Participation In Different Types Research Articles

The relationship between participation in different types of training programs and gainful employment for formerly incarcerated individuals

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (2007), over 10,000 formerly incarcerated individuals are released each week from federal and state prisons. The purpose of this study is to draw upon human capital theory to examine the relationships between the types of training programs and gainful employment for formerly incarcerated individuals. Three types of training programs considered in this study are school‐based training programs, pre‐employment training programs, and postemployment training programs. Generalized linear mixed models are used to determine if each type of training program is related to employment status and income. Based on a sample from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), postemployment training programs are positively related to gainful employment for formerly incarcerated individuals. This result emphasizes the pivotal role of employers in addressing mass incarceration through human resources development (HRD).

Characterizing Employees' Preferences for Incentives for Healthy Behaviors: Examples to Improve Interest in Wellness Programs.

Background. Many employers now incentivize employees to engage in wellness programs, yet few studies have examined differences in preferences for incentivizing participation in healthy behaviors and wellness programs. Method. We surveyed 2,436 employees of a large university about their preferences for incentivizing participation in different types of healthy behaviors and then used multivariable logistic regression to estimate associations between employees' socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and their preferences for incentives for engaging in healthy behaviors. Results. Compared with nonunion members, union members had higher odds of wanting an incentive for eating healthily (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60, 95% [CI; 1.21, 2.12]), managing weight (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.14, 2.06]), avoiding drinking too much alcohol (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.11, 1.78]), quitting tobacco (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.06, 1.77]), managing stress (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.08, 1.75]), and managing back pain (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.28, 2.10]). Compared with staff, faculty employees reported higher odds for wanting an incentive for reducing alcohol intake (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.00, 1.78]) and quitting tobacco (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI [1.04, 1.96]). Women had lower odds than men (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.64, 0.99]) of wanting an incentive for managing back pain. Conclusions. Preferences for incentives to engage in different types of healthy behaviors differed by employees' socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Organizations may consider using survey data on employee preferences for incentives to more effectively engage higher risk populations in wellness programs.

Social participation and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults: A study on rural–urban differences

BackgroundAlthough studies conducted in developed countries have reported a negative relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms, few studies have examined rural–urban differences in the relationship between participation in various types of social activities and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults. ObjectivesThis study examined the association between participation in paid work, political, and voluntary activities and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults in urban and rural areas. MethodsData were obtained from the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey conducted in 2014, and bivariate linear regression and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted. ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among older adults residing in rural areas than among older adults in urban areas. Participation in paid work activities was significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms among older adults in urban and rural areas, whereas participation in political or voluntary activities was negatively associated with depressive symptoms only among older adults in urban areas. Older adults who participated in two or three types of activities (paid work, political, and voluntary activities) tended to have fewer depressive symptoms both in urban and rural areas. LimitationsBecause this study comprised a cross-sectional design, causality could not be established between social participation and depressive symptoms. ConclusionsSocial participation plays a protective role against depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults, especially among those in urban areas. Urban-rural differences exist between participation in different types of social activities and depression symptoms.

Mother–child Narrative Interaction in Adoptive Families: Differences Across Narrative Contexts

The majority of the existing research dedicated to the mother–child narrative interaction has focused on biological families during the co-construction of autobiographical narratives and has consistently shown that the mothers’ narrative support has an important influence on children’s narrative participation and overall development. The current study aimed to compare adoptive mothers’ narrative support and children’s narrative participation in different types of narrative tasks. Specifically, we analyzed the narrative interaction between 30 preschool-aged children and their adoptive mothers during the co-construction of two autobiographical narratives and one fictional narrative. We also explored the influence of the mothers’ use of elaborative and repetitive narrative dimensions, as well as the children’s sex, early adversity, and language development in children’s narrative participation. The results revealed that the adoptive mothers tended to use the elaborative dimension more in the fictional narrative than in the autobiographical ones. For the adoptive mothers’ use of the repetitive dimension and the children’s narrative participation, no significant differences were found between the three narrative tasks. Additionally, the results showed that the adoptive mothers’ use of the elaborative dimension significantly predicted children’s participation in the autobiographical narratives, while their use of the repetitive dimension significantly predicted children’s participation in the fictional narrative. The results of this study highlighted the relevance of the adoptive mothers’ ability to adapt their narrative support to the specific type of narrative task, as well as how such support may enhance or hinder children’s narrative participation during the co-construction of both autobiographical and fictional narratives.

