Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Com 275 Library Research (Dr. Spencer), Kim Ranger

Handouts

This handout was created for Dr. Spencer's COM 275 class and differs from the COM 275 General handout. This library research handout provides guidance on using Communications Source database, workspace for students to jot down concepts related to their research topic, and search tips.

Cmj 310 Advanced Reporting Techniques, Kim Ranger

Lesson Plans

This lesson plan centers on helping students move from a general thought or idea to a specific angle that has not yet been reported for a news article. Students will learn about resources in the Multimedia Journalism subject guide to help them find background material, research their topic in appropriate resources, and conduct fact-checking. An example topic is demonstrated using the Find It! search.

Criteria For Evaluating The Creativity Of Pedagogical Staff Of Higher Education Institutions, Sh. Kh. Pozilova

Central Asian Problems of Modern Science and Education

This article is devoted to the criteria for assessing the creative abilities of teachers in the system of advanced training. The purpose of the article is to determine the level of creativity of teachers according to the criteria of motivation, methodological knowledge and innovation

A Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Impact Of A Geo-Specific Poster Compared To A General Poster For Effecting Change In Perceived Threat And Intention To Avoid Drowning 'Hotspots' Among Children Of Migrant Workers: Evidence From Ningbo, China, Yinchao Zhu, Xiaoqi Feng, Hui Li, Yaqin Huang, Jieping Chen, Guozhang Xu

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background

Drowning among children of migrant workers is a major, though neglected public health issue in China.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial was used to examine the potential impact of viewing a preventive health poster with/without geo-located drowning events on perceptions of drowning risk among Chinese migrant children. A total of 752 children from three schools in Jiangbei district were selected by multi-stage sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 380) or control (n = 372). Multilevel models were used to analyse changes in responses to the following questions after viewing the assigned poster for 10 …

Gas Reservoir And Emission Modelling To Evaluate Gas Drainage To Control Tailgate Gas Concentrations And Fugitive Emissions, Dennis J. Black

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

The process of longwall coal extraction coal causes fractures in the overlying and underlying strata and these fractures become pathways for gas released from adjacent coal seams to flow into the mine workings and contaminate the ventilation air. If the rate of gas emission exceeds the diluting capacity of the ventilation air, the gas concentration will increase and exceed the statutory limit resulting in production delays.All potential gas sources within the planned mining area, including coal seams located above and below the working seam, should be identified and sufficient gas data collected and used to determine the specific gas emission …

"Get-Up" Study Rationale And Protocol: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effects Of Reduced Sitting On Toddlers' Cognitive Development, Rute Santos, Dylan P. Cliff, Steven J. Howard, Sanne Veldman, Ian M. R Wright, Eduarda Sousa-Sa, Joao R. Pereira, Anthony D. Okely

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background The educational and cognitive differences associated with low socioeconomic status begin early in life and tend to persist throughout life. Coupled with the finding that levels of sedentary time are negatively associated with cognitive development, and time spent active tends to be lower in disadvantaged circumstances, this highlights the need for interventions that reduce the amount of time children spend sitting and sedentary during childcare. The proposed study aims to assess the effects of reducing sitting time during Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services on cognitive development in toddlers from low socio-economic families. Methods/Design We will implement a …

Development And Validation Of A Method To Evaluate The Penetration Of Diesel Particulate Matter Through Respirator Filter Media, At Flow Rates Representative Of Moderate To Heavy Work, Kerrie Burton, Jane L. Whitelaw, Alison L. Jones, Brian Davies

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Poster presentation at The 18th International Conference of International Society for Respiratory Protection, 7-11 November 2016, Yokohama, Japan.

