Skill Task Research Articles

Using scripts to strengthen communication skills for vocational tasks

Communication skills play a critical role in fostering positive post-secondary outcomes for youth with disabilities (Carter et al., 2012). Yet practitioners may have limited knowledge of strategies to strengthen learner communication skills. Scripting is an evidence-based practice for increasing communicative responses including those required for completion of vocational tasks. This article describes a step-by-step process for developing scripts to strengthen learner communication skills for completion of vocational tasks. Considerations and resources to support implementation are provided.

Validity of a virtual reality-based straight coloanal anastomosis simulator.

Current training methods for surgical trainees are inadequate because they are costly, low-fidelity, or have a low skill ceiling. This work aims to expand available virtual reality training options by developing a VR trainer for straight coloanal anastomosis (SCA), one of the Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (COSATS) tasks. We developed a VR-based SCA simulator to evaluate trainees based on their performance. To increase the immersiveness, alongside the VR headset, we used haptics as the primary method of interaction with the simulation. We also implemented objective performance metrics to evaluate trainee performance throughout the simulation. We presented our performance metrics to 27 participants for an Expert Consensus Survey (5-point Likert scale) and created weights for our metrics. The weighted average scores for the 24 task-specific metrics ranged from 3.5 to 5. Additionally, for the general metrics, the scores spanned from 3.3 to 4.6. In the second phase of our study, we conducted a study with 16 participants (novice n = 9, expert n = 7). Based on the performance, experts outperformed novices by 8.56% when referring to the total score (p = 0.0041). Three of the measurable metrics, purse suture (p = 0.0797), retracting the anvil (p = 0.0738), and inserting the colonoscope (p = 0.0738) showed a significant difference between experts and novices. Experts were smoother with their hand motions by 3.67% per second and took 70.77% longer paths to complete the same tasks. We created a high-fidelity coloanal anastomosis VR simulator. The simulator runs in real-time while allowing high immersion with a VR headset, deformable bodies, and a haptic device while providing objective feedback through performance metrics. Experts obtained higher scores throughout the simulation, including the quiz to demonstrate procedural knowledge, the metrics to demonstrate experience in steps/procedure, and control of their basic surgical skills and hand movements.

The Performance of Staff at the Arusha Regional Immigration Office: An Investigation into the Influence of Job Enrichment Practices

The inefficiency and low morale of Immigration staff in Tanzania have led to significant concerns regarding their performance. Over 40% of Immigration Department staff report low job satisfaction, and employee productivity has declined by 25% over the past three years. The persistent issues of inefficiency and low morale threaten to undermine these functions, thereby justifying the need for this study. This study assesses the influence of job enrichment practices on the performance and job satisfaction of Immigration Department staff in Arusha. The study employed a descriptive research design guided by a pragmatism research philosophy, which balances both subjective and objective perspectives to address the complex issues related to job performance and satisfaction. The study also used Job Characteristics Theory (JCT), which posits that certain job characteristics such as skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback enhance employee motivation and performance. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews with a sample size of 52 respondents whereby 47 staff completed questionnaires and 5 leaders were interviewed. A purposive sampling technique was used to ensure that participants with direct experience in job enrichment practices were included. The questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The qualitative data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that job characteristics significantly impact job performance. This study highlights the significant role that job enrichment and job satisfaction play in enhancing the performance of Immigration Department staff in Arusha. The findings suggest that focusing on improving job characteristics that contribute to job satisfaction can lead to a more motivated and productive workforce. It is recommended that the Immigration Department adopt strategies that promote job enrichment, such as providing opportunities for skill development, increasing employee autonomy, and ensuring a supportive work environment.

