Senior Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Determination of Professional Belonging Level and Affecting Factors in Student and Working Midwives

Objective: The research has been carried out to determine the professional belonging of the undergraduate senior students studying midwifery at universities in Turkey and the midwives with a bachelor’s degree who are actively working as midwives in the field. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 174 midwifery senior undergraduate students studying at universities in Turkey and 171 midwives with a bachelor’s degree in the field between January 17 and April 29, 2022. The data were gathered through Google Survey Forms using introductory information form prepared by the researchers, including socio-demographic characteristics, views on the midwifery profession, professional activity information, and the Midwifery Belonging Scale. The number percent distribution, the chi-square analysis, the Mann Whitney U test, and the Kruskall Wallis test were used in the evaluation of the data, and the post-hoc Bonferonni test was used in the further analysis. Results: 50.43% of the participants in the research are senior undergraduate students, and 49.57% of them are working midwives. The total average score of the student midwives on the midwifery belonging scale is 93.18±10.01, and 90.21±13.18 for the working midwives. While a statistical difference was found between the student midwives and the working midwives in the emotional belonging sub-dimension mean scores of the scale, no difference was found in the other sub-dimension mean scores (p

Influence of Culture on Chinese University Students' Interaction with Feedback

Feedback is a powerful learning tool, however, cultural elements may inhibit its effectiveness. In China, the teacher-student dynamics are different than in the West and the methodologies purported by Western scholars may not be effective. This paper identifies cultural elements of Mianzi and Guanxi that influence social relationships in Chinese academic environments. The research explores the needs and perspectives on feedback practices of twenty-five senior undergraduate students at a Chinese University via semi-structured interviews. The results offer insight into best feedback practices when working with Chinese students. The key takeaway is that most Western effective feedback guidelines translate into the Chinese classroom, however, power dynamics inherent in Confucianist society inhibit students from engaging with teachers. It is also important to note that peer feedback may not be as effective because students may be reluctant to make a peer lose face or may not see peers as having valid opinions. Understanding key cultural concepts can facilitate communication between teachers and students, improving feedback effectiveness.

Examination of Psychological Counselor Candidates’ Views of Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Individual Psychological Counseling: A Q Methodology Approach

Individual Psychological Counseling Practicum is an applied course in which Guidance and Psychological Counseling undergraduate senior students have an opportunity to have a practical experience with an actual client in Turkey. In the course, the theoretical approaches chosen by the counselors and their views on this approach may affect their attitudes towards the practicum process and their experiences. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the opinions of guidance and psychological counseling senior students who took the course Individual Psychological Counseling Practicum about using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in individual psychological counseling with the Q-methodology approach. For this purpose, 33 senior undergraduate students participated in the current study, taking the Individual Psychological Counseling Practicum-2 course in Atatürk University. The research utilized Q-statements crafted by the researcher along with a Q-sort comprising 18 sentences ranging from -3 to +3, facilitating forced placement, as the data collection instrument. Results showed that the opinions of the counselor candidates about the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy were gathered in a single dimension, which indicates a positive attitude.

Using senior undergraduate students as coaches in an introductory chemical engineering design course

Senior undergraduate students were hired as Teaching Assistants (TAs) in CHBE 221, an introductory bioprocess design course offered in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at University of British Columbia, and the roles were recast from traditional course support, to being coaches and mentors to a small number of teams working on term-spanning design projects. This was done as a means to provide more personalized support to students working on realistic design problems early in their training, leverage the benefits of peer learning strategies, and provide professional and leadership development opportunities to the TAs ahead of graduation. At the end of the course in which this was implemented, surveys were sent to students asking them to comment on their experience with this mentorship model, and the TAs of the course were interviewed to better understand theirs. This paper presents the results of these surveys and interviews, highlights the benefits and challenges of this approach, and provides recommendations for future implementations of this student support model

Digital visualization in graduate transport phenomena

AbstractThe use of contour flood plots and color digital movies is investigated for teaching fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer at the first‐year graduate student level. The color visualizations are intended to not only stimulate curiosity but also encourage enthusiasm and determination in learning difficult material. Although there is a significant amount of finite‐difference material, the focus is on analytical solutions. In particular, the mathematical problems involve error functions and Fourier series, which generally prove uninteresting and unpopular. Students are encouraged to produce the visualizations themselves, in addition to being provided with digital results in various forms. Excel can be used to generate both the analytical and finite difference calculations, but Python or another computer language can be employed. While software, such as Matplotlib with Python, Gnuplot, or Tecplot, can create excellent contour flood plots, results from Excel are also good, and Powerpoint will produce movies from individual frames. Student response is positive, although quantifying their reaction is difficult based on the small class sizes. Not surprisingly, the use of color appeals to students and adds to their interest. In addition, students claim increased understanding with contour plots and movies, but the visualizations should be used in conjunction with more traditional graphs, perhaps augmented with consistent use of color. However, the impact on motivation due to color presentation is harder to establish. Interestingly, both graduate and senior undergraduate students showed about equal preference for the rainbow and viridis color palettes.