Leveraging Ongoing Research To Evaluate The Health Impacts Of South Africa's Salt Reduction Strategy: A Prospective Nested Cohort Within The Who-Sage Multicountry, Longitudinal Study, Karen E. Charlton, Lisa J. Ware, Elias Menyanu, Richard Berko Biritwum, Nirmala Naidoo, Chine Pieterse, Savathree (Lorna) Madurai, Jeannine Baumgartner, George A. Asare, Elizabeth Thiele, Aletta E. Schutte, Paul Kowal

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Introduction: Attempting to curb the rising epidemic of hypertension, South Africa implemented legislation in June 2016 mandating maximum sodium levels in a range of manufactured foods that contribute significantly to population salt intake. This natural experiment, comparing two African countries with and without salt legislation, will provide timely information on the impact of legislative approaches addressing the food supply to improve blood pressure in African populations. This article outlines the design of this ongoing prospective nested cohort study. Methods and analysis: Baseline sodium intake was assessed in a nested cohort of the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health …

Relational Conceptions Of Paternalism: A Way To Rebut Nanny-State Accusations And Evaluate Public Health Interventions, Stacy M. Carter, Vikki A. Entwistle, Miles Little

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives 'Nanny-state' accusations can function as powerful rhetorical weapons against interventions intended to promote public health. Public health advocates often lack effective rebuttals to these criticisms. Nanny-state accusations are largely accusations of paternalism. They conjure up emotive concern about undue governmental interference undermining peoples' autonomy. But autonomy can be understood in various ways. We outline three main conceptions of autonomy, argue that these that can underpin three different conceptions of paternalism, and consider implications for responses to nanny-state accusations and the assessment of public health interventions. Study design and methods Detailed conceptual analysis. Results The conceptions of paternalism implicit in …

A Systematic Review Protocol To Evaluate The Psychometric Properties Of Measures Of Function Within Adult Neurorehabilitation, Shannon Pike, Natasha A. Lannin, Anne Cusick, Kylie Wales, Lynne Turner-Stokes, Stephen Ashford

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Spasticity in the upper limb is common after acquired brain impairment and may have a significant impact on the ability to perform meaningful daily activities. Traditionally, outcome measurement in spasticity rehabilitation has focused on impairment, however, improvements in impairments do not necessarily translate to improvements in an individual's ability to perform activities or engage in life roles. There is an increasing need for outcome measures that capture change in activity performance and life participation. Methods/Design: We will conduct a systematic review of the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure upper limb functional outcomes (activity performance and participation) in …

Thinking About The Processes Used When Organisations Select And Evaluate Software: Operationalising Ict Evaluation Theory, Darren Skidmore, Linda Dawson

Associate Professor Linda Dawson

No abstract provided.

Goal-Free Evaluation: An Orientation For Foundations’ Evaluations, Brandon W. Youker, Allyssa Ingraham

The Foundation Review

· Goal-free evaluation (GFE), in program evaluation, is a model in which the official or stated program goals and objectives are withheld or screened from the evaluator.

· Several obstacles must be overcome in persuading foundations and programs to consider GFE as a viable option, because both tend to view goal attainment as intuitively and inextricably linked to evaluation.

· This article presents the case for GFE as a perspective that belongs in a foundation’s toolbox. In particular, this article demonstrates GFE’s actual use, highlights aspects of its methodology, and details its potential benefits.

Goal-Free Evaluation: A Potential Model For The Evaluation Of Social Work Programs, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is an evaluation model where the evaluator is deliberately kept from the stated (or implied) goals and objectives of the program; this is accomplished by appointing a screener to keep goal-related information from the goal-free evaluator. Screening the evaluator from program goals is designed to control bias inherent in goal-based evaluation (GBE), a bias that contaminates the evaluator’s ability to see the program’s true outcomes and true merit. Although GFE has been around for more than half a century, GBE continues to dominate evaluation practice and the literature on GFE remains sparse and highly theoretical. This article …

Predicting Avian Distributions To Evaluate Spatiotemporal Overlap With Locust Control Operations In Eastern Australia, Judit K. Szabo, Pamela J. Davy, Michael Hooper, Lee Astheimer

Dr Pamela Davy

Locusts and grasshoppers cause considerable economic damage to agriculture worldwide. The Australian Plague Locust Commission uses multiple pesticides to control locusts in eastern Australia. Avian exposure to agricultural pesticides is of conservation concern, especially in the case of rare and threatened species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probability of pesticide exposure of native avian species during operational locust control based on knowledge of species occurrence in areas and times of application. Using presence-absence data provided by the Birds Australia Atlas for 1998 to 2002, we developed a series of generalized linear models to predict avian occurrences …