Relationship between Job Characteristics Model and Job Satisfaction with Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment

This research discovers the relationship between Job Characteristics Model (JCM) and job satisfaction using the mediator organizational commitment on private universities faculties in Bangladesh. This study is an empirical study to understand how specific job characteristics, as defined by the JCM—namely skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback—affect employee’s commitment. Besides, the study tries to find out the impact of organizational commitment on job satisfaction. Moreover, researcher investigate how organizational commitment mediates the relationship between JCM and Job Satisfaction using 489 sample of faculty members from private universities in Bangladesh. For conducting this research, respondents have been selected by using convenience sampling method through a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that JCM and organizational commitment has positive relationship, besides organizational commitment can play positive impact over the job satisfaction of the faculty members. Finally, this research depicts how organizational commitment strongly mediates the relationship between job characteristics model and job satisfaction. These insights contribute to existing literature by highlighting the importance of fostering organizational commitment for improving job satisfaction within the educational sector in Bangladesh. The study's implications suggest that university management should focus on designing jobs that enhance employee commitment to maximize satisfaction, ultimately leading to better organizational outcomes.

Client-Centered and Multidisciplinary Approaches in School-Based Occupational Therapy: Perceptions of Therapists and Parents

This study aimed to explore the perspectives of occupational therapists and parents who receive therapeutic support services for their children with special needs in school. We focused on school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) service goals, delineating how participants prioritize necessary services and perceive multidisciplinary collaboration. In this cross-sectional study, we employed an online survey methodology. We used a purposive sampling method to reach all school-based therapists registered in therapeutic support centers and a snowball sampling method to recruit parents. The final sample included responses from 29 therapists and 120 parents. We found that parents reported a greater need for service provision and multidisciplinary collaboration compared to school-based occupational therapists. Although therapists felt competent in their service provision, there is an urgent need to address the service needs expressed by parents. The participating therapists reported working with lower-functioning students and prioritized goals such as “providing task skills through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)” and “enhancing student participation in educational activities.” In contrast, parents reported supporting higher-functioning children and prioritized goals such as “therapeutic activities within school environments” and “helping with important learning activities in natural environments.” This study underscores the need for ongoing research to develop integrative occupational therapy services in the school environment.

Hybrid Approach Using Multi-Relational Weighted Matrix Factorization (WMRMF) and Cohen’s Kappa (Sk) to Refine Educational Items Clustering

In the context of adopting the competency-based approach (CBA) as a new teaching methodology in sub-Saharan countries, and particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, the development of learning content that is aligned with the economic, socio-cultural, and scientific needs of society is of paramount importance. Educational experts have therefore proposed competencies and associated tasks for educational programs. However, these learning contents often face issues of task redundancy. The present paper aims to address this problem by proposing a hybrid approach to educational item clustering, combining weighted multi-relational matrix factorization (WMRMF) and Cohen’s Kappa (Sk) techniques (Sk-WMRMF). This approach takes into account not only student performance and achievements but also a novel reflexive relationship, “tasks-require–tasks”. To evaluate the Sk-WMRMF approach, we conducted a survey among students in general secondary schools in Côte d’Ivoire. With an accepted task redundancy threshold of 0.185, an RMSE score of 0.198, and an improvement rate of 90.47% in the “tasks–skills” mapping, the results demonstrate that Sk-WMRMF enhances the elaboration of “task-skill” mappings. This not only improves learning content but also facilitates the updating of curricula in accordance with the CBA approach.

The relationship between students' computational estimation skills and mathematical self-efficiency

The factors related to estimating skills are twofold: cognitive and affective perspectives. Perception of self-efficacy in mathematics, one of the affective factors, is essential for the individual's capacity, abilities, and self-belief in mathematics for the mathematics course. The present study examined the relationship between students' computational estimation skills and mathematical self-efficacy perceptions. For this purpose, two sets of instruments were used as data collection tools: a computational estimation skills task and a mathematical self-efficacy perceptions scale. A correlational design was used in this study, and a total of 83 eighth-grade students participated in the research. As a result, it was concluded that there was a moderately positive and statistically significant relationship between computational estimation skills and mathematical self-efficacy perceptions. Students experience more stress when making estimations compared to mathematical computations whose results are specific. In addition, students mostly need to correct their estimations in questions related to computations with fractions, and they mostly use the rounding strategy when making estimations. These results are further discussed in relation to the perspective of supporting children’s abilities for estimations at the primary school.

Comparison of hand dexterity and hand laterality task in duchenne muscular dystrophy patients with typically developing peers.

