Use Of Alternative Methodologies Research Articles

The use of alternative methodologies as a strategy in teaching Geography

Considering the constant changes in the teaching of Geography, with the objective of directly impacting basic education through methodologies that facilitate the teaching-learning process, the interest in this theme arises. In this context, the exploration of methodological alternatives for teaching-learning has become essential. Resources such as music, information and communication technologies (ICTs), literature and cartoons were addressed, with an emphasis on the latter, through a bibliographical review. These methods were presented as tools that revolutionized the teaching of geography, facilitating the transmission of content combined with geographical themes. The idea is to awaken in educators the interest in methodologies that align with their reality and didactic, overcoming paradigms associated with traditional geography. This aims to lead students to a more critical, subjective and contextualized approach within the school geography.

Auditor certification and long-run performance of IPO stocks

This study establishes a significant positive relation between high quality auditors and long-run post-IPO equity performance. IPOs associated with high-ranked auditors benefit from superior information quality irrespective of underwriter rank, manifesting in significantly better post-IPO equity performance. The auditor certification effect is robust and persists longer than the underwriter certification effect. IPOs, regardless of the underwriter rank, benefit significantly from the auditor reputation effect. Further, the auditor certification effect is more pronounced: (a) when underwriter certification is weak (‘substitution effect’), and (b) in the presence of greater information asymmetry. VC backed IPOs perform significantly better; however, VC reputation has no effect, after controlling for auditor rank and underwriter certification. Our conclusions are reinforced by a battery of robustness checks, including the use of alternative methodologies to address endogeneity, audit quality proxies, performance metrics, model specifications, and validity tests.

The porosity of felsic pyroclasts: laboratory validation of field-based approaches

Volcanic eruptions are driven by magma rising through Earth’s crust. The style of an eruption depends on intrinsic and extrinsic parameters and is commonly a dynamic process. Thorough and holistic investigation of the related products is key to understanding eruptive phenomena and assessment of volcano-specific hazards. Models of such phenomena are constrained by quantification of the dispersal, the grain size distribution, and pyroclast textures. Pyroclast texture may be described in part by measurements of density and porosity, which depend on pyroclast volume determination. Yet volume determination of irregularly shaped pyroclasts cannot be achieved with geometrical laws, instead necessitating the use of alternative methodologies. Here, we test three methodologies to quantify pyroclast volume on a set of clasts collected from the Minoan eruption deposits from Santorini, Greece. We compare (1) a manual method for obtaining the lengths of three orthogonal axes of the pyroclast with a caliper, (2) an optical method to measure the longest and shortest axes of the pyroclast via multiple photographs, and (3) an Archimedean buoyancy-based method. While the optical and manual methods provide almost identical values of pyroclast volume when tested under laboratory conditions, there is a discrepancy between these two methods and the Archimedean method, which produces an overestimation of ca. 13% in volume. This discrepancy has little impact on the subsequent assessment of porosity and density for which the natural variability of values is observed to be broader. We therefore propose using the manual approach in the field as a simple and fast, yet reliable, method to obtain large volumes of quantitative data on the texture of erupted products, and we also provide a correction factor for in-field volume assessment of rhyodacitic pumices.

Use of Alternative Methodologies in Veterinary Medicine Learning and Acceptance of Students

Different university degrees focus on students acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge, aiming to develop their professional activity in the future. However, the usual study plans often forget other skills that will be very useful for the correct performance of their professional activity. In the case of veterinarians, these can range from dialogue with farmers to the unification of knowledge, so that they can provide a simple and effective solution to the different questions that may arise throughout their work activity. On the other hand, the perception of the world and the ways of acquiring knowledge have been changing over the years. Currently, our students require new ways of being presented with the information and knowledge that they should acquire, using, in most cases, new technologies. The present study was carried out with two cases. First, we used gamification through role-play as an alternative methodology to generate a method to unify the knowledge acquired in the subject and, mainly, to acquire skills such as the transfer of this acquired knowledge to other classes and situations. The second case aims to verify if the use of new technologies, specifically the use of interactive videos, can improve the acceptance of students and their training. A total of 2 h of videos were recorded, and 31 min and 42 s of that footage were ultimately used. A special edition and some specific illustrations and designs were made for this work, taking care of the format–background relationship. The results obtained show that these alternative-learning methodologies could be applied to many subjects, so that students, in a playful and relaxed way, are able to unify all the knowledge they are acquiring in their training as veterinarians, preparing them to face the exercise of their future professional activity with greater ease and safety. Finally, we provide the degree of acceptance of these new learning methodologies by students.