Hesitancy among Iranian nursing students regarding future career trajectory: a qualitative analysis

BackgroundThe shortage of skilled nurses is a major concern for health systems worldwide. This may be partly due to the hesitancy of some nurses to enter or remain in the nursing career. This shortage consequently reduces the quality of standard patient care, increases patients’ length of stay in a hospital, increases medical costs, and results in patients’ dissatisfaction. This study aimed to explore hesitancy among senior undergraduate nursing students to pursue a career in nursing.MethodsThis qualitative study adopted a thematic analysis approach. The population comprised senior undergraduate nursing students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, who indicated that they were hesitant to pursue a career in nursing. The study sampling was performed from May 2021 till February 2022 and continued until data saturation. Twenty-four interviews were conducted with the selected students. The attributes related to hesitancy among senior undergraduate nursing students to pursue a career in nursing were extracted as themes and sub-themes.ResultsFour themes were identified: academic idiosyncrasies, individual characteristics, poor nursing market regulations (sub-themes: nursing as a tough and intense career, and unfavorable employment contracts), and the peculiarities of the workplace (sub-themes: conflict within work environment, and barriers to professional nursing practice).ConclusionsThe findings of this study showed that senior undergraduate nursing students weigh their future career options from various academic, personal, professional, and work environment dimensions. The findings provide new insights for decision makers to design and implement innovative strategies to promote retention in nursing careers. We recommend to provide academic counseling for all students and applicants of nursing before they enter the nursing education. Furthermore, we suggest to improve study and work environments, and to implement incentive programs to enhance enthusiasm of nursing students for pursuing a nursing career.

Assessment of Level of Awareness, Current State of Knowledge, and Skills on Endocrown Technique Among Senior Saudi Dental Students and Interns.

Background Awareness and knowledge about the endocrown technique contribute to the delivery of quality dental care and restorative long-term success. Dentists must be aware and knowledgeable about endocrowns as they offer a conservative approach, aid in maintaining tooth integrity, and have become a promising option in use recently. Aim This study evaluated the current state of knowledge, and the understanding of the endocrown technique as post-endodontic management among senior undergraduate dental students and interns who have studied the theoretical and laboratory procedures of endocrown as part of the curriculum. Materials and methods This cross-sectional investigation was conducted through an online questionnaire consisting of 21 questions in three parts. The first part consisted of demographic information; the second encompassed knowledge and attitude; and the third part evaluated skills regarding endocrown technique. A total of 164 voluntary dental students and dental intern questionnaires were evaluated.Factor analysis was used to identify the domains for knowledge and skill. Results In this study, the knowledge and skills of undergraduate dental students toward endocrowns were assessed. The reliability statistics showed favorable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha values: 0.513 for knowledge and 0.729 for skill component 1). Significant correlations were noticed between knowledge component 1 and skill component 1 (r = 0.647, p < 0.001), knowledge component 1 and skill component 2 (r = 0.333, p < 0.001), and knowledge component 1 and skill component 3 (r = 0.260, p = 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating students' understanding of endocrown. Significant differences were found among intern participants, fifth- and sixth-year dental students in component 1 of the knowledge (p-value<0.001), andall skills components. Conclusion Dental students have varying levels of knowledge and skills related to endocrown. Gaps in knowledge and skills have been detected, which dictates intervention actions, including curricular changes and training workshops.

Exploring the construct of meaning in life among the senior undergraduate student

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;The meaning in life is a fundamental human behavior that plays an essential role in self-development. The concept of meaning in life continues to focus on researchers using various theoretical perspectives. This study explored the construct of meaning in life from the vantage point of undergraduate students in their final year. They were chosen by considering the severity of the developmental tasks that must be completed during this time. By using the mixed-method approach, the study found the concept of meaning in life through the qualitative method. Some themes were related to the meaning of life, namely: experiencing a number of important events, being devoted to religion, learning from life, feeling positive emotions, benefiting others, interacting socially, and caring for oneself. The study was followed by a quantitative method through exploratory factor analysis and found that the construct of the meaning in life consisted of three factors, namely: facing difficult and severe situations, getting lessons from unpleasant situations, and thinking flexibly when dealing with various situations. This measurement model could be used in the development of meaning in life theory. Practically, it becomes the reference in solving the life problems.&lt;/span&gt;

