347 research outputs found
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Adolescents in Sports: the All-Delinquent Team
No full textAnalyzed through the lens of social-bond theory, this thesis examines the relationship between sports participation and delinquency among adolescents. The purpose of this thesis is to better understand whether sports can serve as an effective intervention strategy for policy makers, government agencies and criminal justice branches that deal directly with at risk-youth or offenders who can benefit from sports-related programs. Through the use of a meta-analysis methodological design, the findings uncovered through common literature will reflect the extent to which social-bond theory can sufficiently explain delinquency among athletes.
Traditionally, sports-participation and physical activity have been connected to prosocial stereotypes and the belief that adolescents will develop character-building morals. Although many situations including sports-participation are mainly positive across most facets, there is further evidence to suggest that unintended, antisocial-developing consequences can arise from participation in sports-related activities. Jock identity and unstructured socializing were highlighted as major factors for delinquency among athletes, whereas the pedagogical sports-environment serves as a possible deterrence model for delinquency. With further extensive research into this topic, the development of a pedagogical sports model can provide more athletes with an exceptional prosocial experience. Similarly, sports participation and sports-related intervention strategies can be utilized to address and combat youth-crime
A description of the environmental impacts of mining near Butte, MT via biomonitoring.
No full textThis undergraduate research poster won the Environmental Sustainability Award at the Faculty of Science and Technology 6th Annual Research Day (2019).In the 1880s, Butte, Montana was home to one of the richest mineral deposits in the world. Today, the region is home of two of the most toxic superfunds sites in America, the Anaconda Smelter Site and the Berkeley Pit. In an effort to describe past and present air pollutant emissions in the Butte area we employed biomonitoring and dendrochronological techniques. Pine needle, bark, and core samples were collected from trees adjacent to the superfund sites. These samples were digested and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The goal of this analysis is to quantitatively determine the levels of heavy metals over the last century and if this data can be related to mining activities in the region. Our results may indicate the cease of smelting activities in the 1980s and what if any persistent heavy metal contamination exists in the area
Measuring the Effectiveness of Visual Narrative Illustrations for Learning Pathophysiology Concepts
No full textBackground: Patients’ health needs require detailed knowledge of diseases and the
associated pathophysiology to understand and manage their complex care. Nurses rely
on concepts from anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathophysiology to ground
their practice. While knowledge of disease processes is a critical requirements for
competent practice nursing, students often struggle with learning and applying
pathophysiology concepts to clinical practice.
Method: A novel teaching innovation known as “Visual Narrative Illustrations” (VNI)
was piloted in a pathophysiology course. Students (n=75), participated in two phases of
exploratory study that analyzed the impact of VNI on students’ understanding of
pathophysiology concepts and assessed whether VNI is an effective teaching method.
Results: Students taught using the VNI strategy performed significantly better on the
post-test than students taught using a traditional lecture format.
Conclusion: VNI assist students in learning complex concepts through the use of
humor and visual images and facilitate their understanding of pathophysiology
processes
SoTL difference: The value of incorporating SoTL into librarian professional development
No full textThis essay is the product of a collaboration between three authors who bring diverse
understandings of SoTL, librarianship, and professional development. Writing this has
been a form of professional development, encouraging the authors to think more deeply
about discipline-based practices and how they connect to student learning, increasing
understanding of each other’s disciplines, and transforming that joint reflection into work
that may impact teaching
Exploring value as a dimension of professional information literacy
No full textThis study presents a critical exploration of one of the ACRL Frameworkconcepts by examining it in the context of professional practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with health and human service professionals at a community health centre to explore how information literacy (IL) is experienced in the workplace. Value emerged as the dominant theme in participants’ descriptions of their information practices. This concept was conceived of predominantly in the context of personal and professional relationships that existed within the systems and structures of the physical workplace, professional practice and the health and social care system. Using phenomenography as a methodological approach, this study presents a lens through which to see the nature and significance of information value in various contexts beyond academia, and invites librarians to consider how evidence from workplace and professional settings may inform IL instruction to students, especially those entering health and human service professions
Sex Work in Canada: Examining Legal, Moral, and Theoretical Perspectives on the Issues
