Synthesis Of Research Findings Research Articles

The Influence Of Parents’ Activities In The School And Parents’ Communication Through Social Media On Educational Management In Israeli Schools

Greater involvement of parents and the school community in educational management decisions has brought about changes in the management of the schools. Over the past few decades, reforms to the education system in Israel have allowed for greater involvement of parents and the school community in the activities at schools. Concurrently, the growing popularity of social media has created an ease of communication between parents and their children’s educational management teams that has necessitated changes in the educational management of the school community. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of studies that examine the changing influence that parents’ involvement in the school through school activities and their communication on social media has on the role of educational management in Israeli schools. A comprehensive review of key publications was conducted to synthesize research findings about changes occurring in educational management of schools in Israel. In the educational management of a school, which enables parental involvement and accommodates parental communications on social media, cooperation and coordination between parents, educational management and the school community, is likely to contribute to maintaining the required balance between positive involvement and overzealous interference.

Mapping the field of educational leadership and management in the Arabian Gulf region: A systematic review of Arabic research literature

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify trends in educational leadership and management (EDLM) knowledge production in the Arabian Gulf region, drawing on a database of 272 studies published in local (Arabic) journals over a 10-year period (2009–2018). The review focused on the geographic distribution of the literature, authorship trends, types of studies, research topics, research methods and data collection techniques. The study employed quantitative methods aimed at highlighting patterns of EDLM knowledge production rather than synthesising research findings. The study used the Arabic databases hosted by Dar Almandumah (EduSearch, EcoLink, IslamicInfo, AraBase, and Humanindex), in addition to the Shamaa database to identify relevant sources. The study found that the literature under investigation reflected many of the features characterising EDLM literatures from other developing countries, especially in terms of the types of studies, topical coverage and research methods. The most notable features included uneven geographic distribution, predominance of single-authored papers, absence of certain important topics, prevalence of empirical articles, and heavy reliance on quantitative research methods and data collection techniques. Recommendations were provided to improve future EDLM research in the region. The study supports findings from previous reviews of EDLM literature in the Arab region and highlights the need for more concerted efforts to enhance the quality and relevance of this literature to increase its ability to inform policy and practice.

Meaningful Transitions: Enhancing Clinician Roles in Transition Planning for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Purpose The purpose of this tutorial is to provide speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with foundational information that will assist them in transition planning for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on a review of current literature. SLPs must be knowledgeable of transition planning in order to assist students with ASD and their families with preparing for their future. An appreciation and awareness of pertinent assessments, functional goals, and factors associated with successful postsecondary outcomes are essential competencies that SLPs need when planning for the transition process. SLPs are ideal workforce development partners. They facilitate independence, communication, and interaction skills necessary for postsecondary and workplace success. Speech-language services are one of the most common special education services received by high school students with Individualized Education Programs. However, SLPs receive little preparation on the specifics or nuances of transition planning prior to working in the educational settings, despite the high incidence of speech-language services in secondary education. Method This tutorial reviews and synthesizes research findings related to assessment planning, goal-setting, and Individualized Education Program implementation for achieving meaningful postsecondary transitions for students with ASD. Additionally, it highlights some of the key postsecondary skillsets related to speech-language therapy services, including the development of self-determination, self-advocacy, social competence, and adaptive behaviors. Conclusion Greater focus on higher quality transition planning requires SLPs to develop high levels of knowledge and competencies in the transition planning process. This tutorial educates clinicians on the unique challenges faced by individuals with ASD and provides evidence-based strategies to help students and families successfully plan for and navigate postsecondary transitions.

Mastery Goals and Intrinsic Motivation in Instrumental Ensembles

How do we motivate students to practice and persist when facing challenges inherent in learning to play an instrument? In this article, I synthesize research findings into strategies to encourage students’ mastery goal orientations and intrinsic motivation. Educators can use these strategies in the classroom or as inspiration to create innovative ways of supporting student motivation in instrumental music.

