Current Students Research Articles

The Relationship Between Psychosocial Factors and Student Success in Athletic Training Students

Context Many athletic training programs are not meeting accreditation standards involving measures of student success, causing programs to be noncompliant with these standards and showing current and prospective students that their program may not prepare them for a successful career. Studies have shown that psychosocial factors, including psychological needs and measures of student motivation, may be related to student success. Objective To examine the relationships between psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), measures of student motivation (controlled and autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, and academic and athletic trainer identity), and measures of student success (persistence, intention to leave, perceived academic performance, and grade point average [GPA]) in athletic training students. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Entry-level master’s athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants Ninety-seven current entry-level master’s athletic training students who held a noncertified student National Athletic Trainers’ Association membership in 2020. Data Collection and Analysis Responses to surveys were estimated using a path model, in which 4 measures of student success were specified to be predicted by psychological needs directly and indirectly through measures of student motivation. Results Persistence was positively predicted by autonomy and autonomous motivation. Intention to leave was positively predicted by controlled motivation. Perceived academic performance was positively predicted by competence and autonomous motivation. Finally, GPA was predicted positively by academic identity and negatively by athletic trainer identity. Findings also showed an indirect relationship between competence and GPA through academic identity. Overall, findings showed that autonomy, competence, autonomous motivation, and academic identity were important predictors of student success. Conclusion(s) Athletic training students should be provided opportunities to practice athletic training skills and knowledge and to make choices regarding patient care in real-life situations and regarding their learning environment. These opportunities for independence may result in greater autonomy, competence, autonomous motivation, and academic identity, and, in turn, greater student success.

Students’ Identification with Political and Ideological Theory Course at Chinese Universities: The Mediating Role of Emotional Experiences

This study aims to investigate the current status of college students’ identification with ideological and political theory courses (IPTC) in Chinese universities, as well as to explore the role of emotional experiences in the relationship between course cognition and course identification. Data were collected through the Curriculum Cognition Scale, the Positive-Negative Emotional Experiences Scale, and the Curriculum Identification Scale, and a total of 1,356 students from 10 different colleges and universities in China participated in the survey. Pearson correlation analysis, regression analysis and mediation effect analysis were used to analyze the data obtained. The results showed that the current Chinese university students’ identification with IPTC is at a moderately high level, both course cognition and emotional experiences have a significant positive effect on course identification, negative emotional experiences have a significant negative effect on course identification, and both positive and negative emotional experiences partially mediate between course cognition and course identification. The findings are discussed with the available relevant literature and suggestions were presented.

Challenges for flexible distance learning professional acoustics education

A fully flexible, distance learning program comprising a number of modules has been available for those entering the acoustics consulting industry for over a decade. The flexibility requested by the association for the Australasian Acoustical Consultants (AAACs), means each of the modules can be commenced at any time and there are no firm deadlines for completion. The program has been very successful with satisfied students and employers. Clearly there is a great benefit for such flexibility as the industry does not recruit new staff at times that fit the University semester system. Hence, other options such as a microcredential approach are not always suitable. Also the students are able to adjust their progress in accordance with the varying work pressures of consultancies. However, the open approach means that there are challenges for the management of the program. These include always being available for processing new applications, supporting and guiding current students, undertaking the marking as well as updating the content, assignments and tests. This paper will discuss the challenges and the changes that have had to be made and those that will need to be introduced to ensure the long term viability of the program.

치위생학 학제일원화를 위한 인식조사 분석

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of dental hygiene professors, current students, and dental hygienists about interdisciplinary unification.
 Methods: This study The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics, specific opinions on academic unification. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA.
 Results: The proportion of professors, 64.5% of dental hygienists, and 61.4% of students in favor of dental hygiene (majors) and academic unification was 84.0% (p<0.001). Regarding student competencies during the four-year transition, the overall mean for competencies was 4.09 for professors, 3.69 for students, and 3.51 for dental hygienists (p<0.001).
 Conclusions: Curriculum standardization is necessary for systematic and professional education in dental hygiene.

