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Message Design Matters: An Experiment on Portrayal of Protective Action Guidance in Warning Messages for Three Hazards
Get PDFRisk communicators play a crucial role in informing individuals about approaching hazards and guiding them on how to respond effectively during different phases of disaster communication. Protective action guidance has been defined as the information people need to inform them of what to do to protect themselves in the face of a hazardous situation. However, many social media messages disseminated by the National Weather Service do not include protective action guidance. Scholars have called for more research on the portrayal of protective action guidance in a message to prove which design best imparts protective action knowledge. To answer this call, a researcher-developed conceptual framework was used to explore how four portrayals of protective action guidance influence knowledge of protective actions (i.e., protective action literacy). We first describe individuals\u27 perceptions of the appropriate protective actions to take when either a dust storm, snow squall, or tornado is approaching. Then, we report on changes in protective action literacy after exposure to a series of hazard warning messages with varying portrayals of protective action guidance. The study\u27s results reveal important insights regarding the influence of protective action guidance portrayal in warning messages on participants’ protective action literacy. Participants\u27 understanding of appropriate protective actions varied across hazards and was influenced by message type. This research highlights the importance of evidence-based message design, the need for comprehensive guidance for all hazards, and the role of agricultural communication in disaster preparedness. The study\u27s findings can inform more effective disaster communication strategies and guide future research
From Learning Loss to Resilience: Assessing Recovery in the Post-COVID Era
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional learning in schools by abruptly transitioning to distance learning, prompting ongoing evaluation of its effects. This study extends previous research by incorporating additional data collected after two cohorts of students resumed in-person learning for multiple years. Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) mathematics and reading scores were collected on students from Winter 2019 to Fall 2020 during the COVID pandemic and again in Spring 2023, and compared to NWEA normative data during the same time period. Results indicated that students saw a significant drop in mathematics scores during the pandemic, but had recovered by Spring 2023, while reading scores were mostly stable during this time. The method and results underscore how the model presented can be applied to single or multiple schools to monitor growth and gap closures over a period of time after a major shift in instructional practices
Herbicide Program Alternatives for Managing Weeds in Double-crop Soybean Scenarios in Northeast Kansas
Get PDFManaging economically problematic weeds in double-crop soybean systems is often challenging for producers in northeastern Kansas. This study aims to evaluate weed control and the economics of herbicide programs in various scenarios. The first experiment compared regular and premium herbicide programs at PRE and POST application timings. Premium soil-residual and foliar herbicide programs had greater weed control after both PRE and POST application timings, but did not lead to a higher gross margin. The second experiment consisted of four herbicide programs applied at POST timing at the V4 soybean growth stage. Increasing the herbicide rate in late applications did not improve overall weed control. In general, two-pass programs had better weed control than one-pass programs for late applications
Critical Pedagogy in The French Language Classroom in Ghana: Challenges and Perspectives
Get PDFThis study explores the role of critical pedagogy in developing 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication (active participation in the classroom) among students. Grounded in Paulo Freire’s concept of critical pedagogy, this qualitative research draws insights from four focus group discussions involving 20 Ghanaian French language teachers. The study examines teachers’ perceptions and lived experiences in implementing critical pedagogy in their French language classrooms. Findings show that while teachers recognise the value of critical pedagogy, they face challenges in effectively applying these principles due to limited support and structural constraints, necessitating additional assistance. The study recommends strategies such as the integration of creative, learner-centred and interactive exercises to address these challenges. These recommendations aim to enhance the teaching-learning process and promote a more transformative classroom experience
Framing Sustainability: Exploring the Impact of Frames on Generation Z’s Perception of Beef Sustainability Messages on Instagram
Get PDFAs sustainability continues to be an emerging conversation in the agricultural industry, the beef sector has come under public scrutiny for its perceived unfavorable environmental impacts such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and animal welfare issues. Organizations within the beef industry are promoting sustainable aspirations to the public and cattle producers have shown priorities to protect the environment on the production side. Even so, environmentally conscious consumers have shown a growing concern for the environmental impact of beef and are beginning to seek out products that more closely align with their values. This study examined three different message frames to determine the impact of framing on Generation Z’s attitude, trust, information processing, and perceptions of posts pertaining to beef sustainability on social media. A survey was distributed to 213 Generation Z college students to collect data regarding participants’ attitude, trust, cognitive processing measures, and demographic information through a Qualtrics survey questionnaire and thought listing procedure. The results revealed no significant differences between the three frames on participant attitudes, trust, or cognitive processing; however, insightful data was obtained through the thought listing procedure included in the survey instrument. The thought listing technique revealed key themes such as information seeking, happiness/hope, and sustainability/environment that were favorable among participants. By promoting messages that highlight the beef industry’s aspirations in consideration of Generation Z’s reported top message content and attributes, communicators can pique viewer interest while also sharing factual information to advance issues that are perceived as unfavorable to the public
A Decade of Knowledge Without Borders: Open Access and Global Reach of School Social Work Research
No full textAs we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Journal for School Social Work (IJSSW), this article provides a reflection on a decade the last decade of breaking barriers and building bridges across practitioners, researchers, communities, and continents and looks forward to our responsibility for the future. This article discusses the benefits and challenges related to Open Access publishing, and addresses how Open Access is a public good—ensuring that practitioners, researchers, students, and policymakers can engage the best evidence regardless of geography, resources, or institutional affiliation. The impact of IJSSW is reviewed, including a summary of accomplishments, most downloaded and cited articles, and goals for the future. The IJSSW community that has grown around the mission to democratize knowledge—authors, reviewers, editors, school social workers, educators, and students—reminds us that scholarship thrives when it is shared. Open access has helped transform international school social work into a more connected, responsive, and globally informed field
Modeling Science Communicator Identity Through the Communication Theory of Identity: A Mixed-Methods Study of Virginia Tech Faculty
No full textWhile science identity has been widely studied, little attention has been given to how faculty develop science communicator identity (SCI). Grounded in the communication theory of identity, this study used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design to investigate predictors of SCI among faculty at Virginia Tech. In the quantitative phase (n=62), a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that confidence in communication skills (personal identity), expectations of others (relational identity), and perceived importance of science communication to others (communal identity) significantly predicted SCI. In the qualitative phase (n=9), thematic analysis of focus group data revealed how the personal, enacted, relational, and communal identity frames interact to shape SCI, with communal identity emerging as a major driver of science communication engagement and identity development. Together, the findings support the value of conceptualizing SCI as a multidimensional construct and suggest that enhancing identity-based motivation may strengthen science communication engagement among agricultural and life sciences faculty.
