Revision Cycle Research Articles

Towarda Construct Definition of Informed Consent Comprehension

VARIATION IN HOW INFORMED CONSENT comprehension tests have been developed may be largely due to the absence of a standardized construct definition. Developing a construct definition would provide a standardized framework for determining how an instrument should be constructed, implemented, interpreted, and applied. Therefore, we utilized the Delphi consensus approach with an international expert panel (N = 19) to gather knowledge, opinions and eventually consensus for a construct definition. Expert consensus was achieved after three revision cycles. While acknowledging that there are limitations to this study, it nonetheless should be considered as a step toward standardization of a construct definition of informed consent comprehension.

Eleven steps to EBLIP service

Eleven steps to EBLIP service

Methodologies to evolve formal specifications through refinement and retrenchment in an analysis–revision cycle

The development of requirement specifications is done by accumulating knowledge about the desired systems in a progressive manner. This process can be supported by an analysis–revision cycle, in which the analysis phase checks the correctness of a given specification, and the revision phase modifies it, in case some problems are detected. To date, the analysis and revision activities have been typically considered in isolation, resulting in ineffective support to the stakeholders’ work. In response to that, this article introduces methodologies to conduct an interactive and integrated approach, grounded on the formalization of two basic types of evolutions (refinements and retrenchments) over multi-valued specification and modeling formalisms. Evaluation results are included to show that this approach can indeed help the stakeholders identify and clarify requirements through different stages of development.

Learning to Teach About Ideas and Evidence in Science: The Student Teacher as Change Agent

A collaborative curriculum development project was set up to address the lack of good examples of teaching about ideas and evidence and the nature of science encountered by student teachers training to teach in the age range 11–16 in schools in England. Student and teacher-mentor pairs devised, taught and evaluated novel lessons and approaches. The project design required increasing levels of critique through cycles of teaching, evaluation and revision of lessons. Data were gathered from interviews and students’ reports to assess the impact of the project on student teachers and to what extent any influences survived when they gained their first teaching posts. A significant outcome was the perception of teaching shifting from the delivery of standard lessons in prescribed ways to endeavours demanding creativity and decision-making. Although school-based factors limited newly qualified teachers’ chances to use new lessons and approaches and therefore act as change-agents in schools, the ability to critique curriculum materials and the recognition of the need to create space for professional dialogue were durable gains.

Commentary: Teaching cognitive skills in the biochemistry classroom-A community effort

Commentary: Teaching cognitive skills in the biochemistry classroom-A community effort

The NAPLEX: Evolution, Purpose, Scope, and Educational Implications

Since 2004, passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) has been a requirement for earning initial pharmacy licensure in all 50 United States. The creation and evolution from 1952-2005 of the particular pharmacy competency testing areas and quantities of questions are described for the former paper-and-pencil National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NABPLEX) and the current candidate-specific computer adaptive NAPLEX pharmacy licensure examinations. A 40% increase in the weighting of NAPLEX Blueprint Area 2 in May 2005, compared to that in the preceding 1997-2005 Blueprint, has implications for candidates' NAPLEX performance and associated curricular content and instruction. New pharmacy graduates' scores on the NAPLEX are neither intended nor validated to serve as a criterion for assessing or judging the quality or effectiveness of pharmacy curricula and instruction. The newest cycle of NAPLEX Blueprint revision, a continual process to ensure representation of nationwide contemporary practice, began in early 2008. It may take up to 2 years, including surveying several thousand national pharmacists, to complete.

Constructing Trust Between Teacher and Students Through Feedback and Revision Cycles in an EFL Writing Classroom

The authors' goal was to model the role played by the relationship between a writing teacher and her students in the feedback and revision cycle they experienced in an English-as-a-foreign-language context. Participants included a nonnative teacher of English and 14 students enrolled in her English writing class in a Korean university. Data came from formal, informal, and text-based interviews; semester-long classroom observations; and students' drafts with teacher comments. Findings showed that caring was enacted in complex and reciprocal ways, influenced by interwoven factors from the greater society, the course, the teacher, and the student. Students' level of trust in the teacher's English ability, teaching practices, and written feedback, as much as the teacher's trust in particular students based on how they revised their drafts, played a great role in the development of a caring relationship between them.

