Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2013 Edition
Active employee participation in the public service decision making process: A public servant perspective
Michael A. D. Horsford
Abstract
Active employee participation has been deemed as a key element in securing employees acceptance of new policies and proposed changes. The ready acceptance of these changes could hinge on how active the participation of the employees is. This paper looks at active employee participation in the public service and how it is viewed by those asked to govern policies enacted and/or implemented. Examples are provided to highlight the need as it exists within a government ministry for active employee participation. It compares and contrasts the leadership styles of two permanent secretaries and how their differing styles contributed towards staff morale.
Key Words: Social Intelligence, Undergraduate Students, gender and subject streams.
Social intelligence of undergraduate students in relation to their gender and subject stream
Sumanlata Saxena, Rajat Kumar Jain
Abstract
Social Intelligence is of more importance in the present life style due to growing tensions stresses and various complexities. It can be learned, developed and used as an effective life skill for managing personal life, interpersonal relationships and achieving success in all the walks of life. The present study was conducted to know the social intelligence of male and female undergraduate students of science and Arts subject streams studying in various degree colleges of Bhilai city, Chhattisgarh. For this purpose descriptive survey method was used. 60 male and 60 female undergraduate students were selected, for the sample by adopting stratified disproportionate random sampling technique. The data was collected by using Social Intelligence Scale (SIS) constructed and standardized by Chadda and Ganesan (2009). The data was analyzed by using‘t’ test. The findings of gender analysis indicates that female student’s posses more social intelligence than male students and analysis of stream indicates that arts students are having greater social intelligence than students of other streams.
Key Words: Social Intelligence, Undergraduate Students, gender and subject streams.
Creating high reliability teams in healthcare through in situ simulation training
William Riley, Elizabeth Lownik, Carmen Parrotta, Kristi Miller RN and Stan Davis
Abstract
The importance of teamwork on patient safety in healthcare has been well established. However, the theory and research of healthcare teams are seriously lacking in clinical application. While conventional team theory assumes that teams are stable and leadership is constant, a growing body of evidence indicates that most healthcare teams are unstable and lack constant leadership. For healthcare organizations to reduce error and ensure patient safety, the true nature of healthcare teams must be better understood. This study presents a taxonomy of healthcare teams and the determinants of high reliability in healthcare teams based on a series of studies undertaken over a five-year period (2005–2010).
Keywords: team formation; in situ simulation; behavior markers; active failures; high reliability; interdisciplinary teams
The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills: A Comparison of Initial Social and Psychological Impacts
Duane A. Gill, J. Steven Picou, and Liesel A. Ritchie
Abstract
The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and the 2010 BP oil spill were the largest and most ecologically damaging releases of oil in North American history.This research provides a comparison of the social and mental health impacts of these two major technological disasters. Random samples of residents of Cordova,Alaska, and south Mobile County, Alabama, were collected 5 months after each event.A standardized indicator of event- related stress was used for both samples.The analysis revealed similarly high levels of initial psychological stress for survivors of both disasters.The strongest predictors of stress were family health concerns, commercial ties to renewable resources, and concern about economic future, economic loss, and exposure to the oil. Drawing on more than 20 years of research on the Exxon Valdez disaster, we discuss implications for residents of Gulf Coast communities.
Keywords: disasters, oil spills, social impacts, stress.
Relationship between teachers educational qualifications and student’s achievement in chemistry: A case study of owerri west LGA
Unanma, A. O., Abugu, H. O., Dike, R. C. and Umeobika U. C.
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between Teacher’s academic qualifications and academic achievement of Senior Secondary school Students in Chemistry. The area for the study was Owerri West LGA. A case study of four secondary schools formed the research design. Teacher’s academic qualifications and the SS I student’s third term result formed the data which was analysed using simple percentage and Pearson Correlation. Three research questions were answered and the findings of the research reviewed that there is a positive relationship between the teacher’s academic qualifications and student’s academic achievement. Since teachers professional qualification influences students academic achievement in Chemistry, the government and all stakeholders in education sector should endeavour to implement its policy on basic education for all and thus, create an enlightened society in which every Chemistry teacher would be educated enough to have a positive influence on their Chemistry students for better achievement in the subject.
Key words: relationship, academics, performance, achievement, teachers.
