The current study examined whether males and females differed in math achievement and held different beliefs regarding the malleability of math ability at the elementary level. The study also explored the relationships between students’ implicit theories of math ability, math interest, and math achievement. Potential grade level differences in math trait beliefs were also investigated. Study participants consisted of a total of 1802 students from six elementary schools that participate in the Gifted Education in Math and Science (GEMS) Project. Project GEMS is a federal grant project seeking to encourage science and math interest and achievement in children from lowincome and diverse populations. Data were analyzed by means of Pearson correlations and one-way analysis of variance. Male and female math achievement was equivalent. No gender or grade level differences were observed in implicit theories of math ability. As predicted, students who believed their math abilities were malleable earned higher math achievement scores. Several limitations of this study are discussed and recommendations for further investigation are presented. Findings from this study suggest it is important to consider the impact of domain specific beliefs on math achievement, which may have implications for early identification and supports for those students who may be vulnerable to poor achievement outcomes.

This study reviews the burgeoning literature on followership and tests propositions from a recently developed theoretical framework to explore the relationship between follower behaviours, leaders’ perceptions of follower trustworthiness (trusting beliefs), and leaders’ subsequent willingness to be vulnerable to the actions of their followers (trusting intentions). Leaders’ implicit followership theories (IFTs) were examined as a potential moderator of both relationships. Results revealed that passive followership influenced leaders’ trusting beliefs negatively, whereas collaborative followership had a positive influence on leaders’ trusting beliefs as well as leaders’ trusting intentions. The most extreme form of proactive followership, challenging followership, had nonsignificant relationships with leaders’ trusting beliefs and intentions. In addition, leaders’ IFTs did not interact with followership behaviour to produce any change in leaders’ trusting beliefs. However, IFTs were found to moderate the relationship between leaders’ trusting beliefs and trusting intentions. Implications for research and practice are discussed in light of the results.

本研究以問卷調查法，針對桃園縣公立國中的342位英語教師進行問卷發放，回收後的問卷透過描述性統計、獨立樣本T檢定、單因子變異數分析及相關係數進行統計分析。以瞭解英語教師對於區分性教學的信念與課室教學現況、區分性教學信念與教學行為之間的關連性、以及影響區分性教學信念與教學行為的背景因素為何。 根據統計結果顯示：大部分國中英語教師對於區分性教學抱持正向的信念，也會將區分性教學原則應用於英語教學。而雖然統計結果顯示教師尚未能將對區分性教學的信念完全實踐在課室教學中，但教師信念對於教學實踐具有正相關，因此教師若對區分性教學有較高的認同度，那麼教師對於對於區分性教學也會有更高的實踐度。此外，本研究也發現區分性教學的研習經驗，與閱讀相關文獻均可提升教師對於區分性教學的正向信念；而閱讀相關文獻及課室學生人數的多寡則會影響教師採用區分性教學的意願。最後，亦希望本研究結果能協助教師與相關教學單位提升普通班英語課室中區分性教學的實施。 / This study aimed to investigate junior high school English teachers’ beliefs and practices on differentiated instruction (DI), the correlation between their beliefs and practices, and the influential factors in their beliefs and practices. The statistical analyses of data from the questionnaire survey of 342 English teachers in Taoyuan County public junior high schools were performed with the SPSS statistic program. The data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, product-moment correlation, and ANOVA along with Scheffe’s post hoc test if necessary. The findings of the current study can be summed up as follows: Junior high school English teachers held positive attitude toward DI and they implemented several DI principles in their classrooms. Also, positive correlation existed between teachers’ beliefs and practices on DI. The more teachers agreed with DI, the more often they would implement DI in their classrooms. Nevertheless, the results also indicated teachers did not carry out their entire beliefs on DI into their instructional practices. Besides, attendance of workshops and reading DI-related literature could lead to teachers’ positive attitude toward DI while reading related literature and minimizing class size could motivate teachers to implement DI in their classrooms. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications and suggestions were presented for educators and the authorities concerned to make implementation of differentiated instruction more common and efficient in junior high school English classrooms.

Empirical research on parents’ decision making process and parents’ actual criteria when considering preschool is critical when considering its relationship to early educational experiences and subsequent outcomes for children. Research has consistently demonstrated that the type and quality of preschool program children attend has implications for future academic success. A review of past research suggests parents often have difficulty assessing quality and include a wide range of considerations that include both practical and educational features of care. The current study utilized a transactional ecological framework to examine parent considerations and related family, child and cultural factors. A series of focus groups and interviews were conducted with parents to identify parent considerations and inform creation of a survey measure designed to assess these considerations. Surveys were then completed by 203 parents from varying socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds who had a child that qualified for state-funded preschool the following year. Parents were recruited from 20 centers including Head Start programs, private-for profit programs, religiously affiliated programs and one YMCA center. Exploratory factor analysis identified two highly correlated categories of considerations: 1) characteristics that designate several types of quality indicators and 2) characteristics that designate a program’s practical features. A series of hierarchical regressions indicated a combination of cultural, family and child factors are important when assessing parents’ considerations for pre-kindergarten. In particular, socioeconomic status, parents’ beliefs about childrearing and involvement and children’s prosocial skills and family structure were uniquely related to parental endorsement of quality and practical considerations. These findings have important implications for policymakers and practitioners.