Mentoring relationships among athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators: A literature review

ABSTRACT The purpose of this comprehensive review of literature was to synthesize research findings regarding structures and outcomes of mentoring relationships among athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators. Data-based studies involving mentoring in sport contexts were located, retrieved, reviewed, and analyzed. The primary search criteria for this literature review were data-based, peer-reviewed articles published between the years 2005–2016 involving the salient keywords mentoring and sport, which yielded 18 peer-reviewed articles for inclusion in this review. In this review, each study’s purpose(s), theoretical framework(s), data collection strategies, data analysis procedures, and results are presented. Emergent themes included: (a) mentoring of vulnerable populations, (b) attributes of mentors, and (c) outcomes of mentoring relationships. Lastly, practical implications based on the findings are discussed. Five strategies are developed as a measure to improve mentoring relationships.

A Quasi-Experimental Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module (SIM) regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) among Nursing Officers in Terms of Knowledge

Introduction: As a part of the Government of India’s commitment to ensure availability of quality services through public health institutions, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCs) was launched in 2010 in 100 districts across 21 states of India in order to control and prevent the major non-communicable diseases. It provided a platform for augmentation of the knowledge of health personnel involved in the health services across public health institutions. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Self Instructional Module (SIM) regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental research design, experimental and control group pre-test and post-test design was used to synthesize research findings related to effectiveness of SIM among 80 Nursing Officers from Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital & Swami Dayanad Hospital, Delhi through a Structured Knowledge Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Findings revealed that 41 (55%) had average knowledge, 25 (31.25%) had good knowledge and 11 (13.75%) had poor knowledge regarding non-communicable diseases in both experimental and control group in pre-test. z-value in experimental group was 10.17, which is statistically significant; whereas, z-value in control group was 0.48 at 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The present study revealed that most of Nursing Officers had average to good knowledge, but due to over burden, patients and lack of time to study, they were not able to retain their knowledge. They require regular rebooting of their knowledge. It was observed that Self Instructional Module on NCD was effective teaching material for Nursing Officers working in Government Hospitals. How to cite this article:Dixit S, Bhardwaj UD, Aniyan AT. A Quasi-Experimental Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module (SIM) regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) among Nursing Officers in Terms of Knowledge. Int J Nurs Midwif Res 2019; 6(4): 8-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.201926

Best practice guidance for linear mixed-effects models in psychological science

The use of Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMMs) is set to dominate statistical analyses in psychological science and may become the default approach to analyzing quantitative data. The rapid growth in adoption of LMMs has been matched by a proliferation of differences in practice. Unless this diversity is recognized, and checked, the field shall reap enormous difficulties in the future when attempts are made to consolidate or synthesize research findings. Here we examine this diversity using two methods – a survey of researchers (n=163) and a quasi-systematic review of papers using LMMs (n=400). The survey reveals substantive concerns among psychologists using or planning to use LMMs and an absence of agreed standards. The review of papers complements the survey, showing variation in how the models are built, how effects are evaluated and, most worryingly, how models are reported. Using these data as our departure point, we present a set of best practice guidance, focusing on the reporting of LMMs. It is the authors’ intention that the paper supports a step-change in the reporting of LMMs across the psychological sciences, preventing a trajectory in which findings reported today cannot be transparently understood and used tomorrow.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNICATION STYLE AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING

The quality of teaching and learning heavily depend on the quality of communication taking place in the classroom. Improving communication is essential for approaching excellence in teaching and one of the discernable paths on the way to the goal is through the study of teachers’ communication style as one of its key variables. The present paper is aimed at discerning approaches to the study of communication style, analyzing their theoretical propositions and empirical contribution, as well as their relevance for effective teaching research. Effective communication is a core concern in developing teaching competence, hence the study of one of its key variables is seen as a priority. The research methods applied presuppose the analysis of the comunication style construct, comparison of various research traditions of the problem and synthesis of research findings with implications for effective teaching. Analysis of literature revealed several schools of thought: 1. grounded in the behaviourist traditions; 2. oriented towards behaviourist and personality theories, including social dimensions; 3. relying on personality theories; 4. grounded on theories of activity and interaction. Communication style influences such dimensions of the teaching-learning process as learning gains, affect for the teacher, instructional content and the course, learning environment, participation of students, their motivation, trust in the teacher, credibility, positive relations between teacher and learners just to mention a few.