No full textIn Canada, the sale of sex for money was not illegal under the former legislative structure. Regardless, the laws making up that structure were challenged for constitutionality in two cases and were heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. Two vastly different decisions were delivered in the 1990 Prostitution Reference and Bedford decisions, with the latter case repealing the old sex work laws. The Canadian government drafted new laws in response to the repealed laws. Evidence suggests that the new model of sex work regulation is harmful and does little to address the constitutional defects identified in the Bedford decision. This legislative approach comes from the adoption of perspectives from a moral crusade against prostitution, and similar legal structures in other parts of the world. The shortcomings of the law, and the questionable framework it stems from suggests that the government must do more to meet the needs of sex workers in Canada. The examination of this topic raises several philosophical questions that might be considered in future research
The Interpretation of Assisted Death Under Section Seven of the Canadian Charter
No full textThis study explores the evolution of the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC’s) interpretation of s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Considering that s. 7 of the Charter is one of the most expansive and influential portions of the purposive document, understanding the ways in which the interpretation of the section has changed throughout time, is quite valuable. The fact that even the supreme law of Canada can be understood and applied differently over time, is vital to understand. It then becomes possible to theorize and comprehend how interpretations may change in the future for s. 7, and for other portions of the Charter as well. The study begins by examining first, the judicial history of cases pertaining to the matter of assisted death in Canada. Dissecting the changed s. 7 interpretations found in the relevant cases, the study moves to then examine future implications that are significant to the matter of physician assisted death (PAD) in Canada. Speculations are provided on the future of the legislation surrounding medical assistance in dying (MAID), and on how the societal and judicial understanding of s. 7 and MAID are likely to change and further evolve
Information behaviour of undergraduate students using Facebook Confessions for educational purposes
No full textIntroduction -- This research investigates the information behaviour of undergraduate students seeking academic help via anonymous posts to a university Facebook Confessions page. While Confessions pages have gained popularity in post-secondary contexts, their use for educational purposes is largely unexplored. Method -- Researchers employed a mixed methods content analysis to investigate information behaviour and the thematic contents of the 2,712 confessions posted during one academic year. Analysis -- Using generic qualitative strategies informed by constructivist grounded theory, as well as quantitative descriptive statistical procedures, researchers found that 708 (26.1%) of these confessions supported various student-student learning exchanges. Results -- Qualitative analysis demonstrated that students use Facebook Confessions to inform their undergraduate learning and support their academic experience through four main types of information behaviour: help seeking, advice giving, information seeking, and moderating behaviours. Quantitative analysis of the distribution and frequency of these types illustrated a range of information needs during particular times of the academic year. Conclusions -- While Facebook Confessions can enable rich peer-to-peer academic help seeking and other information behaviour, those in official post-secondary education roles should use caution when considering whether to engage in student-driven social media spaces. Recommendations include further development of students’ digital literacies for social media
The Mere Presence of a Cell Phone and Academic Ability
Get PDFPrior research has suggested that cell-phone use in the classroom and during learningrelated tasks is detrimental to academic performance. Recently, the mere presence of a cell phone has been found to negatively affect relationships and to impair performance on learning and cognitive tasks. The present study explored whether the presence of a cell phone hinders performance on tests that measure pre-existing academic ability. In total, the study evaluated 45 participants who were enrolled in an introductory psychology course at Mount Royal University or who were members of the general public. Three subtests from the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-4) were completed: spelling, sentence comprehension, and mathematics. During testing, half of the participants had their cell phones present and the other half did not. Statistical analyses revealed that when a cell phone belonging to a participant was merely present, there was no statistically significant difference in the demonstration of pre-existing skills on the sentence comprehension (p = .52), spelling (p = .07), and mathematics subtest (p = .11) compared to when a cell phone was removed. Unexpectedly, a non-significant trend was observed in the opposite direction; that is, the cell-phone-present group outperformed the cell-phone-absent group on all of the subtests
Understanding Belonging and Community Connection for Seniors Living in the Suburbs.
No full textWhile much has been explored about notions of both place and belonging in regard to community health of various populations , little is known of the phenomena specific to suburban dwelling seniors. More and more seniors are living in suburban neighborhoods, communities that do not tend well to the belonging needs of this population. This qualitative study sought the perspectives of suburban dwelling seniors about the role of belonging and community connection to their health and wellbeing. Informed by strengths-based approaches to community development and health, the study engaged people from three community groups of older adults in a Canadian suburb (a seniors' recreational/social group, and two cultural groups) in group interviews concerning the topic. Discoveries included an understanding of belonging as both personal and social, and identification of facilitators and barriers to belonging at personal and systemic levels. Belonging was experienced through connection, contribution and cooperation. These findings are important to shape community engagement with seniors and to inform decision-making and program developments in areas of recreation, leisure, health services, community policing, city planning and other services