Facebook Group Page Research Articles

Abstract B040: Former caregivers of patients with glioblastoma multiforme report the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home (PATH©) instrument is helpful throughout the disease trajectory

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine if the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home (PATH©), a validated caregiver assessment instrument, would be helpful in identifying gaps in preparation of primary caregivers of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The PATH© was designed to assess caregiver readiness to assist the healthcare team in developing tailored solutions to meet the needs of caregiver/patient dyads. Methods: Former primary caregivers (spouses or life-partners) of now deceased patients with GBM who were members of the private Facebook (FB) group “Widows and Widowers of GBM” reviewed the instrument and completed a web-based survey via Qualtrics. Following IRB approval (#H22-0103) and approval from the FB group administrator, a survey link was posted on the FB group page and left open for 3 weeks in Spring 2023. Participants were asked to review the 25 PATH© items and respond to 4 yes/no or Likert scale questions about whether the instrument would have helped to better prepare them for the caregiving role across the phases of GBM disease trajectory (acute, living with disease progression, end-of-life). A free text option was included so caregivers could provide suggestions for tool revision to better address the needs of caregivers of patients with GBM. Summary statistics were calculated for interval and ratio variables. ANOVA and t-test were conducted to determine whether there were differences across stages among the variables (stage of disease trajectory and helpfulness score). Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were conducted to examine whether helpfulness and overall helpfulness were independent. A linear regression was conducted to assess whether the different phases of the disease trajectory predicted tool helpfulness. The GBM Caregiver Study team met to review, analyze, code free text feedback, and identify and define code themes. Results: Demographics were completed by 191 study participants; 124 reviewed the PATH© instrument and completed the survey. Ninety-two percent of participants reported that the PATH© instrument would be helpful across all stages of the disease trajectory, with the majority selecting “Very” or “Somewhat” helpful. Only 8% of participants did not think the instrument would be helpful at end-of-life, and 6% of participants did not think the instrument would be helpful at other stages of the disease trajectory. Fifty-four participants suggested changes to the existing instrument for GBM caregivers. From these open-ended responses, four themes were identified: education, access to care team and resources, care at the end-of-life/after death, and self-care. Conclusion: Study results indicated using the PATH© instrument in the GBM population would be helpful to assess caregiver preparation. Study collaborators are actively planning future research, building on the findings of this study, to explore the impact of how implementing a systematic caregiver assessment and tailored care plans and/or interventions can improve caregiver readiness and reduce caregiver burden. Citation Format: Elizabeth James, Marlee Wallace, Megan Chard, Barbara Lutz, Laurie Minns. Former caregivers of patients with glioblastoma multiforme report the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home (PATH©) instrument is helpful throughout the disease trajectory [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr B040.

South African Politics and Online Electioneering Discourses in Selected Social Media Sites in Phuthaditjhaba

This study analyses electioneering discourses in selected social media sites of Phuthaditjhaba in South Africa. It focuses on political messages and images posted by political parties on selected Facebook Pages and X handles in Phuthaditjhaba. Using critical discourse analysis as a method and netnography as an instrument to collect data from selected sites, I analyse the packaging and language of political communication and highlighting socio-economic issues used by political parties to persuade voters and undermine messages of their competitors. The theoretical underpinnings of the study are drawn from Kubin and von Sikorski’s (2021) notions of ideological and affective polarisation, and Entman’s (1995) idea of social media constructions of poverty. Their ideas guide my analysis of how political rivals capitalise on existing socio-economic issues in Phuthaditjhaba to mobilise sentiment among disgruntled residents. Data was collected from ten social media sites namely, four Facebook group pages, four X group handles and two individual X handles. Ten images and accompanying texts were sampled from the selected sites. Thematic analysis was used to categorise the data. The findings of the study show that while politicians used social media for campaign purposes, residents of Phuthaditjhaba used it to contest, and challenge messages of political parties.

A social media intervention for the families of young Black men with obstructive sleep apnoea.

To address positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence in adolescents diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) by pilot testing a novel, online, facilitated, peer-support and health education programme for families. Families participated in separate Facebook peer-groups (adolescent [n=6] and parent [n=6]) for four weeks, followed by face-to-face interviews. Participants received OSA and PAP educational videos and posts, engaged with questions and polls, and viewed de-identified postings of peer PAP use data. Adolescent participants were young Black males aged 13-17 years (n=6) with obesity (n=5), severe sleep apnoea (100%) and 4-15 months of prior PAP use. Parent participants were mothers (n=4) and fathers (n=2). Four of six young males increased their mean PAP use during the intervention period. Overall, parents were more engaged with the Facebook group page than adolescents, but interviews revealed the online group/peer-support and education provided was highly regarded and appreciated by families. Parents were particularly appreciative of being involved in care and diagnosis in this way. Results of this pilot trial provide important data regarding intervention design, content, and delivery approaches to be considered in the development of future interventions aiming to engage families and improve adolescent PAP adherence.