Social networking site usage and participation in protest activities in 17 Latin American countries

Recent studies have reported a significant relationship between the use of social media and political engagement. However, there appear to be few comparative studies that explore the association between social networking site use and participation in different types of protest activities for the case of Latin America. The present study employs supervised and unsupervised data analysis techniques to explore this association for 9 different social networking sites and 5 types of protest using disaggregated data on 17 Latin American countries. Multiple correspondence analysis is applied to create proxy measures of the two phenomena, followed by a cluster analysis using these measures to classify individuals into different clusters in each country studied. These clusters indicated that there exists an interplay between the use of these sites and participation in protests. Decision rules were then induced to generate interpretable information on the clusters identified for each country. The results suggest that there is a high degree of heterogeneity in social networking site use and protest participation.

Participation in organized sports, physical education, therapeutic exercises, and non-organized leisure-time physical activity: how does participation differ between childhood cancer outpatients and healthy peers?

Most childhood cancer survivors are insufficiently active. Researchers are focusing on strategies to increase physical activity (PA). However, a detailed understanding of participation in specific types of PA is missing, meaning current strategies may lack relevant information. Thus, our study sought to analyze participation in different types of PA commonly engaged in by children: organized sports, physical education in school (PES), therapeutic exercise, and non-organized leisure-time PA. Thirty-eight childhood cancer outpatients and 51 healthy children completed questionnaires. Compared to healthy children, childhood cancer outpatients, especially those who are shortly after cessation of inpatient treatment, participated significantly less often in organized sports and PES and significantly more often in therapeutic exercise compared to the healthy children. Considering organized sports and PES afford children unique social benefits and provide the potential to motivate lifelong activity, future efforts should be placed on ensuring children with cancer can access these types of PA. Educating parents, teachers, and coaches, exploring referral pathways to exercise professionals and providing individual support may enhance participation rates in organized PA and should be investigated.

Crafts as serious hobbies: Impact and benefits in later life

Abstract Although the creation of crafts by middle-aged and older adults is common across the globe, its significance has been overlooked in western culture. This article reviewed current research on the benefits of long-term participation in culturally meaningful creative arts and crafts (i.e., serious hobbies) and their impact on positive development in mid to late life. Creative hobbies are seen to have major benefits when practiced longterm. In addition, they often reflect aspects of one’s culture and the desire to add to that culture. A series of studies from the Synapse Project demonstrated that older adults who spent several hours a week for a few months learning to participate in a new craft activity showed improvements in their cognitive performance and neural efficiency as compared to control participants. Tomioka et al. found that participation in different types of groups, including hobby groups or volunteer groups, led to less decline in everyday functioning and independence among older adults. Adams-Price and colleagues investigated the impact of long-term practice of creative hobbies and found that serious participation in crafts may play a role in life satisfaction and successful ageing. Their work found four factors: (1) identity, (2) spirituality, (3) calming and (4) mastery/recognition from others. These factors impact life satisfaction through generativity, which is an important construct in Erikson’s theory of adult development. These studies and others, which are discussed, support the importance of crafts as a type of serious hobby that impacts cognitive and social well-being and life satisfaction among older individuals.

