The purpose of this study was to identify relationships that exist between reading ability in 3rd grade and phonological awareness in kindergarten. A second purpose was to identify specific prereading skills that best predict later reading success. This study used a quantitative research design to answer the research questions posed. The population for this research was 244 fourth grade students enrolled in 3 primary schools in a school system in Southwest Virginia. The data used for this research study were obtained from each student's score on the kindergarten Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening and the 3rd grade Virginia Standards of Learning examination in reading. Four predictor variables (rhyme awareness, letter recognition, sound-letter relationships, and concept of word) were evaluated to determine their level of predictability for later reading success. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to determine whether a significant difference in the mean score of the PALS and SOL examination in reading existed between male and female students. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to determine whether a statistically significant relationship existed between the PALS and the SOL examination in reading. Subsequent Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to determine if a significant relationship existed between the PALS and the SOL examination in reading for female and male students. Female students were found to have a higher mean score than male students on the kindergarten PALS. Female and male students tended to score about same on the 3rd grade SOL examination in reading. PALS score and SOL score were found to be significantly related suggesting that students with high phonological awareness scores in kindergarten tended to also have high scores on the 3rd grade Virginia SOL examination in reading. A Pearson correlation coefficient also indicated that female students with high kindergarten phonological awareness scores tended to have high scores on the 3rd grade Virginia SOL examination in reading. Rhyme awareness was identified as the best early predictor of later reading ability.

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<p>The development of Information and Communication Technologies has opened up a large pool of possibilities for any and every business actor. These possibilities have brought up new vulnerabilities as well. Information security has become an inherent part of any organization. Companies and organizations invest significant amount of resources in IT security solutions, usually omitting the weakest link of the defense - the people.</p><p>The research intended to study and evaluate the information security awareness level of employees in a public organization which preferred to remain anonymous. This study is based on a mixed-methods approach. A survey was built up and performed, basing on the interview of the employees and the IT Security Chief. The interview intended to give a general picture of the attitude, knowledge and behavior the employees towards information security and its constituent aspects.</p><p>The results of the survey show that the information security awareness at this particular organization has an average performance based on the grading scale determined by the management of the company. Generally speaking, half of the information security focus areas show underdeveloped sense of awareness among employees, whereas the other focus areas are close to perfect. In terms of information security, the research indicates that there is a gap between the employees' theoretical condition and their day to day be-havior. In other words, the theoretical and practical preparation of the employees does not provide an appropriate information security awareness behavior. Some of the reasons for unsecure behavior were complex and sophisticated security designs including passwords; another problem was inherent in the work design which imposed the use of multiple systems and applications in the daily work.</p><p>In the end, the research suggests some recommendations for improvement, as well as practices to sustain a desirable level of information security awareness level. The overall information security awareness program required immediate improvements in order to boost the positive attitude and behavior of employees towards information security, as well as enrich the knowledge of information security in general.</p>

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This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore how 6 people talked about their difficulties before and after a dementia diagnosis. The Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES) was used to analyse the data and describe participants’ internal processes as they became increasingly aware of their problems. Assimilation analysis views successful therapeutic change as accepting and integrating an aspect of the self that had previously been denied, due to it being too painful. The findings of the study build on the research evidence that suggests that despite the enormity of its psychological implications individuals find ways of integrating a dementia diagnosis into their sense of self. This occurred within an oscillating progress; stepping in and out of awareness, illustrating the paradox of acceptance and denial. Social support was crucial in enabling participants to sustain a positive sense of self in the face of this adjustment.