Educational Affordances of a Facebook Group Page: A User Survey of Hong Kong Undergraduate Students

Employing a mixed method approach, this exploratory research study provides an account of the educational affordances derived from the use of a Facebook group for out-of-class, off-campus learning by undergraduate students enrolled at a private university in Hong Kong. Both quantitative and qualitative results indicate that social networking sites such as Facebook can indeed be exploited to generate various educational affordances favorable to off-campus informal learning and course management activities in the context of higher education in Hong Kong.

A survey of the prevalence and predictors of workplace bullying towards the dental hygienist.

Given the lack of research within dentistry as it relates to workplace bullying (WPB), the purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of WPB and predictors of WPB for dental hygienists in clinical practice. Cross-sectional survey research was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists (n=943) providing patient care to explore WPB. Ninety-three per cent of participants resided in the United States, and 6.9% lived internationally. The survey was shared via social media on Facebook and Instagram group pages, specifically dental focussed. The validated Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) was used to measure the exposure WPB using descriptive, correlation, chi-square and Mann-Whitney U. The completion rate was 81% (n=765). Results showed 21% of participants had experienced WPB now and then, 9.4% several times a week and 2.9% almost daily. Predictors for WPB included highest degree earned (p=-0.03), US (United States) region of residence (p=0.001), clinical setting (private practice vs. dental service organization) (p<0.001), clinical years of experience (p=0.002) and work status (full- or part-time) (p=0.02). The findings confirmed WPB has been experienced by 1 in 5 clinical dental hygienists. Dental hygienists in their early years are more likely to have reported workplace bullying than those with more years of practice. WPB is not a new phenomenon, but given the prevalence observed in dental hygiene participants, employers need to be active in preventing and managing bullying to create and maintain an effective dental team and positive work environment.

Using a Social Media Facebook to Develop Civic Engagement in Indonesia

This research is aimed at exploring how to use Facebook to develop civic engagement in Klaten Regency Indonesia by the Info Cegatan Klaten (ICK) community. Technological advances result in the ease of communication in everyday life. However, these technological advances also have the effect of increasing personal egoism and lack of social care. Given this condition, the ICK community, as a Facebook virtual community, tries to build civic engagement to eliminate social disparities that occur using social media as the main media. This research used a descriptive qualitative approach. The sampling method was purposive sampling. In this study, 6 informants were taken. The data were collected using an interview, observation, and documentation. The interviews were conducted with the general chairperson of ICK, the treasurer, social media administrators, and 3 members of the community. Observations were made on the Facebook group page of the community and its activities. The data were then analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model which consists of three activities, namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The results showed that the civic engagement was built through social media by: first, the ICK Community made the Facebook group an online space to collect information about Klaten's community problems; second, the ICK community utilizes the Facebook group features to invite the people around Klaten to become Stakeholders and join the discussions for the good of the community in the future; third, Facebook is used to provoke civic engagement by informing each agenda to be carried out.

“No Tyson in Tongie!”: The Battle to Protect a Rural Way of Life in Kansas*

Political mobilizations in small towns have come to play a disproportionate role in today’s national politics. This article examines the conditions giving rise to small‐town mobilizations through an in‐depth case study of Tonganoxie, Kansas. Residents of this town mounted a massive campaign to block the opening of a Tyson chicken processing plant in 2017. The article draws on interviews, observations, a newspaper claims database, and extractions from the “No Tyson in Tongie” Facebook group page. The article maintains that a racialized cultural framework (“rural idyll”) among White middle‐class residents helped them perceive the plant as an existential threat. Social networks, sustained through social media, enabled the same residents to mobilize in a fast and forceful manner. We suggest that in “hybrid” towns (partially rural and suburban), the “rural idyll” is politically decisive. It unites recently settled and established residents in battles to defend a particularly racialized and classed way of life.

