Importance Of Goal Setting Research Articles

Extensive Reading and its Impact on Malaysian Undergraduate ESL/EFL Learners’ Reading Proficiency and Reading Motivation

English language reading skills are important for tertiary students. In Malaysia, tertiary students are required to master the English academic reading for their tertiary studies. However, Malaysian tertiary students’ reading proficiency in English is often found below par, which is attributed to poor reading skills and habits, as well as a lack of motivation to read. The authors believe that extensive reading (ER) should be used to complement intensive reading practiced in tertiary education reading. It is important to learn from past studies the potentials as well as problems with ER, so that teachers and researchers alike can better approach the use of ER in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) reading. This article reports on the systematic literature review of 32 studies on ER programmes, particularly on its impact on ESL students’ reading proficiency and reading motivation, that were published between 2003 and 2019 and obtained through established research databases. The results of the review found that there are positive impacts of ER on ESL reading, particularly on reading rate and reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and reading motivation, as well as the importance of goal setting and monitoring to ensure the success of ER in ESL reading. The authors suggest implications for teacher practitioners, future researchers and course developers to plan how ER would be a valuable addition to their respective programmes and also provide them with ideas in designing their own unique ER programmes to cater to their students’ needs.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER TRAINING AND SUPPORT PROJECT 2 PILOT STUDY: OUTCOMES ANALYSIS

Abstract The purpose of this study was to conduct an initial evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the African-American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training and Support Project 2 (ACTS2). Quantitative objectives focused on assessing changes in caregiver depression and health status, as well as the severity of caregiving and self-care problems from pre- to post-intervention. Secondary quantitative analyses examined post-treatment changes in social support and caregiver burden. Qualitative objectives included examining caregivers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of in-session training activities, quality of relationships among participants and their facilitator, and appraisals of spiritual elements of the program. Nine African American family caregivers of older adults with dementia completed the ACTS2 lay pastoral care facilitator-led, telephone cognitive-behavioral intervention. The twelve-week training program included 7 skills-building groups and 5 individual problem-solving sessions. Significant improvements were found on the majority of dependent measures, including caregiver depression, health status, problem severity, and social support. Qualitative analysis highlighted the value caregivers placed on relationships with their co-participants and group facilitators, the role of spirituality within the program, and the importance of goal setting in improving caregiver distress and self-care. Convergence was found between quantitative and qualitative findings, particularly improvements in the domains of caregiver distress, health status, and social support. Overall, the findings of the pilot study were promising. Replication using a randomized controlled design with a larger sample size is needed to test the reliability of the findings. Benefits of tailoring intervention to caregivers’ sociocultural preferences and spiritual values are also addressed.

The influence of time management on the efficiency of the teacher's work

Objective. The problem of rational use of time in the teacher's work is quite relevant because the pace of life in modern realities is associated with overload, high demands, and a constant shortage of time, which negatively affects the productivity and quality of the work process.The aim: to analyze the literature on methods and laws of time management, which will help optimize the work of the teacher.Research methods: monitoring of scientific literature related to the rational distribution of time.
 Results. The principles of saving time are generalized, the importance of goal setting is specified; correctness of priority determination of tasks; emphasis is placed on detecting and eliminating "time thieves"; the importance of monitoring the implementation of the tasks has been proved.Conclusions. The main thing in the practical organization of the teacher's time is the sequence of planning stages, goal setting, decision making, implementation of plans, and control over their performance. Acquisition of time management skills leads to the formation of conscious self-control, concentration, determination, discipline, which increase efficiency.

45Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Resident Doctors Internship Pilot: Translating Knowledge To Action In Epidemiology

45Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Resident Doctors Internship Pilot: Translating Knowledge To Action In Epidemiology

Monitoring adherence in children with asthma

Abstract Poor adherence is a global health issue, affecting all chronic conditions and all age groups. Medications will only work if they are taken, and ongoing adherence to medication and treatment is difficult in chronic illness. Average adherence rates are approximately 50% in paediatric patients with asthma, and this can lead to poor disease control and an increase in morbidity. Thus, it is prudent to consider and discuss non-adherence, whether it be intentional or unintentional, to avoid unnecessary escalation of treatment. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of adherence and the importance of goal setting. We discuss the challenges in varying age-groups, and methods that can be incorporated in various settings to optimize adherence. We explore how the advent of e-health (the combination of healthcare and technology) has impacted upon our ability to monitor adherence.

Nurse-Talk Ratios as a Measure of Participation in a Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention for People With Type 2 Diabetes.

Comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation teaches strategies to enhance strengths and has been used by nurses to target cognitive problems in chronic conditions. However, to date, no evaluations of web-based cognitive rehabilitation, based in empowerment theory, specifically for people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), have been done. The purpose of this study was to analyze a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for people with T2DM, using qualitative content analysis and 10-second event coding to determine to what extent the classes reflected empowerment theory. Nineteen adults with T2DM and two nurses participated in an 8-week intervention that combined webinar classes with online home-based computer training. Classes were audio recorded and 10-second event coding was used to calculate nurse-talk ratios. Transcripts were examined using content analysis and compared with the talk ratios. Talk ratios ranged from 40% to 74% for each class. Qualitative themes included (a) importance of goal setting; (b) pairing cognitive strategies with diabetes self-management; (c) experience and information sharing; and (d) validation by healthcare providers. Positive participant outcomes related to empowerment were associated with low nurse-talk ratios in some classes. However, high nurse-talk ratios were associated with factual content that participants also considered valuable. Talk ratios did not completely reflect the communication skills of the nurse. The 10-second method should be applied to other educational interventions in combination with qualitative analysis. Future interventions should include components of discourse evaluation and examinations of relationships to adherence and clinical outcomes.

Mentoring Across Academia and Communities: A Holistic Approach Involving Needs of the Mentee

What is mentoring? Mentoring is defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person assists another in developing specific skills and knowledge enhancing the mentee’s professional and personal growth. Mentoring benefits include: Knowledge transfer, creating a mentoring culture, and challenging the mentee to move beyond their comfort zone. Carmel and Paul (2015) describe self-selected mentoring as a process in which a mentee identifies a potential mentor based on similarities in interests and need. Findings indicated mentees experienced opportunities in career advancement, expanded thinking, scholarly confidence, facilitation of a collaborative culture, and understanding the importance of goal setting. Mentoring as a health promotion or intervention strategy has become widespread in communities. Two mentoring approaches will be discussed: a traditional format with students and faculty in academia, another utilizing an intergenerational approach with Latinx and Native American families. Recommendations will be discussed in terms of underlying core similarities across the venues.

Maximizing Telerehabilitation for Patients With Visual Loss After Stroke: Interview and Focus Group Study With Stroke Survivors, Carers, and Occupational Therapists.

BackgroundVisual field defects are a common consequence of stroke, and compensatory eye movement strategies have been identified as the most promising rehabilitation option. There has been a move toward compensatory telerehabilitation options, such as the Durham Reading and Exploration (DREX) training app, which significantly improves visual exploration, reading, and self-reported quality of life.ObjectiveThis study details an iterative process of liaising with stroke survivors, carers, and health care professionals to identify barriers and facilitators to using rehabilitation tools, as well as elements of good practice in telerehabilitation, with a focus on how the DREX package can be maximized.MethodsSurvey data from 75 stroke survivors informed 12 semistructured engagement activities (7 focus groups and 5 interviews) with 32 stroke survivors, 10 carers, and 24 occupational therapists.ResultsThematic analysis identified key themes within the data. Themes identified problems associated with poststroke health care from both patients’ and occupational therapists’ perspectives that need to be addressed to improve uptake of this rehabilitation tool and telerehabilitation options generally. This included identifying additional materials or assistance that were required to boost the impact of training packages. The acute rehabilitation setting was an identified barrier, and perceptions of technology were considered a barrier by some but a facilitator by others. In addition, 4 key features of telerehabilitation were identified: additional materials, the importance of goal setting, repetition, and feedback.ConclusionsThe data were used to try to overcome some barriers to the DREX training and are further discussed as considerations for telerehabilitation in general moving forward.

