Quantitative Dimensions Research Articles

Designing a leadership model in the 21st century for elementary school principals (case study: Tehran)

Background and Aim: Education is related to the development of human abilities. Therefore, educational leaders and managers face many challenges. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of presenting a leadership model in the 21st century for elementary school principals. Method: The research method was applied in terms of purpose and in terms of data, it was exploratory mix (qualitative-quantitative) and in terms of nature, it was systematic foundation (paradigm) data in qualitative dimension and cross-sectional survey in quantitative dimension. The statistical population of the qualitative part included experts in the field of human resources who have specialized doctoral education, and in the quantitative part, in the quantitative part, there were 850 people (468 women and 382 men) of primary education managers in Tehran. The sampling method in the qualitative section was purposefully theoretical and 15 experts were selected to reach theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, the sample size was 265 (146 women and 119 men) with the help of Morgan's table. After open and axial coding, the measurement tool was prepared in the form of a form and sent to the experts for selective coding and validated, and based on this, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and distributed among the randomly selected statistical sample. Then the collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: After the final approval and prioritization of the experts, the dimensions, components and indicators of the model were drawn, and the said model was again validated by the experts. The findings showed 5 dimensions, 16 components and 111 indicators for the leadership model in the 21st century for elementary school principals. Conclusion: In a summary, the following paradigm model can be deduced: 1- Causal factors: value orientation, future research, human capital, financial resources and psychological security. 2- Background conditions: organizational culture and educational environment. 3- Intervening factors: leadership style, high-hand documents, technological structure and technological skills. 4-Strategies: learning-teaching process, educational supervision, educational evaluation. 5- Consequences: effective school and educated graduates.

Presentation of research-oriented curriculum model for preschool period

Background and purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of presenting a research-oriented curriculum model for the preschool period. Research method: In terms of practical goals and in terms of data, this research is mixed exploratory (qualitative-quantitative) and in terms of nature, in the qualitative dimension, the data of the foundation is of its kind, and in the quantitative dimension, it is a cross-sectional survey. The statistical population of the qualitative part includes university professors and experts in the field of educational sciences and psychology, and in the quantitative part, it consists of all managers and teachers of preschool centers in Tehran with a master's degree and above in the field of educational sciences, in the number of 300 people. The sampling method in the qualitative section was purposeful, snowball type, and 15 experts were selected, and we reached theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, 169 people were selected based on Morgan's volume determination formula. In the current research, after the open and axial coding of the measurement tool, it was sent in the form of a set form and sent to the experts for selective coding and validated, and based on this, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and distributed among the randomly selected statistical sample. . Then the collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: From the results of data analysis, 3 dimensions of structure, education and skills in 26 components of 142 indicators were finalized for the research-oriented curriculum model of preschool period and the results of factor analysis All three dimensions of structure, education and skill were confirmed (P=0.05). Conclusion: After the analysis of the results and its factor approval, the final approval and prioritization by experts, the dimensions, components and indicators of the model were drawn and the said model was again validated by the experts.

Evaluation of the "Renewable Energy Management Lesson" curriculum model from the point of view of teachers and related experts

Background and Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of presenting a research-oriented curriculum model for the preschool period. Methods: The research method is exploratory (qualitative-quantitative) in terms of practical goals, and in terms of data, and in terms of nature, in the qualitative dimension, the foundation data is self-emerging, and in the quantitative dimension, it is a cross-sectional survey. The statistical population of the qualitative part includes university professors and experts in the field of educational sciences and psychology, and in the quantitative part, it consists of all managers and teachers of preschool centers in Tehran with a master's degree and above in the field of educational sciences, in the number of 300 people. The sampling method in the qualitative section was purposeful, snowball type, and 15 experts were selected, and we reached theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, 169 people were selected based on Morgan's volume determination formula. In the current research, after the open and axial coding of the measurement tool, it was sent in the form of a set form and sent to the experts for selective coding and validated, and based on this, a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and distributed among the randomly selected statistical sample. Then, the collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 3 dimensions, 26 components and 142 indicators were finalized for the preschool research-oriented curriculum model Conclusion: After the final confirmation and prioritization of the experts, the dimensions, components and indicators of the model were drawn, and the model was validated again by the experts.