Questioning the Growth Dogma: A Replication Study

Firm growth is overwhelmingly presented as positive. Policy-makers strongly support it, educators recommend it, and academics commonly use it as a measure of success. While it is demonstrated that high-growth firms contribute disproportionately to job creation and economic growth and that firm growth can be associated with superior outcomes, some scholars strongly caution against the growth-at-all-costs paradigm. Amongst them, Davidsson et al. (2009) notably showed that profitability first rather than growth first is a preferable strategy for achieving high overall performance. We replicate and extend this seminal study to a sample covering close to 40% of all EU small and medium firms. We confirm their results and show that they hold over a longer time span and even exhibit a path dependency-type effect to the initial strategy (growth-oriented or profit-focused). We also show that their results are robust to the use of alternative methodologies. These results have important implications for the theory and practice that we discuss.

Principled Eclecticism in the Classroom: Exploring the use of Alternative Methodologies in ELT

For a century, English language teaching has, for the main part, discarded behaviorist-inspired methodologies such as the Audio-lingual method for constructivist approaches characterized by the Communicative Approach. Exploring the tension between behaviorist/constructivist dichotomies and searching for common ground between the two schools of thought can give rise to alternative approaches. A ‘Principled Eclectic Approach’ to language teaching is one way whereby a pluralism of methodologies is favored in the pursuit of more effective Second Language Acquisition. Using Brown’s Post-Method Principles (2002) and Mellow’s Two Dimensional Model and Centring Principle (2002) as a guide and point of reference, teachers can gauge their approach and effectiveness in a more dynamic learning environment. A two-part research study aimed to introduce a more Principled Eclectic Approach to academic English language instruction in higher education. Firstly, translation aimed to let students bring their mother tongue into the classroom. The rationale for this exercise being that the more meaningful the encounter with the target language, the better the acquisition. The second experiment looked to use music as a way to create a more relaxed learning environment during reading comprehension activities. The premise being that we acquire language better when we are relaxed. Feedback from the study revealed that the content was balanced, coherent, met the needs of the learner and the needs of the wider syllabus. Students were positive when taking part in the lessons as they believed that the methodologies tested helped them with their English acquisition. Subsequently, they wanted further exposure to these methodologies.

Exploring Attitudes toward Animal Welfare through the Lens of Subjectivity—An Application of Q-Methodology

Simple SummaryIn this paper, we offer a methodological solution to the policymaker to improve the structure of the surveys used for public consultations. Over the years, we noticed the importance of opinions in legislative processes, particularly in animal welfare. The issue, to which European citizens have historically been sensitive, has been the target of multiple consultations aimed at considering perceptions about farming conditions. However, standard surveys suffer from bias and design errors. To overcome these problems, we propose the use of Q-methodology to understand the opinions of veterinary students. The results contribute to the improvement of traditional surveys used to understand what people think about animal welfare and could be useful in providing information to the policy making process.Opinions increasingly influence legislative processes. The case of animal welfare (AW) standards is a clear example of the role played by opinions in political decisions. The issue, to which European citizens have historically been sensitive, has been the subject of numerous consultations and investigations, aimed at considering citizens’ opinions regarding breeding conditions. However, these tools and in particular standard surveys, suffer from response biases such as the prejudices involved in the design of questions and the interpretation of the results. To mitigate these problems, we used the Q-methodology, which is an inductive but systematic methodology focused on patterns that explain the ideas of individuals. The purposive sample consisted of 36 veterinary students who were acquiring scientific knowledge about AW. The results, in addition to providing policymakers with food for thought for the further development of AW standards, contribute to testing the use of alternative methodologies to collect citizens’ views. This mapping of viewpoints helps to build a more effective form of AW policy making.

Principled Eclecticism in the Classroom: Exploring the use of Alternative Methodologies in ELT

For a century, English language teaching has, for the main part, discarded behaviorist-inspired methodologies such as the Audio-lingual method for constructivist approaches characterized by the Communicative Approach. Exploring the tension between behaviorist/constructivist dichotomies and searching for common ground between the two schools of thought can give rise to alternative approaches. A ‘Principled Eclectic Approach’ to language teaching is one way whereby a pluralism of methodologies is favored in the pursuit of more effective Second Language Acquisition. Using Brown’s Post-Method Principles (2002) and Mellow’s Two Dimensional Model and Centring Principle (2002) as a guide and point of reference, teachers can gauge their approach and effectiveness in a more dynamic learning environment. A two-part research study aimed to introduce a more Principled Eclectic Approach to academic English language instruction in higher education. Firstly, translation aimed to let students bring their mother tongue into the classroom. The rationale for this exercise being that the more meaningful the encounter with the target language, the better the acquisition. The second experiment looked to use music as a way to create a more relaxed learning environment during reading comprehension activities. The premise being that we acquire language better when we are relaxed. Feedback from the study revealed that the content was balanced, coherent, met the needs of the learner and the needs of the wider syllabus. Students were positive when taking part in the lessons as they believed that the methodologies tested helped them with their English acquisition. Subsequently, they wanted further exposure to these methodologies.