The Virtuous, the Critical and the Trustworthy: Citizen Ideals and Forms of Democratic Participation

A vibrant democratic society requires continuous innovation to actualize and encourage democratic ideals through participation, but no universal answers exist as to which kinds of participation are best suited to achieve this. This article demonstrates that different types of participation correlate with different citizen ideals, implying that the remedies to democratic deficits depend on which ideals need to be strengthened. Citizen survey data is used to examine the relationships between two types of citizen participation – in voluntary associations and workplaces – and three empirical citizen ideals: the virtuous citizen, the critical citizen and the trustworthy citizen. The results suggest that voluntary associations make space for all three ideals, while workplace participation tends to be characterized specifically by the critical citizen's ideal of reason‐giving and critical reflection. The article ends by discussing the implications of these results: new democratic designs should be more effective if tailored to address context‐dependent weaknesses in democratic practices.

Bacterial cellulose membrane used as biological dressings on third-degree burns in rats.

Burn injuries represent a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The wound healing process is complex and requires the participation of different types of cells. Therefore, new biomaterials, which innovate the wound healing process, are being investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of bacterial cellulose both in its pure state and enriched with lidocaine in full-thickness burns in rats. Thirty rats (Wistar) (260± 20gramas) divided into control group (CG), bacterial cellulose membrane group (MG) and bacterial cellulose membrane enriched with lidocaine group (MLG) were used. The burns were induced using a 150°C heated soldering iron, held on the animal neck for 10seconds. The biomaterial was applied immediately after injury and skin samples were collected on the tenth day of the treatment. The level of significance of p⩽0.05 was used for the conclusion of the statistical analysis. The groups treated with the biomaterials, a histological pattern compatible with a more advanced repair stage showing skin appendages, mild inflammatory infiltrate, better collagen fiber organization and mild immunostaining COX-2 and MMP-9 was observed, when compared to the control group that did not receive any type of treatment. Thus, was concluded that the bacterial cellulose-based biomaterial both in its pure state and enriched with lidocaine optimizing the full-thickness burn wound healing in rats.

МЕТОДОЛОГІЯ ПРОВЕДЕННЯ ЗАНЯТЬ ЛІКАРІВ-ІНТЕРНІВ ЗА ТЕМАТИКОЮ «ВІЛ-ІНФЕКЦІЯ» НА ОСНОВІ ІНТЕРАКТИВНИХ МЕТОДІВ НАВЧАННЯ

Мета роботи – підвищення зацікавленості, задоволення процесом навчання лікарів-інтернів та покращення якості підготовки лікарів-спеціалістів.Основна частина. Запропонована нами модель інтерактивного навчання розроблена відповідно до типової програми підготовки лікарів-інтернів з інфекційних хвороб та включає в методологію проведення такі інтерактивні методи проведення занять, як і робота в малих групах; дискусія; проведення інтерв’ю; тренінг із використанням ділової та рольової гри; самостійне складання студентами опитувальника; екскурсія та робота в лабораторії; case-навчання. Модель складена на прикладі вивчення інтернами тем розділу навчальної типової програми, що стосуються ВІЛ-інфекції, яка є одною з найбільш актуальних проблем сучасної інфектології. Методологія включає лекції, практичні заняття, семінари та самостійну підготовку інтерна. Кількість годин у моделі розрахована для спеціальності “Інфекційні хвороби”. Запропоновані два етапи підготовки інтернів: вхідний та головний етап – виконання міжпрофесійного проекту. Вхідний етап виконання міжпрофесійного проекту включає лекції, проведення практичних занять з різними видами участі лікарів-інтернів (роботу в малих групах; дискусію в групі; тренінг із використанням рольової та ділової гри; підготовку інтернами запитань (опитувальник, підготовлений у групі) та проведення інтерв’ю з пацієнтами Центру боротьби та профілактики зі СНІД, аналіз отриманих відповідей; рольову та ділову гру: “лікар–пацієнт”; екскурсію в лабораторію; роботу в малих групах, “case studies”), самостійну роботу з нормативними документами з організації та проведення добровільного консультування і тестування.До головного етапу виконання завдань міжпрофесійного проекту залучені такі спеціалісти: фахівці соціальної медицини, СНІД-центру, медичний психолог, фтизіатр, невролог, онколог, дерматовенеролог, а також представник суспільного фонду “Дорога життя” – один із пацієнтів центру СНІД. Лікар-інтерн є активним учасником проекту та входить до складу команди. На цьому етапі вирішується ряд завдань, головним із яких є сумісна робота команди фахівців у наданні кваліфікованої допомоги пацієнтам з ВІЛ.Висновок. Інтерактивна методика навчання є найбільш актуальною в сучасних умовах викладання, які передбачають підготовку висококваліфікованих спеціалістів, здатних інтегрувати теоретичні знання і практичні уміння в цілісну систему, володіти новими технологіями.

