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Descriptors:
Working Hours; Mail Surveys; College Faculty; Faculty Workload; Higher Education; Perception; Comparative Analysis; Foreign Countries

Abstract:
The purpose of this article is to examine the validity of perceptions by academic staff about their past and present workload and working hours. Retrospective assessments are compared with time-series data. The data are drawn from four mail surveys among academic staff in Norwegian universities undertaken in the period 1982-2008. The findings show that many academic staff retrospectively perceive that expectations of their work and task performance have increased and hence that they now work longer hours. In contrast, when time-series data are used to measure changes in time use (on an aggregate level) no empirical evidence is found in support of this claim; instead, a slight decline in the average number of weekly working hours can be observed. Two possible reasons for this disparity are discussed. First, that heavier workloads do not necessarily imply that academic staff work longer hours. Second, that younger generations of academic staff may report fewer work hours than previous counterparts. (Contains 2 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Professional Recognition; Learning Theories; Communities of Practice; Focus Groups; Employment Qualifications; Interviews; Mail Surveys; Questionnaires; Context Effect; Labor Force; Educational Change; Child Care; Teacher Attitudes

Abstract:
This article reports on the views of early years practitioners in England from settings that were identified as "reluctant to engage" with one of the government's key policies, the introduction of Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), to drive forwards workforce reform. Focus groups, interviews and a survey were undertaken in 2009 with 35 respondents in 15 early years settings. The article uses concepts from Wenger's situated theory of learning (1998) to locate the policy and practitioners' views of its implications in its socio-historical context with regard to early years professionalisation. The findings are considered against a conceptual framework for successful workforce reform to suggest how, by addressing areas of perceived "restrictive" practice, the move to increase status and professional qualifications in early years may become more inclusive of the current workforce. (Contains 2 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Foreign Countries; Economic Climate; Longitudinal Studies; Mail Surveys; Psychological Patterns; Well Being; Income; Multiple Regression Analysis; Economic Factors; Unemployment; Adults; Resilience (Psychology); Physical Health; Social Indicators; Measurement; Sociometric Techniques; Socioeconomic Influences; Demography; Psychometrics; National Surveys; Correlation; Predictor Variables; Financial Problems

Abstract:
There is a common belief that economic crisis will lead to a decrease in subjective wellbeing. Previous studies indicate that income is correlated with happiness and unemployment with unhappiness. The relationship between increased income and happiness is well documented while the impact of decreased income has been less explored. The aim of this paper is to study how the economic downfall in Iceland, followed by reduced income and increased unemployment, affects happiness as well as to explore which groups are most vulnerable to changes in happiness and which are most resilient. The study is a longitudinal, nationally representative postal survey which assessed 5,918 individual's aged 18-79. A total of 4,092 (77.3%) answered again in 2009. The relationship between economic factors and happiness was explored using multiple linear regression to find out how much they explain of the happiness variance and the changes in happiness, together with demographic factors, health and social relationships. Results indicate that income and unemployment did not predict happiness but financial difficulties did. A decrease in happiness was detected after the collapse. The change in happiness from 2007 to 2009 was normally distributed, 40% had the same score in both years and an equal number increased as decreased. The explored factors did not explain the changes in happiness. The economic crisis had a limited affect on happiness. Those with financial difficulties were hardest hit. Changes in happiness need to be studied further since they are not well explained by the factors which influence cross-sectional levels of happiness. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Quality of Life; Foreign Countries; Multiple Regression Analysis; Neighborhoods; Social Indicators; Community Problems; Community Surveys; Gender Differences; Schematic Studies; Questionnaires; Mail Surveys; Physical Environment; Health Conditions; Ethnicity; Age Differences; Measures (Individuals); Psychological Characteristics; Social Characteristics; Environmental Influences; Community Attitudes

Abstract:
This article examines the association between perceptions of neighborhood problems and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of New Zealand residents (n = 692). A modified version of the Neighborhood Problems Scale (originally developed by Steptoe and Feldman, 2001) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to assess perceptions of neighborhood problems and HRQOL, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between perceptions of neighborhood problems and each of the WHOQOL-BREF domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental HRQOL. Perceptions of neighborhood problems and gender interacted in the physical HRQOL regression; the negative association between perceived neighborhood problems and physical HRQOL was stronger for males compared with females. Neighborhood problems were also negatively predictive of psychological, social, and environmental HRQOL. Overall, our results suggest that the various aspects of well-being may be influenced by perceptions of neighborhood problems. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Foreign Countries; Social Capital; Sustainability; Familiarity; Rural Areas; Mail Surveys; Values; Physical Health; Barriers; Well Being; Older Adults; Aging (Individuals); Rural Population; Rural Sociology; Community Influence; Social Environment; Public Policy; Comparative Analysis; Social Networks