Comparing designers’ problem-solving behavior in a parametric design environment and a geometric modeling environment
Rongrong Yu, Ning Gu and Michael Ostwald
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a protocol study which compares designers’ behavior in a parametric design environment (PDE) and a geometric modeling environment (GME). An experiment was conducted in which seven designers were required to complete two architectural conceptual design tasks with similar complexity respectively in a PDE and GME. Protocol analysis is employed to compare the cognitive behavior of designers in these two environments. By analyzing the designers’ actions, including shifting between “problem” and “solution” spaces, it was possible to compare their cognitive activities in PDEs and GMEs. Results of this research suggest that designers put similar effort into the design problem space and the solution space in PDE and GME and that interaction between these two spaces also appears similar in the two design environments. However, different Problem-Solution index values and discontinuity ratios are found across design stages of the two design environments.
Keywords: parametric design environments; geometric modeling environments; protocol analysis; problem and solution space; problem-solution index
Assessment of family planning services at community pharmacies in San Diego, California
Sally Rafie 1, Grace Yeoul Kim, Lily M. Lau, Connie Tang, Colette Brown and Nicole Monastersky Maderas
Abstract
Levonorgestrel emergency contraception and other contraceptive methods are available over-the-counter (OTC); however youth continue to face a number of barriers in accessing healthcare services, including lack of knowledge of the method, fear of loss of privacy, difficulties in finding a provider, and cost. A descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study of a sample of 112 community pharmacies in San Diego, California was conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 to assess community pharmacy practices related to the availability and accessibility of family planning health pharmacy services and products, particularly to youth. A majority (n = 79/112, 70.5%) of the pharmacies carried a wide selection of male condoms; however, the other OTC nonhormonal contraceptive products were either not available or available with limited selection. A majority of the pharmacies sold emergency contraception (n = 88/111, 78.6%). Most patient counseling areas consisted of either a public or a semi-private area. A majority of the pharmacy sites did not provide materials or services targeting youth. Significant gaps exist in providing family planning products and services in the majority of community pharmacies in San Diego, California. Education and outreach efforts are needed to promote provision of products and services, particularly to the adolescent population.
Keywords: contraceptives; pharmacy-access drug products; emergency contraception; minors; adolescents; youth
Active employee participation in the public service decision making process: A public servant perspective
Michael A. D. Horsford
Abstract
Active employee participation has been deemed as a key element in securing employees acceptance of new policies and proposed changes. The ready acceptance of these changes could hinge on how active the participation of the employees is. This paper looks at active employee participation in the public service and how it is viewed by those asked to govern policies enacted and/or implemented. Examples are provided to highlight the need as it exists within a government ministry for active employee participation. It compares and contrasts the leadership styles of two permanent secretaries and how their differing styles contributed towards staff morale.
Key Words: Social Intelligence, Undergraduate Students, gender and subject streams.
 [Full text-PDF]
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897-904 |
Social intelligence of undergraduate students in relation to their gender and subject stream
Sumanlata Saxena, Rajat Kumar Jain
Abstract
Social Intelligence is of more importance in the present life style due to growing tensions stresses and various complexities. It can be learned, developed and used as an effective life skill for managing personal life, interpersonal relationships and achieving success in all the walks of life. The present study was conducted to know the social intelligence of male and female undergraduate students of science and Arts subject streams studying in various degree colleges of Bhilai city, Chhattisgarh. For this purpose descriptive survey method was used. 60 male and 60 female undergraduate students were selected, for the sample by adopting stratified disproportionate random sampling technique. The data was collected by using Social Intelligence Scale (SIS) constructed and standardized by Chadda and Ganesan (2009). The data was analyzed by using‘t’ test. The findings of gender analysis indicates that female student’s posses more social intelligence than male students and analysis of stream indicates that arts students are having greater social intelligence than students of other streams.
Key Words: Social Intelligence, Undergraduate Students, gender and subject streams.
| [Full text-PDF]
|
905-909 |
Creating high reliability teams in healthcare through in situ simulation training
William Riley, Elizabeth Lownik, Carmen Parrotta, Kristi Miller RN and Stan Davis
Abstract
The importance of teamwork on patient safety in healthcare has been well established. However, the theory and research of healthcare teams are seriously lacking in clinical application. While conventional team theory assumes that teams are stable and leadership is constant, a growing body of evidence indicates that most healthcare teams are unstable and lack constant leadership. For healthcare organizations to reduce error and ensure patient safety, the true nature of healthcare teams must be better understood. This study presents a taxonomy of healthcare teams and the determinants of high reliability in healthcare teams based on a series of studies undertaken over a five-year period (2005–2010).