The associations of acceptance with quality of life and mental health following spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Systematic review. To identify, critically appraise, and synthesize research findings on the associations between acceptance, quality of life (QOL), and mental health outcomes in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) were systematically searched. Studies were included if they provided findings on the association between acceptance and QOL, mental health outcomes, or both in an SCI population aged 16 years or older. Only peer-reviewed original quantitative and qualitative studies were included. Screening, quality assessment, and data extraction were conducted independently by two researchers. Findings were tabulated and synthesized by outcome. Forty-one studies were included. Greater acceptance was consistently associated with greater global and psychological QOL, life satisfaction, sense of well-being, mental health, and with lower levels of depression and anxiety. Inconsistent evidence was found with regards to social QOL and post-traumatic stress disorder. Acceptance was generally not associated with adjustment outcomes further than 2 years into the future. Study quality of the quantitative studies was mostly fair (n = 17) followed by good (n = 13), and poor (n = 9). Health-care professionals may regard acceptance as a psychological resource they can aim to support in improving QOL and mental health following SCI. A range of methodological and conceptual limitations were present in the research. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal designs, consider dyadic effects, explore subjective meaning(s) of acceptance, and investigate the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches that stimulate the acceptance process.

CEO Advice Seeking: An Integrative Framework and Future Research Agenda

In this paper, we review the burgeoning but dispersed literature on chief executive officer (CEO) advice seeking, which has important effects on strategic decision making, the CEO’s and the board of directors’ effectiveness, and firms’ entrepreneurial orientation, innovativeness, and financial performance. We synthesize research findings about the key features of CEO advice seeking and its antecedents and outcomes across multiple levels of analysis. On the basis of our review, we identify important research gaps and develop a future research agenda that outlines new research questions and empirical foci that extend the current scope of analysis. We also highlight promising new theories and underutilized methods suitable for this area of research. With an integrative review and research agenda, we hope to stimulate cross-fertilization of different lines of inquiry and encourage new research that shines a spotlight on the remaining puzzles of CEO advice-seeking research.

Multicultural coping experiences of parents following perinatal loss: A meta-ethnographic synthesis.

To synthesize research findings regarding the coping experiences of parents following perinatal loss. Noblit and Hare's interpretive meta-ethnography was followed. A comprehensive systematic search of the published literature (2013-2018) was undertaken in five databases, complemented by supplementary searches. Fourteen studies met the research objective and inclusion criteria. Five themes describe the coping strategies used by parents who experience perinatal loss. The themes were synthesized into the metaphor Staying afloat in the storm. Parents use coping strategies to manage perinatal loss and the use of these strategies is conditioned by cultural, social, and individual factors. This study has implications for evidence-based practice by showing care needs and the importance of implementing emotional and patient-centred care interventions. This meta-ethnography highlights the care needs of parents following perinatal loss, facilitating understanding of coping experiences. Increased knowledge about these experiences may contribute to the development and implementation of nursing and midwifery interventions that include emotional and patient-centred care.

The Gamification of Learning: a Meta-analysis

This meta-analysis was conducted to systematically synthesize research findings on effects of gamification on cognitive, motivational, and behavioral learning outcomes. Results from random effects models showed significant small effects of gamification on cognitive (g = .49, 95% CI [0.30, 0.69], k = 19, N = 1686), motivational (g = .36, 95% CI [0.18, 0.54], k = 16, N = 2246), and behavioral learning outcomes (g = .25, 95% CI [0.04, 0.46], k = 9, N = 951). Whereas the effect of gamification on cognitive learning outcomes was stable in a subsplit analysis of studies employing high methodological rigor, effects on motivational and behavioral outcomes were less stable. Given the heterogeneity of effect sizes, moderator analyses were conducted to examine inclusion of game fiction, social interaction, learning arrangement of the comparison group, as well as situational, contextual, and methodological moderators, namely, period of time, research context, randomization, design, and instruments. Inclusion of game fiction and social interaction were significant moderators of the effect of gamification on behavioral learning outcomes. Inclusion of game fiction and combining competition with collaboration were particularly effective within gamification for fostering behavioral learning outcomes. Results of the subsplit analysis indicated that effects of competition augmented with collaboration might also be valid for motivational learning outcomes. The results suggest that gamification as it is currently operationalized in empirical studies is an effective method for instruction, even though factors contributing to successful gamification are still somewhat unresolved, especially for cognitive learning outcomes.

