Requisite for Honing the Problem Solving Skill of Early Adolescents in the Digital Era

Vol. 10  Issue 1
Year:2016
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Requisite for Honing the Problem Solving Skill of Early Adolescents in the Digital Era
Author Name:S. Sumitha and Rexlin Jose
Synopsis:
Problems can be the cause of stress, tension, emotional instability and physical strain. Especially, adolescents should have the skill of solving a problem in order to reach his/her desired ambitions in life. The problem solving skill requires some abstract thinking to arrive at a clear solution. Problem solving ability helps them to meet their challenges in their real life situations. This study aims at investigating the problem solving skill of early adolescents. The major objectives of the study is to find out the problem solving skill of early adolescents based on their gender and type of family and the problem solving skill of early adolescents who belong to aided, matriculation, and government schools located in the rural areas of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India. The sample of 100 early adolescents was randomly selected for the study. Survey method was employed for the study. A questionnaire, which consisted of 26 items on problem solving skills was developed by the investigators and used as an instrument for the purpose of study. Reliability was established and the tool was validated by the experts in the field of Education. The analysis of data was computed and it revealed that (i) female students are better than the male students, nuclear family students are better than the joint family students in their problem solving skills and (ii) type of school does not influence the problem solving skill of early adolescents.

Emotional, Social, Educational Adjustment of Higher Secondary School Students In Relation to Academic Achievement

Vol. 10  Issue 1
Year:2016
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Emotional, Social, Educational Adjustment of Higher Secondary School Students In Relation to Academic Achievement
Author Name:J. Master Arul Sekar and A.S. Arul Lawrence
Synopsis:
The present study aims to investigate whether there is any significant relationship between adjustment and academic achievement of higher secondary school students. In this survey study, the investigators used stratified random sampling technique for selecting the sample from the population. The stratification was done on the basis of gender and locality of students. The sample consists of 350 higher secondary school students from ten schools in Thanjavur District, TamilNadu, India. The tools used for the present study were Adjustment Inventory developed by A.K.P. Sinha and R.P. Singh (2007) and academic achievement constructed by the investigator. The statistical techniques used for analyzing the data for the present study was Karl Pearson's product moment co-efficient of correlation. The finding shows that, there is a significant relationship between emotional, social, educational adjustment of higher secondary school students in relation to academic achievement.

Exploring Elementary Student Perceptions of Writing Feedback

Vol. 10  Issue 1
Year:2016
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Exploring Elementary Student Perceptions of Writing Feedback
Author Name:Sarah Marrs, Sharon Zumbrunn, Caitlin Mcbride and JK Stringer
Synopsis:
The purpose of this descriptive qualitative investigation was to explore elementary students' (N = 867) perceptions of the feedback they receive on their writing. After responding to the closed-ended question, “Do you like to receive feedback about your writing?” students were branched to the appropriate follow-up open-ended question, “Why do/don't you like to receive feedback about your writing from your teacher?” The majority of students reported liking writing feedback and provided reasons related to mastery and positive affective responses to feedback. A sizeable number of students reported not liking feedback and provided reasons related to avoidance of receiving feedback and negative affective responses associated with feedback. Qualitative findings highlight the range of both positive and negative views about writing feedback, as well as the power of listening to student voices.

Burnout among the Counseling Profession: A Survey of Future Professional Counselors

Vol. 10  Issue 1
Year:2016
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Burnout among the Counseling Profession: A Survey of Future Professional Counselors
Author Name:Elizabeth Ann Wardle and Mary G. Mayorga
Synopsis:
Research studies indicate that, the rate of burnout among professional counselors is a continued concern. The nature of the work that counselors do make them susceptible to stress and poor self-care leading to possible burnout. Counselors and counselors in training need to develop awareness about the possibility of burnout when entering the world of professional counseling. Developing a self-care awareness component in counseling programs is advocated by the American Counseling Association as part of counselor training to help prepare future counselors against burnout that leads to counseling impairment. The aim of this study was to examine a group of counseling student participants to obtain measurable data regarding the presence of indicators of burnout. The purpose of the study was to determine the presence of burnout among this student population. This research was conducted using a two-part survey that included demographic data, and a burnout assessment tool, based on the Freudenberger Burnout Scale, (2007), which examined what they were presently experiencing that could lead to burnout. Over 85% of the participants in this study have some degree of indication that burnout is either something they should be aware of and paying attention to, or they are overtly demonstrating indication that they are burned out, with a situation that may be threatening to their physical and mental well-being.