РОЗВИТОК НАУКОВО-МЕТОДИЧНИХ ЗАСАД ОЦІНЮВАННЯ РІВНЯ ЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ

The article is devoted to the research of the scientific and methodological principles for measuring the economic security level. The author focuses attention on the features and elements of the estimation process, and the relationships between different elements. The article forms a system of interrelationships between estimation elements: estimation direction – nature (type) of estimation – estimation tools – security assessment results. The article contains a comprehensive approach to the assessment of economic security developed by the author, which includes a combination of different focuses of assessing the elements of the economic security system at different hierarchical levels (global, regional and national), namely the assessment of the global security environment through the analysis of threats and risks; multi-criteria assessment of countries' positions in the global economic environment; comparative analysis of regional security complexes; assessment of the foreign trade component in the system of economic security, analysis of national features of the countries’ economic security system. The developed approach allows to obtain a comprehensive vision of the features economic security system of the national economies operating in conditions of rapid transformations of the global environment. To assess threats and risks, it is proposed to use a survey procedure using the questionnaire method, which will allow to obtain an expert assessment of the factors of the security environment. Such a questionnaire may include a previously formed list of risks and threats of various nature and contain open questions, which allowed the involved experts to add other factors not taken into account or omitted in the given list. The peculiarity is that experts need to evaluate each risk or threat according to such evaluation criteria as the probability of occurrence, the strength of the influence on the socio-economic development security, the period of potential impact on the security level, which will allow to provide a quantitative dimension to the threats and risks and rank them by value. Key words: security, economic security, estimation process, security environment, threat, risk.

Activities design of Movements and Phases of the Moon: Spatial skill and academic achievement development

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of activities developed on the subject of Moon Movements and Phases on the spatial skills and academic achievement of 5th-grade students. For this purpose, a mixed research method was used. In the quantitative dimension of the research, a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group was used, and in the qualitative dimension, interviews were conducted with the students in the experimental and control groups. The research was conducted with a total of 44 students attending 5th grade. The activities were prepared with the opinions of science teachers and field experts. In the research, two different measurement tools were used: Spatial Test Battery and The Achievement Test for Sun, Earth, Moon and Moon Movements and Phases. As a result of the analysis, no statistically significant difference was found between experimental and control groups in terms of achievement and spatial skills. In the analysis of qualitative data, content analysis was used. Accordingly, it was determined that the activities prepared for astronomy education by the researcher increased the spatial thinking skills of the students in the experimental group.

Advances in stable isotope labeling: dynamic labeling for spatial and temporal proteomic analysis.

The field of proteomics is continually improving, requiring the development of new quantitative methods. Stable isotope labeling in cell culture (SILAC) is a metabolic labeling technique originating in the early 2000s. By incorporating isotopically labeled amino acids into the media used for cell culture, unlabeled versus labeled cells can be differentiated by the mass spectrometer. Traditional SILAC labeling has been expanded to pulsed applications allowing for a new quantitative dimension of proteomics - temporal analysis. The complete introduction of Heavy SILAC labeling chased with surplus unlabeled medium mimics traditional pulse-chase experiments and allows for the loss of heavy signal to track proteomic changes over time. In a similar fashion, pulsed SILAC (pSILAC) monitors the initial incorporation of a heavy label across a period of time, which allows for the rate of protein label integration to be assessed. These innovative techniques have aided in inspiring numerous SILAC-based temporal and spatial labeling applications, including super SILAC, spike-in SILAC, spatial SILAC, and a revival in label multiplexing. This review reflects upon the evolution of SILAC and the pulsed SILAC application, introduces advances in SILAC labeling, and proposes future perspectives for this novel and exciting field.

