Research Brief Research Articles

Toward a pedagogical framework: New Zealand induction

Educators in New Zealand (NZ) stand poised to shift from a humanistic to a pedagogical viewpoint in their induction practices. Survey results discussed in this research brief are part of the first ...

Neighborhood Structural Qualities, Adolescents’ Perceptions of Neighborhoods, and Latino Youth Development

The purposes of this research brief were to examine (a) whether youth reports of neighborhood qualities were significantly related to census data at the block group, measuring the same structural qualities and (b) whether the structural qualities were related to youth development either directly or indirectly through youth perceptions. Data were collected from three sources: self-report surveys, school records, and the 2000 U.S. census. A nonrandom sample of 534 Latino students from one high school in Los Angeles was used. Correlations and structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated that youth reports of neighborhoods were significantly related to the structural qualities. SEM demonstrated that the structural qualities were indirectly related to all four adolescent outcomes (i.e., self-esteem, self-efficacy, academic aspirations, grades) via adolescents’ perceptions.

Resisting the Urge to Merge

The article presents a research brief of three studies being conducted on the psychological aspects of and employee reactions to corporate mergers. It references three studies by S. R. Giessner et al in a 2006 issue of “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.” The studies focused on issues such as premerger perceptions, merger patterns, and employee attitudes. The first two studies involved hypothetical situations; the third study involved actual employees involved in a merger. The researchers found that group identity played a large part in merger attitudes.

To Be Or Not To Be [Happy]: The Role of Employee Well-Being

The article presents a research brief of a study being conducted on the theory of employee well-being. It references a study by E. Diener et al published in a 2006 issue of “American Psychologist.” The study supposes that the misunderstanding of the nature of well-being can be traced to the hedonic treadmill model. The article addresses John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism and greatest happiness principle. The results of the research prompted the researchers to propose several modifications to the model, including the happiness or well-being set point. Other modifications are addressed.

"Sentimento de apego": descoberta de um valor do cliente pós-moderno?

O valor do cliente tem merecido atenção especial de acadêmicos e profissionais de marketing. Um relevante estudo de Leão e Mello sobre o tema identifica sete valores pessoais dos clientes, um dos quais não é previsto naliteratura especializada, sendo chamado por esses autores de "sentimento de apego". Pela importância dessa"descoberta" para a efetiva compreensão do tema, é proposto aqui que sejam entendidas as reais motivações por trás dessa nova variável. Para isso, este artigo não está baseado apenas no relatório original da referida pesquisa (LEÃO, 2001), mas também em artigos publicados posteriormente (LEÃO e MELLO, 2001, 2002 e 2003), tendo como corpus as entrevistas nas quais foi identificado o referido "sentimento de apego". Os autores deste artigo recorreram à análise de discurso para a observação dos dados levantados, os quais revelam a"busca por segurança", a "fuga da solidão" e "a questão da identidade" como fundamentos do "sentimento de apego". A conclusão é a de que o valor descoberto é um produto da chamada "pós-modernidade".

Research brief: Regional innovation: How scientific is our approach?

Research brief: Regional innovation: How scientific is our approach?

Is Positiveness in Organizations Always Desirable?

The article presents an ongoing research brief in the field of managerial practice. The authors are exploring the desirability of positiveness in the organization. The authors consider if positiveness matters and the implications for employee well-being and the organization. Discussion is presented of positive traits, positive states, cultivating positiveness, the negatives of positiveness, and the benefits of negativity. Overall, positiveness is good for organizations, but cynicism and critical thinking are also important aspects of the decision making process.

Research on Preventing Behavior Problems Using a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention: Preliminary Findings, Challenges, and Future Directions

One goal of prevention research in the field of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) is to improve social and academic outcomes for students with the highest risk behavioral profiles before they are identified for special education programming. Teaching students with EBD alongside typically functioning peers can minimize stigmatization, facilitate monitoring and social skill reinforcement, and maximize generalization throughout the school day. Using a theoretically based, randomized, controlled prevention trial approach, we are studying the effects of a universal cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to help students develop positive solutions to social problems in anger-provoking situations. Our research, however, requires a blend of requisite social science with practical considerations. In this research brief, we describe our work, the challenges we encounter as researchers in collaborative environments, and some thoughts about directions for future study.