A Case of Depression Screening In Schools

Vol. 10  Issue 1
Year:2016
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:A Case of Depression Screening In Schools
Author Name:Lence Miloseva
Synopsis:
Adolescent clinical and subclinical depression has a significant negative impact on adolescents well being, school performance and consequently produces maladaptive outcomes in terms of subsequent education and occupational functioning. This research is a part of a larger research project with a focus on clinical and subclinical depression during adolescence. So far there has been no other study conducted with adolescents in Macedonia, whose research subject was subclinical depression and its screening in schools. This was an additional motivation for this research. The objective of this research was to introduce a procedure for selecting and grouping of the research sample and the screening of subclinical depression in adolescents ranging from 13 to 17 years of age in primary and secondary schools that was carried out in the Eastern, Central and Western part of Macedonia in the period of two and a half years. The final sample consisted of the clinical group, 139 (33.7%) respondents; the subclinical group, 133 (32.3%) respondents, and 140 (34.0%) respondents in the control group, and a total of 412 respondents. We believe that the first step in preventing clinical depression development in adolescents, including school context, is screening and facing the existence of subclinical depression, on the continuum of the psychological model of depression. The data obtained should have a practical implication for designing preventive and intervention programs in schools.

Comorbidity of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Towards Improved Diagnostic Procedures, Instructional Programming, and Personnel Preparation

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Comorbidity of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Towards Improved Diagnostic Procedures, Instructional Programming, and Personnel Preparation
Author Name:Elias Clinton
Synopsis:
An emotional/behavioral disorder is a mental health disability characterized by intensive internalized behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression) and/or externalized behaviors (e.g., physical aggression, verbal aggression). Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors (i.e., stereo type). Both of the aforementioned disorders are persistent and may result in a reduced quality of life. Currently, there is a substantial knowledge gap in regards to best practices for students who demonstrate the diagnostic criteria for both disorders concomitantly (i.e., comorbidity). The lack of knowledge regarding co-occurrence of autism and emotional/behavioral disorders in school-age children results in unreliable, invalid diagnostic practices, as well as ineffective instructional programming. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the literature in order to close this knowledge gap. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to promote valid, reliable diagnostic procedures that lead to efficient individualized supports for children with both autism and an emotional/behavioral disorder. Results of the literature review are discussed in regards to comorbidity of the two disorders (e.g., overlap of phenotypic characteristics) and diagnostic assessment procedures proposed by researchers in the field. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

Subjective Well-Being of School Teachers after Yoga – An Experimental Study

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Subjective Well-Being of School Teachers after Yoga – An Experimental Study
Author Name:B. Tamilselvi and S. Thangarajathi 
Synopsis:
The state of psychological equilibrium in school teachers is of great concern. As a truth, equilibrium is the most delicate, unstable state and gets disturbed even by a slight disturbance in its components. The causal factors of imbalance or disequilibria, in the psychological configuration of school teachers are plenty in number; the environment in which they are living and interacting with others, the work environment and the constitution of the person himself. The complexities of human life, changed structure of families, tough competition in all walks of life, rapid changes in the environment (such as Industrialization, Urbanization and Modernization), changing the values of society, social demand and expectations, work conditions, etc. have flooded the human minds of school teachers with tension and anxiety as they fail to cope with all of them simultaneously and effectively and this causes injury to their psychological well-being or mental health. The aim of the present study is to find out the effects of Yoga on Subjective Well-Being of school teachers. In this study, 36 school teachers are trained in Yoga for 48 days and their Subjective Well-Being is measured before and after Yoga. It is found that, there is a significant increase in the Subjective Well-Being due to Yoga training, thereby giving them a good mental and physical health

Attitude towards Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation of High School Students

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Attitude towards Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation of High School Students
Author Name:A. Vences Cyril and D. Jeyasekaran
Synopsis:
Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) refers to a system of school-based evaluation introduced by CBSE in all CBSE affiliated schools across the country to evaluate both scholastic and non-scholastic aspects of students' growth and development. Continuous and comprehensive evaluation is to evaluate every aspect of the child during their presence at the school. This is believed to help reduce the pressure on the child during and before the examination and to improve the overall skill and ability of the student by means of evaluation of other activities. The focus was on identifying the talents of the learner and empowering with positive input. The purpose of the present study was to find out the attitude towards continuous and comprehensive evaluation of high school students. The research type was a survey method, which consists of purposive sampling of 99 high school students in Dindigul district. Personal data sheet and Attitude towards continuous and comprehensive evaluation scale was prepared and validated by the investigator. The interpretation of data was done with statistical methods in percentage analysis, mean, standard deviation and 't'-test. The results showed that, the attitude of continuous and comprehensive evaluation of high school students in Dindigul district, found to be positive.