The Abcs Of Gfe, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is the process of determining something’s merit intentionally without reference to its stated goals and objectives. The following PowerPoint presentation describes GFE and discusses preliminary attempts at operationalization. The video concludes with a lively discussion where audience members challenge Dr. Youker on GFE's feasibility and merit. . *This presentation is available at The Evaluation Center's website archived as an Evaluation Café presentation: http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/2012/11/goal-free-evaluation-an-analog-experiment-comparing-goal-free-evaluation-and-goal-based-evalation-utility/

Calculating Clinically Significant Change: Applications Of The Clinical Global Impressions (Cgi) Scale To Evaluate Client Outcomes In Private Practice, Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

The Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale is a therapist-rated measure of client outcome that has been widely used within the research literature. The current study aimed to develop reliable and clinically significant change indices for the CGI, and to demonstrate its application in private psychological practice. Following the guidelines developed by Clement, a file review was conducted of the authors’ first six years working in private practice. A reliable change on the CGI required the participants score to change by 2-points. Depending on the method used to calculate the clinical change indices, between 23% and 50% of the total participants …

Personal Empowerment: Strategies To Develop And Evaluate Interventions, Donald Iverson, T Sahay, F Ashbury

Don C. Iverson

No abstract provided.

Slides: Arctic Ecosystem Services Measurement And Modeling Project, Eric Biltonen

Best Management Practices (BMPs): What? How? And Why? (May 26)

Presenter: Eric Biltonen, PhD, Environment Economist, Houston Advanced Research Center

8 slides

Calculating Clinically Significant Change: Applications Of The Clinical Global Impressions (Cgi) Scale To Evaluate Client Outcomes In Private Practice, Peter Kelly

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale is a therapist-rated measure of client outcome that has been widely used within the research literature. The current study aimed to develop reliable and clinically significant change indices for the CGI, and to demonstrate its application in private psychological practice. Following the guidelines developed by Clement, a file review was conducted of the authors’ first six years working in private practice. A reliable change on the CGI required the participants score to change by 2-points. Depending on the method used to calculate the clinical change indices, between 23% and 50% of the total participants …

Using Demo To Evaluate And Enhance Schools Outreach Programs: An Example From The South Coast Of New South Wales, Kylie Austin, Jennifer Heath

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

The Design and Evaluation Matrix for Outreach (DEMO) was formulated from the research in the 'Interventions early in schools as a means to improve higher education outcomes for disadvantaged students', commissioned by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. DEMO is used to evaluate the University of Wollongong (UOW) and Department of Education and Training (DET) Year 10 Connect and Explore schools outreach program. The original version of this program was enhanced following frank evaluation by both partners - the University and liaisons from each of the secondary schools involved. The revised program combines aspects across four key strategies …

The Logic Of Evaluation And Not-For-Profit Arts Organizations: The Perspective Of An Evaluation Consultant, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

This article defines evaluation, describes the logic of evaluation and discusses evaluation as it pertains to not-for-profit arts organizations. The purpose is to explain to not-for-profit arts organizations how an evaluation consultant conceptualizes the task of program evaluation. The article is based on the perspective and experiences of a consultant who was contracted to assist in building the program monitoring and internal evaluation capacities of arts organizations. Understanding the basics of systematic evaluation will assist arts organizations in developing sound program monitoring and evaluation strategies and practices.