Characteristics of lifelong science learners: an investigation of STEM hobbyists

ABSTRACTSTEM hobbies are free-choice activities through which participating individuals may develop sophisticated STEM knowledge and expertise. To date, research into STEM hobbies and hobbyists has examined hobby groups by subject area. Missing from this body of work is research that examines the development and participation in different types of hobbies by age, ethnicity, and gender of participants. This research, part of a larger series of investigations of American adult STEM hobbyists, aims to fill that gap. Surveys were completed by 2,838 respondents from ten different STEM hobbies (astronomy, beekeeping, birding, electronics/robotics, environmental monitoring, falconry, gardening/horticulture, home brewing, model building, rock/fossil collecting). Results showed that there is great variation between STEM hobby groups across multiple variables and divergent descriptive profiles emerged for each group. Results also showed that, in several groups, more than half of the adult hobbyists reported first participating in their hobby during their youth. This study illustrates how crucial childhood experiences are to encouraging lifelong explorations in STEM and provides information about the types of experiences hobbyists reported as being influential to their hobby-related learning and development. This information may be used by educators and organizations to design programs to support current and future hobbyists.

Types of Participant Behavior in a Massive Open Online Course

<p class="3">In recent years there has been a proliferation of massive open online courses (MOOCs), which provide unprecedented opportunities for lifelong learning. Registrants approach these courses with a variety of motivations for participation. Characterizing the different types of participation in MOOCs is fundamental in order to be able to better evaluate the phenomenon and to support MOOCs developers and instructors in devising courses which are adapted for different learners' needs. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize the different types of participant behavior in a MOOC. Using a data mining methodology, 21,889 participants of a MOOC were classified into clusters, based on their activity in the main learning resources of the course: video lectures, discussion forums, and assessments. Thereafter, the participants in each cluster were characterized in regard to demographics, course participation, and course achievement characteristics. Seven types of participant behavior were identified: <em>Tasters</em> (64.8%), <em>Downloaders</em> (8.5%), <em>Disengagers</em> (11.5%), <em>Offline</em> <em>Engagers</em> (3.6%), <em>Online Engagers</em> (7.4%), <em>Moderately Social Engagers</em> (3.7%), and <em>Social Engagers</em> (0.6%). A significant number of 1,020 participants were found to be engaged in the course, but did not achieve a certificate. The types are discussed according to the established research questions. The results provide further evidence regarding the utilization of the flexibility, which is offered in MOOCs, by the participants according to their needs. Furthermore, this study supports the claim that MOOCs' impact should not be evaluated solely based on certification rates but rather based on learning behaviors.</p>

Participation in informal science learning experiences: the rich get richer?

ABSTRACTInformal science learning (ISL) experiences have been found to provide valuable opportunities to engage with and learn about science and, as such, form a key part of the STEM learning ecosystem. However, concerns remain around issues of equity and access. The Enterprising Science study builds upon previous research in this area and uses the construct of ‘science capital’ to understand and support science engagement among young people, particularly those historically marginalised from science. Drawing on survey data from nearly 6000 children ages 11–16 in England, we investigate who participates in particular areas of informal STEM learning outside of the science classroom. Survey findings are illustrated by interview data from the same project. Analyses suggest that overall participation in different types of informal science learning experiences (‘informal’ learning experiences, ‘everyday’ learning experiences, and school-led enrichment) varies. Generally, students from more privileged social backgrounds participate more, but with further ethnic and gender patterns between different ISL activity types. These differential patterns of participation highlight how some areas of the ecosystem (e.g. ‘everyday’ learning experiences) are more accessible, while others (e.g. in designed spaces and school-led enrichment) could do more to address inequities in participation.