Construction And Validation of Parental Rating Scale from Children’s Emotional Intelligence (4-8 Years Old)

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Construction And Validation of Parental Rating Scale from Children’s Emotional Intelligence (4-8 Years Old)
Author Name:Hadi Kajbafnezhad
Synopsis:
Emotional intelligence rating tools are not available for children, but mostly for children. So, the present study investigated the measurement and assessment of Emotional Intelligence in children with the age range of 4 -8 years old by parents (mothers) through a preliminary research-made questionnaire. This study was based on an exploratory-survey design. The samples of the study were 330 mothers of children (4-8 years), selected from Behbahan city which were selected through a Cluster Random Sampling. After testing with exploratory factorial analysis method, 3 factors with 45 questions were extracted. The results of the confirmatory factorial analysis based on the scores on parental form stated three factors such as : perception and expression of the emotion, emotional understanding and evaluation, and emotional management and regulation; and stated 22.11 percentage of variance in children’s emotional intelligence in total.

Stress among School-Going Adolescents In Relation to Psychological Hardiness

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Stress among School-Going Adolescents In Relation to Psychological Hardiness
Author Name:Raminder Singh
Synopsis:
The present study was designed to investigate the stress among school-going adolescents in relation to psychological hardiness and also to study the gender and locale-wise differences in various dimensions and components of stress. The study was conducted over a sample of 200 (100 rural and 100 urban) adolescents studying in 10+1 and 10+2 classes in four schools (2 rural and 2 urban) of the Muktsar Sahib District of Punjab. Dr. Abha Rani Bisht's Battery of Stress Scales (1992) and Nowack's Psychological Hardiness Scale (1990) were employed to measure the adolescents' various dimensions and components of stress and psychological hardiness respectively. The results reported that there exist significant gender differences among school-going adolescents in terms of their existential stress, achievement stress, academic stress, self-concept stress, self-actualization stress, physical stress, social stress, institutional stress, financial stress and superstition stress, whereas significant locale-wise differences among school-going adolescents were found only in terms of existential stress, role stress, institutional stress and financial stress. Apart from the above, stress among schoolgoing adolescents was found to be significantly negatively correlated with the psychological hardiness of the adolescents.

Mindfulness Behavior and its Effects on Anxiety

Vol. 9  Issue 4
Year:2016
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Mindfulness Behavior and its Effects on Anxiety
Author Name:Mary G. Mayorga, Sabina De Vries and Elizabeth Ann Wardle
Synopsis:
A quasi experimental study was conducted at a South West State University counseling program to investigate if using meditation techniques would lower levels of anxiety and create mindfulness attention awareness among counseling students enrolled in a counseling skills course, taught in a masters-level counseling program. A total of 29 students were recruited from three counseling skills courses, two of which were included in the treatment condition and one was designated as the control condition. Students in the treatment condition were instructed in one pointed breathing meditation and it was practiced for five minutes at the beginning of each class. The results indicated that, there was a significant reduction in anxiety in the treatment group; however, no significant changes in mindfulness were noted.

Neuromathematical Trichotomous Mixed Methods Analysis: Using the Neuroscientific Tri–Squared Test Statistical Metric as a Post Hoc Analytic To Determine North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Leadership Efficacy

Vol. 9  Issue 3
Year:2016
Issue:Nov-Jan
Title:Neuromathematical Trichotomous Mixed Methods Analysis: Using the Neuroscientific Tri–Squared Test Statistical Metric as a Post Hoc Analytic To Determine North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Leadership Efficacy
Author Name:James Edward Osler II and Letita R. Mason
Synopsis:
This study examines the leadership efficacy amongst graduates of The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) for the classes of 2000 through 2007 from a neuroscientific and neuromathematic perspective. NCSSM alumni (as the primary unit of analysis) were examined using a novel neuromathematic post hoc method of analysis. This study is grounded in the theoretical construct that non-cognitive psychological (also called motivational) factors are core components of leadership efficacy (self-efficacy), indicative of NCSSM graduates (who had high academic performance and attained STEM [Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics] degrees). In this neuroscientific mixed–methods analysis, a quantitative phase was conducted to collect the data captured by the Mind Garden Leadership Efficacy Questionnaire. A Post Hoc qualitative analysis was conducted in the second phase of the data analysis, using the applied neuromathematic Trichotomous–Squared Test methodology (that has an associated qualitative researcher–designed Inventive Investigative Instrument (Osler, 2012a) embedded within the statistical methodology). An additional outcome of the research investigation was the development of a new assessment methodology called the “Mason Leadership Efficacy Model”.