Revisions to Canada and United States Annual Estimates of Labour Productivity in the Business Sector, 2003 to 2006

This paper examines the impact of the revisions to labour productivity estimates and related variables covering the revision cycle of the National Accounts from 2003 to 2006 for Canada and from 2004 to 2006 for the United States.

Information architecture: IA and RIAs — You know more than you think you do

Information architecture: IA and RIAs — You know more than you think you do

Situationally embodied curriculum: Relating formalisms and contexts

AbstractThis study describes an example of design‐based research in which we make theoretical improvements in our understanding, in part based on empirical work, and use these to revise our curriculum and, simultaneously, our evolving theory of the relations between contexts and disciplinary formalisms. Prior to this study, we completed a first cycle of design revisions to a game‐based ecological sciences curriculum to make more apparent specific domain concepts associated with targeted learning standards. Of particular interest was using gaming principles to embed standards‐based science concepts in the curricular experience without undermining the situative embodiment central to our design philosophy. In Study One reported here, the same first‐cycle elementary teacher used the refined second‐cycle curriculum, again with high‐ability fourth graders. We then analyzed qualitative and quantitative data on student participation and performance to further refine our theory and revise the curriculum. In Study Two, another teacher implemented a further refined second‐cycle curriculum with lower achieving fourth graders, including several students labeled as having special needs. We use the design trajectory and results to illustrate and warrant the creation of a situationally embodied curriculum that supports the learning of specific disciplinary formalisms. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed, 91:750–782, 2007

Justin Lawrence Powers (1895–1981): Champion of improved medication standards

Justin Lawrence Powers (1895–1981): Champion of improved medication standards

The 2001 to 2004 Revisions of the Canada-U.S. Labour Productivity in the Business Sector

This paper examines the revision cycle for labour productivity estimates over the period from 2001 to 2004.

Highlights of the Consortium for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE): Expanding Research and Promising Practices in Personnel, Program, and Student Evaluation

This Special Issue of the Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education (JPEE) consists of six articles associated with presentations at the 15th annual National Evaluation Institute (NEI) of the Consortium for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE) held in Dallas, Texas (July 6–8, 2006). The theme of the CREATE conference was Expanding Research and Promising Practices in Personnel, Program, and Student Evaluation, with the objective of recognizing the importance of linking theory to practice. The vision of CREATE is to improve student learning, development, and achievement in PK-12 schools, institutes of higher education, and other educational settings. To that end, the mission of CREATE is (a) to advance the field of educational evaluation through a national forum for the presentation, discussion, and dissemination of sound practices of personnel, student, and program evaluation research and policy; (b) to facilitate a network among those who actively engage in personnel, program and/or student evaluations and those who benefit from such evaluations; and (c) to promote the development, dissemination, knowledge, and use of the personnel, program, and student evaluation standards as issued by the Joint Committee on Standards in Educational Evaluation. This Special Issue evolved in close collaboration between JPEE and CREATE. CREATE is grateful for this cooperation, bringing the opportunity to share some important manuscripts concerning evaluation to the attention of the readership of JPEE. Reviews and revision cycles resulted in the selection of the six articles among more than 50 submissions to the annual CREATE conference. The authors of the selected papers had an J Pers Eval Educ (2006) 19:1–3 DOI 10.1007/s11092-007-9034-7

Baroreflex resetting during exercise: mechanisms and meaning

the cardiovascular adjustments to exercise constitute well- coordinated responses throughout the body. Virtually every organ system is required to do more (e.g., skeletal muscle, the respiratory pump, and the cardiac pump) or to do the same as at rest while receiving less blood flow. Of all the

Point: The muscle metaboreflex does restore blood flow to contracting muscles

Imposed reductions in oxygen delivery to active skeletal muscle during dynamic exercise in conscious dogs evoke a powerful pressor response, termed the muscle metaboreflex. During submaximal work rates, the major mechanism used by this reflex is to increase cardiac output (CO), which generates a