Hand dexterity is important with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The aim of this study was to compare hand dexterity and hand laterality task assessments in patients with DMD with typically-developing peers. The study included 25 DMD with a mean age of 10.2±2.38 and 21 typically-developing peers with a mean age of 10.33±2.26. Functional levels of DMD patients were determined by Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Classification Scale and Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Scale. The ABILHAND-Kids and 9-hole peg test were used to assess the hand dexterity of all participants, and assess the hand laterality task. Patients with DMD had lower ABILHAND-Kids scores than their typically-developing peers (p < 0.001). Patients with DMD had higher 9-hole peg test duration on the dominant and non-dominant extremity compared to typically-developing peers (p < 0.001). Patients with DMD were found to be different from their typically-developing peers (p < 0.001) in lateralization response time and accuracy. Patients with DMD were found to have lower manual dexterity and hand laterality task skills compared to their typically-developing peers. It is recommended that hand dexterity and upper extremity recognition capacities should be considered in assessment and intervention programs for physiotherapists and clinicians working in this field.

Effects of isolated and combined mental and physical fatigue on motor skill and endurance exercise performance

BackgroundMental fatigue, elicited by cognitive demands, can impair sport and exercise performance. The effects of isolated mental fatigue on performance are well documented but few studies have explored the effects of combined mental and physical fatigue on skilled motor and endurance exercise performance. ObjectiveThis study explored the effects of isolated mental, isolated physical, and combined (mental plus physical) fatigue on skill and exercise task performance. Method164 athletes were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: mental fatigue, physical fatigue, combined fatigue, control (no fatigue). Mental fatigue was induced by a 15-min time-load dual-back cognitive task. Physical fatigue was induced by a 90-s burpee exercise task. Next, all participants completed a throwing skill task and performed burpee exercises to failure. Objective (brief Psychomotor Vigilance Task, PVT-B) and subjective (self-report) measures of mental fatigue and Ratings of Perceived Exertion were obtained throughout. ResultsThe mental fatigue and combined fatigue groups performed the worst on both the throwing and burpee tasks compared with the physical fatigue and control groups. The former reported higher mental fatigue throughout and had worse response accuracy and variation on the end-of-session PVT-B task. The combined fatigue group performed better than the mental fatigue group on the throwing and burpee tasks. ConclusionA demanding cognitive task induced a state of mental fatigue and impaired skill and endurance performance. Mental fatigue alone was more detrimental than combined fatigue to skill and endurance performance, suggesting that the physical activity manipulation reduced the negative effects of mental fatigue on performance.

From general AI to custom AI: the effects of generative conversational AI’s cognitive and emotional conversational skills on user's guidance

PurposeGenerative conversational artificial intelligence (AI) demonstrates powerful conversational skills for general tasks but requires customization for specific tasks. The quality of a custom generative conversational AI highly depends on users’ guidance, which has not been studied by previous research. This study uses social exchange theory to examine how generative conversational AI’s cognitive and emotional conversational skills affect users’ guidance through different types of user engagement, and how these effects are moderated by users’ relationship norm orientation.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 589 actual users using a two-wave survey, this study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the proposed hypotheses. Additional analyses were performed to test the robustness of our research model and results.FindingsThe results reveal that cognitive conversational skills (i.e. tailored and creative responses) positively affected cognitive and emotional engagement. However, understanding emotion influenced cognitive engagement but not emotional engagement, and empathic concern influenced emotional engagement but not cognitive engagement. In addition, cognitive and emotional engagement positively affected users’ guidance. Further, relationship norm orientation moderated some of these effects such that the impact of user engagement on user guidance was stronger for communal-oriented users than for exchange-oriented users.Originality/valueFirst, drawing on social exchange theory, this study empirically examined the drivers of users’ guidance in the context of generative conversational AI, which may enrich the user guidance literature. Second, this study revealed the moderating role of relationship norm orientation in influencing the effect of user engagement on users’ guidance. The findings will deepen our understanding of users’ guidance. Third, the findings provide practical guidelines for designing generative conversational AI from a general AI to a custom AI.