Determinants of Educational Continuation Decisions of Higher Secondary School Students in India: An Application of Theory of Planned Behavior

Vol. 9  Issue 3
Year:2016
Issue:Nov-Jan
Title:Determinants of Educational Continuation Decisions of Higher Secondary School Students in India: An Application of Theory of Planned Behavior
Author Name:Sreekala E. and Samsu Firsad
Synopsis:
The determinants of educational and occupational continuation of younger people in India are still attributed to their socio economic background (primary effects). This deters the government from taking steps to bring the disadvantaged youngsters’ higher education, since there is not much one can do to improve the social origin factors. The secondary effects of social origin are often neglected with a conviction that these effects have still not come to play a role as a determining factor in educational continuation decisions of Indian students. The present study was thus conducted to understand the determinants of students' continuation decisions to higher education. Theory of planned behavior is tested here, using its constructs. The study was conducted among 300 higher secondary school students of Kerala state in India. Schools and classes were selected randomly and data were collected from intact classrooms. Achievement test scores were collected from school records. The questionnaire used by Ajsen is modified and validated for the use in this study for assessing the planned behavior of students. The continuation decisions, the dependent variable are considered as a binary variable and the response was sought with a question of whether they will continue to higher education or not. The results of the present study give a clear indication of the manifestation of secondary effects in higher education decisions. Attitude toward Behavior and Perceived Behavioral Control have significantly predicted the intention of higher secondary students for continuing to higher education. Subjective Norms are found not predicting the decisions.

An Evaluation of Copy Cover and Compare Spelling Intervention for an Elementary Student with Learning Disabilities: A Replication

Vol. 9  Issue 3
Year:2016
Issue:Nov-Jan
Title:An Evaluation of Copy Cover and Compare Spelling Intervention for an Elementary Student with Learning Disabilities: A Replication
Author Name:Celena Breach, T. F. Mclaughlin and K. Mark Derby
Synopsis:
The purpose of this study was to increase the spelling performance for a 4 grade student with learning disabilities. The second objective was to replicate the document with the efficacy of Copy, Cover, and Compare (CCC) in spelling. The study was conducted in a resource room in a low socio-economic school in the Pacific Northwest. The skill assessed was the number correct spelling words taken from a classroom constructed spelling worksheet. The results showed and increase in number scored correctly when CCC was in effect for each of five sets of spelling words. Using the Percent of Non-overlapping Data points, (PND), the authors also determined that CCC was a very effective intervention. These outcomes replicate other research dealing with CCC.

Effect of Reflective Teaching Training and Teaching Aptitude on Teaching Skills among Elementary Teacher Trainees

Vol. 9  Issue 3
Year:2016
Issue:Nov-Jan
Title:Effect of Reflective Teaching Training and Teaching Aptitude on Teaching Skills among Elementary Teacher Trainees
Author Name:Vijaya Kumari S.N and Savita P. Naik
Synopsis:

Teachers serve education, which is an effective instrument of man making. The teachers learn this art through Preservice teacher education programme. Teaching has been a reflective process from the beginning. Reflection is used in all sectors of teacher education, including Vocational and Adult education, for a number of years. Despite numerous articles, there is a little solid empirical evidence that supports the view that it results in superior teaching practices among Elementary teacher trainees. This Research study focuses on the orientation of various processes of capturing Reflection. It also considers the development of Teaching Skills of pre-service teachers' throughout their practicum. In relation to these, it analyzes the effect of Teaching Aptitude in developing Teaching Skills among Elementary Teacher Trainees.

The samples for this experimental research study were Elementary Teacher Trainees selected randomly from Teacher- Training Institutions of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India and were grouped into High and Low Teaching Aptitude groups by administering the standardized Teaching Aptitude Test. 2x2 factorial design was used as an experimental design. Data collection consisted of measuring Teaching Skills by observing lessons and rating the Teaching Skills during the Practicum. The findings of the present study revealed that reflective teaching strategy has significant effect in developing teaching skills. There is no significant effect of teaching aptitude in developing teaching skills as the interaction of reflective teaching strategy and teaching aptitude also has no significant effect on teaching skills. The study suggests that the elementary teacher-trainees perceived the knowledge of reflective teaching after training. This knowledge on reflective process increased their self-awareness towards their teaching skills, which enhanced their professional identity development as teachers. They focused primarily on the instructional processes, motivation, and on classroom management while reflecting on their experiences, while having emphasis on effective teaching so that desired objectives are achieved.

