Postgraduate University Students Research Articles

Teaching and research in astronomy using small aperture optical telescopes

AbstractSmall aperture (<1m, typically 20–50 cm) optical telescopes with adequate back-end instrumentation (e.g. photometer, CCD camera and CCD spectrograph) can be used for spreading the joy and excitement of observational astronomy among postgraduate and research students in colleges and universities. On the basis of our experience over a decade of observing with small optical telescopes it has been amply demonstrated that such a facility, which any university can hope to procure and maintain, can be effectively used for teaching and research. The Physics Department of Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University at Raipur, India offers Astronomy & Astrophysics as one of the specializations of its MSc program in Physics. A set of observational exercises has been incorporated with a view to provide training in observations, analysis and interpretation of astronomical data. Observing facilities available in the department include 8”–14” aperture telescopes equipped with a photometer, CCD camera and a CCD spectrograph. A facility of this kind is ideally suited for continuous monitoring of a variety of variable stars, and thus can provide valuable data for understanding the physics of stellar variability. This is especially true for a class of variable stars known as chromospherically active stars. The stars belonging to this class have variable light curves that change from year to year in a rather strange way. A large fraction of these active stars are bright; hence the importance of small aperture telescopes for collecting much-needed photometric data. For over a decade the research activity using the 14” optical telescope has focused on photometric monitoring of well known and suspected active stars. These data, together with X-ray and radio data from archives as well as spectroscopic data obtained at Indian observatories, has led to the identification of new chromosperically active stars. This paper is aimed at sharing our experiences with the colleagues from the developing world on the usage of small optical telescopes for teaching and research with the objective of spreading the joy of astronomy among young students.

Psychophysiological responsivity to Indian instrumental music

The effects of rāga Desi-Todi played on a flute by a renowned Indian musician, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, were examined on three physiological (alpha EEG frequency, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) and three psychological (depression, state and trait anxiety, and four components of anxiety: somatic, cognitive, behavioral and affective) assessments. The postgraduate male university students served as subjects. The subjects listened to instrumental music (without lyrics) for 30 minutes a day for 20 days. A pre- and post-treatment procedure was adopted for recording physiological and psychological assessments. The results showed that the instrumental music led to a significant increase in the alpha EEG frequency and a significant decrease in the scores on depression, state and trait anxiety, and the four components of anxiety; the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, however, remained unaffected.

Exploring the Role of Nationality, Gender and Educational Level on the Possible Selves of Greek and UK Young Adults from Divorced and Intact Families

ABSTRACT Research suggests that parental divorce affects offspring's later life. The present study explores the long-term effects of parental divorce on UK and Greek young adults' possible selves concerning future family life, friendships and occupation taking account of the mediating role of nationality, gender and educational level. The sample consisted of 332 Greek and UK postgraduate University students. They completed a questionnaire concerning possible selves. The findings showed that culture rather than the status of parental family was the main factor differentiating between individual's possible selves. There were few gender differences although the individual's educational level appeared to be a significant mediating factor particularly for the Greek participants. The findings are discussed in relation to cross-cultural differences in attitudes towards divorce.

Young Adults from Divorced and Intact Families: Possible Selves Relating to Future Family Life

ABSTRACT This study explores differences in possible selves relating to future family life reported by young adults from divorced and intact families. Twenty-four in depth interviews were carried out with university postgraduate students, aged 25–35. Individuals from divorced families reported more negative possible selves compared to their counterparts from intact families. Possible selves reported only by divorcees' offspring concerned themselves being divorced in the future, being cautious in relationships and being overprotective with their children. They also described an ideal but unrealistic possible self about future happy family life. Divorcees' female offspring reported more negative possible selves than their counterparts from intact families and males from divorced families. The findings are discussed in relation to the theoretical concept of possible selves.

Exploring the Role of Nationality, Gender and Educational Level on the Possible Selves of Greek and UK Young Adults from Divorced and Intact Families

ABSTRACT Research suggests that parental divorce affects offspring's later life. The present study explores the long-term effects of parental divorce on UK and Greek young adults possible selves concerning future family life, friendships and occupation taking account of the mediating role of nationality, gender and educational level. The sample consisted of 332 Greek and UK postgraduate University students. They completed a questionnaire concerning possible selves. The findings showed that culture rather than the status of parental family was the main factor differentiating between individual's possible selves. There were few gender differences although the individual's educational level appeared to be a significant mediating factor particularly for the Greek participants. The findings are discussed in relation to cross-cultural differences in attitudes towards divorce.

A study of the information use by postgraduate students of University of Tsukuda through citation analysis of their theses

A study of the information use by postgraduate students of University of Tsukuda through citation analysis of their theses

Random number generation in autism.

This study explored the ability of individuals with autism to generate a unique series of digits. Fourteen low-functioning individuals with autism, 14 intellectually disabled individuals, and 14 postgraduate university students generated a series of pseudo-random digits. Individuals with autism were more likely to repeat previous digits than were either of the control groups. The normal control group, however, was less likely to attempt cycling through all digits before repeating. Accordingly, low-functioning individuals with autism may exhibit a short-fall in response inhibition. This finding supports the executive dysfunction theory of autism.

An investigation into the inter-relationship among work, family and part-time education in Hong Kong

Part-time tertiary education at both undergraduate and graduate levels are becoming more and more popular. In pursuing part-time studies, students must use their own limited and valuable non-work hours at the cost of giving up other commitments to their family and social lives. Part-time study is considered to be a very effective indicator of employees' drive for personal development. A research was conducted in October 2000 to study the mechanism linking work, family and part-time tertiary education, with a review to clarifying the issue and recommending means to manage the conflict among roles in these three domains. About 500 postgraduate and undergraduate part-time university students (who had full-time jobs) in Hong Kong were surveyed. The results of the study suggest that the support of employers and families has a certain statistically significant relationship with the perceived job performance and satisfaction in family and work lives of employees pursuing part-time tertiary education. However, it was observed that academic performance of employees' part-time study actually had no statistically significant correlation with any of the independent and mediating variables that were analysed in the study.

Robert Arthur Humphreys (1907-1999)

Robert Arthur Humphreys (1907-1999)

Towards a strategy for supporting distance-learning students through networked access to information: issues and challenges in preparing to support the Doctorate in Education

This paper seeks to address the issues of supporting the Open University's postgraduate students through networked access to infomlation. The paper positions the Open University, since it is at this point still a unique facility in tenns of size and standing within the UK higher education system, in order to establish the need for quality lnfonnation Services, and for a scaleable model which can be applied to other postgraduate courses. The paper describes the support planned for the forthcoming Doctorate in Education. the importance of a collaborative approach to the delivery of distance education, and the issues surrounding the evolving strategy for networked infonnation provision. 1. Background The Open University (OU) is the UK's largest university in terms of student numbers, with 150,000 students currently registered. It produces 5% of all first degree students in the UK each year, and represents 37% of all part-time higher education students in the UK. Eight subject areas have been recognised as produc­ ing research work of international excellence, with another eleven rated at na­ tional excellence. In 1996 some 17,000 students are required to have computers for their studies of which some l3,000 will have on-line access to the OU's network. Historically the OU Library has not supported the information needs of its students, who have relied on local public libraries and academic libraries to which they may have had access. However, it has always provided subject guides to the literature and other tools, as required, which have been integrated into the course team materials. In addition it has assisted with the development of Library projects undertaken at Summer Schools in host universities, and with supporting literature searching for specific course needs. Support is also given, where possible, to the 6,000 higher degree students. With the development of electronic tools, the Li­ brary's remit has been extended to develop a strategy for supporting students through networked access to information.