Learners' evaluation of a navigation support tool in distance education

Abstract   This article investigates the usability of a navigation support tool, which guides learners by generating advice on the next best step to take in a self-study e-learning course. The article draws on log data and responses from online questionnaires to provide insights into learners' evaluation of the tool, their adherence to the advice and their expectations of self-efficacy. The theoretical underpinnings of the work are described together with the experimental set-up. Results show that more than half of the learners in the experimental group adhered to the advice and held the opinion that the advice stimulated them to proceed with the course. Learners expressed a need to know what the advice was based on which can be seen as an essential element in future development of the tool.     

Fraternity and sorority involvement, social influences, and alcohol use among college students: A prospective examination.

This study used latent growth curve modeling to investigate whether the effects of gender and Greek involvement on alcohol use and problems over the first 2 years of college are best characterized by selection, socialization, or reciprocal influence processes. Three social influences (alcohol offers, social modeling, and perceived norms) were examined as potential mediators of these effects. Undergraduate participants (N = 388) completed self-report measures prior to enrollment and in the spring of their freshmen and sophomore years. Male gender and involvement in the Greek system were associated with greater alcohol use and problems prior to college. Both gender and Greek involvement significantly predicted increases in alcohol use and problems over the first 2 years of college. Cross-domain analyses provided strong support for a mediational role of each of the social influence constructs on alcohol use and problems prior to matriculation, and prematriculation social modeling and alcohol offers mediated relations between Greek involvement and changes in alcohol use over time. Findings suggest that students, particularly men, who affiliate with Greek organizations constitute an at-risk group prior to entering college, suggesting the need for selected interventions with this population, which should take place before or during the pledging process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability and variability of affective experience and interpersonal behavior in borderline personality disorder.

This study examined both mean levels and intraindividual variability in the mood and interpersonal behavior of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and nonclinical control participants over a 20-day event-contingent recording period. Individuals in the BPD group experienced more unpleasantly valenced affect and were less dominant, more submissive, more quarrelsome, and more extreme in overall levels of behavior than control participants. In addition to these mean-level differences, individuals with BPD also reported more intraindividual variability in overall affect valence and in pleasantly valenced affect; displayed greater variability in dominant, quarrelsome, and agreeable behaviors; and exhibited an increased tendency to "spin" among interpersonal behaviors relative to nonclinical control participants. The findings document behavioral and affective manifestations of BPD in the context of naturally occurring interpersonal situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unity through diversity: Value-in-diversity beliefs, work group diversity, and group identification.

Research on work group diversity has more or less neglected the possibility that reactions to diversity may be informed by individuals' beliefs about the value of diversity (vs. homogeneity) for their work group. We studied the role of such diversity beliefs as a moderator of the relationship between work group diversity and individuals' identification with the work group across 2 studies. Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey that focused on gender diversity and gender diversity beliefs. Study 2 was a laboratory experiment in which work group diversity and diversity beliefs were manipulated. Results of both studies support the prediction that work group diversity and group identification are more positively related the more individuals believe in the value of diversity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal study of social support and meaning in life.

The purpose of this study was to see whether 3 types of social support (enacted support, negative interaction, and anticipated support) are associated with change in meaning in life. Data from a nationwide longitudinal survey of older people suggested that greater anticipated support (i.e., the belief that others will provide assistance in the future if needed) is associated with a deeper sense of meaning over time. The same was true with respect to emotional support received from family members and close friends. In contrast, the findings revealed that, at least initially, negative interaction lowers an older person's sense of meaning in life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quasiparticle correction for electronic transport in molecular wires

In this paper we present calculations of ballistic transport in molecular wires. The calculations are performed using an approximated version of the GW correction in the plasmon-pole framework, which is used to improve the starting Density Functional Theory energy spectrum of the molecule between metallic leads. We show that this correction reduces the error of the correlation part for the electron energy. Finally a model with complex bands is implemented in order to get the damping regime for long polymers.     

论社会言情小说《广陵潮》中的新式女性形象

女性的社会地位是一个时代进步的标尺，中国古典小说中女性的情感及思想变革侧面反映了中国社会的历史，而近代社会言情小说家李涵秋的代表作《广陵潮》中的女性，在反映当时社会历史方面，具有独特的价值，通过小说中的女性，我们可以了解晚清三十年的变革，从众多女性的情感历程中，可以再现社会、时代的缩影，因此，我们以社会言情小说的开山之作——李涵秋的《广陵潮》为例，来分析过渡时期的女性形象，进而，把握社会言情小说的价值和启蒙的意义。     

基于眼动指标的飞行仪表布局评估研究

目的研究飞行仪表布局变化对飞行员观察各仪表注视时间、注视点、仪表间注视转移频率和扫视轨迹的影响,以开展飞机飞行仪表布局的工效学评估。方法设计眼动测量试验,通过搭建简易仿真平台,让12名被试驾驶塞斯纳172、波音737-300和波音737-800依次完成直线爬升、平直飞行和水平转弯3个阶段的模拟飞行任务,同时记录被试的眼动数据。结果 (1)同一飞行任务中飞行员对各飞行仪表的注视时间百分比和注视点百分比没有因为仪表布局的差异而产生显著性差异。(2)对于不同型号飞机的飞行仪表布局,同一飞行任务中飞行员在各飞行仪表间的注视转移频率基本一致,但对波音737-800飞机飞行仪表的扫视轨迹长度更短且具有明显差异。结论随着飞行仪表布局的优化,飞行员观察飞行仪表时的注意力分配和各仪表间的注视转移频率并无明显差异,但扫视轨迹长度逐渐变短且变化显著。