The Effects of Student Financial Contributions toward Their Post-Secondary Educational Experience

Vol. 9  Issue 3
Year:2016
Issue:Nov-Jan
Title:The Effects of Student Financial Contributions toward Their Post-Secondary Educational Experience
Author Name:Eva Marie Kane
Synopsis:
The college student population in USA is predicted to increase from 13 million to 21 million between 2003–2015 (Strom & Storm, 2004). This increase along with the exponentially increasing cost of post-secondary education has caused an increase in the financial burden placed on students. Between 2000 and 2012, the two major post-secondary institutions in the South eastern state of USA, where the study was conducted has raised their tuition rates almost 200 percent (Bennett & Wilezol, 2013). The present study used a quantitative approach to determine the relationship between student's financial contributions and student motivation. Student financial contribution was determined by students' personal contributions (loans, scholarships, full and part-time work, and student savings) toward tuition, fees, books, housing, and transportation. The survey was distributed using the College of Education, listserv through the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. This study found that, there is a significant statistical relationship between student financial contribution and intrinsic goal orientation.

Biotrichotomy: The Neuroscientific and Neurobiological Systemology, Epistemology, and Methodology of the Tri–Squared Test and Tri–Center Analysis in Biostatistics

Vol. 9  Issue 2
Year:2015
Issue:Aug-Oct
Title:Biotrichotomy: The Neuroscientific and Neurobiological Systemology, Epistemology, and Methodology of the Tri–Squared Test and Tri–Center Analysis in Biostatistics
Author Name:James Edward Osler 
Synopsis:
This monograph provides a neuroscience–based systemological, epistemological, and methodological rational for the design of an advanced and novel parametric statistical analytics designed for the biological sciences referred to as “Biotrichotomy”. The aim of this new arena of statistics is to provide dual metrics designed to analyze the Pre and the Post Hoc outcomes of biological phenomena. The data analysis methodology of “Biotrichotomy” as “Biotrichotometrics” uses the unique instrumentation of the qualitative to quantitative “Tri–Squared Test”and its associated Post Hoc statistic “Tri–Center Analysis” as in–depth data analytic psychometrics. Using these two tools together the researcher has a seamless longitudinal research methodology. Access through these procedures also allows the use of the traditional parametric statistical measures of central tendency within the trichotomous research design framework. In terms of post hoc metrics, Tri–Center Analysis involves the computation of normal distribution parametric measures to examine the values of an independent statistically significant Tri–Squared Test. Both systems of statistical analysis were initially introduced in the i-manager’s Journal on Mathematics and i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology respectively, and the result of this paper illustrates their utility, usability, and viability.

Awareness about Right of Children to Free and Compulsory (RTE) Act 2009 among Elementary Teachers in Coimbatore District

Vol. 9  Issue 2
Year:2015
Issue:Aug-Oct
Title:Awareness about Right of Children to Free and Compulsory (RTE) Act 2009 among Elementary Teachers in Coimbatore District
Author Name:Reshmi Ramachandran and G. Subramonian
Synopsis:
As per RTE Act 2009, all children between the age of 6 and 14 shall have the right to free and compulsory elementary education at neighborhood schools. The facilities as mentioned in the RTE Act should reach into the hands of students properly and the teachers should have a good awareness level. This article explores the awareness of RTE Act 2009 among elementary school teachers in Coimbatore District. In this article, survey method was adopted with 100 elementary school teachers taken as a sample from Coimbatore District. A Personal Data Sheet was used to collect demographic information like qualification, locale, teaching experience and type of management. It was found that awareness level of average group was highest with 58% of the total sample. The mean scores of teachers in rural area was higher than the mean scores of urban area. In this case mean scores of under graduate teachers and post graduate teachers as well as teachers having teaching experience between 0 and 10 years and between 10 and 20 years are almost equal. From the total analysis it was found that the teachers are required to have better awareness about RTE Act in order to attain the aim of the Act.