Influencing factors on women in connection with engineering in New Zealand: a triad of lenses

There is a considerable lack of women in the engineering disciplines at tertiary level in New Zealand. This is an economic issue because innovation and creativity in engineering are supported by diversity which directly and indirectly supports the New Zealand economy. Improving diversity in engineering will also improve equity. Literature suggests that parents, teachers, students’ self-perception, their beliefs, and stereotypical views influence girls’ career selection. Despite the vast number of studies in the international literature regarding the influencing factors on women’s career selection in engineering, this comprehensive study for the first time investigates the factors that contribute to women’s interest in studying engineering in New Zealand. The researchers explored these influencing factors from three lenses; future teachers of children aged 11–13 years, current engineering students and high school students. They found that participants held very strong stereotypical views about engineers, that barriers to selection of engineering pathway for females included a lack of career and subject choice guidance available to students at school, lack of promotion of the profession, and society’s perception of engineers as being masculine. It also found that experiences throughout their lives can steer girls away from a career in engineering.

A STUDY ON THE LEARNER AUTONOMY IN LEARNING ENGLISH TO CHINESE EFL STUDENTS IN SHANDONG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VOCATIONAL COLLEGE

In the context of learner autonomy, this study adopts mixed qualitative and quantitative research to investigate the EFL students’ autonomy in learning English at Shandong Institute of Science and Technology Vocational College, with the two research questions: (1) What is the current status of the autonomy in English language learning among Chinese EFL students in higher vocational institutions? (2)What are the main factors that affect the learner autonomy in learning English of EFL students in Chinese higher vocational institutions? With the stratified sampling method, one-hundred twenty-five sophomore students were randomlyselected from five majors to complete the close-ended questionnaire and 15 students among them were selected to participate in the focus-group interview. With a recovery rate of 92.8%, 125 pieces of the questionnaire were distributed and 116 pieces were valid. The data analysis tool adopts SPSS and thematic analysis. This study finds that the current EFL students have a relatively low level of autonomy in learning English and from the four dimensions of learner autonomy, the sociocultural dimension (M=2.87) is the lowest, compared to other three dimensions: political-philosophical (M=2.96), technical (M=2.99), psychological (M=3.21). The data from the focus group interviews presents the finding that students lack guidance from teachers to engage in autonomous learning. The personal correlation coefficient reflects that English teachers’ role is the largest factor in affecting students’ level of autonomy learning in English. Such findings recommend that English teachers in higher vocational institutions should notice their importance in the cultivation of learner autonomy in their students and adopt student-centred teaching based on learner autonomy.

Evaluating universities Twitter web pages responding to the Black Lives Matter movement

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in May 2020, many colleges and universities responded by making statements on their website and social media channels condemning racism. Higher education institutions began initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for faculty, staff, administrators, and students on campus. Three years later, this study investigates whether universities are still offering and promoting workshops, classes, events, and activities related to DEI to campus communities. To do so, the researchers conducted a content analysis on Twitter categorizing tweets over a one-month period, then they classified the Tweets using the top 10 colleges in the U.S. News & World Report published in 2021. Tweets were categorized by the authors with the following classifications: equality and diversity, academics, campus life, faculty and student research, campus upgrades, administrative information, community service, and others. The researchers discovered that all categories were utilized to engage current students and to attract potential new students. The faculty and student research category was tweeted the most by universities over the one month of Twitter classification. Even though the category of “diversity, equality and inclusion” was not the most tweeted category, it was still frequently utilized as higher education institutions strongly highlighted content and information related to DEI initiatives.

Professional Competencies of Canadian LIS Graduates

This study aims to determine current competencies necessary for graduates of Canadian library and information science (LIS) programs. Perspectives from different communities of interest, including current students and graduates from LIS programs, staff and employers of LIS graduates, and library school faculty (full-time and contingent) from across Canada were gathered via a nationally disseminated survey in 2023. Competency areas include general skills as well as communication, user services, management, and technology. Early findings suggest the importance of established areas of practice, such as selecting and evaluating resources, while emergent areas of priority were also identified, including the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and understanding the responsibilities of libraries in decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation efforts.

STEAM Display Path for Tourism Management in Era of Industry 4.0

INTRODUCTION: Tourism management is a critical factor in developing quality human resources. Establishing a scientific and practical system to assess the quality of tourism management and identify and improve problems in tourism management is essential to ensure the quality of tourism management and realize human development goals. OBJECTIVES: In order to solve the current problems of China's tourism management, such as weak teachers, STEAM being too "soft," and leadership being too "hard," the concept of STEAM distance learning, literature analysis and other research methods are proposed, and the quality assessment system of tourism management for the bachelor's degree in tourism management is researched in the standard documents of education and management and related literature. METHODS: Established through interviews with qualified experts, tourism teachers, tourism professionals and others. Factor analysis was used to adjust the system of indicators for tourism students and define an evaluation system consisting of level 1 and corresponding level 2 indicators to determine the weights of the indicators. RESULTS: The results show that students are satisfied with "average" internships. The lowest level of satisfaction was with the "evaluation of the training process," but this indicator was the highest. Further analysis of the results suggests insufficient investment in professional practice in tourism management. CONCLUSION: This paper argues that the empirical research and analysis of the current tourism management students can be used to understand the accurate evaluation of tourism management activities based on the solution of the existing problems to improve students' innovative and practical abilities.