Research brief: a study of the empowerment process for cancer patients

Research brief: a study of the empowerment process for cancer patients

Research brief: Doing one's duty: A case study of volunteering in a deprived community

Research brief: Doing one's duty: A case study of volunteering in a deprived community

Research brief: 'New labour's new localism: Regional economic development in the United Kingdom'

Research brief: 'New labour's new localism: Regional economic development in the United Kingdom'

Research brief: 'Bringing Cambridge to consett' university spin-offs in peripheral regions

Research brief: 'Bringing Cambridge to consett' university spin-offs in peripheral regions

RESEARCH BRIEF: Time, Task, and Talents in Ambulatory Care Nursing

RESEARCH BRIEF: Time, Task, and Talents in Ambulatory Care Nursing

Research brief: Degree of personalization as a cue in the assessment of adjustment to congregate housing by rural elders

To identify the factors that impact residents’ transition and adjustment to long-term aged care and influence their relocation experience.The transition to long-term aged care can be an emotional and stressful event for older people as well as their families and carers. The challenges triggered by relocation derive from home being on the move. The concept of home and Bridges’ three stages of transition framework provide conceptual models for better understanding the needs and aspiration of older people who are in the process of this late life transition.We searched Academic Search Premier, Cinahl, Medline, PyscINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection and Scopus databases for observational, descriptive studies published between January 1995 and July 2013 using subject headings and free-text search terms including adjustment, nursing homes, relocation and transition.The search identified 348 potentially relevant articles. Once duplicates were removed, 214 articles were screened for inclusion in this review; 42 articles were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 19 high-quality observational, descriptive studies that met the inclusion criteria. Key determinants of residents’ relocation experience include the extent to which they were able to exert control over the decision to move to an aged care facility, preserve their autonomy, and retain meaningful social relationships. Encouraging the development of new relationships with other residents and staff is an important role for staff to play. Providing residents with opportunities to talk about their feelings, their life experience, and their involvement in the decision to relocate to an aged care facility can help them in their transition to an aged care facility. Preadmission screening that provides staff with an understanding of personal, lifestyle and cultural needs that might facilitate improved transition may also be beneficial in care planning.An understanding of the factors that impact residents’ transition to long-term aged care, and their experience of relocation will assist aged care providers to create the conditions to ease adjustment anxiety and to facilitate a person's transition into his/her ‘last home’.

Initiating Effective Consumer Research to Support Strategic Decision Making in Local Authorities

There is great emphasis in local authorities for strategy development to reflect the characteristics and views of a local populace. Initiating research which effectively supports strategy development is problematic, as the gaps in strategists′ knowledge of a populace are not self‐evident. Examines the problems of initiating effective research which can support strategy development, and the barriers existing in local authorities which can prevent the successful development of research. Presents a format for a research brief that is seen as a means to develop negotiations between the strategist and the researcher. The brief is seen as a means to test the nature of skills in problem diagnosis and data interpretation of the researcher, in addition to their skills of measurement. It is a test of what the researcher can bring to the demanding tasks of strategy development.

Moderation in assessment: the case of MAP‐SW

Abstract This paper reports the results of a 3‐year project funded by the Manpower Services Commission/Training Agency, which ran from 1988 to 1991. The project had its origin in the difficulties encountered by TVEI courses in respect of certification by examining boards. In particular, issues relating to the moderation of teacher‐assessed coursework had come into prominence. The research brief was to develop by field‐based empirical methods a model of moderation which would aim to meet the needs of all potential users, students, teachers, moderators and the examination boards. In the course of the research the GCSE examination was introduced, followed by the National Curriculum, both of which greatly extended the scope of assessment of process and the roles of teachers in carrying it out. Using Assessment Development Officers from the seven West Country local authorities who were involved heavily with moderation, the project sought in a sustained way to clarify, test in the field, reflect upon and express coherently the evolving practice of assessment and moderation as it was experienced and understood by a range of teachers, assessors, moderators, local authority and examination board staff, researchers and trainers. Six 2‐day conferences were held over the 3‐year life of the project, with shorter meetings during the intervals to plan and direct the research activities in the field. These in turn reinforced the shared, collaborative activities that took place at the conferences and enabled continuous refinement of the assessment principles and the associated model of moderation to take place. The paper is based on the final report of the project. The neglected area of moderation is examined and related to the wider experience of assessment in current conditions. It takes note of the rapid growth of interest in attempts to include recognition of process as well as end‐products of learning and teaching in the certification of students’ achievements at all levels. The assumptions and experiences on which the model rests are examined and a brief version of the model is included. Some responses from participants in the dissemination conference sponsored by the Training Agency are also considered. The importance of course planning, teaching, assessment and moderation as an integrated process is stressed, the roles of teachers and moderators in moderation meetings are discussed in the light of the model, as well as the conduct of moderation meetings and the whole‐institution policies that would be essential for successful implementation. The model is seen as capable of application across all phases of the National Curriculum and beyond.

Research brief

research brief

Research brief

research brief

Research brief

research brief

Research brief

research brief