Usability and experience testing to refine an online intervention to prevent weight gain in new kidney transplant recipients.

Weight gain in the first year following kidney transplantation increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Currently, there is no recognized intervention available to prevent weight gain after kidney transplantation. An online kidney transplant-specific resource, entitled Exercise in Renal Transplant Online (ExeRTiOn), has been co-created by a multi-professional team, including patients, to assist with weight prevention. This study aimed to evaluate patient and health care professional usability and experience of the ExeRTiOn online resource. Qualitative study utilizing 'Think-Aloud' and semi-structured interviews. Participants (n=17) were purposively sampled to include new kidney transplant recipients (n=11) and transplant health care professionals (n=6). Kidney transplant recipient participants were from a spread of physical activity levels based on scores from the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ). 'Think-Aloud' interviews assessed the usability of ExeRTiOn. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' experience of ExeRTiOn, weight gain, and physical activity. The data set were analysed thematically. Participant characteristics, including login data and self-reported body weight, were collected. Data analyses identified valued intervention content and usability aspects which were summarized by two themes. The first theme 'You need to know how to manage yourself' included subthemes: (1) the resource filled a guidance gap, (2) expert patient content resonated, and (3) the importance of goal setting and monitoring progress. The second theme 'room for improvement' included subthemes: (2) web support and (2) content and operational change suggestions. Results have allowed for identification of potential areas for resource refinement. This has facilitated iterative enhancement of ExeRTiOn in preparation for a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

Governing through Goals: Sustainable Development Goals as Governance Innovation by Norichika Kanie and Frank Biermann (eds). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2017. 352pp (paperback), ISBN 9780262533195

The United Nations Sustainable Development Summit held on 25th September 2015, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and about 169 targets that aim at ending poverty, fghting inequality and injustice, and combating climate change. The 17 SDGs is an expansion from 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to mobilize action from the international community inaddressing systemic challenges across economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The adoption of the goals shows the commitment of the international community in dealing with the impacts of economic development on society and the natural environment. Yet, as detailed in this volume, the United Nations (UN) adoption of SDGs has also sparked academic debate particularly about the importance of goal-setting as a key global governance strategy.

The Importance of Goal Setting: Why Every Pharmacist Should Make Goal Setting a Habit

When speaking with pharmacists and students at pharmacy meetings, we often ask these two questions: Did they discover or learn anything new or interesting at the meeting, and;What do they hope to do with the knowledge and experiences they have encountered.At this year's Western Pharmacy Exchange meeting, many pharmacists voiced their desire to implement more clinical services, or see if the innovations showcased at the meeting could work in their practice. Students attended the meeting to find opportunities to network and explore other areas of pharmacy practice. When we go back to our busy lives and schedules, do we get a chance to follow through on these ideas that could advance us personally or professionally?As pharmacists, we often counsel our patients on medications and lifestyle changes. We encourage them to set goals to improve their diet, increase their exercise, manage their chronic disease state, and improve medication compliance. We utilize the teach-back method and employ motivational interviewing techniques. We realize that it is important for our patients to set clear goals and have a plan to achieve success.But how many of us actually practice what we preach? We have pledged to apply our knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of our ability to assure optimal outcomes for our patients.(1) As the pharmacy profession evolves, and as we train future generations of pharmacists, we have increased opportunities to expand our role and impact as a pharmacist. Goal setting is an important and valuable tool to support us in our personal and professional growth.The first step toward this growth is to establish S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.(2) Be specific about what you want to accomplish and what steps you are going to take to accomplish your goal. Establish a measurable outcome to define success. Ensure that your goal is achievable. Set relevant goals that support your big picture. Keep yourself accountable and on track by setting a realistic time frame.Setting short- and long-term S.M.A.R.T. goals lays the groundwork for creating and implementing a plan of action. Think about where you want to go and work backward. What skills and experiences are necessary to achieve your goals? How can your short-term goals build toward accomplishing a longer-term goal? What is a realistic time frame to encourage success and promote accountability?Goals should be periodically evaluated and modified as well. Honest self-reflection and identification of strengths and weaknesses is a must. If a certain trait, characteristic, or practice is impeding success, it should be identified and addressed. As goals are accomplished, and we move closer to our end goal, we may need to modify the steps we take to get there. Goal setting is a valuable tool, and one that can and should be applied at every stage in our personal and professional development to promote success.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: understanding professional event riders’ mental preparation for maximising self-confidence prior to competition using thematic analysis