Prospective Physician Assistant Student Perspectives on an In-Person vs. Virtual Admissions Interview Process.

The pandemic strained many usual methods of communication and training, forcing changes to selection processes for health professions programs. The purpose of this study was to determine, through interviewee feedback, the effectiveness of a virtual interview process when compared with a previous in-person interview process at one physician assistant (PA) program. During the pandemic, the PA program adapted to a virtual holistic interview process to include interaction with current students and faculty. The effectiveness of the virtual platform was measured comparatively using the program's existing interviewee evaluation format for previous in-person experiences. Prepandemic data showed high ratings from interviewees regarding the interview process. Intrapandemic data suggest an interview process can be duplicated in a virtual format without compromising experience and goals of the program. Through virtual interviews during a pandemic, the PA program mirrored the effectiveness of their previous in-person experience.

Applicability of Theoretical and Practical Entrepreneurial Training and Development Programs for Start-ups

The main aim of the study is to find the gap between expectations and perceptions of entrepreneurial students regarding the service quality of the Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP) they are enrolled at the idea-GYM, Central University of Technology in the Free State Province, South Africa. Expectations of a customer or a student refer to the beliefs about a service delivered by a company or institution as a standard or reference point against which the performance of the service received afterwards is judged. Knowing what the customer or student expects is a very important departure point in overall service delivery process. Customer perceived value is all about the quality service received and the satisfaction levels around the received service. Satisfaction is generally the broader concept, while service quality is focused specifically on the service delivery dimensions. A stratified random sampling technique was used to collect the data from the EDP students on the program of 2021 and 2022. Students completed the questionnaire on expectations before they started with the EDP program and then after the last session of the program, they completed the perception questionnaire. The results indicated that there were differences between the expectations and perceptions of the students related specifically to empathy and tangible dimensions of service quality. There were some significant differences between the expectations and perceptions of the students towards the service quality of the EDP which in most cases the perceptions were higher than what they expected beforehand from the program. Research limitations: The data was only collected from the current students attending the EDP program in 2021 and 2022. Moreover, the study focused only on the EDP program and the content within the program. The research methodology of this study is based on a pre-evaluation (expectations of the EDP program) and a post-evaluation (perceptions of the EDP program) after they were done with the content of the program.

Cyberbullying and Depression among Chinese Youth

Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to harass, insult, or cause harm to a person via the Internet. Cyberbullying has become more prevalent in todays society, and young people who experience it frequently feel isolated and helpless, potentially contributing to the rising rate of depression. However, little research has been conducted on the depression caused by cyberbullying among Chinese high school students. Therefore, this study focuses on the current state of depression among Chinese high school students and its correlation with age, gender, and city level. The questionnaire used was a modified Chinese version of the CES-D scale and was distributed via social media to 184 current Chinese high school students from various regions. After conducting a pilot study, the language of the Chinese version of the CES-D scale has been adjusted to become more understandable for students. Participants filled out an online questionnaire, and SPSS was used to analyse the data. Male students have a slightly lower average total depression score (M = 62.74) than female students (M = 65.71). There was no correlation between gender and student depression. Furthermore, there is no significant correlation between school location and depression levels (p = 0.084, p > 0.05). In addition, the overall Pearson correlation score indicates that depression and age are correlated with a weak association of 0.178 and a significance of 0.016 (p = 0.016, p < 0.05).