Assessing Postgraduate Students' Critical Thinking Ability

Vol. 9  Issue 2
Year:2015
Issue:Aug-Oct
Title:Assessing Postgraduate Students' Critical Thinking Ability
Author Name:Muhammad Javed, Muhammad Atif Nawaz and Ansa Qurat-ul-ain 
Synopsis:
This paper addresses to assess the critical thinking ability of postgraduate students. The target population was the male and female students at University level in Pakistan. A small sample of 45 male and 45 female students were selected randomly from The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Cornell Critical Thinking Test Series, The Cornell Class- Reasoning Test, Form X developed by Ennis (1964) were used to assess the students' critical thinking ability. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. The percentage was calculated to assess the students' critical thinking ability. The t-test was used to make comparison of the students' ability on gender bases. The analysis, based on t-value, revealed an insignificant difference between the critical thinking ability of male and female students. Recommendations were furnished in order to improve the students’ critical thinking skills.

Creative Thinking of University Teachers in the Age of Intellectual Capital: Is It Affected by Personality Types and Traits?

Vol. 9  Issue 2
Year:2015
Issue:Aug-Oct
Title:Creative Thinking of University Teachers in the Age of Intellectual Capital: Is It Affected by Personality Types and Traits?
Author Name:Isam Alfuqaha and Adnan Tobasi
Synopsis:

This article attempts to probe the level of creative thinking of teachers at Philadelphia University in Jordan, and to define its relation with several independent demographic variables, namely age, gender, duration of experience, specialization, and personality types and traits. To accomplish this purpose, three questionnaires are administered on a randomly-chosen sample of (90) teachers at Philadelphia University, Jordan.

Findings point out that personality traits included in the study are found available in teachers of Philadelphia University at meager proportions. They can be arranged according to degree of availability in the following descending order: amiable, persevering, savvy, courageous and daring, intelligent, insightful, dynamic and active, and independent. The level of creative thinking of teachers at Philadelphia University is found to be somewhat moderate. Besides, there is no statistically significant relation between the creative thinking of teachers studied and each of the following demographic variables: gender, age, experience, and personality types. Specialization and amiability are concluded to affect the level of creative thinking: the first positively and the second adversely. The other personality traits studied are not available in proportions that considerably affect the level of creative thinking of teachers. As for personality types, they were found to be mainly Epimetheans and Apollonians. Several conclusions and recommendations concerning the teachinglearning environments and processes are outlined.

Dispositional Forgiveness as a Predictor of Psychological Resilience among Women: A Sign of Mental Health

Vol. 9  Issue 2
Year:2015
Issue:Aug-Oct
Title:Dispositional Forgiveness as a Predictor of Psychological Resilience among Women: A Sign of Mental Health
Author Name:Momina Abid and Sarwat Sultan
Synopsis:
Mental health includes several components of living a healthy life such as one's ability to enjoy life and to cope with stresses. Forgiveness is also one path to mental health. Present study aimed to investigate the predictive relationship of dispositional forgiveness with psychological resilience and to explore the role of marital status in dispositional forgiveness and psychological resilience among women. 160 women aged between 21-40 participated in the study and provided data on Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Thompson et al., 2005) and The Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et. al., 2008). Results showed a significant positive impact on forgiveness and psychological resilience among women. Findings further revealed that marital status was the significant determinant of forgiveness and resilience among women. It was found that married women have significant effects on forgiveness and resilience. Study has the implication to enhance the mental health by learning forgiveness skills, because universal forgiveness exercises can help to find best strategies to deal with feeling of stress, hurt, pain, revenge, resentment and so on.

A Study on Intelligence of High School Students

Vol. 9  Issue 1
Year:2015
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:A Study on Intelligence of High School Students
Author Name:M. Usha Rani and S. Prakash
Synopsis:
Intelligence involves the ability to think, solve problems, analyze situations, and understand social values, customs, and norms. Intelligence is a general mental capability that involves the ability to reason, plan, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. Intellectual ability involves comprehension; understanding, and learning from experience. The objective of the study is to find out the intelligence of High School Students. Survey method was used for the study.1564 High School Students from Madurai and Virudhunagar Districts were taken as sample using stratified random sampling technique. Raven's Standard Progressive matrices were used to measure the intelligence of high school students. Mean. Standard deviation and t test were used to analyze the data. The results showed that there is significant difference in intelligence test scores of high school students in terms of area of study, gender, medium of instruction and board of school.