High self-confidence or sport-confidence has been defined as a key psychological characteristic required by elite athletes, promoting optimal performance and helping manage competitive anxiety. Investigations have demonstrated that a mix of psychological interventions such as self-talk, goal setting, imagery, pre-performance routines and relaxation techniques are used by elite athletes as coping strategies. To date, most of this research has been carried out on collegiate athletes across a variety of sports but with limited research attention on equestrian sports. This study, using semi-structured interviews, explored five professional event riders’ experiences of psychological interventions used leading up to and during elite level international competition. Thematic analysis identified two meta-themes; Planning and Preparation, Arousal and Distraction Management. The riders outlined the importance of goal-setting, managing time and pre-performance routines as part of planning and preparation. They discussed the use of interventions such as self-talk and imagery in managing arousal levels with support teams playing a key role in distraction management. The findings from this study support previous research, suggesting that these riders have similar approaches to other non-equestrian athletes in their use of a combination of coping strategies to manage competition anxiety and build self-confidence.

Mixed methods process evaluation of an enhanced community-based rehabilitation intervention for elderly patients with hip fracture

ObjectivesTo describe the implementation of an enhanced rehabilitation programme for elderly hip fracture patients with mental capacity, in a randomised feasibility study compared with usual rehabilitation. To compare processes between...

Journal Digest

Journal Digest

Opportunity Exploitation at MNE’s Front End: When Stretch Goals Work Best?

MNEs increasingly try to maximize exploitation of new business opportunities in their global markets by their front line employees who are in close contact with customers. Because of the inconsistencies between primary roles of front liners and what is required for identifying and harnessing new business opportunities, MNEs need to find mechanisms to promote and organize these activities. Despite the importance of goal setting in encouraging opportunity recognition, yet we know too little about the effectiveness of the related practices. We identify the implications of setting stretch goals and conditions under which such goals stimulate opportunity exploitation in 102 service units, using data from three sources: database of registered business opportunities, a multiple respondents global survey, and company performance reports. Our findings highlights both negative and positive aspect of stretch goals and highlight managerial attention role in mitigating the negative effect as it alters the pattern of r...

Putting Behavioral Goal-Setting Research Into Practice

Students with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders can benefit from a variety of self-regulation strategies. One such strategy is goal setting, which can be used to improve both academic and behavioral outcomes in the classroom. In this article, we discuss the importance of goal setting and current research in this area. In addition, we provide a step-by-step process for implementing goal-setting interventions in the classroom.

The sustainable company: looking at goals for people, planet and profits

Purpose This paper aims to explore the landscape of sustainability goals set by large firms. Design/methodology/approach Sustainability reports were content analyzed using the triple bottom line framework. Findings This study identified 389 goals among 22 firms. The most common goals focused on the natural environment. On average, the firms list 18 sustainability goals. These included an average of eight “planet” goals, seven “people” goals and three “overarching” goals. Practical implications This research should be useful to sustainability professionals who are setting goals for their firms and seek to understand the current landscape of goals set by large firms. Originality/value Although previous research has analyzed the content of sustainability reports, this is the first paper to explore sustainability goals. Given the importance of goal setting in strategic management, this paper fills an important gap in the intersection between sustainability and strategy.