Exploring motor skill acquisition in bimanual coordination: insights from navigating a novel maze task

In this study, we introduce a novel maze task designed to investigate naturalistic motor learning in bimanual coordination. We developed and validated an extended set of movement primitives tailored to capture the full spectrum of scenarios encountered in a maze game. Over a 3-day training period, we evaluated participants’ performance using these primitives and a custom-developed software, enabling precise quantification of performance. Our methodology integrated the primitives with in-depth kinematic analyses and thorough thumb pressure assessments, charting the trajectory of participants’ progression from novice to proficient stages. Results demonstrated consistent improvement in maze performance and significant adaptive changes in joint behaviors and strategic recalibrations in thumb pressure distribution. These findings highlight the central nervous system’s adaptability in orchestrating sophisticated motor strategies and the crucial role of tactile feedback in precision tasks. The maze platform and setup emerge as a valuable foundation for future experiments, providing a tool for the exploration of motor learning and coordination dynamics. This research underscores the complexity of bimanual motor learning in naturalistic environments, enhancing our understanding of skill acquisition and task efficiency while emphasizing the necessity for further exploration and deeper investigation into these adaptive mechanisms.

Lateralization of acquisition and consolidation in direction but not amplitude of a motor skill task.

Previous research suggests that the neural processes underlying specification of movement direction and amplitude are independently represented in the nervous system. However, our understanding of acquisition and consolidation processes in the direction and distance learning remains limited. We designed a virtual air hockey task, in which the puck direction is determined by the hand direction at impact, while the puck distance is determined by the amplitude of the velocity. In two versions of this task, participants were required to either specify the direction or the distance of the puck, while the alternate variable did not contribute to task success. Separate groups of right-handed participants were recruited for each task. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of two groups with a counter-balanced arm practice sequence (right to left, or left to right). We examined acquisition and, after 24h, we examined two aspects of consolidation: 1) same hand performance to test the durability and 2)the opposite hand to test the effector-independent consolidation (interlimb transfer) of learning. The distance task showed symmetry between hands in the extent of acquisition as well as in both aspects of consolidation. In contrast, the direction task showed asymmetry in both acquisition and consolidation: the dominant right arm showed faster and greater acquisition and greater transfer from the opposite arm training. The asymmetric acquisition and consolidation processes shown in the direction task might be explained by lateralized control and mapping of direction, an interpretation consistent with previous findings on motor adaptation paradigms.

Engaging undergraduate students in preprint peer review

Authentic assessment allows students to demonstrate knowledge and skills in real-world tasks. In research, peer review is one such task that researchers learn by doing, as they evaluate other researchers’ work. This means peer review could serve as an authentic assessment that engages students’ critical thinking skills in a process of active learning. In this study, we had students write peer reviews of preprints, scaffolded by a rubric. Agreement between the students and academics was reasonable, and active student involvement was high. The results suggest that use of peer review in undergraduate classes should be explored more. It likely facilitates students’ ability to evaluate the quality of scientific studies, encourages active learning about the scientific process and shows potential for contributing to publicly-available assessment of scientific studies.

Infused Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills in Oral Communication Tasks

Infused Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills in Oral Communication Tasks

Concerto of movement: how expertise shapes the synergistic control of upper limb muscles in complex motor tasks with varying tempo and dynamics

Objective. This research aims to reveal how the synergistic control of upper limb muscles adapts to varying requirements in complex motor tasks and how expertise shapes the motor modules. Approach. We study the muscle synergies of a complex, highly skilled and flexible task—piano playing—and characterize expertise-related muscle-synergy control that permits the experts to effortlessly execute the same task at different tempo and force levels. Surface EMGs (28 muscles) were recorded from adult novice (N = 10) and expert (N = 10) pianists as they played scales and arpeggios at different tempo-force combinations. Muscle synergies were factorized from EMGs. Main results. We found that experts were able to cover both tempo and dynamic ranges using similar synergy selections and achieved better performance, while novices altered synergy selections more to adapt to the changing tempi and keystroke intensities compared with experts. Both groups relied on fine-tuning the muscle weights within specific synergies to accomplish the different task styles, while the experts could tune the muscles in a greater number of synergies, especially when changing the tempo, and switch tempo over a wider range. Significance. Our study sheds light on the control mechanism underpinning expertise-related motor flexibility in highly skilled motor tasks that require decade-long training. Our results have implications on musical and sports training, as well as motor prosthetic design.

