Clarification Questions Research Articles

A hearer-based analysis of Turkish–Azerbaijani receptive multilingual communication

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions:Receptive multilingualism (RM), a mode of multilingual communication in which speakers of different languages use their own native language to communicate and still understand each other, is considered to be a relatively under-investigated area in multilingual research. This paper examines features of Turkish–Azerbaijani RM and, focusing on a hearer-based analysis, looks into strategies applied for achieving understanding in the receptive multilingual communication (RMC).Design/Methodology/Approach:The study is carried out within the conceptual framework of RM.Data and Analysis:Authentic data obtained from oral communication between an Azerbaijani and a Turkish native speaker are analyzed and a post-interview was conducted with the participants in order to investigate to what extent they were able to understand each other in the RMC and what strategies they applied to achieve understanding.Findings/Conclusions:The study reveals that the Turkish and Azerbaijani participants could communicate with each other in RM mode without much difficulty thanks to the typological proximity of their languages. In a few instances in which lack of understanding occurred, the participants were found to apply strategies such as asking questions for clarification, conveying confirmation, repeating, rephrasing, resorting to their lexical and world knowledge as well as utilizing the let-it-pass strategy.Originality and Significance/Implications:The significance of the study is twofold: first, it demonstrates that RMC between Turkish and Azerbaijani can be utilized as an alternative to lingua franca communication; and second, the study expands the taxonomy of hearer-based strategies in RMC.

Oogenesis and reproductive investment of Atlantic herring are functions of not only present but long-ago environmental influences as well

Following general life history theory, immediate reproductive investment (egg mass × fecundity/body mass) in oviparous teleosts is a consequence of both present and past environmental influences. This clarification questions the frequent use of season-independent (general) fecundity formulas in marine fish recruitment studies based on body metrics only. Here we test the underlying assumption of no lag effect on gametogenesis in the planktivorous, determinate-fecundity Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) displaying large plasticity in egg mass and fecundity, examining Norwegian summer-autumn spawning herring (NASH), North Sea autumn-spawning herring (NSAH), and Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NSSH). No prior reproductive information existed for NASH. Compared with the 1960s, recent reproductive investment had dropped markedly, especially for NSAH, likely reflecting long-term changes in zooplankton biography and productivity. As egg mass was characteristically small for autumn spawners, although large for spring spawners (cf. different larval feeding conditions), fecundity was the most dynamic factor within reproductive investment. For the data-rich NSSH, we showed evidence that transient, major declines in zooplankton abundance resulted in low fecundity over several subsequent seasons, even if Fulton's condition factor (K) turned high. Temporal trends in Kslope (K on total length) were, however, informative. These results clarify that fecundity is defined by (i) dynamics of primary (standing stock) oocytes and (ii) down-regulation of secondary oocytes, both processes intimately linked to environmental conditions but operating at different timescales. Thus, general fecundity formulas typically understate interannual variability in actual fecundity. We therefore argue for the use of segmented fecundity formulas linked to dedicated monitoring programs.

How are questions that students ask in high level mathematics classes linked to general giftedness?

This paper presents a part of a larger study, in which we asked “How are learning and teaching of mathematics at high level linked to students’ general giftedness?” We consider asking questions, especially student-generated questions, as indicators of quality of instructional interactions. In the part of the study presented in this paper, we explore instructional interactions in two high-school classes for mathematically promising students with specific focus on questions that students ask. The first class included generally gifted students (IQ ≥130) who were motivated to study mathematics at a high level (hereafter, a gifted class), and the second class included students characterized by high motivation regardless of their IQs (hereafter, motivation class). We analysed questions asked by the students during algebra and geometry lessons. Two types of questions are considered: elaboration and clarification. We found that students in a gifted class mostly asked elaboration questions, whereas students in a motivation class mostly asked clarification questions. We connect the revealed inclination to ask elaboration questions with intellectual curiosity that characterizes generally gifted students. Accordingly, we suggest that in classes of students who are motivated to study mathematics at high level, students who are generally gifted may create mathematical discourse of higher quality. We also argue that the identified differences in students’ questions observed in classes of different types are not only student-dependent (i.e. depend on the students’ levels of general giftedness) but can also be teacher-related and content-related.