Keywords: team formation; in situ simulation; behavior markers; active failures; high reliability; interdisciplinary teams
| [Full text-PDF]
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910-1027 |
The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills: A Comparison of Initial Social and Psychological Impacts
Duane A. Gill, J. Steven Picou, and Liesel A. Ritchie
Abstract
The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and the 2010 BP oil spill were the largest and most ecologically damaging releases of oil in North American history.This research provides a comparison of the social and mental health impacts of these two major technological disasters. Random samples of residents of Cordova,Alaska, and south Mobile County, Alabama, were collected 5 months after each event.A standardized indicator of event- related stress was used for both samples.The analysis revealed similarly high levels of initial psychological stress for survivors of both disasters.The strongest predictors of stress were family health concerns, commercial ties to renewable resources, and concern about economic future, economic loss, and exposure to the oil. Drawing on more than 20 years of research on the Exxon Valdez disaster, we discuss implications for residents of Gulf Coast communities.
Keywords: disasters, oil spills, social impacts, stress.
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1028-1048 |
Relationship between teachers educational qualifications and student’s achievement in chemistry: A case study of owerri west LGA
Unanma, A. O., Abugu, H. O., Dike, R. C. and Umeobika U. C.
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between Teacher’s academic qualifications and academic achievement of Senior Secondary school Students in Chemistry. The area for the study was Owerri West LGA. A case study of four secondary schools formed the research design. Teacher’s academic qualifications and the SS I student’s third term result formed the data which was analysed using simple percentage and Pearson Correlation. Three research questions were answered and the findings of the research reviewed that there is a positive relationship between the teacher’s academic qualifications and student’s academic achievement. Since teachers professional qualification influences students academic achievement in Chemistry, the government and all stakeholders in education sector should endeavour to implement its policy on basic education for all and thus, create an enlightened society in which every Chemistry teacher would be educated enough to have a positive influence on their Chemistry students for better achievement in the subject.
Key words: relationship, academics, performance, achievement, teachers.
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1049-1054 |
Comparing designers’ problem-solving behavior in a parametric design environment and a geometric modeling environment
Rongrong Yu, Ning Gu and Michael Ostwald
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a protocol study which compares designers’ behavior in a parametric design environment (PDE) and a geometric modeling environment (GME). An experiment was conducted in which seven designers were required to complete two architectural conceptual design tasks with similar complexity respectively in a PDE and GME. Protocol analysis is employed to compare the cognitive behavior of designers in these two environments. By analyzing the designers’ actions, including shifting between “problem” and “solution” spaces, it was possible to compare their cognitive activities in PDEs and GMEs. Results of this research suggest that designers put similar effort into the design problem space and the solution space in PDE and GME and that interaction between these two spaces also appears similar in the two design environments. However, different Problem-Solution index values and discontinuity ratios are found across design stages of the two design environments.
Keywords: parametric design environments; geometric modeling environments; protocol analysis; problem and solution space; problem-solution index
| [Full text-PDF]
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1055-1072 |
Assessment of family planning services at community pharmacies in San Diego, California
Sally Rafie 1, Grace Yeoul Kim, Lily M. Lau, Connie Tang, Colette Brown and Nicole Monastersky Maderas
Abstract
Levonorgestrel emergency contraception and other contraceptive methods are available over-the-counter (OTC); however youth continue to face a number of barriers in accessing healthcare services, including lack of knowledge of the method, fear of loss of privacy, difficulties in finding a provider, and cost. A descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study of a sample of 112 community pharmacies in San Diego, California was conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 to assess community pharmacy practices related to the availability and accessibility of family planning health pharmacy services and products, particularly to youth. A majority (n = 79/112, 70.5%) of the pharmacies carried a wide selection of male condoms; however, the other OTC nonhormonal contraceptive products were either not available or available with limited selection. A majority of the pharmacies sold emergency contraception (n = 88/111, 78.6%). Most patient counseling areas consisted of either a public or a semi-private area. A majority of the pharmacy sites did not provide materials or services targeting youth. Significant gaps exist in providing family planning products and services in the majority of community pharmacies in San Diego, California. Education and outreach efforts are needed to promote provision of products and services, particularly to the adolescent population.
Keywords: contraceptives; pharmacy-access drug products; emergency contraception; minors; adolescents; youth
| [Full text-PDF]
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1073-1079 |