Research NGOs About Minors at Risk of Exclusion From the Educational Field

The following article presents part of the final results of an investigation carried out in the city of Granada, Spain, referring to the knowledge of the dynamics of work in the field of nonformal education with groups at risk of social exclusion and the promotion of communities and groups. More specifically, children at risk of exclusion participate in educational and training activities of local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with ages between 6 and 17 years. Its objectives have been to “recognize and describe the main methodological strategies in the teaching of social values and community development,” and evaluate the effectiveness of this type of educational organizations. We have used a mixed research design such as questionnaires, interviews, and indirect observation of professionals, volunteers, and users of small and very small NGOs and nonprofit organizations. Key findings include the use of alternative methodologies focused on comprehensive development and community partners; and greater efficiency for its users.

Abstract 115: Assessing the Concordance Between Stroke Rehabilitation Research Participants & ‘Real World’ Stoke Patients

Stroke rehabilitation programs have been transformed to better align with stroke Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), which prioritize randomized control trials as evidence-based best practices. However, a recent review of stroke rehabilitation randomized control trials (RCTs) found that the RCTS tended to include younger participants, excluded participants based on age related criteria, and often excluded individuals with comorbidities. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of stroke patients that would meet the enrolment criteria of stroke rehabilitation randomized controlled trials. A retrospective chart audit was conducted for all patients discharged from a high intensity stroke rehabilitation unit for a one-year period (n=110). RCT exclusion criteria were extracted from a recent review that analyzed the study inclusion and exclusions of 428 RCTs (age, cognitive impairment, previous stroke, and comorbidities). These study exclusions were applied to the 110 patients to determine how many patients would have been eligible to participate in the RCTs. Patients admitted to the stroke rehab unit had a mean age of 67.4 years and an average of 6.2 co-morbidities. 60.1% of these patients would have been excluded from participating in the RCTs by one or more exclusion criteria. 5.5% of patients would have been excluded based on age, 84.5% of patients would have been ineligible for 54% of RCTs based on cognitive impairment, 28% of patients would have been ineligible for 36% of RCTs based on a previous stroke, and 4.2% of patients would have been excluded based on the presence of a CCI condition or stroke risk factor. Results highlight the difference between trial subjects and ‘real world’ patients. Based on our understanding of how people accumulate chronic conditions with age, it can be inferred that the high quality evidence may not reflect the clinical reality of stroke rehabilitation. Given the high prevalence of increased age and comorbidities among stroke rehabilitation patients, this study emphasizes the importance of including ‘typical stroke patients’ in research studies or supporting the use of alternative methodologies that addresses application of study results to older patients with comorbidities.

PROCESOS BIOTECNOLÓGICOS PARA LA INDUCCIÓN DE CALLOS A PARTIR DE VITROPLANTAS DE Cinchona officinalis L., A NIVEL DE LABORATORIO EN LA PROVINCIA DE LOJA, ECUADOR

Cinchona officinalis L., considerada una especie iconica del Ecuador, fue explotada durante el siglo XVIII el cultivo hasta el XIX que la llevo casi a la extincion. Hoy en dia, utilizando como herramienta el cultivo de tejidos vegetales se puede dar solucion a problemas naturales y/o inducidos en algunas especies forestales nativas, como el caso de Cinchona. Asi, la presente investigacion desarrollada en el Laboratorio de Micropropagacion Vegetal de la Universidad Nacional de Loja durante el ano 2016, consistio en generar informacion sobre los procesos biotecnologicos que permitan la propagacion in vitro de Cinchona officinalis L., en sus fases de: implantacion, induccion de callos e induccion de embriones. Se utilizo el medio de cultivo basal de Murashige & Skoog (MS) suplementado con vitaminas y hormonas. Se aplico un diseno completamente al azar, analizado por medio de un ANAVA con prueba estadistica de LSD Fisher. Para la desinfeccion de semillas, en la fase de implantacion, se aplico hipoclorito de sodio y peroxido de hidrogeno, donde los dos desinfectantes controlaron eficientemente la contaminacion; mientras, en el ensayo de germinacion el efecto de desinfeccion mas la adicion de AG3 al MS liquido resulto efectiva. En la fase de induccion de callos, los segmentos nodales se cultivaron en medio MS solido, suplementado con auxinas y citoquininas; logrando los mejores resultados en la combinacion hormonal. En la fase de induccion de embriones, los explantes se cultivaron en medio de MS solido suplementado con auxinas y citoquininas en diferentes concentraciones