Review article: A primer for clinical researchers in the emergency department: Part IX. How to conduct a systematic review in the field of emergency medicine.

In this series we address important topics for emergency clinicians who either participate in research as part of their work, or use the knowledge generated by research studies. Emergency clinicians are routinely in the position of applying new evidence in clinical practice. With an ever-increasing volume of evidence generated, this can be problematic when studies are conducted in different settings, and include different patient groups, different interventions and different outcomes. This is made even more difficult when the results of primary research studies do not agree. Systematic reviews are becoming increasingly valuable as they appraise and synthesise research findings using a clear methodology, and summarise the results of primary studies. As such, systematic reviews help translate research findings into clinical practice. This paper provides a practical starting point for understanding the steps involved in conducting a systematic review in emergency medicine and will help readers appraise the findings of systematic reviews.

Cochrane overviews: how can we optimize their impact on evidence-based rehabilitation?

Overviews (i.e. reviews of multiple systematic reviews) comprise a relatively novel methodology to systematically synthesize research findings. Overviews aim for a beneficial impact on clinical practice, but their methods and pathways to impact have so far not been mapped. The aim of this paper was to inform recommendations for optimizing impact on rehabilitation practice and research by mapping methods and pathways to impact in Cochrane overviews relevant to rehabilitation. We systematically searched and identified published Cochrane overviews (to June 2018) relevant to rehabilitation. We extracted data and compared overviews on key characteristics, methods of evidence synthesis, statements about impact, and access metrics. We explored one overview in detail regarding beneficiaries, activities and outputs, mapped potential pathways to impact, and, using an iterative process, refined this into a generic map. Through exploration of all synthesized data, we propose further recommendations for planning, conducting and reporting of future overviews in order to optimize impact on rehabilitation. We identified seven Cochrane overviews relevant to rehabilitation. Their focus and methods varied, but they were broadly related to rehabilitation interventions for populations of people with diverse long-term conditions. Overviews also varied regarding their intended impact; only 4 overviews identified specific beneficiaries. All overviews included multiple tables and figures, but only one synthesized key findings into a single figure. For five overviews, the Altmetric Attention Score (a weighted count of attention that an output receives based on a range of online sources) was in the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric. The overview within our worked example had four key impact goals, each with different beneficiaries and required actions; this example led to a generic map of potential pathways to impact for other overviews. Cochrane overviews have the potential to play a key role in knowledge translation and therefore to be useful in supporting evidence-based rehabilitation practice. However, current overviews relating to rehabilitation differ in methods, approaches and intended impact, and sometimes fall short of promoting easy access to key information for beneficiaries. Future Cochrane overviews should address topics of importance to key beneficiaries and clearly outline potential pathways to impact in order to have a potential beneficial impact on evidence-based rehabilitation and to improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Predictive models for hotel booking cancellation: a semi-automated analysis of the literature

This study sought to combine data science tools and capabilities with human judgement and interpretation in order to demonstrate how semiautomatic analysis of the literature can contribute to identifying and synthesising research findings and topics about booking cancellation forecasting. The study also focused on recording in detail the analysis’s full experimental procedure to encourage other researchers to conduct automated literature reviews in order to understand more fully the current tendencies in their field of study. The data were obtained through a keyword search in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The methodology presented not only diminishes human bias but also enhances data visualisation and text mining techniques’ ability to facilitate abstraction, expedite analysis and improve literature reviews. The results show that, despite the importance of forecasting booking cancellations to understanding net demand and improving cancellation and overbooking policies, further research on this subject is needed.

Williams Syndrome and Music: A Systematic Integrative Review.

Background: Researchers and clinicians have often cited a strong relationship between individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) and music. This review systematically identified, analyzed, and synthesized research findings related to WS and music.Methods: Thirty-one articles were identified that examined this relationship and were divided into seven areas. This process covered a diverse array of methodologies, with aims to: (1) report current findings; (2) assess methodological quality; and (3) discuss the potential implications and considerations for the clinical use of music with this population.Results: Results indicate that individuals with WS demonstrate a high degree of variability in skill and engagement in music, presenting with musical skills that are more in line with their cognitive abilities than chronological age (CA). Musical strengths for this population appear to be based more in musicality and expressivity than formal musical skills, which are expressed through a heightened interest in music, a greater propensity toward musical activities, and a heightened emotional responsiveness to music. Individuals with WS seem to conserve the overall structure of musical phrases better than they can discriminate or reproduce them exactly. The affinity for music often found in this population may be rooted in atypical auditory processing, autonomic irregularities, and differential neurobiology.Conclusions: More studies are needed to explore how this affinity for music can be harnessed in clinical and educational interventions.