PRE-SERVICE ENGLISH TEACHERS’ BELIEFS ON READINESS OF TEACHING SPEAKING SKILLS

In recent years, researchers have focused on how students and teachers perceive language learning and teaching. However, few studies have been conducted on pre- service teachers’ and teachers’ beliefs about teaching speaking skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine pre-service EFL teachers’ beliefs about their readiness to teach speaking skills. In particular, the researcher aimed to find out which speaking skills pre-service EFL teachers felt ready or unprepared to teach, and to what extent pre-service EFL teachers perceived themselves as ready to teach speaking skills. The participants of the research are 61 undergraduate senior students enrolled in the English Language Teaching program at Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University in Turkestan. A mixed-method research design approach was used and samples from both quantitative and qualitative sections were utilized. Factor analysis was performed for the validity of the scale developed in this study, and the reliability of the scale was determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0,92). The results of the study showed that the majority of the participants gave positive responses to the belief statements about teaching speaking skills. However, some participants stated that they did not agree with some statements of belief. Several interpretations and suggestions were derived from the results of the present study.

YouTube-Assisted Listening Instruction (YALI): A Study of Listening Comprehension and Listening Anxiety of University Students of German as a Foreign Language

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of YouTube-assisted listening instruction (YALI) on the listening anxiety of students of German as a foreign language (GFL) and their listening comprehension performance. For this purpose, a total of ninety-six senior undergraduate students were equally divided into three groups using the criterion sampling technique: (a) YouTube-assisted listening instruction (experimental group); (b) traditional listening instruction with auditory materials (control group - 1); and (c) instruction without listening exposure (control group - 2). The instructional approach was underpinned by Richard E. Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML). After a ten-week treatment process, results revealed that the students in YALI showed the best GFL listening comprehension performance compared to the control groups. In addition, YALI was observed to reduce students' GFL listening anxiety. Finally, a negative linear correlation between listening anxiety and listening comprehension performance was detected. This meant that students' listening anxiety decreased as their listening comprehension performance increased. To gain a better understanding of the effects of YALI on GFL listening comprehension performance and listening anxiety, relevant implications were discussed.

Changing colors and understanding: the use of mutant chromogenic protein and informational suppressor strains of Escherichia coli to explore the central dogma of molecular biology.

The central dogma of molecular biology is a key concept for undergraduate students in the life sciences as it describes the flow of information in living systems from gene-to-gene product. However, despite often being covered in many introductory life science courses, students may still have misconceptions surrounding the central dogma even as they move on to advanced courses. Active learning strategies such as laboratory activities can be useful in addressing such misconceptions. In the laboratory exercise presented here, senior undergraduate students explore the intricacies of nonsense suppressor mutations to challenge their understanding of the central dogma. The students introduce a plasmid carrying a nonfunctional chromogenic protein gene due to a nonsense mutation in a codon encoding the chromophore to various nonsense suppressor strains of Escherichia coli. Students then observe distinct chromogenic phenotypes, depending on the suppressor strain. Students showed a moderate increase in understanding of the central dogma. While the central dogma remains a challenging concept, active learning strategies like the one presented here can help reduce conceptual errors.

Knowledge and attitude of dental students regarding etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of peri-implantitis.

The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of dental students about the etiology, diagnosis, and management of peri-implantitis. An online cross-sectional study that targeted senior undergraduate dental students at the College of Dentistry was conducted. A closed-ended survey consisting of 28 questions was designed. Three sections were created: 1) participants' characteristics; 2) Knowledge of peri-implantitis etiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and complications; 3) The use of antibiotics in peri-implantitis, diagnosis, and treatment methods. SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp.) was used for data analysis. Counts and percentages were calculated for correct answers in each section. A total of 267 dental students responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the participants (81.6%) were knowledgeable about peri-implantitis being an inflammatory reaction, and a lesser percentage (77.9%) knew that bacterial plaque is an etiologic factor for peri-implant diseases. 82.0% of the participants identified smoking as a risk factor, followed by periodontitis (80.5%). Regarding implant complications, 57.3% of the participants considered implant mobility as a definitive indication for implant removal. More than half of the participants reported using crater-like bone defects surrounding implants to diagnose peri-implantitis. The most commonly used antibiotic was amoxicillin (34.1%), followed by amoxicillin combined with metronidazole (26.9%). Most participants had a basic understanding of the etiology and risk factors of peri-implantitis. On the other hand, more courses addressing peri-implantitis diagnosis are needed.