Tác động của đặc điểm công việc tới sự thoả mãn trong công việc, hành vi công dân tổ chức: vai trò trung gian của gắn kết với tổ chức

The study aims to assess the impact of job characteristics on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior through organization engagement. The study employed a survey questionnaire with 574 respondents from Vietnamese businesses, and the analysis method used was PLS-SEM via SMART PLS 4.0. The results indicate that skill variety, task significance, and job autonomy positively influence organizational engagement, thereby positively affecting job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior. Task identity and job feedback do not statistically affect organizational engagement. Additionally, organization engagement mediates between skill variety, task significance, job autonomy, and the two outcomes: job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior; simultaneously, organization engagement does not statistically mediate the relationships between task identity, job feedback, and desired outcomes. These findings propose practical implications for Vietnamese businesses.

Will the facilitative interpersonal skills task reach its potential?

Will the facilitative interpersonal skills task reach its potential?

ISPO introduction program for independent smallholders: Initial steps towards mandatory ISPO 2025

The government, through Peraturan Presiden RI Nomor 44 Tahun 2020, mandates Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification for smallholder farmers within five years of its enactment. However, by December 2022, only 32 farmer groups had achieved ISPO certification. The Gunung Ambat Farmers Group, which has already received funds from the PSR program, is one of the independent farmer groups with the potential to acquire ISPO accreditation. Yet, members' understanding of this certification remains low due to a lack of socialization or training from the government or other entities. This initiative aims to promote the regulation and provide training on the concepts and requirements for ISPO certification. Activities include administering questionnaires to assess knowledge, conducting training sessions, engaging in puzzle games, and practicing the documentation of farming activities. The results indicate significant improvements in farmers' understanding before and after the training. Initially, farmers had no knowledge of ISPO certification; however, post-training, over 70 percent of participants understood the certification, with an average of 35 percent comprehending its principles and criteria. Participants are also encouraged to document their farming progress, enhancing their skills in farming business documentation and administrative tasks.

Words can only get us so far

The traditional ontological division between the lexicon and grammar has often resulted in a reductionist view of the lexicon and lexical competence as composed of individual words in isolation. This narrow view of the lexicon has transcended disciplinary boundaries and is apparent in the focus on single words of widely used psycholinguistic measures of language (e.g. picture naming, verbal fluency, lexical decision) and cognitive ability alike (e.g. Stroop, recall in working memory span). This article argues that such an approach has imposed limitations on the questions that can be examined by researchers and on the generalizability of some results. Here I propose that, rather than assigning multiword units their own ‘niche’ in psycholinguistic studies, they should be viewed as part of the way core lexical competence is measured and conceptualized, both in monolingual and bilingual speakers. I also review promising advances in recent years brought about by a surge in the number of studies focused on multiword units and by new tasks of individual cognitive skill (e.g. multiword-based chunking ability). These hold the potential to allow for a cross-disciplinary shift in the examination of lexical competence as grounded in community-based norms and in line with current usage-based approaches.

Does Timed Testing Affect the Interpretation of Efficiency Scores?—A GLMM Analysis of Reading Components

AbstractThe efficiency of cognitive component skills is typically assessed with speeded performance tests. Interpreting only effective ability or effective speed as efficiency may be challenging because of the within‐person dependency between both variables (speed‐ability tradeoff, SAT). The present study measures efficiency as effective ability conditional on speed by controlling speed experimentally. Item‐level time limits control the stimulus presentation time and the time window for responding (timed condition). The overall goal was to examine the construct validity of effective ability scores obtained from untimed and timed condition by comparing the effects of theory‐based item properties on item difficulty. If such effects exist, the scores reflect how well the test‐takers were able to cope with the theory‐based requirements. A German subsample from PISA 2012 completed two reading component skills tasks (i.e., word recognition and semantic integration) with and without item‐level time limits. Overall, the included linguistic item properties showed stronger effects on item difficulty in the timed than the untimed condition. In the semantic integration task, item properties explained the time required in the untimed condition. The results suggest that effective ability scores in the timed condition better reflect how well test‐takers were able to cope with the theoretically relevant task demands.