Patterns of Critical Thinking Processing in Online Reciprocal Peer Tutoring Through Facebook Discussion

Reciprocal Peer tutoring (RPT) can support students in enhancing their critical thinking during learning process. The evolution of internet technology has shifted face-to-face peer tutoring to an online environment such as use of a social networking site, Facebook. In addition, Facebook Group provides a space for students and instructor to discuss academic related matters. However, depending solely on the Facebook medium without proper design learning activities do not guarantee active learning among students. In addition, educators might face multiple challenges by using social networking site such as Facebook for teaching and learning purpose. Thus, this study integrated online reciprocal peer tutoring arrangements in Facebook to stimulate students’ critical thinking. A total of 29 students involved in the online discussions through Facebook with 14 Facebook Group pages were created. During discussion, tutor will used guided peer questioning strategy initiate tutee to think to the higher levels. This study employed lag sequential analysis to empirically explore patterns of critical thinking processing in Facebook discussions among High and Low critical thinking groups. The results showed that, apparently, High critical thinking group emerged thinking pattern which progressing from lower to higher order thinking processes which are very crucial in shaping their thinking to the higher levels. Additionally, by asking students’ prior knowledge and understanding frequently can help students to gain greater understanding of the topic and further initiate their higher level of critical thinking.

Using Facebook as a Learning Medium in Undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology (A&amp;P) Courses

Social networking sites such as Facebook have recently been shown to have great pedagogical potential especially for undergraduate students whose time is typically spent more online rather than in their physical persons. Even so, in most A&amp;P courses the use of online technologies is limited to learning management systems (LMS). This mixed‐method study aimed to examine the impact of using a Facebook group page in addition to LMS in undergraduate A&amp;P courses at one community college. Research participants consisted of all students enrolled in two A&amp;P 101 courses (N=39) that were offered over two successive semesters. The experimental group consisted of N=19 students enrolled in Spring 2017, whereas control group consisted of N=20 students enrolled in Fall 2016. Both courses were taught by the same instructor (author, HA) using identical instructional and assessment materials – except for the Facebook platform which was introduced only to the experimental group as an independent variable. Student achievements between two groups were measured using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods included direct observation, document analysis, and student‐filled questionnaires collected from all participants. Quantitative data consisted of individual student demographic and dropout (yes/no) data as well as formal course gradebooks. Each of the four unit‐exam scores, final course grade (%), and student dropouts were selected as the main study variables. Statistical methods including independent t‐tests, chi‐square tests, and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the hypotheses suggesting that use of Facebook had a positive impact on students' academic achievements as well as reducing student dropouts. Both hypotheses were confirmed by statistical analyses (p&lt;.05 and p&lt;.001, respectively). Moreover, results from the thematic analysis of the qualitative data suggested that students who used Facebook were able to more easily connect with other students and make better use of peer‐learning study circles. They also engaged with class materials more actively, deeply, and playfully which helped them become more intrinsically motivated to learn. Therefore, the findings of this study indicate that using Facebook as an additional learning platform can provide undergraduate A&amp;P students with more opportunities for active learning. Furthermore, using Facebook can enhance students' academic gain and reduce the student dropout rates.Support or Funding Informationnone.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Angels Along the Pacific Crest Trail

This study sought to understand motivations of individuals who offer unsolicited assistance to Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers. Referred to as “trail angels,” these individuals provide supportive services (e.g., food, drink, transportation, and lodging) along the 2,650-mile footpath as it passes through California, Oregon, and Washington. Their services have been documented in the literature on studies of thru-hikers, but the motives of trail angels have yet to be studied. To understand why trail angels provide free services, the authors developed an open-ended online survey and posted it to two trail angel Facebook group pages. The survey asked angels about reasons for serving as a trail angel, benefits accrued, and motivations to continue. Qualitative data were analyzed by independent coders. Emergent themes (n = 30) indicated that trail angels are motivated by joy in helping others, meeting new people, living vicariously through others, and sustaining a unique community. They also discussed negative impacts of trail angels. The themes are discussed in terms of empathic altruism and psychological egoism. Additional discussion focuses on implications for PCT management. Subscribe to JOREL

University Students Academic Usage of Facebook. Case Study: Licence 2 English Students, Mostaganem University

last decade has witnessed the rapid popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and College students constitute a large population of Facebook users. Advancement in telecommunication and information technology has resulted in a tremendous impact on teaching and learning. Accordingly, university education has started to benefit from online learning platforms. The revolutionary progress that the internet has known is giving a modern dimension to the teaching process, thus, facilitating university students' learning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent to which Facebook can be an effective means to distribute academic content to university students. Department of English of Mostaganem University is involved in this study. The Study combines quantitative with qualitative types of research. Quantitate research involves distributing a survey in the form of a questionnaire among License 2 students department of English as well as teachers to examine to what extent Facebook can be used for academic purposes. Qualitative research is dedicated to the analysis and observation of studens’ Facebook group page. The results showed that Students confirm that Facebook is a useful tool to distribute and share academic knowledge yet there are still many obstacles that hinder its use at the university context. On another hand, the present research suggests some helping solutions to enhance Facebook educational use among university students and their teachers. Future research may include a larger population from every Department of Mostaganem University to ensure generalizability of the study’s findings.