Cranberry Best Management Practice Adoption and Conservation Farm Planning in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) bogs were historically developed in existing wetlands and new plantings are now established in mineral soils that are converted into constructed wetlands. To streamline the interaction between cranberry farming and wetlands protection, the state has defined “normal agricultural practices” that are exempt from wetlands regulations under certain circumstances. As part of that process and to qualify for the exemption, farmers are required to have a conservation farm plan and demonstrate the use of best management practices (BMPs) on their farms. The University of Massachusetts Amherst Cranberry Experiment Station (UMass Cranberry Station) was engaged to bring together the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and cranberry industry representatives to define BMPs specific to cranberry farming practices. Initially, the documents were reviewed by scientists and regulators for soundness of science and rigor of environmental protection. A grower committee reviewed the proposed BMPs to determine if the BMPs could be implemented on real farms. The next stage of the project consisted of defining areas where more research was needed to formulate good BMPs. In particular, research projects were initiated to study nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition. This research has become the basis for nutrition BMPs, national cranberry nutrition guidelines, and standards used by NRCS for cranberry nutrient management plans. The cranberry BMP project has continued with a regular cycle of revision and additions based on grower-identified needs for horticultural and environmental guidance. This connection to the growers, along with the regulatory link, accounts for the widespread adoption of BMPs in the cranberry industry. Local NRCS estimates that 75% to 80% of Massachusetts cranberry growers have current conservation farm plans that include BMP implementation.

Changing the National Electrical Code

The National Electrical Code governs all electrical installations in industrial facilities as well as commercial and residential occupancies. Since new products and electrical technology are constantly evolving, it is necessary to periodically revise the National Electrical Code to incorporate these changes in products and applications. This paper defines the complete revision cycle and provides guidance for submitting proposals and comments to change the National Electrical Code.

Quantifying the relevance of adaptive thermal comfort models in moderate thermal climate zones

Standards governing thermal comfort evaluation are on a constant cycle of revision and public review. One of the main topics being discussed in the latest round was the introduction of an adaptive thermal comfort model, which now forms an optional part of ASHRAE Standard 55. Also on a national level, adaptive thermal comfort guidelines come into being, such as in the Netherlands. This paper discusses two implementations of the adaptive comfort model in terms of usability and energy use for moderate maritime climate zones by means of literature study, a case study comprising temperature measurements, and building performance simulation. It is concluded that for moderate climate zones the adaptive model is only applicable during summer months, and can reduce energy for naturally conditioned buildings. However, the adaptive thermal comfort model has very limited application potential for such climates. Additionally we suggest a temperature parameter with a gradual course to replace the mean monthly outdoor air temperature to avoid step changes in optimum comfort temperatures.

Indonesia's new national accounts

This note addresses some of the main changes in Indonesia's national accounts, from 2000. These have resulted in higher estimates of GDP and slightly higher rates of GDP growth. The changes are part of a regular cycle of revisions and improvements in national accounting by the central statistics agency, BPS. On the output side, the higher level of GDP in 2000 is mainly due to upward revisions of value added in manufacturing industry, banking and trade. On the expenditure side, the higher level is mainly due to an upward revision of exports and the introduction of an estimate of investment in inventories. The choice of a new base year has resulted in higher weights for sectors with relatively high growth. This explains the higher rates of total GDP growth during 2000–03.

Are Durable Goods Consumers Forward-Looking? Evidence from College Textbooks*

We test whether textbook consumers are forward-looking, using a large new data set on textbooks sold in college bookstores during the ten semesters from 1997 to 2001. The data strongly support the hypothesis that students are forward-looking with low short-run discount rates and that they behave as if they have rational expectations of publishers' revision behavior. Data from a second new data set on the market prices of used books at Amazon Marketplace also support the hypothesis of rational, forward-looking behavior. Simulation results indicate that students are sufficiently forward-looking that publishers cannot consistently raise revenue by accelerating current revision cycles.