Visual Impact Analysis Via SPSS Method On Café Facades

Facades interact with people and trigger the aesthetic judgment process. They are perceived as whole with their shape, colour, texture, and proportion features. The paper aims to determine the objective design criteria of pleasant places based on subjective aesthetic judgement. The quantitative research which is based on semantic differential method and a set of open-ended questions aim to determine preferred shape, colour, texture, and proportion features on cafe facades from the perspective of subjective visual perception. Statistical evaluation of the survey results was made with the SPSS program. The research universe consisted of senior undergraduate students who studied architecture and interior architecture, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate graduates in the field of architecture and designers. The cafes located in the coastal part of Kemankes Karamustafa Pasa Neighbourhood of Karakoy District in Istanbul, which has historical and touristic importance, were chosen for the fieldwork. According to the findings obtained through the survey, the participants prefer to sit in cafes on the streets, which are respectful to the historical texture, plain, light colors are used and enriched with plants. Participants agree that domestic and foreign tourists like streets with similar characteristics. It is preferred that the places where they are as tourists are lively and colorful. The outcomes of this paper will contribute for transforming streets into pleasant places in urban regeneration process.

Enhancing medical education in respiratory diseases: efficacy of a 3D printing, problem-based, and case-based learning approach

ObjectivesThe present study aims to investigate the efficacy of utilizing three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in concert with Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Case-Based Learning (CBL) pedagogical approaches in educating senior undergraduate clinical medical students on respiratory diseases.MethodsA cohort of 422 fourth-year clinical medicical students of from Anhui Medical University, pursuing a five-year program, were arbitrarily segregated into two distinct groups. The experimental group was subjected to a combined pedagogical approach, which included 3D printing technology, PBL and CBL (referred to as DPC). Conversely, the control group was exposed to conventional teaching methodologies for respiratory disease education. The effectiveness of the teaching methods was subsequently appraised using both theoretical test scores and custom questionnaires.ResultsPost-quiz scores indicated a statistically significant improvement in the DPC group as compared to the traditional group (P < 0.01). Self-evaluation and satisfaction questionnaires revealed that the DPC group’s self-assessment scores outperformed the traditional group in several aspects, including clinical thinking ability, learning initiative, self-study ability, anatomical knowledge mastery, confidence in learning, ability to analyze and solve problems, comprehension of the knowledge, help to clinical thinking and level of satisfaction on the teaching methods (P < 0.01). However, within the unsatisfied DPC sub-group, none of these self-assessment aspects, except for comprehension of the knowledge, impacted the learning efficacy (P > 0.05).ConclusionThe deployment of the DPC pedagogical approach may confer unique experiential learning opportunities for students, potentially enhancing theoretical test scores and promoting self-evaluation and satisfaction in the context of respiratory disease education. Hence, it may be instrumental in augmenting the overall teaching efficacy.

Unlocking Undergraduate Student Success: A Study of High-Impact Practices in a Comprehensive and Diverse College

This study examines undergraduate senior students’ participation in high-impact practices (HIPs) and the relationship of that participation with engagement indicators, perceived gains, and overall satisfaction, as well as institutional outcomes of persistence and graduation based on race/ethnicity, first-generation status, and low-income status. Drawing on multiple years of data from 1,482 undergraduate seniors who completed the 2015 through 2019 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and enrolled in a comprehensive four-year state college, this study indicates that HIP participants reported higher levels of engagement, perceived gains, and overall satisfaction. Participation in HIPs is also positively related to improved persistence or graduation, particularly for racially minoritized students. While overall participation patterns were similar regardless of race/ethnicity or first-generation status, low-income students had higher participation rates in HIPs and participated in more kinds of HIPs as compared to their non-low-income counterparts. Implications of implementing and increasing access to HIPs for enhancing student success in similar institutions are discussed.

Barriers to Graduate Applications: Perspectives of Undergraduate Students From Underrepresented Backgrounds in Communication Science and Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the perspectives of students from underrepresented backgrounds on the graduate school application process and identify ways to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in communication science and disorders. Method: A novel 15-item survey was used to solicit information about the experiences and perspectives of the graduate application process from 39 senior undergraduate students in a communication science and disorders program. Semistructured interviews were then conducted with seven students from underrepresented backgrounds to further explore perceived barriers to graduate applications and potential resources and supports. Results: Results demonstrated a variety of factors, including financial demands, Graduate Record Examinations requirements, and program location and prestige, that influenced student decision making during the application process. Students from underrepresented backgrounds reported applying to more programs on average but engaged in numerically fewer hours of research and practicum experiences than peers from majority backgrounds. The most significant barriers to the graduate application process included learning and mentorship challenges during COVID-19, limited experiential learning opportunities, and difficulties forming social connections. Departmental support, application assistance, and mentorship initiatives were highlighted as potential levers of change. Conclusions: Based on reported barriers to the graduate application process, more research is necessary to further investigate the extent these factors influence achievement, retention, and overall success of students from underrepresented backgrounds. Additional resources and supports, especially those recommended by students in this study, may serve as potential action steps to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in communication science and disorders programs. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23519058

Collaborative group work: university students' perceptions and experiences before and during COVID-19.