University Students Academic Usage of Facebook. Case Study: Licence 2 English Students, Mostaganem University

last decade has witnessed the rapid popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and College students constitute a large population of Facebook users. Advancement in telecommunication and information technology has resulted in a tremendous impact on teaching and learning. Accordingly, university education has started to benefit from online learning platforms. The revolutionary progress that the internet has known is giving a modern dimension to the teaching process, thus, facilitating university students' learning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent to which Facebook can be an effective means to distribute academic content to university students. Department of English of Mostaganem University is involved in this study. The Study combines quantitative with qualitative types of research. Quantitate research involves distributing a survey in the form of a questionnaire among License 2 students department of English as well as teachers to examine to what extent Facebook can be used for academic purposes. Qualitative research is dedicated to the analysis and observation of studens’ Facebook group page. The results showed that Students confirm that Facebook is a useful tool to distribute and share academic knowledge yet there are still many obstacles that hinder its use at the university context. On another hand, the present research suggests some helping solutions to enhance Facebook educational use among university students and their teachers. Future research may include a larger population from every Department of Mostaganem University to ensure generalizability of the study’s findings.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing via Facebook Groups: Analysis of Postings of Library and Information Science Community

&lt;p&gt;Social networking sites are visibly the latest trend and have changed the way the 21st century communicates each other. Its usage becomes more and more in the world of information, its presence in the library and information science becomes challenging and exciting. The aim of this study was to know the trend of posting, sharing, commenting and like a Facebook post, to understand the participation level and response against Facebook group post, and also to explore the type of content generated by LIS community through Facebook Group. Group postings/contents of four different Facebook Group Pages (“LIS Group, LIS-XPRESS, S.M.I.T. Library Students, Students of LIS”), operating and use by LIS Community during the period February 2012 to February 2015 are collected, read and analyzed. The analysis of those contents found that sharing photos, links and statuses are major types of group posts in every group and members hardly posting videos and create events for the community.&lt;/p&gt;

Physical Education Gym Class Heroes, Try-Hards, and All-Stars: An Analysis of Facebook Comments

This study inductively analyzed posts made on an existing participant-initiated open Facebook group page called “Dude, Calm Down…It’s Gym Class.” Following data retrieval, the first 25 days’ posts following the page’s inception were examined. Open coding was used as a method of identifying the content and curricular activities discussed within the page’s posts. The frequency of codes were determined with descriptive statistics, and post content was examined with the constant comparative method. Quantitative results showed that 1,882 of the 2,969 posts analyzed were coded as being made by males (63.3%), whereas 36.7% (n = 1,087) were coded as being made by females. Nearly half (49%) of the posts described participants’ own or their peers’ participation behaviors exhibited in physical education class. Of the 337 activity references, invasion games (n = 145, 43%) dodgeball (n = 72, 21.4%), and net/wall games (n = 69, 20.5%) were the most frequently mentioned. Qualitative analyses resulted in three major themes: student groups (Pro-Page—supported the page’s ideology; Anti-Page—did not support the page’s ideology; and Reasonables—could see the validity of both arguments), participation patterns (Overachievers, Underachievers), and Meanness (a general derogatory and negative nature of the posts). Results of this study support the need for further exploration of peer behavior as a potential influencer on student attitudes toward physical education.Subscribe to TPE

EXAMINATION OF ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY: A SURVEY ON PRE-SERVICE AND INSERVICE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Academic self–efficacy can be defined as person`s belief that he can successfully achieve at a desired level on an academic task or a specific goal (Schunk & Pajares, 2002). This study aims to investigate the level of academic self-efficacy levels of pre-service and in-service teachers. In this study problem solving skills and epistemological beliefs are evaluated as predictors of academic self-efficacy levels of pre-service and in-service groups. Each group is consisting of 40 people. The data gathered via online questionnaire form via link given in the Facebook group pages. The gathered data analyzed using regression, t-test and related descriptive analysis. The results show that epistemological beliefs and problem solving skills can predict the %14 for in-service English language teachers and this is %15 for pre-service English language teachers. Besides the results show that when the relationship between the gender and the other dependent factors there is only relation in pre-service teachers ‘academic self-efficacy and epistemological beliefs. The female participants have higher values than male ones. Article visualizations:

Impact of a Social Media Group Page on Undergraduate Medical Physiology Learning.