217 Attitudes towards Physician-Assisted Dying among medical students in an Irish medical school

Abstract Background Physician-Assisted Dying (PAD) is a controversial topic, particularly among medical practitioners, While PAD is currently illegal in Ireland, it has been legalised in several European countries. It is likely PAD will become an increasingly contentious issue as current medical students progress through their training and over the course of their future careers. Methods This project comprised of a fully anonymised survey (using the platform Qualtrics), exploring Trinity College Dublin (TCD) medical students’ attitudes towards PAD. All TCD medical students, aged 18 and above, were invited to take part in the online survey. The survey included thirteen questions, addressing student: sex, age, stage of medical training, exposure to geriatric medicine rotations, opinions on training in relation to PAD, and overall attitude to PAD. A participation information leaflet containing a link & QR code to the survey was distributed to students at lectures. An email inviting students to take part in the study was also circulated. Consent was implied by completion of the survey. Results 200 students completed the survey. 119/200 (59.5%) of students were in favour of PAD, 53/200 (26.5%) were unsure, and 28/200 (14%) were opposed to PAD. Only 42/200 (21.%) students felt that their medical training adequately prepared them for potential discussions with patients about PAD The majority of students (31/37) who had completed rotations in Gerontology also felt that they were not adequately prepared for such discussions. 173/200 students feel that additional medical training related to PAD is warranted. Conclusion The majority of TCD medical students, across all genders, year of training and age groups, were in favour of PAD. Most students feel that their medical training does not prepare them for potential discussions about PAD in the future. Those who had clinical rotations in Gerontology did not feel more prepared for future discussions regarding PAD, suggesting the need for more formal teaching on the subject.

Circular economy in aquaculture: the perspectives of aspiring future operators

PurposeThis study investigates the views of Italian aquaculture production science students, in their role of future operators, on the application of circular economy strategies.Design/methodology/approachA key step in the development of professional knowledge is to solicit the opinions of the future operators in the aquaculture sector. The authors used the Q methodology to assess the perceptions of the students on four different knowledge dimensions of the CE: operations, culture and organization, products and services, and ecosystem.FindingsFour discourses emerge from the results, representing the respondents' views on the CE. The first discourse considers CE as business strategy applicable to products and services, the second a corporate mission and the fourth an operational efficiency strategy. Finally, the third discourse views CE as a multidimensional concept.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the scientific and institutional debate on how to accelerate the aquaculture's circular transition. First and foremost, it offers insights to guide policy makers in the development of appropriate knowledge and information systems. Second, it offers the opportunity to improve training programmes to enable current students to be prepared for the future challenges.Originality/valueThe results reflect a different perceived knowledge of CE among future operators, whose opinions are little explored in the literature.

Clinical Trainee Perspectives on the Implementation of Trauma-Focused Training.

Despite the high prevalence of trauma exposure in the United States and calls for the implementation of trauma-focused psychotherapy training, scant opportunities exist for such training in graduate clinical psychology programs. This study aimed to guide the implementation of trauma-focused psychotherapy training in graduate curricula by examining clinical trainees' perspectives on their current training and desired features for trauma-specific learning environments. The absence of research that centers trainee voices is notable; therefore, this study specifically focuses on trainee perspectives on implementation. The New Haven competencies, developed by the American Psychological Association to support efforts to improve trauma-specific training, were used as a framework to guide the development of a mixed-methods survey. Current doctoral students (N=18) in one clinical psychology program completed the survey. Trainees overwhelmingly perceived the competencies to be relevant to their psychological assessment and therapy training and to their professional goals but noted a general lack of available trauma-specific training. Nearly all trainees believed that trauma-specific training should be required and expressed varied opinions regarding how requirements should be structured. Important features of a safe and supportive learning environment were reported to include coconstructed norms, choice and flexibility for participation, and integrated wellness practices. Further, instructors' trauma awareness, cultural humility, and responsiveness to students' experiences were emphasized by trainees as important. Effective implementation of trauma-specific psychotherapy training should be guided by ongoing dialogue between trainees and training stakeholders.

Advancing a Framework of Racialized Administrative Burdens in Higher Education Policy

ABSTRACT Many policies in higher education are intended to improve college access and degree completion, yet often those policies fall short of their aims by making it difficult for prospective or current college students to access benefits for which they are eligible. Barriers that inhibit access to policy benefits, such as cumbersome paperwork, can weigh more heavily on members of marginalized communities, including racially minoritized students. Such administrative burdens can thus reinforce patterns of inequity. In this paper, we present a conceptual framework for examining administrative burdens embedded in higher education policies that can negatively affect prospective and current college students, especially those who are racially minoritized. With the use of our proposed framework for addressing racialized administrative burdens, researchers can improve the understanding of ethnoracial disparities in higher education, inform policymakers’ design of racially equitable policies for higher education, and enable practitioners to implement those policies to promote racial equity.

"Let's Call a Spade a Spade. My Barrier is Being a Black Student": Challenges for Black Undergraduate Nursing Students in a Western Canadian Province.