I am a single mother of seven running a household! Professionals mastering identity ambiguity to improve participation in a small-scale nursing home

Introduction: Participation of service users and carers is advocated in many countries, because involvement of these lay partners inform high-quality, person-centered care. Despite increasing discussions on conceptualizations of participation and person-centered care, it is unclear how the envisioned approach can be translated in practice. Moreover, the strong, paternalistic professional identity is usually considered to impede transformation and challenges a participative role of lay partners. Indeed, questioning the way care is delivered, questions the identity of both professionals and lay partners.Aim: The purpose of this paper is to study how the professional identity changes in context of the paradigm shift in healthcare to generate insight how professionals can be successful in encouraging participation in their everyday work life.Methods: We have conducted ethnographic fieldwork in a Dutch nursing home for elderly with dementia. In a 3 month-period, 10 nurses, 24 residents and 15 family members were observed during work shifts. All nurses, 8 family members and 3 managers were informally interviewed. Based on a relational perspective on identity, we analyzed how identity constructions of these actors have manifested participation.Results: Our study shows contradictions between manners in which professional identity constructions manifest participation. We elaborate on the motivations for, types and consequences of participation. Moreover, we demonstrate how close relations between professionals and lay partners do not suffice and explain how endemic contradictions between identity constructions of professionals and lay partners complicate participation.Discussion: Our relational identity approach provides a way to compare experiences of professionals with their lay partners. In doing so, we have complemented literature on integration between professionals in answer to calls for elucidating integrated participation of ‘non-professionals’. Additionally, taking nurses as exemplary group showcases complications beyond relationship investments with lay partners, and problems of resisting or underestimating these relationships because of expertise or time tradeoffs. We argue that mastering identity ambiguity in diverse situations is needed to realize different types of participation. This dynamic capability provides an opportunity to reinforce rather than threaten the professional status.Conclusion: We explain professionals’ struggles, despite their strong relationship with lay partners. Awareness of contradictions within and between identity constructions by professionals and lay partners enables implementation of participation policies.Lessons learned: Besides openness, trust and dialogue, expectation management of rights and responsibilities is vital to improve participation of lay partners. Additionally, it is important to distinguish passive from active types of participation.Limitations and future research: Small-scale dementia care is typically supported by relationships between professionals and lay partners, which is particularly considered to be a task of nurses. However, the insights can be valuable for other professions and domains to the extent that these are user-oriented. Further research is necessary to develop training programs within nursing homes in specific on one hand and to confirm implications for participation in other settings (e.g. extramural care, cure sector) on the other. Furthermore, since the relational identity approach clarifies group dynamics in general, our findings are transferable to other changes in the healthcare sector and to other countries.

Jovens e contextos quotidianos de consumo e apropriação de notícias

This article analyzes the social circulation of news in the private sphere, using a sample of thirty-two Portuguese young people who were interviewed because they had some form of civic participation of different types and intensities. Through the consumption of news and political information, five profiles were identified: informed citizens, uninformed citizens, emergent consumers of information, the relevance of the self-centered and online citizens. These profiles revealed the significance of the social and civic capitals, the importance of daily life and family environments in the habits of news consumption and an important connection of family with political news.

Social media use, political affect, and participation among university students in urban China

Although the role of affects and emotions in political participation has attracted much scholarly attention, few studies have examined whether and how media and communications can be the sources of political affects. This study argues that social media are not only information channels; they can also be effective in communicating feelings and emotions. Social media use may contribute to political affects, which in turn impinge on civic and political participation. In addition, political affects may moderate the effects of social media use on political participation. Based on a survey of university students in Guangzhou, China (N=897), this study finds that, under China’s networked authoritarianism, political communication via social media is related to positive affects toward the government and society, while connection with activists via social media is related to negative affect. Positive and negative affects have different impact on different types of participation. Negative affects strengthen the connection between social media use and participation. The roles of three discrete negative emotions – anger, anxiety and fear – are also explored.