Postoperative patients’ perspectives on rating pain: A qualitative study

BackgroundIn postoperative pain treatment patients are asked to rate their pain experience on a single uni-dimensional pain scale. Such pain scores are also used as indicator to assess the quality of pain treatment. However, patients may differ in how they interpret the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score. ObjectivesThis study examines how patients assign a number to their currently experienced postoperative pain and which considerations influence this process. MethodsA qualitative approach according to grounded theory was used. Twenty-seven patients were interviewed one day after surgery. ResultsThree main themes emerged that influenced the Numeric Rating Scale scores (0–10) that patients actually reported to professionals: score-related factors, intrapersonal factors, and the anticipated consequences of a given pain score. Anticipated consequences were analgesic administration—which could be desired or undesired—and possible judgements by professionals. We also propose a conceptual model for the relationship between factors that influence the pain rating process. Based on patients’ score-related and intrapersonal factors, a preliminary pain score was “internally” set. Before reporting the pain score to the healthcare professional, patients considered the anticipated consequences (i.e., expected judgements by professionals and anticipation of analgesic administration) of current Numeric Rating Scale scores. ConclusionsThis study provides insight into the process of how patients translate their current postoperative pain into a numeric rating score. The proposed model may help professionals to understand the factors that influence a given Numeric Rating Scale score and suggest the most appropriate questions for clarification. In this way, patients and professionals may arrive at a shared understanding of the pain score, resulting in a tailored decision regarding the most appropriate treatment of current postoperative pain, particularly the dosing and timing of opioid administration.

Improving cancer patients' knowledge about totally implantable access port: a randomized controlled trial.

Providing patients with written information about totally implantable access ports (TIAPs) is recommended during the pre-implantation period to reduce anxiety and to help recalling information. No study tested the effectiveness of information about TIAP neither with oral communication nor with booklets. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an information booklet, alone or together with answers to clarification questions, both in improving patients' short- and long-time knowledge about TIAP and in decreasing patients' physiological indicators of anxiety immediately after TIAP implantation. This is a randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups: group A (n = 34) receiving only the booklet, group B (n = 34) receiving the booklet with answers to clarification questions, and group C (n = 37) receiving routine care. After 3 months, pair comparisons revealed a significant improvement in knowledge of TIAP in each group (p < 0.001), together with a significant difference in group C compared with groups A (p < 0.001) and B (p < 0.001), similar to each other. Physiological indicators of anxiety decreased in the intervention groups compared to control group immediately after TIAP implantation. The interventions provided resulted effective in decreasing patients' physiological indicators of anxiety immediately after TIAP implantation and improving patients' knowledge about TIAP immediately and at 3 months. Adding answers to clarification questions to the booklet was not more effective than the booklet alone. A well-designed booklet with attention both to scientific content and to communication techniques is useful in improving patients' knowledge about TIAP and reducing anxiety.

Content and Rationale of Junior and Senior Preceptors Responding to Residents' Educational Needs Revisited

Theory: Feedback and debriefing, as portrayed in expertise development and self-assessment, play critical roles in providing residents with useful information to foster their progress. Hypotheses: Prior work has shown that clinical preceptors' use of conceptual frameworks (CFs; ways of thinking based on theories, best practices, or models) while giving feedback to residents was positively associated with a greater diversity of responses. Also, senior preceptors produced more responses, used more CFs, and asked more probing-challenging questions than junior preceptors. The purpose was to confirm the generalization of these initial findings with a broader and better defined sample of preceptors. Method: We conducted a mixed-method study with 20 junior and 20 senior preceptors in a controlled environment to analyze their responses and rationales to residents' educational needs as portrayed in 6 written vignettes. The preceptors were recruited from 3 primary care specialties preceptors (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) of the 3 French-speaking faculties of medicine in Québec, Canada. Results: The preceptors increased the 2012 list of response topics (96 to 126) and doubled the number of distinct CFs (16 to 32). The junior and senior preceptors expressed the same number and diversity of CFs. On average, senior preceptors asked more clarification questions and reflected more than juniors on the learning process that occurs during case discussions. Preceptor specialty and prior training in medical education did not influence the number and diversity of responses and CFs, except that preceptors with prior training generated more responses per vignette and were more reflective. Senior preceptors had a stronger positive relationship between the number of total and distinct CFs and the number of responses than the juniors. Conclusions: Although senior preceptors did not give more responses or use more CFs compared to the prior study, they continue to probe residents more and reflected more. The positive relationship between responses and CFs has important implications for faculty development and calls for more research to better understand the specific contribution of CFs to feedback.