Predicting Avian Distributions To Evaluate Spatiotemporal Overlap With Locust Control Operations In Eastern Australia, Judit K. Szabo, Pamela J. Davy, Michael Hooper, Lee Astheimer

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Locusts and grasshoppers cause considerable economic damage to agriculture worldwide. The Australian Plague Locust Commission uses multiple pesticides to control locusts in eastern Australia. Avian exposure to agricultural pesticides is of conservation concern, especially in the case of rare and threatened species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probability of pesticide exposure of native avian species during operational locust control based on knowledge of species occurrence in areas and times of application. Using presence-absence data provided by the Birds Australia Atlas for 1998 to 2002, we developed a series of generalized linear models to predict avian occurrences …

A Numerical Approach To Evaluate The Fatigue Life Of Monolimb, Nian-Zhong Chen, Winson Lee, Ming Zhang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Monolimb refers to a transtibial prosthesis with the prosthetic socket and the shank being molded into one piece of thermoplastic material. Shank flexibility of a monolimb can improve gait and comfort. However, fatigue failure of monolimbs under cyclic walking load is an important concern. This study is to evaluate the fatigue life of a monolimb designed for a transtibial amputee, based on finite element analysis, the statistical Miner's rule and reliability analysis. Stress uncertainty due to modeling error and the scatter in fatigue test data were considered. Results indicated that the accuracy of fatigue life evaluation of monolimb depends significantly …

Consequence Of Competing And Complementary Evaluation Approaches: A Case Study., Brandon Youker, Chris Coryn, Daniela Schröter, Michelle Bakerson

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

A poster presentation demonstrating an evaluation of a summer school program for middle schoolers in which the evaluators divided into two teams and simultaneously evaluated the program. The first team examined the students' performance according to the program's ability to achieve stated goals while the second team intentionally avoided any knowledge of or reference to the stated goals and objectives throughout the entire evaluation. The two teams wrote separate reports and then a combined report.

Values Driven Evaluation, P. Cristian Gugiu, Nadini Persuad, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Values are the basis for defining what aspects of the evaluand should be considered meritous in a particular context. They are something which is in principle or quality intrinsically valuable or desirable. So in evaluation, factual premises describe performance, while value premises can be thought of as the qualities that, when converted to standards, determine the degree to which the performance was good or bad, worthwhile or worthless, and significant or insignificant. Value premises can be validated using commonsense or based on such things as the severity of needs, resource efficiency, legal requirements, professional requirements, and so on. There are …

Review Of The Evaluation Exchange, Volume Xi(1), Xi(2), And Xi(3), Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

The Evaluation Exchange is a free, online evaluation periodical (http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval.html) published by the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) three or four times annually. It is aimed at addressing issues that program evaluators frequently encounter. The journal emphasizes innovative methods and approaches to evaluation, emerging trends in practice, and practical applications of evaluation theory. It is designed to serve as a medium for evaluators, program practitioners, funders, and policymakers.

Values And Goal-Free Evaluation: A Case Study, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

How does a goal-free evaluator deal with values? Which values? Whose values? This presentation argues that the goal-free evaluator takes a consumerist perspective. Thus the evaluator's values are in serving the program's consumers and satisfying the consumers' needs.

International Association For Impact Assessment, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines impact assessment as “the process of identifying the future consequences of current or proposed action.” “IAIA is a forum for advancing innovation, development and communication of best practice in impact assessment. Its international membership promotes development of local and global capacity for the application of environmental assessment in which sound science and full public participation provide a foundation for equitable and sustainable development.”

Ethnography And Evaluation: Their Relationship And Three Anthropological Models Of Evaluation, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

This paper examines the relationship between ethnographic research methods and evaluation theory and methodology. It is divided into two main sections: (a) ethnography in evaluation and (b) anthropological models of evaluation. Three levels of the leading anthropological models of evaluation are summarized, which include responsive evaluation, goal-free evaluation, and constructivist evaluation. In conclusion, (a) there is no consensual definition of ethnography; (b) in many circumstances, ethnographic evaluation models may be beneficial; and (c) ethnography can be used in evaluation but requires a high level of analysis to transform ethnographic data into useful information for eliciting an evaluative conclusion.

The Evaluation Exchange--Harvard Family Research Project, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) was founded by the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1983. The HFRP aims to help strengthen family, school, and community partnerships of early childhood care and education; promote evaluation and accountability; and offer professional development to those who work with children and/or their families. The project has aided philanthropies, policymakers, and practitioners by collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing research and information. HFRP publishes the journal The Evaluation Exchange.