Extracurricular Participation, “At-Risk” Status, and the High School Dropout Decision

I estimate the effect of extracurricular participation on the high school dropout decision with a particular focus on at-risk students. Using a sample of tenth grade students from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, I jointly estimate the dropout and participation decisions (including extracurricular offerings per student), and eligibility requirements as instruments for extracurricular participation. I include an interaction between the participation and at-risk indicators in the dropout equation because past disadvantages may differentially affect at-risk students. I also estimate alternative specifications to identify the effect of participation in different types of activities. Local average treatment effect estimates range from 14 to 20 percentage points, indicating that participants are significantly less likely to drop out of high school than they would have been if unable to participate, with similar estimates for both at-risk and not-at-risk students. These findings are relevant to policy makers and administrators seeking to increase high school graduation rates and improve educational outcomes.

Counting the pennies: the cultural economy of charity shopping

ABSTRACTThe Understanding Everyday Participation – Articulating Cultural Values (UEP) project is grounded in the belief that the current system for the support of culture promotes and privileges certain practices and activities, tastes, relationships and competences and that, crucially, this system has effects that extend outside of the cultural domain to the economic, political and social spheres. In order to challenge this dominance, UEP sets out to explore the meanings and values people attach to their “everyday participation”, with the aim of re-evaluating current understandings of cultural participation and cultural value [Miles, A., & Gibson, L. (2016). Understanding everyday participation-articulating cultural values. Cultural Trends, 25(3), 151–157]. This article discusses UEP ethnographic research conducted within a charity shop in Manchester/ Salford. The charity shop is found to be a site fundamentally involved in the “cultural economy”, defined broadly to refer to the relations between the cultural and economic values of particular practices and institutions involved in cultural production and consumption. Existing research on consumption have understood the charity shop as a place of cultural consumption, for certain subcultures that make “clever” choices regarding their identities [Gregson, N., & Crewe, L. (2003). Second hand cultures. Oxford: Berg]. This article argues for an understanding of the charity shop as more than simply a place of consumption but as enmeshed within a set of relations between culture, economy and place which has effects in the social sphere. This research identifies a number of forms of participation, including consumption, but also extending to various production practices, and other forms of social interaction, which take place within and through the charity shop. We argue that these different types of participation are bound up in a positioning cultural system that categorises people, places and values within and beyond the sphere of the charity shop.

The Impact of Democracy on Poverty Levels

Robert Dahl argued that individuals living in a democracy can find better alternatives to meet basic needs such as food, health, education and housing. However, there are two assumptions that cast doubt on this hypothesis. First, democracies are usually developed in more unequal contexts. Second, on democracy, inequality can generate higher levels of poverty. By applying multiple linear regressions and instrumental-variables regressions, it was found that, in a democracy, both the context and citizens could influence on decreasing poverty levels. Procedural elements are essential to generate better contexts and citizens, through different types of participation, can influence the government to offer better public policies, especially those related to poverty levels. Higher citizen participation levels and with better procedural elements, individuals could perceive that their democracy is of higher quality and they would support more this type of regime. In the analysis also it was found that per capita income level is an important indicator of efficiency of citizen participation because political action is only efficient in rich democracies. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p491

Education and participation of women in politics. An empirical investigation

This article is the result of a research work on the relationship between education and politics, developed in view of literature, studies and research in sociology and sciences. The first phase of the research will be devoted to the collection of documentation and information necessary to the historical reconstruction of the salient stages and the most important dates around which developed the political action” of the Albanian woman. It was intended to comprehend the complex phenomenon of relationship between women and politics through a series of semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted in the cities of Tirana and Durres, addressed to a total sample of 46 women, aged between 18 and 60 years, randomly selected to represent the different types of participation. The process of the exposed research is focused on the active, effective and conscious presence of women in society