Analysis of Employment and Economic Patriotism: A Case of Nepal

Deficiency in demand is the host of almost all economic problems in the modern world.Economic growth and rate of employment has positive relations, but productivity of workers inversely affects the employment growth. Employment challenge in a developing country like Nepal may manifest in several forms. Firstly, there is a quantitative dimension in employment that employment growth may fall short of labour force growth giving rise to open unemployment. Secondly, low productivity earnings associated with a sizeable segment of the employed population. Eemployment patriotism is the judicial blend of employment and economic patriotism. Every government action is needed to be guided by employment generation motives. In addition to the increased pressure due to an unprecedented volume of COVID-19 induced returnees, the economic downturn due to the pandemic may also reduce the global demand for migrant workers. In such an alarming case, Nepal needs to prepare for employment patriotism policy.

The Asymmetricity of Regional Development in Ukraine: in The Search of a Conceptual Framework of Explanation

The article considers the possibilities of applying the central-peripheral approach to the study of the regions' development in Ukraine. The nature and the direction of demographic and migration trends in Ukraine are analyzed by the authors. The content of such phenomenon as a centralization of human and economic resources, resulting in the displacement of regions to the periphery. It was defined that the center acts as an exploiter of key resources of the regions, depriving them from opportunities for their own development. The main social indicators were identified, the measurement of which allows to assess the applicability of the central-peripheral approach to the regional system of Ukraine. These include: the demographic development of regions, the nature and the direction of migration flows, the distribution of economic and political resources between regions. It was identified that the internal migration movement manifests itself in two main forms: educational and labor migration. Educational migration has quantitative and qualitative dimensions. Thus, the center concentrates not only the largest number of applicants, but also the most successful, which creates risks for the reproduction of the intellectual potential of the regions. The need of studying the dysfunctions of the metropolitan centers of Ukraine, which contribute to the double operation of the regions, was noted. It was proven that the periphery is points as a donor of human and other resources for the center, as well as other most powerful internal metropolises, such as Lviv, which is competed as a center. According to the results of the research the main directions of further scientific investigations are determined, namely: determination of criteria for assigning territories to semi-periphery and periphery zones, further study of peripheralization mechanisms, study of ways to overcome imbalances of Ukraine's development as a socio-territorial integrity, study of foreign experience, framework for explaining regional development.

The effect of STEM activities on students’ academic achievement and problem solving skills: Matter and heat unit

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of instructional design applications prepared in accordance with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) approach based on the 5E model in the subject of “Matter and Heat” unit on the academic achievement and problem-solving skills of sixth grade students. The research was carried out with a mixed research design. In the quantitative dimension of the study, quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group was used. The study group consists of sixth grade students in a secondary school located in the district center of a metropolitan city in the Mediterranean region. The “Matter and Heat” unit was explained through the STEM education course plan integrated in 5E learning model in the experimental group and through the current course plans as required by the curriculum in the control group. As a data collection tool, the “Matter and Heat Achievement Test” and the “Problem Solving Inventory” were applied to both groups before and after STEM education. In order to support the qualitative dimension of the mixed research, the “Semi-Structured Interview Form” was filled in to get the opinions of the students in the experimental group about STEM education and it was analyzed using descriptive statistics. As a result, it was determined that STEM education did not make a statistical difference in students’ academic performance and problem-solving skills. However, the opinions of the students revealed that STEM education increased student engagement in the course that classes were more fun with STEM education, and that using this education in classes would be better for student learning.

Determining the professional competency levels of social studies teachers: A study of scale development and application

The aim of the study was to determine the areas of teachers’ needs for their professional development, and to develop a scale for assessing the competency levels of social studies teachers. The participants of the study were composed of social studies teacher who were selected using convenience sampling method. In the study, a mixed research method was preferred. While, the quantitative dimension of the research was conducted with 480, the qualitative dimension was conducted with 8 social studies teachers. The data were collected via the Social Studies Competency Scale, an observation form and a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0, AMOS 23.0, rubric, and content analysis. The findings obtained from the Social Studies Competency Scale showed that the competency levels of teachers were generally high. However, in-class observations revealed that teachers had a medium level of competence in planning and generating the teaching process, knowledge on the field and education, and in areas such as methods, techniques and equipment, and that they showed a low level of competence in some performance indicators of those areas. In this respect, it was concluded that supporting the quantitative findings obtained during the determination of professional development needs with qualitative findings was of crucial importance for an accurate determination of the areas of need.

