积累的影响研究的广度和深度均有待发掘。     

越南统一后至今的经济发展历程研究

越南自1976年南北统一之后,面对其自身落后的经济状况,越南政府采取了一系列探索振兴国民经济的措施。并根据在改革经济的过程中所遇到的困难与问题,不断调整改革方向与政策。现如今的越南经济状况已经大有改观。其在经济改革中所积累的经验,值得其他社会主义国家学习。     

Evidence-Based Maternity Care: Can New Dogs Learn Old Tricks?

In this article, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator describes her efforts to change the culture of birth in a community hospital in a small Midwestern town. Her experience highlights the challenges and the frustrations involved in creating change. The authors reflect on ways to enhance the success of change and advocacy strategies.     

Endurance training adherence in elite junior netball athletes: A test of the theory of planned behaviour and a revised theory of planned behaviour

This study examined the utility of Ajzen's () theory of planned behaviour and Maddux's () revised theory of planned behaviour to predict endurance training intentions and adherence of elite junior netball athletes. One hundred and fifteen athletes from the England Netball World Class Start Programme were assessed on constructs central to the predictions of the two theories. Adherence to a recommended endurance training programme was recorded in self-report diaries across a 9-week period. Validity for the diaries was supported by significant correlations (P <?0.001) with recalls across 7 days and 9 weeks. Adherence was moderate and variable between athletes (mean = 66.05, s = 25.75%). Two separate path analyses were conducted to examine the predictions of the theories. Goodness-of-fit indices suggested acceptable fit of the data to the models. Analyses showed that attitude towards the new behaviour, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control predicted training intentions. The relationship between intention and adherence was weak. The present results suggest that the constructs of the theory of planned behaviour offer some insight into the explanation of intentions to follow an endurance training programme. Constructs unique to the revised theory of planned behaviour did not significantly predict training intentions or behaviour. Implications for practitioners working with team sport performers are provided.     

A theory of planned behaviour-based analysis of TIMSS 2011 to determine factors influencing inquiry teaching practices in high-performing countries

ABSTRACT

Given the abundance of literature describing the strong relationship between inquiry-based teaching and student achievement, more should be known about the factors impacting science teachers’ classroom inquiry implementation. This study utilises the theory of planned behaviour to propose and validate a causal model of inquiry-based teaching through analysing data relating to high-performing countries retrieved from the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study assessments. Data analysis was completed through structural equation modelling using a polychoric correlation matrix for data input and diagonally weighted least squares estimation. Adequate fit of the full model to the empirical data was realised. The model demonstrates that the extent the teachers participated in academic collaborations was positively related to their occupational satisfaction, confidence in teaching inquiry, and classroom inquiry practices. Furthermore, the teachers’ confidence with implementing inquiry was positively related to their classroom inquiry implementation and occupational satisfaction. However, perceived student-generated constraints demonstrated a negative relationship with the teachers’ confidence with implementing inquiry and occupational satisfaction. Implications from this study include supporting teachers through promoting collaborative opportunities that facilitate inquiry-based practices and occupational satisfaction.     

The Identification of Reasons,Solutions, and Techniques Informing a Theory-Based Intervention Targeting Recreational Sports Participation

Purpose: This study is the 3rd piece of formative research utilizing the theory of planned behavior to inform the development of a behavior change intervention. Focus groups were used to identify reasons for and solutions to previously identified key beliefs in addition to potentially effective behavior change techniques. Method: A purposive sample of 22 first-year undergraduate students (n = 8 men; M_age = 19.8 years, SD = 1.3 years) attending a university in the North of England was used. Focus groups were audio-recorded; recordings were transcribed verbatim, analyzed thematically, and coded for recurrent themes. Results: The data revealed 14 reasons regarding enjoyment, 11 reasons for friends’ approval, 11 reasons for friends’ own participation, 14 reasons for the approval of family members, and 10 solutions to time constraints. Twelve distinct techniques were suggested to attend to these reasons and solutions. Conclusion: This qualitative research will be used to inform the development of a theory-based intervention to increase students’ participation in university recreational sports.