106 research outputs found
Factors influencing foreign language classroom anxiety: an investigation of English learners in four Japanese universities
No full textOver the past three decades there has been increasing interest in foreign language classroom anxiety in both EFL and ESL settings. Many empirical studies have used a standardised tool to measure L2 anxiety in different contexts and findings have shown varying associations between L2 anxiety and learning outcomes. However, in EFL settings, the influence of cultural and contextual factors on L2 anxiety and L2 oral communication has not been extensively investigated. This thesis focuses on the nature of anxiety experienced by Japanese learners of English in higher education settings, and explores causative agents by looking into classroom pedagogic, social, cultural approaches without ignoring the impact of the nature of the institutions within which these occur.The research questions aim to explore how foreign language anxiety is influenced by institutional type, pedagogy, teacher and learner variables as well as classroom social factors. In addition, this research aims to explicate the cultural dimension of anxiety experienced in the Asian L2 context and how this affects the development of speaking skills. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative data collection procedures. The field work took place over a period of four months in four Japanese universities scattered over three prefectures. Whereas one hundred and forty students took part in a survey using a Japanese version of the well-known FLCAS scale, qualitative data was obtained from observing the classes and interviewing twenty four student and four teacher participants.The findings of this study suggest that Asian EFL learners experience different dimensions of anxiety from those reported in generic literature. Additionally, trainee teachers were found to experience higher levels of anxiety than learners in other disciplines. Teaching approaches largely predicted anxiety in the different classrooms studied. Furthermore, the Japanese learners were notably more anxious than their Asian counterparts; an outcome that is explained by cultural differences between the Japanese and other Asians. Finally, other anxiety predictors that emerged from the study were the age of the teacher and their self-presentation, as evidenced in their dress code. The results indicate that while the domains of anxiety experienced by Asian EFL learners are dissimilar to those in other regions, particularly, the Japanese learners differ from other Asians in both their anxiety profile and approaches to acquiring L2 speaking skills
MANAGING REPUTATION RISK AND SITUATIONAL CRISIS IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING
No full textExtant literature on crisis and corporate reputation management has presented the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) model as a valid and reliable framework for managing crisis and predicting stakeholders ’ perceptions of organizations ’ reputation in times of crisis. In order to verify the applicability of the model in higher institutions of learning in a developing country context, a study was conducted in September, 2011 in two public universities in Nigeria. The findings of the study revealed that although the institutions did not fully adopt the SCCT, the strategies adopted in each of the two crisis situations were similar to some of the recommendations of the SCCT in different ways. While one institution focused on a strategy similar to what the SCCT model describes as “rebuild crisis response strategy ” with informing and adjusting tactics, the second institution utilized a victimization or “Victimage ” strategy with strong attribution of blames; and frequen
Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 and Adverse Psychiatric Outcomes: Protocol for an Etiology and Risk Systematic Review
No full textBackgroundThe postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is a syndrome characterized by persistent COVID-19 symptoms or the onset of new symptoms following recovery from the initial or acute phase of the illness. Such symptoms often occur 4 or more weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Although a lot of work has gone into understanding the long-term mental health effects of PASC, many questions related to the etiology and risk of this condition remain.
ObjectiveThis protocol is for a systematic review assessing the association between PASC and adverse psychiatric outcomes and whether people with PASC are at greater risk of developing an adverse psychiatric outcome than those without PASC.
MethodsVarious medical literature databases (eg, PubMed and EMBASE) will be searched for eligible articles, using predefined search criteria. Gray literature will also be explored. Epidemiological observational studies and secondary analyses of randomized controlled trials that report a quantitative relationship between PASC and at least one adverse psychiatric outcome will be included. The Population, Exposure of interest, Comparator, and Outcome framework will be used as a standardized framework for the inclusion criteria. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools will be used to assess methodological quality and critically appraise the risk of bias in included studies. A random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted if possible. A formal narrative synthesis will be performed if a meta-analysis is impossible due to substantial heterogeneity across studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be used to rate the cumulative certainty of the evidence for all outcomes. Ethical approval is not required. The study results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
ResultsThis study documents and addresses etiology, risk factors, and long-term symptoms of COVID-19 among people with PASC. It focuses on a key priority area for new evidence syntheses on the clinical management of COVID-19 and pandemic-related conditions. It will include evidence on nonhospitalized and hospitalized patients with a history of PASC.
ConclusionsSubstantial heterogeneity across studies may limit the ability to perform a meta-analysis. Findings will inform disease prevention, decision-making, health care policy, and clinical research (Reviewed by the Plan P #PeerRef Community).
Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42022308737; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=30873
Pharmacotherapies for fatigue in chronic liver disease (CLD): a systematic review and meta-analysis (protocol)
No full textAbstract Background This is the protocol for a systematic review (and meta-analysis) of an intervention. The primary objective of this systematic review will be to assess the benefits and harms of pharmacological therapies (pharmacotherapies) for the management of fatigue in adults with CLD of any etiology. The effects of pharmacological therapies on fatigue in CLD will be compared against those of placebo, no intervention, or non-pharmacological interventions. Specifically, this review will examine whether pharmacological therapies improve CLD-associated fatigue, and if they do, what key elements are associated with their effectiveness. The results of this systematic review will assist clinicians, policy-makers, researchers, and people with CLD in decision-making on how best to manage fatigue and its associated symptoms. Methods MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, EU Clinical Trials Register, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), ClinicalTrials.gov, reference lists of articles and conference proceedings will be searched for relevant studies. No language or date restrictions will be applied. Eligible studies will include adults with CLD of any etiology. Included studies will be randomized controlled trials. From included studies, data on participant characteristics, study design, setting, research ethics compliance, and intervention outcomes will be extracted. Risk of bias in included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted. If substantial or considerable levels of heterogeneity are detected, analysis will be limited to a narrative synthesis. Discussion This systematic review will examine the effectiveness of pharmacological therapies on fatigue reduction in people with CLD. Such therapies may be more effective than non-pharmacological interventions in treating fatigue symptoms in CLD. Evidence derived from the findings of this study will guide future practice, policy, and research. Systematic review registration PROSPERO, CRD4201707695
Integrating palliative care and emergency medicine for optimal management of sickle cell pain in the wake of the United States opioid epidemic
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Perceived Influence of Internal Marketing on Employee Commitment in a Private University Context
No full textThe study utilized a cross-sectional survey research design with a 5-point Likert scales questionnaire and open ended questions to collect data from 150 academic and nonacademic employees on how 10 internal marketing (IM) variables influenced employee commitment and turnover intentions in a private university context. Three research questions were answered. Analysis of the data with independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences at p < .05 levels in the mean scores of the variables as rated by the respondents who were grouped by marital status, job category, and length of employment. Significant relationships were found in Pearson’s correlation tests between three core IM variables and the affective and normative components; but the relationships with continuance commitment were found to vary from weak to moderately weak at the institution. Multiple regression analysis also indicated that jobs as internal products, internal place, and internal communication could significantly influence affective commitment levels; but continuance commitment was influenced only by incentives/rewards. Normative commitment was influenced by recognition of employees as internal customers and incentives/rewards variables. The main conclusion of the study was that additional emphasis was needed to boost employee continuance commitment levels in order to reduce turnover intentions
Perceived Influence of Internal Marketing on Employee Commitment in a Private University Context
No full textThe study utilized a cross-sectional survey research design with a 5-point Likert scales questionnaire and open ended questions to collect data from 150 academic and nonacademic employees on how 10 internal marketing (IM) variables influenced employee commitment and turnover intentions in a private university context. Three research questions were answered. Analysis of the data with independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences at p < .05 levels in the mean scores of the variables as rated by the respondents who were grouped by marital status, job category, and length of employment. Significant relationships were found in Pearson’s correlation tests between three core IM variables and the affective and normative components; but the relationships with continuance commitment were found to vary from weak to moderately weak at the institution. Multiple regression analysis also indicated that jobs as internal products, internal place, and internal communication could significantly influence affective commitment levels; but continuance commitment was influenced only by incentives/rewards. Normative commitment was influenced by recognition of employees as internal customers and incentives/rewards variables. The main conclusion of the study was that additional emphasis was needed to boost employee continuance commitment levels in order to reduce turnover intentions
Perceived influence of relationship communication on insurance service quality and customer satisfaction
No full textExtant literature in marketing and communications has long recognized the importance of effective communication as the essential link for sustainable relationship between organizations and their customers. In spite of its importance, many studies have revealed that practices of communication in relationship marketing in some service firms are fraught with problems, which influence the perceptions of customers about the commitment of those organizations to service quality and customer value. This exploratory study was undertaken to analyze how insurance customers perceive their relationships with insurers through received messages. The study also sought to identify the inherent differences in the perception of relational messages received from insurers by the customers based on gender. A simple random sample of 145 insurance customers were drawn for the study from three insurance agencies. Useful responses were received from 120 automobile insurance policyholders, which represented 82.76% of the sample. Four hypotheses were tested with Pearson Correlation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study suggested significant relationship between relational messages, service quality, and customer satisfaction. In terms of differences in the perceptions of male and female respondents, the study indicated significant differences in the perception of personal values and perceived quality through received messages. Similarly, significant differences were recorded in the perception of message credibility by the female participants as compared with those of the males. The study also revealed the need for insurance companies to fully imbibe relationship communication with their customers, through assessment of the internal and external situations which surround the information needs of individual customers
Pharmacotherapies for fatigue in chronic liver disease (CLD): a systematic review and meta-analysis (protocol)
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