Anchoring AI/Machine Learning on the African Technological Innovation and Investment Table

Research creates both knowledge and technology which are put into practical use through the process of innovation. The success in achieving applied scientific technologies can be measured in the form of technological solutions, patents, inventions, published research papers, etc. The purpose of the research was to formulate an economic framework and develop technological solutions for Zimbabwe with respect to knowledge generation, innovation and enterprise development. This was compounded by an exploration for opportunities in cybersecurity and machine learning for use in the knowledge generation and dissemination business. Cybersecurity is an amalgamation of technologies, processes and operations purposed to preserve and protect computer information systems from cyber-attacks or unauthorized access. Machine Learning (ML) entails the automatic data analysis of large data sets and production of models for the general relationships found among data. The Pragmatism paradigm was used as the research philosophy in this research as it epitomizes the congruity between knowledge and action. The qualitative aspect was primarily used in the knowledge generation component which was based on an integral research architecture which combines descriptive, narrative, theoretical, and experimental survey methods, through focused group discussions as the major research design. The quantitative dimension used an experiment as a research design to explore prototype models for cybersecurity and machine learning. Priority projects for strategic investment were identified for commercialization and these were on post-harvest technologies; small scale mining/mineral value addition/bio mining; clean water alternatives; tiles technologies from mining waste; ICT innovations in Machine Learning and Cybersecurity; and defence technologies. A Bayesian Network model for Cybersecurity was developed to guide implementation of future cybersecurity systems in Africa. The research used the KDDCup 1999 intrusion detection benchmark dataset in order to build an efficient network intrusion detection system. The sample comprised primary data with 42 variables in a set of 494,020 instances that was analysed using mainly the SNORT open-source software and other Bayesian Network supportive platforms. A Bayesian Network model was developed which took into consideration the most efficient ML algorithms.

MiRNA Combinatorics and its Role in Cell State Control-A Probabilistic Approach.

A hallmark of cancer evolution is that the tumor may change its cell identity and improve its survival and fitness. Drastic change in microRNA (miRNA) composition and quantities accompany such dynamic processes. Cancer samples are composed of cells’ mixtures of varying stages of cancerous progress. Therefore, cell-specific molecular profiling represents cellular averaging. In this study, we consider the degree to which altering miRNAs composition shifts cell behavior. We used COMICS, an iterative framework that simulates the stochastic events of miRNA-mRNA pairing, using a probabilistic approach. COMICS simulates the likelihood that cells change their transcriptome following many iterations (100 k). Results of COMICS from the human cell line (HeLa) confirmed that most genes are resistant to miRNA regulation. However, COMICS results suggest that the composition of the abundant miRNAs dictates the nature of the cells (across three cell lines) regardless of its actual mRNA steady-state. In silico perturbations of cell lines (i.e., by overexpressing miRNAs) allowed to classify genes according to their sensitivity and resilience to any combination of miRNA perturbations. Our results expose an overlooked quantitative dimension for a set of genes and miRNA regulation in living cells. The immediate implication is that even relatively modest overexpression of specific miRNAs may shift cell identity and impact cancer evolution.