The present study examines how the transition from in-person to online instruction following COVID-19 restrictions impacted group work in higher education contexts. Senior undergraduate students were surveyed regarding their perceptions and experiences with collaborative instructional methods in the Fall term preceding shutdown associated with COVID-19 and one year later when learning had shifted to online formats due to health mandates. Although students had fewer courses, they had more group work assignments during the pandemic than before. Group work experiences were rated less favorably in terms of efficiency, satisfaction, motivation, and workload demands during the pandemic versus before. However, forming friendships among group members was a salient feature associated with positive perceptions toward group work both before and during the pandemic. Anxiety was associated with negative perceptions toward group work only during the pandemic. Despite considerable comfort and familiarity with online tools, in-person contexts were rated more favorably than online contexts in terms of quality of work produced and learning. Findings reinforce the need to consider inclusion of interactive and social opportunities as important aspects of instructional design, especially in online contexts.

Hybrid Model Teaching in the Postepidemic Period: From Nucleic Acid to Antigen for the Fluorescence Analysis of SARS-CoV-2.

Owing to the global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), education has shifted to distance online learning, whereas some face-to-face courses have been resumed with the improvement of the outbreak prevention and management situation, including a laboratory course for senior undergraduate students in chemical biology. Here, we present an innovative chemical biology experiment covering COVID-19 topics, which was created for third-year undergraduates. The basic principles of two nucleic-acid- and antigen-based diagnostic techniques for SARS-CoV-2 are demonstrated in detail. These experiments are designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of COVID-19 and related diagnoses in daily life. Crucially, the biosafety of this experimental manipulation was ensured by using artificial nucleic acids and recombinant protein. Furthermore, an interactive hybrid online-facing teaching model was designed to cover the key mechanism regarding PCR and serological tests of COVID-19. Finally, a satisfactory evaluation was obtained through a questionnaire, and simultaneously, reasonable improvements to the course design were suggested. The proposed curriculum provides all the necessary information for other instructors to create new courses supported by research.

Conceptual Understanding of Signals and Systems in Senior Undergraduate Students

Contribution: This article proposes a new definition of conceptual understanding (CU) specific to engineering. It then measures CU of signals and systems (S&S) in senior undergraduate students and describes how students approach conceptual problems. Background: Previous studies across multiple engineering subjects show students have low CU at the end of courses. However, little is known about CU semesters after a course. Research Questions: What is the CU of S&S concepts among electrical engineering senior students? Methodology: This mixed method study uses quantitative concept inventory data <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(n=467)$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and think-aloud interviews <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(n={12})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to measure CU. The results come from two universities. Findings: Seniors’ scores on the concept inventory are typical of scores presented at the end of an S&S course. Many struggled with the concept of linearity, made a common error when finding the maximum value in graphical convolution, and had low confidence on relating frequencies in time to a Fourier transform representation, but seniors had relatively high CU of time invariance and filtering.

The Complexities and Benefits of Community-Partnered Projects for Engineering Capstone Design Students

Community-partnered engineering projects provide a mechanism for cultivating the development of sociotechnical engineers prepared to design within diverse and complex cultural, environmental, social, and other contexts. During the 2021–2022 academic year, we guided three teams of senior undergraduate engineering students through year-long community-partnered projects for their required capstone design course, which instead typically features corporate/industry-sponsored projects. We analyzed end-of-semester reflections (both fall and spring semester) from each student using inductive thematic analysis to explore how they perceived their experiences. The themes that emerged from the student reflections, including connectivity, transdisciplinary, multiple stakeholders, sustainability, justice, and ethics, are all components of the sociotechnical engineering capabilities that we are working to develop in our students. We consider these findings encouraging, and suggestive that integrating community-partnered projects into engineering capstone design offerings is worthwhile and effective. However, our implementation was not without challenges, such as trying to force the projects to fit into a course structure and timeline developed to support corporate/industry-sponsored project teams, which was burdensome to the community-partnered project teams. In this paper, we highlight both the complexities and benefits of this approach and insights gained from student and instructor reflections.