A Study of Prosocial Behaviour and Self Concept of Adolescents

Vol. 9  Issue 1
Year:2015
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:A Study of Prosocial Behaviour and Self Concept of Adolescents
Author Name:Deepty Gupta and Geeta Thapliyal
Synopsis:
Adolescence is a vital period in social development, because adolescents can be easily influenced by the people they develop close relationships with. At the stage of adolescence peer groups offer the opportunity to develop social skills such as empathy, sharing, and leadership. A number of family characteristics are also related to the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents. Prosocial behaviour is aimed to establish positive, empathic, co-operative and socially responsible relationships in order to benefit others. Prosocial behaviour fosters positive traits that are beneficial for children and society. Similarly their self-concept begins being much more complex and tangible than it was when they were children. Self-concept reflects how an adolescent evaluates himself or herself in domains (or areas) in which he or she considers success as important. Previous empirical evidence reveals that acting in a prosocial and altruistic manner could increase someone's self-concept. So the researchers have conducted the study of prosocial behaviour and self concept in Male and Female Adolescents, and also to identify the relationship between prosocial behaviour and self concept. The findings of the study have revealed that overall self concept of adolescents was found to be average and favourable and there was no significant difference found between self concept of male and female adolescents. The Prosocial Behaviour of adolescents was average and favourable and there was significant difference found between prosocial behaviour of male and female adolescents. There was significant relationship found between prosocial behaviour and self concept of adolescents.

Students Perception is the Instrument to Predict the Quality of Teachers in Higher Education: A Regression Analysis

Vol. 9  Issue 1
Year:2015
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Students Perception is the Instrument to Predict the Quality of Teachers in Higher Education: A Regression Analysis
Author Name:Ananta Kumar Jena
Synopsis:
The main purpose of the paper was to study the students' perception towards teachers' depth of content knowledge, teachers' skill of using instructional strategies, diagnosis of learning difficulties and teachers' knowledge of students' understanding in relation to their professional health. The students' of different Indian Universities were the population of the study. Among them 2000 students and 500 University teachers from the population were the Selected sample of the study. All the samples were collected by following random sampling techniques. The present study was an survey by means of enquiring the present status of learners' perception of teachers' depth of content knowledge, teachers' skill of using instructional objective, diagnosis of learning difficulties and knowledge of students understanding as the instruments for professional health check up at University level. It indicated that there was a positive significant relationship between all the factors above. It was resulted that students' perception on these factors were the predictors of teachers' professional health check-up. Therefore, teachers should be aware and they should increase their overall depth of knowledge for the flexible teaching-learning process. It is necessary to conduct investigation regarding all teachers' depth of knowledge, Academic career and the relation with age and gender.

Tracking Concept Development through Semiotic Evolution

Vol. 9  Issue 1
Year:2015
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Tracking Concept Development through Semiotic Evolution
Author Name:Ilana Ronen
Synopsis:
A qualitative research focused on a case study aiming to monitor emergent knowledge in a discourse group by tracking the development of the concept 'goal'. The analysis, based on 'Semiotic Evolution' methodology facilitates the description of interactions between personal perceptions in the group discourse, illustrating the change process and signs development. It is suggested that knowledge was emerged from a free, self-organized discourse interaction which was encouraged by a constructivist leadership. The new knowledge was manifested by expanding the boundaries of the concept 'goal' and it changed the members' behavior. Understanding emergent knowledge is useful in teaching and Teacher Education processes as well as in Adult Education.

Anxiety as it Pertains to EFL Writing Ability and Performance

Vol. 9  Issue 1
Year:2015
Issue:May-Jul 
Title:Anxiety as it Pertains to EFL Writing Ability and Performance
Author Name:Mohammad Ali Salmani Nodoushan
Synopsis:
This paper reports the results of a study conducted to find (a) the impact of anxiety on EFL learners' writing performance, and (b) the relationship between anxiety and foreign language writing ability. 137 (N = 137) EFL learners took the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), the Oxford Placement Test (OPT), and a writing task on a sensitive political topic. Results of the FLCAS were used to assess the participants' degrees of trait, state, and situational anxiety, and OPT scores indicated their proficiency levels. The writing task scores were used as a measure for the participants' writing task performance. Regression and partial correlation analyses were conducted. The findings of the study showed that state anxiety is debilitative whereas situational anxiety and trait anxiety are facilitative. It was concluded that mitigation strategies, discursive textual techniques, and the use of passive voice are in fact triggered by state anxiety rather than by writers' face-saving intentions or their inclination to show politeness.