An Examination of Language Practices During Mother-Child Play Activities Among Mexican Immigrant Families

We examined the language practices of five mother-child dyads during a structured play activity, particularly in relation to maternal question use. The study includes second-generation, 4-year-old children of Mexican immigrants who demonstrate either high vocabulary levels in English and Spanish or low levels of vocabulary in both languages. Examination of field notes, videotapes, and transcriptions yielded differences in maternal use of perceptual and conceptual questions between children with high and low vocabulary. Children with higher English/Spanish vocabulary profiles experience greater variety in the form of perceptual questions that produce abstract child responses, are more likely to experience clarification or explanation questions, and have greater opportunity to lead during extended exchanges.

SOCIETY ACTIONS

SOCIETY ACTIONS

Portugues

study aims to examine the criteria used by students of Physical Education UNIDAVI, for the same choice. We propose a reflection so we suggest choosing the Bachelor Degree or, taking into consideration all necessary for proper and worried about the future professional teacher training priorities, without forgetting the orientation in life in society for the common good. The students of Physical Education UNIDAVI be searched - University for Development of Alto Vale do Itajai, where a semi-structured interview questions prepared in advance will be made according LAVILLE (. 1999, p 333) semi-structured interview is series of open questions asked orally in an expected order, but in which the interviewer has the possibility of adding questions for clarification. This study will have completed its development in 2015. Physical education has been characterized in recent times by the scope and ramifications of attractive jobs. The great supporter of the career choice of many young people's sport, but the physical training, physical activity focused on the health and quality of life, are the reasons for choosing the professional branch. In another aspect, a career school teacher seems to be a more stable monthly financial choice of employment. Given all that, many young people are at the doors of the labor market and so many others in more difficult circumstances, are forced to choose since the vestibular their academic and professional option, with concerns about the size and diversity involving both professional licensure as baccalaureate. The demands in the labor market beyond the borders of the undergraduate course and traverse the path of continuing education to stay alive in the working world.

Teacher and Student Questions: A Case Study in Malaysian Secondary School Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) promotes high order questioning and stimulates student thinking, thus playing an important role in preparing students to face real-world challenges. Yet, PBL is an uncommon instructional strategy in Malaysian secondary school science classrooms. Occurrence of questioning in the traditional spoon-feeding classroom is low. Thus, the PBL model adapted from Barrows has been introduced. This article investigates whether PBL is able to promote high order questioning and thinking in the Malaysian science classroom. A PBL class with 1 teacher and 17 students divided into 4 groups was observed, video-and audio-recorded, and the verbatim were analysed. Questions are categorized into high order, low order, eliciting ideas, and evaluating ideas questions. Findings show that the percentage of student questions is 67.9% while for teacher questions is 32.1%. The amount of student questions per hour is relatively high at 8.2 questions per student. Nearly half of the classroom questions are low order questions (47.9%), such as clarification, verification, concept completion, disjunctive, definition, example, quantification, and feature specification questions. High order questions consist of 16.3%, which include causal antecedent, causal consequence, goal orientation, comparison, enablement, and reflective questions. Eliciting ideas questions raised by the teacher cover 8.8% while evaluating ideas questions by students cover 27.1%. This study shows that the PBL environment promotes active learning, student thinking, and questioning in the Malaysian science classroom. However, student and teacher questions should be enhanced to be at higher order level. Several suggestions to extend low order questions into high order questions are discussed in this paper.

The effects of age and delay on responses to repeated questions in forensic interviews with children alleging sexual abuse.