Formal mentorships: examining objective-setting, event participation and experience

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate commonly recommended practices for formal mentoring programs (FMP). The authors examine how objective-setting, participating in organizational FMP events, and repeat participation in a FMP relates to how mentors and mentees perceive their relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Mentor and mentee participants in an 18-month FMP within a consumer goods organization responded to a survey. Proposed hypotheses, competing hypotheses, and exploratory research questions were tested using regression. Findings – Setting objectives was most important to the mentoring relationship when mentors were unable to attend orientation events. Veteran mentees reported learning more from the relationship when paired with a veteran mentor; novice mentees reported the same when paired with novice mentors. Research limitations/implications – The findings provide some research evidence supporting practitioner-recommended best practices. The conclusions are limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data collection and the lack of random assignment to FMP events. Future research should consider field experiments, and explore a wider range of events and activities. Practical implications – The importance of goal setting should be stressed more often in training and orientation for FMPs, and program administrators should consider using repeat participation as a factor in matching. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine relationship-quality variables and learning in relation to participation in organization-sponsored events and to repeat involvement in a program. It also answers a call in the literature for studies on the characteristics that can enhance the success of formal mentoring efforts.

Mentoring and coaching in academia: Reflections on a mentoring/coaching relationship

The changing landscape in Higher Education has made it more difficult for less experienced academics to find persons willing and able to invest in, and support their professional development. Mentoring and coaching provide psychosocial assistance in the work space, which assists mentees to deal more effectively with role ambiguity, role conflict and a perceived uncertain environment. This paper presents a single case study of two academics at a university in Jamaica. Using minutes collected from 19 meetings over nine months, the paper discusses the processes and outcomes of an academic mentoring/coaching relationship on the professional development of a faculty member. The main findings indicated that the mentee was positively impacted by opportunities related to career advancement, expanded thinking, scholarly confidence, facilitation of a collaborative culture, and the importance of goal setting in academia. Based on these positive impacts, the mentor and mentee theorize that mentoring is an important activity that should be facilitated in higher education through structures peculiar to each unique context.

Determinants of quality management practices: An empirical study of New Zealand manufacturing firms

A large body of research in recent years has resulted in the accumulation of knowledge about better (worse) management practices for manufacturing firms. Given the wide dissemination of knowledge about practices such as Lean Manufacturing, the importance of goal-setting, performance management systems, employee promotion and reward structures, it is unclear why some firms do not adopt these broad-based management practices. If there are management practices that have the potential to universally increase productivity of manufacturing firms, their lack of adoption by all firms in such markets remains a pertinent question. New Zealand is a small open economy facing competitive pressure from both its geographical distance from large markets and its minimum wage, which is above key international competitors. In this context we use a novel survey tool designed by Bloom and Van Reenen (2007) and McKinsey & Co. to construct a Management Practices Score (MPS) based on 18 management practices from 152 medium- and large-sized New Zealand manufacturing firms. We find that the MPS is positively associated with various firm productivity performance indicators, particularly profit per employee and firm sales, indicating that the MPS captures relevant information about management practices. We find that firm size, ownership structure, and the level of education among both managers and non-managers positively impacts management performance. Unlike the findings in earlier international research, we find that competition does not have an association with management practices. The findings here contribute to understanding why best management practices are not universally adopted by manufacturing firms. ► A ‘double blind/double scored’ method is used to measure best management practice. ► Our findings suggest that the scoring method has validity in a small open economy. ► The management practice score is positively associated with productivity measures. ► We argue that firm characteristics explain the presence of better management. ► Firm characteristics are associated with better versus worse management practice.