Social Networking Opportunities Research Articles

Factors Affecting Convention Participation Decision-Making: Developing a Measurement Scale

The study developed a measurement scale to examine factors affecting convention participation decision-making. The scale development process started with a review of extant literature and personal interviews, followed by data collection through a Web survey of selected association members. Data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis and unidimensionality tests via subsequent confirmatory factor analysis. These procedures yielded a five-factor measurement scale with acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Five underlying dimensions of convention participation decision-making were labeled: (a) destination stimuli, (b) professional and social networking opportunities, (c) educational opportunities, (d) safety and health situation, and (e) travelability. The implications of the scale are discussed for future research as well as convention marketing strategy.

Science in the virtual learning environment as more than online conversation

The asynchronous computer conference still finds itself largely ignored as an effective vehicle for supporting student-centered, collaborative learning experiences. When it is employed the quality of the learning experience varies widely. The literature reports students either unengaged with the medium or overwhelmed by the discussion threads. The online discussion itself tends to take on the nature of an accumulation of independent facts and little peer-to-peer engagement. It is recognised that learning environments in introductory science courses play a crucial role in Higher Education, and dialogic inquiry is understood to play a vital role in the study and understanding of science. According to Biggs “constructively aligned” learning environments in which careful attention is given to the relationship between learning outcomes, learning activities and teaching practice and assessment strategy are supportive of inquiry. Based on a series of introductory online physical science modules, designed and taught by the author for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), it is shown that an aligned virtual learning environment is feasible and supports deep learning. Key factors instrumental to the successful delivery include clear communication of tutor and student role, ample opportunities for social networking and a range of creative learning activities and meaningful assessment tasks. The asynchronous conference plays a central role in which ideas are not only shared but critically examined and improved. Interaction goes far beyond conversation, reaching a deeper level of collaborative inquiry and ultimately knowledge construction. Science educators are encouraged to incorporate asynchronous conferencing to undergraduate science courses with the aim of fostering collaborative inquiry and critical thinking skills. The case study demonstrates that if the above described features are realised in the online design, the asynchronous conference by default becomes the showplace for knowledge construction from the outset and increasingly the students’ major learning resource3.

Science in the virtual learning environment as more than online conversation

The asynchronous computer conference still finds itself largely ignored as an effective vehicle for supporting student-centered, collaborative learning experiences. When it is employed the quality of the learning experience varies widely. The literature reports students either unengaged with the medium or overwhelmed by the discussion threads.The online discussion itself tends to take on the nature of an accumulation of independent facts and little peer-to-peer engagement. It is recognised that learning environments in introductory science courses play a crucial role in Higher Education, and dialogic inquiry is understood to play a vital role in the study and understanding of science. According to Biggs “constructively aligned” learning environments in which careful attention is given to the relationship between learning outcomes, learning activities and teaching practice and assessment strategy are supportive of inquiry.Based on a series of introductory online physical science modules, designed and taught by the author for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), it is shown that an aligned virtual learning environment is feasible and supports deep learning. Key factors instrumental to the successful delivery include clear communication of tutor and student role, ample opportunities for social networking and a range of creative learning activities and meaningful assessment tasks. The asynchronous conference plays a central role in which ideas are not only shared but critically examined and improved. Interaction goes far beyond conversation, reaching a deeper level of collaborative inquiry and ultimately knowledge construction.Science educators are encouraged to incorporate asynchronous conferencing to undergraduate science courses with the aim of fostering collaborative inquiry and critical thinking skills. The case study demonstrates that if the above described features are realised in the online design, the asynchronous conference by default becomes the showplace for knowledge construction from the outset and increasingly the students’ major learning resource3.

New Landscapes for Mental Health

he United Nations’ Johannesburg summit (2002) report, Agenda 21, calls for a philosophy of ‘integration of the environment and ecosystems on which we depend for our wellbeing’. Here in the UK, a report by the government agency English Nature (2003) asserts that measures of the impact of nature on the psychological and social wellbeing of people can be derived from a multitude of ‘social, community involvement and environmental indicators’. The Social Exclusion Unit (2004), the Department for Work and Pensions (2004) and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (2004) are all embarking on programmes to create opportunities for social networks and the employment of people with mental health problems. The Forestry Commission and the Urban Parks Forum are engaged in the regeneration of open spaces and public parks for the promotion of sustainable communities that are ‘fully inclusive and cut to the core of social exclusion and poverty’. The international conference Open Space, People Space, hosted by the Research Centre at Heriot-Watt University in October 2004 brought together researchers, organisations, individuals and academics from all over the world to discuss and share the practice and research taking place in the many strands of this rapidly evolving field. English Nature indicates that policies such as the National Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999) and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (Department of Health, 2002) or initiatives such as From Here to Equality from NIMHE (2004) do not yet address the health-promoting benefits inherent in nature. Likewise the agencies involved with environmental sustainability and biodiversity ‘have not yet identified the purely mental health promoting elements of access to nature in urban, semi-urban and rural settings’. Social inclusion and psychological and physical wellbeing can be harnessed in natural settings and English Nature T recommends that social policy discourse needs to change towards the recognition that healthy people and healthy ecosystems are wholly interdependent. This change would derive from and be supported by three main areas of activity:

Grassroots Involvement in Interest Group Decision Making

Interest groups' increased use of centrally managed mass communications technologies has reduced opportunities for social networking among group members. This study examines the relationship between organizational democracy, or rank-and-file participation in decision making, and two indicators of social network opportunities: existence of local chapters and extent of direct-mail usage. Control variables include membership incentives, organizational resources, group age and size, and competition with other groups for members. Multivariate analyses of two interest group survey data sets, using ordinal logit, indicate that social network organizations are no more likely to involve their members in decision making than are centralized direct-mail organizations. The variables that are significantly related to grassroots involvement in organizational decision making include purposive and solidary membership incentives as well as some organizational resources, size, and age. Implications for further study of organizational democracy are discussed.

A Means for Re-Integrating African Americans Convicted of Non-Violent Crimes

ABSTRACT This paper is designed to elicit an innovative way of counseling that reintegrates African Americans who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes back into mainstream society. Current methods of reintegrating ex-offenders into society through work release, furloughs, and halfway houses have had mixed results. This paper proposes the development of a house designed to counsel ex-offenders as an alternative method for rein-tegration, The counseling ex-offenders' house is designed to serve as a support group instilling cultural and educational values, social networking, and occupational opportunities to eradicate criminal behaviors and improve some of the negative images of African Americans.

Idioms of distress: alternatives in the expression of psychosocial distress: a case study from South India.

This paper focuses attention on alternative modes of expressing distress and the need to analyze particular manifestations of distress in relation to personal and cultural meaning complexes as well as the availability and social implications of coexisting idioms of expression. To illustrate this point the case of South Kanarese Havik Brahmin women is presented. These women are described as having a weak social support network and limited opportunities to ventilate feelings and seek counsel outside the household. Alternative means of expressing psychosocial distress resorted to by Havik women are discussed in relation to associated Brahminic values, norms and stereotypes. Somatization is focused upon as an important idiom through which distress is communicated. Idioms of distress more peripheral to the personal or cultural behavioral repertoire of Havik women are considered as adaptive responses in circumstances where other modes of expression fail to communicate distress adequately or provide appropriate coping strategies. The importance of an 'idioms of distress' approach to psychiatric evaluation is noted.