Trends in food sensory science

Trends in food sensory science

Impact of Stem Integrated Argumentation-Based Inquiry Applications on Students ' Academic Success, Reflective Thinking and Creative Thinking Skills

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of argumentation-based inquiry approach (ABI) and STEM-supported ABI approach on students’ academic achievement, scientific creativity and reflective thinking skills for problem solving, and to determine students' views about the process. Explanatory sequential design, one of the mixed research methods, was used in the study. A total of 41students (N=20 boys, n=21 girls) studying in the seventh grade of a secondary school in north-east Turkey constitute the study group. In the study, the two classes that the same teacher attended was randomly determined where one was an ABI group (N=21) and the other a STEM-supported ABI group (N=20). The groups worked with the same teacher throughout the study. In the quantitative dimension of the study, Academic Achievement Test, Reflective Thinking Scale for Problem Solving, and Scientific Creativity Scale was used, while semi-structured interview form was used in the qualitative dimension. Independent Groups T Test and ANCOVA were applied in the analysis of quantitative data. Content analysis was performed in the analysis of qualitative data. In the research, it was concluded that students' reflective thinking skills for problem solving, scientific creativity and academic success are more developed in applications made by integrating STEM into the ABI approach.

Üniversite öğrencilerinin çevrim içi eğitimle ilgili görüşleri

With the abrupt emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, all the parties involved in higher education were caught unprepared for online education. The current study focuses on undergraduate students' ideas about the problems that have emerged during the pandemic. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected with a mixed-method research paradigm to answer the related research question. In the quantitative dimension, an online survey was applied to 154 undergraduate students at a state university in Turkey, and the results were analyzed descriptively. To collect qualitative data, a focus group interview was carried out with eight students from the same group. The quantitative analysis results revealed similar results with the recent related literature. The results revealed that, while a general satisfaction with online education resides among the participants, infrastructure problems were the major impediment in online education, and the workloads of the participants seem to have increased since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition to this, qualitative data analyses revealed a significant amount of demotivation about learning among the participants since the beginning of the pandemic. The participants shared a common notion that online education could not replace face-to-face education in any way. The participants also felt that there were serious problems in the testing and assessment processes; they believed that during the pandemic minimal student work has been overprized. This finding, to an extent, contradicts with the quantitative findings of the current study.

Looking through the eyes of Dyslexic Children: An Investigation into the Attitudes and Awareness of Selected Public School Teachers in Laguna

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the teachers? perception and level of awareness on pupils with dyslexia on phonological awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension and learning styles to improve their classroom performance and reading ability.The significant relationship between the teachers? perception on the level of disability of dyslexic pupils and their classroom performance was also measured. The respondents were thirty (30) public school teachers from the ten (10) selected schools in the Division of Laguna. A researcher-constructed questionnaire was used to gather the needed data. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics and multiple regressions were used to establish the quantitative dimensions of the problems posed. The results revealed that teachers? perception and level of awareness on pupils with dyslexia the students? performance and reading ability. The educators need to be sensitive to the wide range of ways in which dyslexic pupils may have difficulties as evidenced by the overall mean of 3.62, interpreted as highly evident. Classroom teachers need to have an understanding of the problems that a dyslexic child may have within the classroom situation. Hence, a great deal of misunderstanding of a child?s behavior can be prevented. School administrators together with the stakeholders should set plans to provide teachers with special training on how to identify the approach needed to dyslexic pupils.

The Effects of the Positive Psychology-Based Online Group Counselling Program on Mothers Having Children with Intellectual Disabilities.

The purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of the Positive Psychology-Based Online Group Counselling Program (PPBOGCP) on the psychological well-being, self-compassion and hope levels of the mothers having children with intellectual disabilities. The current study is a mixed-design research having quantitative and qualitative dimensions. The quantitative dimension of the study was designed in a quasi-experimental design based on the experimental, placebo and control group pre-test, post-test and follow-up test model. The study group is comprised of a total of 35 participants. While in the experimental group, the 10-session PPBOGCP developed by the researcher was implemented, a 10-session group counselling was conducted in the placebo group. No study was conducted with the individuals in the control group. As the data collection tools, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, Self-Compassion Scale and Dispositional Hope Scale were used in the current study. The quantitative analyses were conducted in SPSS 17 program package while the qualitative data were analyzed with the content analysis technique. According to the findings of the current study, the PPBOGCP created significant differences in the psychological well-being, self-compassion and hope levels of the mothers having children with intellectual disabilities according to the intervention time effect (p < 0.05). It was observed that the data obtained in the individual interviews were collected around the categories of “Learning how to cope with, recognizing the sources of support, perceiving positively-acceptance, empathy and development”.