FROM AMINO ACIDS TO ENZYMES: A PROPOSAL USING DIDACTIC GAMES TO REVIEW THE CONTENT OF PROTEINS

INTRODUCTION: Biochemistry is a discipline offered in graduation courses. In general, the students define Biochemistry as “complex and extensive”, since, in most cases, a broad content is ministered in a short period of time. The consequences of this context may be reflected in the lack of interest by the students. Thus, the use of alternative methodologies presents potential to improve this situation. OBJECTIVES: Develop and implement educational games about protein content to review and arouse students' interest in the discipline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The educational games were made from available materials and low cost. The games were applied in extracurricular schedules in Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine and Agronomy courses of the Federal University of Uberlândia in the second half of 2015. All of this games count with the presence of a mediator to solve questions and correct mistakes that can appear. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS: Three educational games were created: "Amino Game 2.0", "Memo Protein" and "Race of Enzymes" which addressing the content of amino acid ionization, structure and function of proteins and enzymes, respectively. "AminoGame 2.0" is based on the correct assembly of structures of amino acids, dipeptides or tripeptides in according to conditions described on card game randomly selected by the player. "Memoprotein" is a memory game in which the player must correctly answer a question about protein to have the right to turn the cards of the game. Finally, "Race of Enzymes" is a board game in which the player must correctly answer questions about enzymes to have the right to advancing squares on the board. The application of three games showed good acceptance among students. CONCLUSION: “Amino Game 2.0", "Memo Protein" and "Race of Enzymes" were considered to be effective tools in the teaching of Biochemistry.

Symbaloo como puerta de acceso a las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en la enseñanza de álgebra

Este artículo reflexiona sobre las relaciones entre las nuevas tecnologías, la motivación estudiantil y el empleo de metodologías alternativas en las aulas. La infinidad de recursos educativos en Internet y la escasa inclusión de los mismos en la enseñanza han sido los puntos de partida de esta iniciativa. El presente estudio plantea la introducción de las TIC en el campo matemático del álgebra, a un grupo de 55 estudiantes de 2º E.S.O., como alternativa metodológica a las clases tradicionales. Durante el desarrollo del proceso se guió a los estudiantes en la realización de actividades, visualización de vídeos y participación en juegos educativos relacionados con el álgebra en niveles incipientes. La experiencia se ha llevado a cabo haciendo uso de la plataforma Symbaloo, de forma que en todo momento los estudiantes podían acceder a los distintos recursos y ser así partícipes de su propio ritmo de aprendizaje. El análisis de resultados desvela un alto índice de motivación por parte de un alumnado que tradicionalmente ha venido mostrando síntomas de apatía y de abandono escolar. El artículo concluye identificando los elementos valorados por los propios estudiantes en la motivación escolar.

Ratios and Housekeeper Normalization

A common practice in gene expression studies is to use ‘housekeepers’, i.e., genes expected to be expressed at relatively constant levels across experimental conditions, to normalize data. The process is to divide an expression value by some composite of one or more stable housekeepers to remove the effect of processing and nuance variables. Despite its reverence and widespread use, we argue that this approach is fundamentally flawed on multiple levels. The outcome of housekeeper normalization is a set of ratio variables which are not amenable to many standard statistical tests. There are no universal housekeeper genes and even within specific cohorts proposed housekeeper genes often fail to replicate. Furthermore, there is also no single agreed upon algorithm for performing housekeeper normalization or agreement regarding what constitutes a good housekeeper. We urge researchers to consider the use of alternative methodologies in their research.

Percepção de alunos do ensino médio sobre a temática conservação dos alimentos no processo de ensino-aprendizagem do conteúdo cinética química

This article derives from a survey of second graders from high school in a public school located in São Miguel do Guama, Pará It on the perceptions of students on the theme of food preservation in the process of teaching and learning content of chemical kinetics. It deals with the perceptions of students on the theme of food preservation in the process of teaching and learning of the content of chemical kinetics. Our aim in framing questions pertaining to this article was the fact that seek to identify the methodology used by the teacher allowed the student to have an understanding of the practical situations of everyday life that require the taking of certain decisions and if they could establish a relationship between the topic addressed with the specific content of chemistry, based on everyday observations. To this end, there was the application of 25 questionnaires for data collection. The data showed us that the majority (68%) gives students failed to articulate the theme food preservation with the chemical kinetics. This leads us to infer that the use of alternative methodologies in teaching chemistry, and the improvement of students’ preconceptions are important in the process of teaching and learning of chemical content.

