1524 research outputs found
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A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE EXPERIENCE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN THE NON-ACADEMIC SETTING WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Get PDFThe current study looked to understand the lived experience of special education teachers who work with children and young adults with disabilities in a non-academic setting (NAS). The study explored relationships between the learning experience and the teachers\u27 self-efficacy in the setting. The experience of pre-service and in-service special education teachers (PISET) working with people with disabilities in a recreational setting related to their self-efficacy has not been explored in prior studies. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to interview special education teachers working in these settings. The non-academic setting was defined as an experience where the focus of the interaction was not aligned with a learning goal but social and recreational. Research indicates a need for observational experience through community-learning experiences and an environment for teachers free of the pressures of academic burden. This suggests that the non-academic setting may be a significantly undervalued environment of exploration in special education research. The study evaluated themes and relationships between the experience and preparation for work in the classroom. The study discusses what this may mean for undergraduate teacher preparatory programs, suggestions for future research, and limitations of the study
THE TRANSITIONAL JOURNEY FROM INCARCERATION TO A COLLEGE DEGREE THROUGH THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN
Get PDFThis qualitative narrative study shares the lived experiences of formerly incarcerated women, their reintegration into the community, and their journey to and through college. The eight participants span between 25 and 64 years of age, have spent varying lengths of time incarcerated, and are now either in college or recent graduates of both public and private universities. Research indicates that a large majority of incarcerated women come from economically disadvantaged communities, are vocationally unskilled, and have limited access to in-prison postsecondary programs (Mallory, 2011; Western et al., 2015). However, by earning a college credential, women rebuild their sense of self, are better prepared to seek and keep employment, support their families, and become productive members of their communities
NARRATIVE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN DEAF CHILDREN AS ASSESSED THROUGH AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS UTILIZING RETELLS AND ORIGINAL STORIES
Get PDFDespite advances in hearing technology, legislative changes, and instructional strategies, Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) students continue to demonstrate language delays on standard assessments. Although there are assessments that evaluate a child’s American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency, research thus far has assessed the language structure of D/HH students through their use of English not ASL. Through a convergent mixed methods study, the Narrative Scoring Scheme (NSS) was used to compare the scores of D/HH fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students with their hearing peers to compare their story structure with original stories and retells. Using t tests and multiple linear regression analyses, scores were compared by utilizing their primary language in its original form. Grounded in second language acquisition and emancipatory/critical disability theory, D/HH children were investigated from a bilingual perspective and, by eliminating bias, were assessed in their primary language. In addition to the scores gathered, the D/HH students answered open-ended questions which allowed them to elaborate on their stories and the choices they made. The findings showed there were no significant differences between the NSS scores for the original stories and the retells for the D/HH students. In addition, no significant differences were found between the D/HH students and the hearing students for the NSS scores on either the original or retell stories. Most of the eight classifier categories found in ASL were apparent in the stories of the D/HH students. In integrating the quantitative and the qualitative findings, it was shown that the more frequently the students used these classifiers, the higher the NSS scores. This served to demonstrate that the stronger the ASL skills of the D/HH students, the stronger their skills in story structure
MAKING SENSE OF CHAOS: POPULISM IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE CRISIS OF MODERNITY
Get PDFIn 2016, Donald Trump achieved a surprising victory in the general election, despite a series of scandals that would have ended any other politician’s career. In the aftermath of the election, Trump’s base has shown steady support and borderline devotion to the president despite scandals, criminal indictments, and a double impeachment. Why? This research seeks to elucidate the sources of Trump’s apparent political infallibility by using the theoretical framework generated by Eric Voegelin. Voegelin’s perspective allows the identification of two main sources of support for Trumpism: blue collar industrial workers who have seen a decline in their economic prospects due to globalization and the Christian nationalist movement which precedes Trumpism by decades and has his origins in the Puritan movement which provided a foundational myth for what the United States is supposed to be. The research shows that Trump’s populist discourse has been successful because he has been able to place blame on credible enemies for the perception of moral and economic decline his electoral has experienced while at the same time placing himself as the savior of the nation
DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN DISABILITY EVALUATIONS WITH ENGLISH LEARNERS: ARE PSYCHOLOGISTS CONSIDERING THEM?