Web 2.0 Aracı ile Desteklenen Çevrim İçi Fen Bilimleri Öğretimi: Sanal Müze Etkinliği

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the effect of the online science course, which is carried out by using the virtual museums created with the web 2.0 tool, on the academic achievement and science attitudes of the fifth-grade students. In addition, student opinions about the virtual museum were also taken within the scope of the study. The research was conducted based on mixed method research in which qualitative and quantitative research models were combined. Quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control groups was used in the quantitative dimension. The study group consisted of a total of 100 fifth grade students studying at a public school in the academic year of 2020-2021. In the determination of the study group, the easily accessible case sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used. The study group was divided into two, and science teaching was carried out in the experimental group with a virtual museum created with web 2.0 tools; in the control group, traditional science teaching was carried out by adhering to the activities in the textbook. In the qualitative aspect of the study, opinions about the virtual museum were taken from the students. In the study, the science lesson attitude scale and the academic achievement test prepared for the subject of human and environment were used as data collection tools. While the data obtained from the science lesson attitude scale and achievement test were analysed with the SPSS program; the interview data were analysed using descriptive analysis. As a result of the research, it was revealed that virtual museums, which are web 2.0 tools, have a positive effect on students' science lesson attitudes and academic achievement.

Multi-mode project portfolio selection and scheduling in a build-operate-transfer environment

Integrated decision-making about selecting and scheduling a project portfolio can lead to a more desirable performance. This paper considers the problem of selecting a portfolio among a set of possible projects which should be scheduled from vantage point of contractor simultaneously. Each project can be implemented in several modes, each of which has potential cash flows over the time horizon. Therefore, an NPV can be calculated for each project in a particular implementation mode. In this contribution, a structure composed of a fuzzy hybrid multi-criteria method and a fuzzy bi-objective mathematical programming model are presented to deal with quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the project portfolio selection and scheduling problem. To solve the problem, first the qualitative criteria are weighted by the fuzzy AHP, the obtained weights are applied to evaluate the projects in the fuzzy TOPSIS. Then, the fuzzy mathematical model is formulated with two objectives, including maximizing NPV of profit and portfolio score based on assumptions close to real conditions of build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. According to the assumptions, projects have multi-period implementation and operation phases; there are a penalty and reward system to meet the deadlines. Also, the company is able to attract external capital. The fuzzy model is converted to its crisp counterpart, and then the model is solved using the augmented epsilon constraint method with the data of an Iranian company as a case-study. The results show that considering multiple modes for project implementation has better results in comparison with confining the implementation of each project to only one mode (the mode with the maximum NPV).

Views of Senior Nursing Students on the Problems of the Elderly During the Covid-19 Process and Attitudes Against Ageism

Background: Older adults, the prevalence of chronic diseases increase, depending on the physiological and psychological changes that occur with aging processes of maintenance issues in pandemic seems to be more important. Objectives: This study aims to examine the attitudes of senior nursing students regarding ageism as well as their views of the problems the elderly faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present study is a mixed study with quantitative and qualitative dimensions and it was conducted in a nursing school in X. The quantitative part of the research was conducted with 75 senior students, 13 of whom were also included in the qualitative part of the study. Quantitative data were collected using the Introductory Information Form and the Ageism Attitude Scale and qualitative data using a semi-structured interview form. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests and content analysis were used. Results: It was found that the students’ attitudes toward the elderly were positive and their views of the elderly during the pandemic were distributed among the main themes of Vulnerable, Emotional Shake, Culture, and Iceberg. Conclusion: it is believed that it is important to ensure that health team members who will work with the older adults should be provided with an environment wherein they can provide care to the older adults in the first years of their education.