We examined transcripts of forensic interviews with 115 children aged between 3 and 12 years, interviewed between 1 day and 18 months after allegedly experiencing a single incident of sexual abuse. Repeated questions were categorized with respect to the reasons why interviewers asked questions again, how interviewers asked repeated questions, and how children responded. On average, interviewers asked 3 repeated questions per interview. As age increased, the frequency of question repetition declined but there was no association between repetition and delay. Interviewers most often repeated questions for clarification (53.1%), but questions were also repeated frequently to challenge children's previous responses (23.7%), and for no apparent reason (20.1%). In response, children typically repeated (54.1%) or elaborated on (31.5%) their previous answers; they contradicted themselves less often (10.8%). Questions repeated using suggestive prompts were more likely to elicit contradictions. There was no association between age or delay and the reasons why questions were repeated, how they were repeated, and how children responded. These findings emphasize the importance of training forensic interviewers to repeat questions only when the children or interviewers seek clarification and to encourage children who are anxious or reluctant to disclose. All repeated questions should be open-ended and interviewers should explain to children why questions are being repeated.

Clarification Question Generation for Speech Recognition Error Recovery Using Monolingual SMT

Clarification dialogue is an efficient and direct way of handling speech recognition errors in speech interface applications. In this paper we present a new approach to Clarification Question (CQ) generation. Monolingual phrase-based SMT (PB-SMT) framework is introduced to generate robust and flexible CQs. A parallel corpus from simulated error to manually annotated CQ is established and used for training the model. A new type of generalized phrase pair is expanded from conventional translation phrase table. Combining both generalized and conventional phrase pairs, a two-step decoding process is carried out to generate CQs. Both manually and automatic metrics are used to evaluate the quality of generated CQs. Experimental results show that our method can effectively generate reasonable CQs form miss-recognized utterances, and generated CQs can be used to prompt a clarification dialogue for error handling.

167PS Setting New Horizons In Optimizing Guideline Utility

BackgroundTo maximise uptake, CPG recommendations must avoid of bias and be responsive to the needs of clinicians and patients from different populations and settings.Objectives/GoalTo discuss three key challenges to CPG...

Golimumab for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis After the Failure of Previous Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: A NICE Single Technology Appraisal

As part of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) single technology appraisal (STA) process, the manufacturer of golimumab (Simponi(®); Merck Sharp & Dohme, USA) was invited to submit evidence for its clinical and cost effectiveness for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after the failure of previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The School of Health and Related Research Technology Appraisal Group (ScHARR-TAG) at The University of Sheffield was commissioned to act as the independent Evidence Review Group (ERG). This article provides details of the manufacturer's initial submission, the ERG's clarification questions and the ERG report submitted to NICE. The decision made by NICE is provided alongside a brief comment on additional results produced from an additional analysis requested by NICE on behalf of the Committee. The ERG produced a critical review of the evidence for the clinical and cost effectiveness of the technology based on upon the manufacturer's submission to NICE. The clinical evidence was derived from three randomized controlled trials of golimumab in the treatment of moderate to severe RA: GO-FORWARD and Kay et al. (DMARD-experienced population) and GO-AFTER (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α inhibitor-experienced population). The ERG considered that the trials were of reasonable methodological quality and measured a clinically relevant range of outcomes. The trials for golimumab, as well as comparator treatments, were synthesized using mixed-treatment comparison methods for the DMARD-experienced population and an indirect comparison using the Bucher method for the TNF-α inhibitor-experienced population. The trials used were appropriate, although no definitive judgement regarding the comparative efficacy of golimumab with other biologics was possible. The manufacturer provided a DMARD-experienced population model and a TNF-α inhibitor-experienced population model. The models allowed sequences of treatments to be evaluated for each population, although a fully incremental analysis between the use of golimumab following DMARD failure and the use of golimumab following TNF-α inhibitor failure was not possible. Several limitations with the model were identified, and after a request from NICE and suspension of the appraisal, the manufacturer submitted sensitivity analyses with an additional American College of Rheumatology 70 % improvement criteria (ACR70) health state included, using SF-36 data directly from the GO-FORWARD study. The annual rate of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score increase for patients receiving palliative treatment was also changed from 0.09 to 0.06. The further analyses provided highlighted the particular sensitivity of the results to HAQ progression rates and the re-administration frequency for rituximab in the TNF-α inhibitor-experienced population. The Appraisal Committee concluded that golimumab should be recommended in combination with methotrexate as an option for patients with severe active RA who have failed on conventional DMARDs, or who have failed on a TNF-α inhibitor and are contraindicated to or withdrawn from rituximab.