A Delphi Survey on Citizenship Education in Asean Countries: Findings for Brunei

Vol. 8  Issue 4
Year:2015
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:A Delphi Survey on Citizenship Education in Asean Countries: Findings for Brunei
Author Name:Hajah Sallimah Haji Mohammed Salleh, Kumar Laxman and Rosmawijah Jawawi 
Synopsis:
The aim of the Delphi Survey was to elucidate Bruneian Education experts' responses to five questions regarding their knowledge and understanding of the charateristics of citizenship education viz. Environment, Coexistence, Culture, Social Justice and Equity, Democracy, Sustainable Development, Interdependence, Foreign Language, Social Welfare, Human Rights, ASEAN History and Culture, and Common Social Problems of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations ) Countries. A Delphi Survey questionnaire was given to the education experts at two different times. The education experts were primary and secondary teachers, University lecturers and other education experts. There were 386 participants in the first round survey, and 101 participants in the second round survey. The results shows that in the first part of the survey, most of the education experts' thought about their achievements of the characteristics for knowledge and understanding, skills and understanding, and values and attitudes at local, national, regional, global level and universal levels, at present, and in ten years later, are stable during the two rounds of the Delphi survey. For the second part of the survey, regarding their knowledge and understanding of the twelve characteristics of citizenship education, it was shown that there were consensus on their knowledge and understanding on different culture, social justice and equity, democracy, interdependence, foreign language, social welfare, ASEAN history and culture, and common social problems of ASEAN countries.

Studying Faculty Members' and Students' Perspective in an Affiliated Undergraduate Engineering Institution

Vol. 8  Issue 4
Year:2015
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Studying Faculty Members' and Students' Perspective in an Affiliated Undergraduate Engineering Institution
Author Name:Neeraj Kumari 
Synopsis:
The study aims to examine the relationship between parameters affecting the quality of Education in affiliated Under Graduate Engineering institution from the faculty members' and students' perspective. It is a descriptive research. The data has been collected with the help of ‘Questionnaire Based Survey’. The sample size for the study is 110 comprising of the faculty respondents and 500 comprising of student respondents. The sample has been taken on the random (Probability) basis and the questionnaire was filled by the faculty members (teaching B.Tech) and students (pursuing B.Tech) chosen on the random basis from an affiliated undergraduate engineering institution in NCR, Haryana. For data analysis and conclusion of the results of the survey, statistical tool like correlation was performed in MS Excel. It can be inferred that for the faculty members' perspective “selection process” is negligibly impactive factor on “academic excellence”, “infrastructure”, “personality development & industry exposure” and “management & administration”. For the students' perspective “selection process” is negligibly impactive factor on “academic excellence”, “infrastructure”, “personality development & industry exposure”, “placements” and “management & administration”. And “academic excellence” is poorly impactive factor on “infrastructure”.

Influence of Parental Encouragement towards Health Care Of Their Wards

Vol. 8  Issue 4
Year:2015
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Influence of Parental Encouragement towards Health Care Of Their Wards
Author Name:R. Grace Sophia and A. Veliappan
Synopsis:
The purpose of the present study is to explore how parents are encouraging towards health care of their wards. A ‘Survey Method’ was used in the present study. A standardized ‘Agarwal Parental Encouragement Scale (APES)’ was used to collect information from the students. The sample consists of thousand and ninety five higher secondary students from Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts. Percentage analysis and 't' test were used for data analysis. Findings of the study indicate that, the male and female higher secondary students, significantly differed from their parental encouragement on health care. Similarly, the higher secondary students studying in Tamil and English medium, significantly differed from their parental encouragement on health care.

Employing Handwriting without Tears® to Teach a 4-Yearold Preschool Student to Write His Name with the Appropriate Size, Shape, and Form Combined With an Imitate/Trace/Copy/Memory Procedure

Vol. 8  Issue 4
Year:2015
Issue:Feb-Apr
Title:Employing Handwriting without Tears® to Teach a 4-Yearold Preschool Student to Write His Name with the Appropriate Size, Shape, and Form Combined With an Imitate/Trace/Copy/Memory Procedure
Author Name:Emalia C. Steele, T. F. Mclaughlin, K. Mark Derby, Kimberly P. Weber, Denise Donica, Michelle Mckenzie
Synopsis:
The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the prewriting and handwriting curriculum  Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) in a preschool setting with a single student who has developmental delays and a suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Data were collected during the regular preschool day. The behavior measured was the student's ability to independently and accurately write his name given by the visual prompt “Name: ______” and verbal instructional cue “write your name”. A modified imitate, trace, copy, and memory  procedure was used with the student with the instructional support and curriculum from the Handwriting Without Tears® Get Set for School (Olsen, 2003) curriculum. In addition to this curriculum, first author created materials were also used.  The overall outcomes indicated that the Handwriting Without Tears® programs was successful in teaching that student who has severe developmental delays, tactile defensiveness, and sensory processing deficits to write his name.