Keywords: communication theory of identity, identity-based motivation, mixed methods research, science communication, science communicator identit
Residual Herbicide Programs With Multiple Sites-of-action Improved Weed Control in Grain Sorghum
No full textA strong preemergence herbicide program is an essential best management practice for multiple herbicide-resistant weeds. Palmer amaranth is a prolific seed producer that has evolved resistance to 6 herbicide sites-of-action in Kansas. The objective of this study was i) to evaluate the effectiveness and crop safety of residual herbicide programs with single and multiple sites-of-action used for weed control in no-till dryland grain sorghum production systems of western Kansas and ii) the impact of lowering the rate of Callisto in mixture with Dual II Magnum on weed control in no-till dryland grain sorghum production systems of western Kansas. Results showed that the preemergence herbicide treatments controlled Palmer amaranth (96-100%), puncturevine (93-100%), and large crabgrass (96-100%) 22 days after application. However, control of these weeds decreased at 43 days after treatment, with atrazine providing the least control (63-70%) compared to other herbicide combinations, including FulTime NXT, Calibra, atrazine + Calibra, Verdict + Outlook, or Dual II Magnum + Callisto (83-100%). Sorghum injury ranged from 1.3% to 17% 15 days after treatment, but sorghum recovered with injury levels of 7% or less at 43 days after treatment. The Dual II Magnum + Callisto combinations resulted in higher yields (92-94 bu/a) compared to the untreated control (69 bu/a). The results suggest that the herbicides evaluated can be safely applied to sorghum for weed control under favorable environmental conditions. Higher rates of Callisto in combination with Dual II Magnum did not offer additional weed control benefits compared to the lower rates used in this trial. Regardless of application rates, herbicide programs incorporating active ingredients targeting multiple sites-of-action resulted in improved weed control compared to those targeting a single site-of-action. Therefore, these herbicide programs can help minimize Palmer amaranth escapes and prevent the replenishment of the soil seedbank
Refining a College Student-Led Implementation Strategy Using Implementation Mapping in a Rural School
No full textMany physical activity (PA) interventions have been designed, yet few are scaled up or sustained. Additional refinement of implementation strategies may improve adoption, implementation, and maintenance of PA interventions. One such intervention is Hoosier Sport, a sport-based program partnering with middle schools to increase youth PA engagement. The objective of the present study was to (1) retrospectively use an implementation mapping approach to identify determinants, compile methods of change, and evaluate outcomes and (2) to synthesize results of implementation mapping within the context of a pilot study of the Hoosier Sport implementation strategy. We conducted a retrospective study of Hoosier Sport using implementation mapping to iteratively develop a comprehensive implementation strategy. Implementation mapping occurred with a campus-community team composed of researchers, college students, and community partners. A pilot study of Hoosier Sport served as the input and exemplified retrospective use of implementation mapping in context. The process identified key strengths (e.g., high fidelity and program interest) and weaknesses (e.g., reproducibility of evaluation and training materials, limited theoretical rationale), and used them to pinpoint opportunities for refinement (e.g., integration of positive youth development into sport lessons, connecting theoretical constructs to performance objectives). Our findings demonstrate a pragmatic example of the utility of implementation mapping, while also contributing to the literature by providing a unique assessment of past research combined with future implementation planning
The Royal College of Music: Its History, Degrees, and Diplomas
No full textThe Royal College of Music was established by Royal Charter in 1883, which empowered it to confer the degrees of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor in Music, with two definitive texts on academic dress refer to the attire of graduates and diplomates. Shaw’s Academical Dress of Great Britain and Ireland gives a brief history of the College and its awards, including revisions made in the year 2000. The robes associated with these awards are, however, listed in Nicholas Groves and John Kersey’s 2002 publication, Academical Dress of the Music Colleges and Societies of Musicians in the United Kingdom