Get PDFThe main purpose of this pilot study was to explore the rate and extent to which school psychologists are considering different developmental, linguistic, and environmental factors of English Learners. The sample of this study included coding bilingual psychoeducational evaluations (N=120) for such factors using the D-STPGE scale as a guide to explore the consideration of each factor. The pool of reports included bilingual psychoeducational, educational, and neuropsychological evaluation for bilingual (Spanish) children between kindergarten and 6th grade. The procedures of this research include understanding the frequency of each reported construct paired with a chi-square legacy test to explore if the observed construct is being reported within the expected statistical frequency or outside of such realm. Such constructs that were more likely to be considered include heritage/home language, length of learning English, and current English language development. Constructs that evaluators had poor compliance in reporting include the examinee’s home culture match to the US middle class, socioeconomic status, community language, and support for social-emotional development. Finally, constructs that were within the expected statistical frequency include school attendance/participation, atypical developmental life experiences, and formal education in the heritage language. Further research is needed to understand the psychometric properties of the D-STPGE. However, this study helps to understand the gaps in training and report writing within nondiscriminatory and bilingual evaluations. Overall, school psychologists who conduct bilingual and multilingual/nondiscriminatory assessments need a guide like the D-STPGE to be able to compare and quantify the difference that exists between and amongst others within their respective peer groups
The sound of change: Afrobeats and the deconstruction of African stereotypes
Get PDFThis essay investigates how Afrobeats, a genre rooted in the dynamic cultural traditions of West Africa, serves as a strategic medium to counter the pervasive negative stereotypes about Africa perpetuated in Western media narratives. Often depicted through reductive portrayals of poverty, conflict, and disease, Africa’s representation in Western discourse starkly contrasts with the themes of vitality, resilience, and modernity inherent in Afrobeats music. I analyze the works of artists such as Rema, Davido, Burna Boy, and Tiwa Savage, highlighting how their music celebrates African pride, historical depth, and the empowerment of African women. Additionally, I examine the role of digital platforms, including Twitter (X), Instagram, and YouTube, in amplifying these narratives to global audiences, positioning Afrobeats as a powerful cultural force. The influence of international collaborations is also explored, showcasing how cross-cultural exchanges expand Afrobeats’ reach while reshaping global perceptions of Africa. I argue that Afrobeats is not merely entertainment; it is an educational and empowering tool, crafting a contemporary narrative that challenges entrenched stereotypes and presents Africa as a diverse, innovative, and vibrant continent
Effects of Monetary Policy on Economic Growth: Evidence from Some Developing and Developed Economies
Get PDFThe study examined the effects of monetary policy on the economic growth of some developing and developed economies. This study selected 33 countries grouped into 11 each as first-group, second-group, and third-group countries and showed how monetary policy has influenced their economic growth in the past 40 years, capturing the economic growth performances before and after the global financial crisis. This study is unique because it captures a broader range of countries compared to previous studies, uses updated data, and shows how monetary policy is transmitted through bank lending and financial intermediation. Furthermore, we use panel data and employ fixed effects to correct for the endogeneity that existed in the variables of deposit interest rate, inflation, log nominal GDP, logbroad money, and how they affect the dependent variable (GDP growth rate). The exponential increase in the money/GDP ratio for all 33 countries shows that the size of these economies has grown considerably from 1980 to 2020. The panel data regression shows that the deposit interest rate and inflation were statistically significant, while the logbroad money and logGDP were not statistically significant at 5%. In the Fixed effect regression, all the variables were statistically significant, and the same negative relationship of inflation and logbroad money with GDP growth rate was observed as well. Also, the study shows that a 1% increase in deposit interest rate leads to an 8.5% increase in GDP growth, a 1% increase in inflation reduces the GDP growth rate by 7.3%, a 1% increase in logbroad money reduces the GDP growth by 4.7% and 1% increase in logGDP drives the growth rate up by 14.3%. The economic indicators for the poor countries were not significantly affected by the IMF\u27s conditionality in prescribing fiscal and monetary discipline, and the explanation for the cross-country differences in growth rate can be explained by the production approach and institutional approach.
From empirical findings, this study recommends that international financial institutions issue debt securities which can deploy domestic saving from high income countries to low-income countries, financial deepness and its structures and directing more credit towards non-financial corporations