Cost economies, efficiency and productivity growth in the Chinese banking industry: evidence from a quarterly panel dataset

This article examines cost economies, productivity growth and cost efficiency of the Chinese banks using a unique panel dataset that identifies banks' four outputs and four input prices over the period of 1995-2001. By assessing the appropriateness of model specification, and making use of alternative methodologies in evaluating the performance of banks, we find that the joint-stock commercial banks outperform state-owned commercial banks in productivity growth and cost efficiency. Under the variable cost assumption, Chinese banks display economies of scale, with state-owned commercial banks enjoying cost advantages over the joint-stock commercial banks. Consequently, our results highlight the ownership advantage of these two types of banks and generally support the ongoing banking reform and transformation that is currently taking place in China.

Recent Progress in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C-N Cross-Couplings: Emerging Approaches Towards Sustainability

Transition-metal-catalyzed coupling of amines with aryl halides (or pseudo-halides) has evolved as the most versatile method available to forge carbon-nitrogen bonds. However, due to economic and environmental concerns, the quest for more attractive protocols in both academic and industrial domains has been pursued. In this review, we have summarized recent developments in the use of alternative methodologies, regarding non-conventional reaction medium, activation source and catalyst system, which can be considered promising for C-N cross-coupling reactions (Buchwald- Hartwig, Ullmann and correlates).

Removal of acrylic coatings from works of art by means of nanofluids: understanding the mechanism at the nanoscale

Conservation of works of art often involves the inappropriate application of synthetic polymers. We have proposed the use of alternative methodologies for conservation and formulated innovative cleaning nanostructured systems to remove previously applied polymer films and grime from painted surfaces. In particular, a novel "micellar system" composed of water, SDS, 1-pentanol, ethyl acetate and propylene carbonate was recently formulated and successfully used to remove acrylic and vinyl/acrylic copolymers from Mesoamerican wall paintings in the archeological site of Cholula, Mexico. This contribution reports on the mechanism of the interaction process that takes place between the nanostructured fluid and the polymer coating at the nanoscale. The structural properties of the "micellar solution" and of the polymer film are investigated before, during and after the interaction process using several surface and solution techniques. Rather than a classical detergency mechanism, we demonstrate that micelles act as solvent containers and interact with the polymer film leading to its swelling and detachment from the surface and to its segregation in a liquid droplet, which phase-separates from the aqueous bulk. After the removal process the micelles become smaller in size and undergo a structural re-arrangement due to the depletion of the organic solvents. These findings can be framed in an interaction mechanism which describes the removal process, opening up new perspectives in the design and formulation of new cleaning systems specifically tailored for intervention on particular conservation issues.

Combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies in logistics research

The majority of logistics research is primarily populated by quantitative research viewed through a positivist lens. Increasingly, there are calls for logistics research to more frequently employ qualitative methodologies. The trend in management research generally is increasingly to use methods and approaches which provide a middle ground between the contrasting positivist and phenomenological paradigms and perspectives. Methodological triangulation, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, increasingly provides multidimensional insights into many management research problems. This paper urges logistics researchers to think about the paradigm through which they view the world and to explore the use of alternative methodologies. If the ultimate aim is to gain knowledge about the world then one needs to do this in the most valid way possible. This paper describes the dominant research paradigms and perspectives and their generally concomitant research methodologies and describes some research (decision‐making concerning choice of ports/ferries) where methodological triangulation, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, yielded greater insights than would have been the case if a single research methodology had been employed.

Implied PDFs: Estimation, Testing and Applications in the Eurodollar Market

This paper develops a method for estimating implied PDFs for futures prices from American options. The restricting assumption of log-normally distributed returns is relaxed with the use of the more flexible distributional form of an Edgeworth Series Expansion (ESE) of a log-normal distribution. The method is applied to Eurodollar futures options market data and a plethora of tests is employed to explore its capacity. The proposed model is found to be able to estimate PDFs that can capture the general market sentiment and also incorporate isolated events causing a significant impact on the market. In addition to exploring the 'economic' sensibility of the recovered densities, their statistical properties are examined against the properties of PDFs estimated with the use of alternative methodologies. A superior behaviour is present in most of the cases addressed. Based on the proposed model, a new setting that allows to explicitly quantify the information content of option prices is also developed.