To investigate the impact of associating classroom learning of medical physiology with a Facebook group page in an all-women medical college of a conservative small city in Pakistan. Qualitative interpretivist study using semi-structured interviews. Women Medical College Abbottabad, Pakistan, from March to December 2014. Aclosed Facebook study group was established at a local medical college in Pakistan. It was used to upload learning resources and initiate discussions, coordinated with classroom lectures of physiology. Thirteen semistructured interviews were conducted with volunteer students according to a standard protocol. Five major themes were identified. Facebook group is something new and exciting; it motivated self-study, research, collaborative learning and improved class attendance. Convenience of easily accessible resources allowed the students to concentrate on the lecture rather than note taking. It was easier to communicate with the instructor through Facebook than face to face. Lurkers were also learning. High achievers who had adapted to the current didactic system of teaching were less receptive of the collaborative learning and favored teaching geared towards exam preparation. Using social media for e-learning in undergraduate medical education can enhance the student learning experience, especially in resource-limited regions where Information and communication technology is not an integrated part of the teaching process.

Using Facebook to improve L2 German students’ socio-pragmatic skills

This study explores ways of using Facebook as a tool to improve the pragmatic competence of German as a foreign language students in Japan. Nine students of a textbook-based German class (CFER level A2) voluntarily participated in this blended learning approach, in which they were assigned weekly online tasks aimed at eliciting speech acts commonly used in online interaction. The tasks required the students write posts concerning their daily routines onto the timeline of a dedicated Facebook Group page and to comment on each other’s posts. In order to find out what difficulties learners face when producing certain speech acts, the students’ posts and comments were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by determining the frequency, accuracy, and appropriateness of speech acts performed per task. The results suggest that the tasks developed seemed to be appropriate for eliciting a large number of speech acts, while types, frequency, and appropriateness of the speech acts produced varied significantly. As was revealed, difficulties in task performance did not only stem from a lack of L2 (socio-pragmatic) knowledge, but also from inexperience in the use of the network itself. For task performance students strongly relied on the expressions provided in pre-task activities. As the results of a post-course students’ survey indicate, most students agreed that using Social Networking Sites is an appropriate tool for language learning, and that they were able to increase their knowledge and use of German speech acts significantly during this course. However, only those students who frequently used SNS in their everyday lives seemed to be able to reap the full benefits of the project.

IMPACT OF UTILIZATION OF FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

The study aims to identify how the utilization of Face book group page affects the academic performance of university students. It is assumed that academic performance is affected by student engagement, independent learning, and critical thinking. The participants of the study were 81 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management and Entrepreneurship (BSBA M&E) of a higher education institution in Angeles City, Philippines who took Business Plan course in second semester, 2014-2015. Using correlation and multiple regression analyses the findings revealed that only student engagement has a statistically significant predictive impact or effect on respondents’ academic performance. Moreover, the contributions of independent learning and critical thinking are not statistically significant and both are not significant predictors of academic performance. Article DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2015.s11.387403 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

Developing Online Communities for Librarian Researchers: A Case Study

This study examines the role of online communities in connecting and supporting librarian researchers, through the analysis of member activities in the online community for academic librarians that attended the 2014 Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL). The 2014 IRDL cohort members participated in the online community via Twitter and a Facebook group page. A content analysis of their posts and an online survey among them identified different patterns of engagement and four primary types of content—posts related to completing the IRDL research project required for each cohort member, announcements about research-related resources and opportunities, posts reminiscing about the IRDL experience, and arrangements of conference attendance and meetups. Implications for successfully designing online communities for librarian researchers are discussed.

Using Facebook Groups to Encourage Science Discussions in a Large-Enrollment Biology Class

This case study reports the instructional development, impact, and lessons learned regarding the use of Facebook as an educational tool within a large enrollment Biology class at Spelman College (Atlanta, GA). We describe the use of this social networking site to (a) engage students in active scientific discussions, (b) build community within the student body in class, and (c) promote communication between students and instructors. To achieve this, we created a Facebook Group page that students were required to join and use to complete the main assignment of this class, which was to read, discuss, and write about a science news article in the popular media. Overall, we find that Facebook, due to its popularity with students and its informal nature, is very effective in engaging them.