A Correlational Study to Assess the Relationship Between Eating Pattern and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in a Selected School of Delhi

Introduction: It has been known that gender, self-esteem, body image, and perceived self-worth seem to be related to dietary habits and eating disorders. The study aimed to assess eating pattern and self-esteem of adolescents, determine the correlation between eating pattern and self-esteem among adolescent students and also to find the association between eating pattern and background variables of the participants. The study also sought to determine the association between self-esteem and background variables such as gender and body mass index. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used to synthesize research findings concerning the relationship between eating pattern and self-esteem of adolescent students. The data was collected from 100 students at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tughlaqabad, New Delhi. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Results revealed that 47% of the students had unhealthy eating pattern and 53% had healthy eating pattern, while 48% of students had low self-esteem and 52% had high self-esteem. It was also found that there was statistically non-significant relationship between eating pattern and self-esteem, as the r value was lower than the table value of 0.197 at df (98). Further, no significant association was found between eating pattern and selected background variables, and self-esteem and selected background variables. Conclusion: The major conclusions drawn were: Approximately half of the study subjects had unhealthy eating pattern and as well as low self-esteem, there was statistically non-significant correlation between eating pattern and self-esteem, no significant statistical relationship was found between eating pattern of the adolescent students and their gender and BMI, and no significant statistical association was found between self-esteem of the adolescent students and their gender and BMI.

The impact of effectuation on small firm buying decisions

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the effect of effectuation logic on the buying intentions of small firm owner-managers.Design/methodology/approachLiterature relating to organisational buying, marketing and personal selling and entrepreneurial decision making was synthesised.FindingsThis paper presents a conceptual model based on propositions relating to how effectuation logic may explain the predilection of small firm owner-managers to select trusted suppliers from within personal and business networks, and to engage on flexible terms. It suggests that supplier relationship decisions made using effectuation logic may enable wider choice of suppliers than the formal processes of large firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings were developed from a narrative review of literature and are yet to be empirically tested.Originality/valueBy synthesising research findings on small firm buyer behaviour, the IMP interaction approach and effectuation, it has been possible to develop a predictive model representing buyer–seller relationships in the context of small firms which suggests that owner-managers select suppliers in line with the principles of effectuation means and effectuation affordable loss.

The Role of Collaboration, Computer Use, Learning Environments, and Supporting Strategies in CSCL: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis synthesizes research findings on the effects of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) based on its three main elements: (1) the collaboration per se, (2) the use of computers, and (3) the use of extra learning environments or tools, or supporting strategies in CSCL. In this analysis, 425 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2016 were extracted and coded, and these generated the following findings. First, the collaboration had significant positive effects on knowledge gain (ES [effect size] = 0.42), skill acquisition (ES = 0.64), and student perceptions (ES = 0.38) in computer-based learning conditions. Second, computer use led to positive effects on knowledge gain (ES = 0.45), skill acquisition (ES = 0.53), student perceptions (ES = 0.51), group task performance (ES = 0.89), and social interaction (ES = 0.57) in collaborative learning contexts. Third, the use of extra learning environments or tools produced a medium effect for knowledge gain (ES = 0.55), and supporting strategies resulted in an ES of 0.38 for knowledge gain. Several study features were analyzed as potential moderators.

A review of Current Studies of Mobile Learning

Technological developments influence educational systems. It has been understood that educational environments are not limited to schools. With the use of computers and the internet in educational systems, occasions to access information have changed, and such concepts as mobile learning have occurred. In recent years, mobile learning (m-learning) has been an important component of distance education. For that reason, the aim of this study is to summarize and synthesize research findings in the literature by employing literature review. On this basis, research published between 2013 and 2017 was included to the content of this study. Throughout the research, 11 research articles were found and 9 of them were selected. Purposes, methodologies, and outcomes of these researches were explained. Therefore, the study is considered to be important since it tried to reveal the related research trends of mobile learning.