Abstract:
Productive ageing recognises the contribution of older people to economic, social and cultural growth and helps build a sustainable community. Being involved in community life is good for individuals and good for society. However, we know very little about the participation of and contribution by people aged 50 and over in rural communities. This research aimed to develop a better understanding of productive ageing in different types of communities in rural Victoria, Australia. An anonymous self-complete postal questionnaire was distributed to a sample of households in twenty rural communities using the Australia Post Unaddressed Select Service. Those householders 50 years of age and older were invited to complete the survey. Data collected allowed examination of social and civic engagement, familiarity with community, the value placed on social relations by people aged 50 years and over, and how community involvement was linked to community sustainability. In particular it attempts to address the question "Does social and civic engagement differ across declining, stable and growing rural communities?" Despite differences among rural communities, this study showed that older people develop and maintain strong community connections and well-functioning social capital and that participation in social activities was associated with feelings of being connected with community. It also identified health issues and lack of options as the main constraints on participation. A key message for policy makers is that older people play an important role in the sustainability of rural communities. There is much to be gained from actively supporting their participation in activities that are connected to ageing well. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Student Attitudes; Age Differences; Foreign Countries; Technology Uses in Education; Cognitive Structures; College Students; Questionnaires; Student Surveys; Self Esteem; Learning Strategies; Mail Surveys; Use Studies; Educational Technology

Abstract:
Some past studies find that older students have more confidence in using technology for learning than younger students but some other studies find the opposite result. However, it is found that there are a few researches studying on the age difference in the perception of using technology for learning in Hong Kong. Therefore, the aim of the study is to examine the age difference of confidence in using technology for learning in the Hong Kong higher educational institutions. In this study, it employed a survey methodology to collect a total of 211 questionnaires from one of the universities in Hong Kong. The findings show that older students had more confidence in using technology for learning than younger students. (Contains 3 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Reputation; Journalism; Journalism Education; Accreditation (Institutions); Undergraduate Study; Academic Standards; Administrator Attitudes; Program Attitudes; Value Judgment; Mail Surveys; Online Surveys; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; Institutional Evaluation; Etiology

Abstract:
Accreditation is among various outside influences when developing an ideal journalism curriculum. The value of journalism accreditation standards for undergraduate programs has been studied and is still debated. This study discovers views of opinion leaders in U.S. journalism programs, as surveyed program directors give reasons for being accredited or not. The most important reason for schools with, or obtaining, accreditation is reputation enhancement. But many directors question accreditation's value. Some perceive the cap on journalism credits that students can take as a limitation of student development and a hindrance to responding to increasing media industry convergence. (Contains 1 table and 46 notes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Leadership; Data Collection; Evaluation Utilization; Information Utilization; Program Effectiveness; Classroom Techniques; Educational Practices; Use Studies; Praxis; Theory Practice Relationship; Barriers; Educational Policy; Educational Improvement; Improvement Programs; Program Attitudes; Change Strategies; Management Information Systems; Interviews; School Visitation; Mail Surveys; Focus Groups; Semi Structured Interviews; School Districts

Abstract:
In the present study, an examination is conducted in three school districts of how data are used to improve classroom practice. In doing so, we explore the effects that attitudes toward data, principal leadership, and computer data systems have on how data are used to affect classroom practice. Findings indicate that educators are ambivalent about data: they see how data could support classroom practice, but their data use operates in the presence of numerous barriers. Many of these barriers are due to principal leadership and computer data systems; these barriers often have negative effects on attitudes toward data and disrupt the progression from using data to inform classroom practice. It is hypothesized that many of these barriers can be removed through effective district policies to improve structures and supports for using data. (Contains 1 figure, 8 tables and 6 footnotes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Evidence; Graduates; Electronic Mail; Doctoral Degrees; Social Work; Effect Size; Psychologists; Marriage Counseling; Marriage; Mail Surveys; Comparative Analysis; Case Studies; Measures (Individuals); Masters Degrees; Family Counseling; Counseling Techniques

Abstract:
This article describes the results from a large, cross-sectional survey of social workers, psychologists, and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) in Texas (N = 865) regarding their orientation toward and implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP). All social workers were recruited by e-mail using the state NASW Listserv (analysis was limited to master's level social workers), whereas 500 psychologists and LMFTs were randomly selected from the state licensing lists for a postal mail survey. The Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale-Short Version was used, along with 10 background/demographic questions. Psychologists with doctoral degrees reported, on average, stronger orientations toward the EBP process than did social workers with master's degrees, but the effect sizes for these differences were typically weak to moderate. Social workers and LMFTs were, for most comparisons, similar in their orientations toward the EBP process. More recent social work graduates had more favorable views of the EBP process than less recent graduates. The results suggest that although the EBP process is not yet widely implemented in its entirety, there are grounds for optimism about master's level social workers' engagement in that process and for their increased utilization of research. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Online Courses; Introductory Courses; Sociology; Achievement Rating; Achievement Gains; Intermode Differences; Electronic Learning; Conventional Instruction; Quasiexperimental Design; Participant Satisfaction; Delivery Systems; Predictor Variables; Regression (Statistics); Teaching Methods; Distance Education; Best Practices; Mail Surveys; Student Attitudes

Abstract:
This study uses a quasi-experimental design to assess differences in student performance and satisfaction across online and face-to-face (F2F) classroom settings. Data were collected from 368 students enrolled in three online and three F2F sections of an introductory-level sociology course. The instructor, course materials, and assessments were consistent between the two delivery formats. The investigators compare student satisfaction and student performance on midterm exams and an integrating data analysis assignment. Ordinary least squares regression is used to evaluate the effect of the different course settings, independent of a number of demographic and control variables. Results indicate that differences in student performance between the two settings may be accounted for by the presence of a selection effect and that student satisfaction does not significantly differ across the two settings. These findings are interpreted to mean that when online courses are designed using pedagogically sound practices, they may provide equally effective learning environments. (Contains 4 tables and 7 notes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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