Teach Students What They Don’t Know but Are Ready to Learn

We were thrilled to see an article focusing on giftedness, written by such thoughtful and well-respected researchers as Subotnik, Olszewski-Kubilius, and Worrell (2011). The expansive scope of their synthesis is so impressive that it could serve as a crash course introduction to gifted education. In our commentary, we focus specifically on the perspective of education service delivery. From this perspective, we review their guiding principles, chief goal, and provide some follow-up questions for further clarification as well as an implementation option also based on talent development.

The Unbearable Vagueness of “Essence”: Forty-Four Clarification Questions for Gray, Young, and Waytz

The Unbearable Vagueness of “Essence”: Forty-Four Clarification Questions for Gray, Young, and Waytz

Call for Papers: Special Issue on Alternative Dispute Resolution for the Engineering and Construction Industry

Call for Papers: Special Issue on Alternative Dispute Resolution for the Engineering and Construction Industry

Poverty of stimulus and absence of cause: some questions for Felin and Foss

Abstract:We examine an aspect of the argument of Teppo Felin and Nicolai Foss (‘The Endogenous Origins of Experience, Routines, and Organizational Capabilities: The Poverty of Stimulus’; 2011) where they reject the claim of Geoffrey Hodgson and Thorbjørn Knudsen (‘Darwinism, Causality and the Social Sciences’; 2004) that habits depend crucially on stimuli from the social environment. We argue that while rightly stressing human agency they also create a false dichotomy between agential and environmental factors in the explanation. Felin and Foss create further confusion by hinting – without adequate clarification – at an untenable notion of human agency as an uncaused cause. We raise several questions of clarification for these authors.

Febuxostat for the Management of Hyperuricaemia in Patients with Gout

As part of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) single technology appraisal (STA) process, the manufacturer of febuxostat (Adenuric®; Ipsen, UK) was invited to submit evidence for the clinical and cost effectiveness of febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in patients with gout. The School of Health and Related Research Technology Appraisal Group (ScHARR-TAG) at the University of Sheffield were commissioned to act as the independent Evidence Review Group (ERG). This article provides details of the company's initial submission, the ERG's clarification questions and the ERG report submitted to NICE. The decision made by NICE is provided alongside a brief comment on additional results produced by a substantially different model, which were presented by the manufacturer after the production of the appraisal consultation document. The ERG produced a critical review of the evidence for the clinical evidence and cost effectiveness of the technology based upon the manufacturer's submission to NICE. The clinical evidence was derived from two head-to-head, phase III, multi-arm, randomized, double blind, controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of febuxostat with fixed-dose allopurinol (300/100 mg/day) in patients with hyperuricaemia and gout. The ERG considered that the trials were of reasonable methodological quality and measured a clinically relevant range of outcomes. Although a simple pooled analysis of the individual patient-level data from the two trials was undertaken, the statistical approach for combining the data was considered inappropriate by the ERG as it failed to preserve randomization and introduced bias and confounding. There was substantial uncertainty in the relationships reported by the manufacturer regarding serum uric acid levels and the incidence of gout flares and underlying patient utility. The mathematical model developed was flawed and was not corrected despite ERG comments. It focused only on patients receiving febuxostat (80 mg/day titrated to 120 mg/day if necessary) with fixed-dose allopurinol (300/100 mg/day). Sequential treatment was not modeled, nor was titrating allopurinol to 900 mg/day, which is regarded as best practice. Numerous other errors were identified, which included the uncertain price of febuxostat being sampled within the probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Supplementary exploratory modelling addressing the position of febuxostat where patients were intolerant or contraindicated to allopurinol was provided to the NICE Appraisal Committee following the release of the appraisal consultation document. The NICE Appraisal Committee concluded that febuxostat be recommended as an option for the management of chronic hyperuricaemia in gout only for people who are intolerant to allopurinol or for whom allopurinol is contraindicated.

Designing an interactive open-domain question answering system

AbstractInteractive question answering (QA), where a dialogue interface enables follow-up and clarification questions, is a recent although long-advocated field of research. We report on the design and implementation of YourQA, our open-domain, interactive QA system. YourQA relies on a Web search engine to obtain answers to both fact-based and complex questions, such as descriptions and definitions. We describe the dialogue moves and management model making YourQA interactive, and discuss the architecture, implementation and evaluation of its chat-based dialogue interface. Our Wizard-of-Oz study and final evaluation results show how the designed architecture can effectively achieve open-domain, interactive QA.