Creative development in students is an important aim for the art educator. The visual arts class can be a realm for exploring and nurturing creativity in students. While all students may not grow up to produce works of art outside the classroom, visual arts education can impact a student’s understanding of their own creativity. This paper explores the creativity beliefs of elementary students. The research seeks to understand the implicit theories or beliefs of creativity that shape creative self-efficacy and what factors may influence these beliefs in students.

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been a increasing problem worldwide with an estimation of 340 million new cases each year. STDs are one of the top five reasons of seeking health care in the developing countries. Aim: The aim was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding STDs among young adults in two vocational schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and also compare the genders regarding the issues. Method: A descriptive and comparative study was used. The 455 students between the age of 15 and 24, both male and female, participated voluntarily to answer a questionnaire. Dorothea Orem’s self-caring theory was provided as theoretical framework. Results: The students showed a low knowledge regarding STDs. Small differences between the genders could be seen regarding knowledge where the males had a higher knowledge regarding symptoms of STDs. Conclusions: The adolescents had lack of knowledge about STDs and no greater difference between genders have been shown. The traditional attitudes must change and follow the development of Vietnam. Further research should be performed to find out if there is any difference between students in rural and central areas of Vietnam.

Bakgrund: Sedan januari 2010 ingår vaccin mot humant papillomvirus i det svenska barnvaccinationsprogrammet. Beslutet att vaccinera eller inte vaccinera sina barn kan vara svårt för föräldrar. Syfte: Var att beskriva föräldrars kunskap om och attityd till vaccin mot humant papillomvirus och hur det inverkar på deras beslut att vaccinera sina barn. Design: Mixed-methods research integrated design. Metod: Beskrivande litteraturstudie. En systematisk sökning gjordes i databaserna CINAHL och PubMed och 12 artiklar identifierades. Artiklarna hade kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats. Resultat: Föräldrar var positiva till HPV-vaccin. Många föräldrar hade liten kunskap om vaccinet och upplevde att de inte hade tillräckligt med information. Det fanns en oro för vaccinets säkerhet och biverkningar. Många fick information från media men den föredragna informationskällan var vårdgivare. De som fått information från vården var mer positiva till vaccinet. Föräldrar ansåg att den rekommenderade åldern för vaccinet var för låg och det fanns en rädsla att en vaccination skulle påverka dotterns sexuella beteende. Bland de föräldrar som valde att vaccinera var den oron mindre. Sociala normer och religion påverkade föräldrarna i besluten kring vaccination. Lägre utbildning var en prediktor för att välja att vaccinera. Egen eller anhörigas erfarenhet av cellförändringar eller cervixcancer påverkade också intentionen att vaccinera.   Sökord: MeSH-termerna accept*, attitudes, behavior, beliefs, decision, HPV-vaccine, intent*, knowledge, parents. / Background: Since of January 2010 vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is a part of the Swedish child vaccination program. The decision to vaccinate can be difficult for the parents to make. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe parental knowledge and attitude towards vaccine against human papillomavirus and how that influenced their decision to vaccinate their children. Design: Mixed methods research with integrated design. Method: A descriptive literature review. A systematic search was performed in the databases PubMed and CINAHL and 12 studies were identified. The studies had quantitative and qualitative design. Results: Parents were positive towards the HPV-vaccine. Many parents lacked knowledge and felt they didn´t have enough information about the vaccine. There was concern about the safety and side effect. Many got their information from media but the preferred source of information was caregivers. Parents who had gotten information from caregivers were more positive towards the vaccine. The recommended age for vaccination was considered too low and there was concern that a vaccination would have an effect on their daughter’s sexual behavior. Among the parents who had made the choice to vaccinate that concern was lower. Social norms and religion affected the parents in their decision to vaccinate. Lower education was a predictor in the decision to vaccinate. Experience of abnormal pap-smears or cervicularcancer also affected the intention to vaccinate.   Search words: MeSH-therms accept*, attitudes, behavior, beliefs, decision, HPV-vaccine, intent*, knowledge, parents.