We need more understanding of experiences that hinder or promote equity, diversity, and inclusion of Black students in undergraduate nursing programs to better inform their retention and success. To explore documented experiences of Black undergraduate nursing students, review barriers affecting their retention and success, and suggest evidence-based strategies to mitigate barriers that influence their well-being. We used a focused qualitative ethnography for recruiting Black former and current students (N = 18) in a Western Canadian province's undergraduate nursing programs via purposive and snowball sampling. Most participants were female, 34 years or younger, with over 50% currently in a nursing program. Five participants later attended a focus group to further validate the findings from the individual interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant characteristics; we applied a collaborative constant comparison and thematic analysis approach to their narratives. Challenges influencing Black students' retention and success fell into four main interrelated subthemes: disengaging and hostile learning environments, systemic institutional and program barriers, navigation of personal struggles in disempowering learning environments, and recommendations to improve the delivery of nursing programs. Participants also recommended ways to improve diversity and mitigate these barriers, such as nursing programs offering anti-oppression courses, platforms for safe/healthy dialogue, and more culturally sensitive learning-centered programs and responsive supports. The study findings underscore the need for research to better define nursing program conditions that nurture safe, learning-centred environments for Black students. A rethink of non-discriminatory, healthy learning-teaching engagements of Black students and the mitigation of anti-Black racism can best position institutions to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion of Black students.

Avatar taxonomy: a new technological tool to enhance the consumer-brand relationships

PurposeAvatars, which are used as a technology and marketing tactic, can embody consumer-facing employees and mimic their real-life roles on companies' websites, thereby playing a key role in enhancing the relationships between consumers and brands in the online environment. Academics and practitioners have increasingly acknowledged the significance of the consumer-brand relationship in both traditional and online contexts. However, the impersonal nature of the online environment is considered to be a hindrance to the development of these relationships. Despite the importance of this technology, little attention has been paid to the investigation of the avatar concept from a marketing perspective. This paper explores the nature of the avatar concept, including its main characteristics, dimensions, and conditions as well as the attitudinal and behavioural consequences of avatar users.Design/methodology/approachAdopting the qualitative design, a taxonomy was developed from interviews. In total, 42 interviews were conducted with current university students. 30 participants participated in the exploratory interviews. A total of 12 interviews were conducted during the in-depth stage based on findings in the preceding research.FindingsBased on the qualitative data analysis, a taxonomy was developed. The idea of the taxonomy is summarized in that different dimensions of the avatar are considered the main base (first phase) of the taxonomy. There are consequential three parts: the attitudinal consequences related to the website; the attitudinal consequences related to the brand; the behaviours towards the brand. These behaviours represent the final phase of the taxonomy.Originality/valueBy developing a taxonomy of using avatars on brands' websites, the authors advance the understanding consumer-brands relationships. Using avatars' verbal interactions helps in shaping consumers' cognitive, affective, attitudinal and behavioural responses and add vital empirical evidence to the increasing body of research and practices involving avatar usage in the interactive marketing area.

Standardized Nursing Examination Remediation: A Program Evaluation.

Nurse educators at a public university expanded their standardized examination program in Spring 2020 to include more specialty examinations, required remediation, and retesting for students who did not attain benchmark scores. This study conducted a remediation-focused program evaluation. A mixed-methods design was used. Aggregated deidentified Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) specialty examination scores (n = 907) were analyzed. Feedback from nursing students and recent alumni (n = 70) was collected using a Qualtrics survey. For students scoring under benchmark, higher remediation time requirements led to greater increases in second-attempt specialty examination scores. More alumni than current students reported remediation was helpful (p = .029). Participants' perspectives regarding remediation barriers, helpful strategies, and motivating policies were identified. Five themes emerged from open-ended survey comments, adding depth to the quantitative findings. Recommendations for standardized examination remediation strategies and policies are offered. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(9):519-522.].

Knowledge of Risk and Crisis Management for Managers of Companies and Organizations

Abstract In today’s conditions of globalization and digitalization, in the conditions of rapid change, it is important to be flexible and adapt to new challenges. In order, for companies and organizations to be able to successfully manage crises, it is important that people who take leading positions in organizations and companies, have an understanding of risk and crisis management. Some of the current students will later take leading positions in various organizations and companies. Propose of the paper is to find out trends, how safe students feel in Europe, as well as how important they think understanding crisis management is, as well as whether they have studied subjects related to risk management and crisis management during their studies. The main finding is that insufficient attention has been paid to risk management and crisis management, subjects, people don’t realize the devastating effect of the crisis, as well as the fact that the crisis is not only a threat but also an opportunity.