This study explored how cultural heritage might affect peoples beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors toward Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), which in turn affected actual ETS exposure. It used data from the 2001 National Survey on Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Home. It compared two cultural groups: Francophones and the rest of the Canadian population (RCP), and found that Francophone nonsmokers had a significantly higher ETS exposure than the RCP (19.3% vs. 8.5%). The difference was much greater than the difference in smoking prevalence for the two groups (26.2% vs. 22.4%). </p>The study found Francophones scored lower than the RCP in almost every aspect of ETS-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. They were less likely to believe ETS to be harmful and less supportive of ETS-control policies. They were less likely to have done something that reduced ETS exposure at home. In both cultural groups, smokers scored lower than nonsmokers in ETS-related beliefs and attitudes. However, the difference between the two groups remained significant even if the comparisons were done within smokers and nonsmokers. </p>The most significant finding of the study was that Francophones were more likely to trust those so-called ETS-reduction strategies that appeared to be effective but were not in reality (e.g., opening the window when someone smokes). Moreover, there was a statistically significant interaction between smoking status and cultural heritage: fewer nonsmokers than smokers within each cultural group believed that these strategies were really effective, but the difference between the nonsmokers and smokers was significantly smaller for Francophones than that for the RCP. Therefore, the tendency to trust ineffective ETS-reduction strategies, especially among the nonsmokers, explained why Francophones were significantly less likely to adopt strategies that would actually reduce ETS exposure. </p>These results suggest that in order to move ETS policies forward and to effectively reduce ETS exposure among Canadian nonsmokers, the key strategy is to mobilize the nonsmokers to be less tolerant of ETS and more persistent in only allowing smoking to occur outdoors. This will not only help protect nonsmokers from the harm of ETS, but will eventually help smokers to quit smoking.

This study examines some students’ attitudes towards mathematics in grade 2-4. When studying students’ attitudes questionnaires and interviews are often being used as methods. In this study we used a more rare method. The students in the study have been asked to draw a sketch together with a descriptive text that illustrates what they think they do during mathematic lessons. The purpose of the study is to investigate students’ attitudes towards mathematics and also to evaluate the method being used. To evaluate the method some of the students also participated in a survey interview in order to gain deeper knowledge of their beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics. The result demonstrates that a majority of the students have a positive attitude towards mathematics. Regarding the method a majority of the interpretations we made of the drawing are consistent with the students’ responses in the survey interview. The method of students’ drawings were thus well serve as one of several measurements for teachers to examine students' beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics. / Denna studie undersökte några elevers attityd till ämnet matematik i årskurserna 2-4. När elevers attityder till matematik ska studeras brukar främst enkäter och intervjuer användas som metod. I denna studie har istället en mer ovanlig metod använts. Metoden har inneburit att eleverna har fått i uppgift att rita en teckning och skriva en beskrivande text som ska illustrera vad de anser att de gör under sina matematiklektioner. Syftet med studien var dels att undersöka elevernas attityder till matematik, dels att undersöka om man med den nämnda metoden kan studera hur eleverna upplever matematiklektionerna. För att utvärdera metoden har några av eleverna även ingått i en enkätintervju för att få en djupare förståelse för deras föreställningar och attityder till matematiken. Resultatet från studien visar att en majoritet av eleverna har en positiv attityd till ämnet. Angående metoden överensstämmer en övervägande del av de tolkningar vi gjort med vad eleverna svarat i enkätintervjun. Metoden med elevernas teckningar skulle alltså väl kunna fungera som ett av flera mätinstrument för lärare för att studera elevernas föreställningar och attityder till ämnet matematik.

I detta arbete studeras lärares uppfattningar om innehåll, arbetssätt och arbetsmiljö kopplat till N&amp;T-undervisning i grundskolans år F-9. Denna studie är en del av ett projekt som Östsam genomför på uppdrag av skolverket. Projektet har som mål att öka intresset hos eleverna i grundskolan för naturkunskap och teknik. Syftet med arbetet, förutom att hitta dessa uppfattningar, är att jämföra lärarnas uppfattningar mellan år F-3, 4-6 och 7-9. En jämförelse görs också mellan lärares uppfattningar och elevers uppfattningar. Resultatet visar att lärare har många uttalade uppfattningar kring N&amp;T-undervisningens innehåll, arbetssätt och arbetsmiljö. Lärare har en relativt tydlig bild av vad elever är intresserade av och hur de vill lära sig. De upplever dock att inre och yttre faktorer hindrar dem från att praktisera den undervisningen som de skulle önska. Vi kan se en skillnad mellan de olika stadierna i skolan, kopplat till hur dessa miljöer är organiserade. Resultaten diskuteras i relation till lärares beliefs. Det har visat sig att dessa beliefs i väldigt stor utsträckning påverkar undervisningen i skolan och således borde dessa vara av intresse att undersöka när man planerar att förändra skolans N&amp;T-undervisning. / Naturvetenskap & Teknik i och utanför skolan