In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Supreme Court of the United States required that custodial arrestees be informed of their constitutional and continuous rights to silence and to legal counsel. Moreover, the ruling mandated that waivers be considered valid only if they were made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. However, in the decades that followed, evidence from both caselaw and empirical scholarship clarified that, for many vulnerable populations, these rights are in jeopardy. Among these vulnerable populations, those with limited cognitive capacities (LCCs) have been functionally excluded from research which primarily focused on persons with intellectual disabilities. This thesis offers a novel exploration of the role of specific cognitive impairments on Miranda comprehension and reasoning, with a focus on verbal intelligence (VIQ). Using a large archival sample of pretrial defendants (N = 820), current results suggest that defendants struggled with Miranda abilities regardless of other, individual characteristics. However, verbal intelligence emerged as a very strong predictor of Miranda comprehension such that those with lower VIQ were considerably more vulnerable to impaired comprehension. More so, data suggest that several compounded vulnerabilities (i.e., minoritized racial/ethnic identity status, limited academic achievement, illiteracy) are essential to understanding the extent of vulnerability in the criminal legal system in addition to the negative impacts of cognitive impairments. Several crucial implications for clinical practice and legal decision-making are explored. Finally, essential areas for future research are presented.

The relationships between teacher opinions about Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and five variables related to teachers' backgrounds and present working conditions were examined in the context of five dependent variables represented as discrete domains. A systematic sample of 464 members of the Virginia Education Association (VEA) was selected to participate in the study. A 52 item survey was mailed to the members of the sample to gather their opinions about the outcomes they believed were occurring as a result of Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and the state's Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia. Three hundred fifty-two usable questionnaires were returned, for a 76% return rate. Descriptive statistics were used to portray teacher responses in five domains. Three way ANOVAs were computed to determine if any significant main effects or interactions were evident among the independent variables of tenure status, SOL test grade status, and school socio-economic level. Telephone surveys of twelve randomly selected teachers were conducted to enhance understanding of three dependent variables (domains): student outcomes, instructional outcomes, and teacher outcomes. These data were analyzed using qualitative strategies. Findings: Teachers' responses to the mailed survey indicated relatively unfavorable opinions about the outcomes of Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and related regulations. Outcomes for instructional programs and for teachers themselves were rated more unfavorably than outcomes for students, outcomes for schools, or outcomes for public confidence. The ANOVA analyses indicated that teacher opinions did not vary meaningfully by any of the variables studied or by any combination of these variables. In short, even though a systematic sample of VEA members from throughout the state was surveyed, the opinions of this group of teachers were remarkably similar. Interview data confirmed that teachers had many concerns about outcomes associated with SOL testing. The interviews also indicated that teachers attributed several positive outcomes to SOL testing as well. Several rival hypotheses are presented to explain the apparent homogeneity of opinions among this systematic sample of Virginia educators. / Ed. D.

Upon entering middle school, students within the study district in southeastern Tennessee had low literacy proficiency scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) for 3 consecutive years. Middle school administrators implemented a program called Lexile Framework (LF) into the literacy curriculum in 2011 to improve TCAP scores. However, the change in literacy scores had not been examined following the implementation of LF. The purpose of this quasi-experimental research study was to examine the differences in literacy scores on TCAP of students across the years of pre- and post-LF implementation into the curriculum (2009-2011 and 2012-2014). The theoretical framework for this research study was Vygotsky's social development theory used within the LF to create student-centered learning in order for students to construct new knowledge by making connections with their literacy experiences. With a convenience sample of 225 students, a repeated-measure analysis of variance determined if there was a significant change in the archived matched literacy TCAP scores before and after the implementation of LF. The multivariate tests indicated a significant (Wilk's Î? = .21, F (3, 222) = 276.85, p < .01) and linear effect (F (1, 224) = 709.75, p < .01) with partial eta squared (η2 = .76) of LF on literacy TCAP scores of students across the years of pre- and post-LF implementation. Positive social change implications include providing school administrators with research findings to inform district-wide decisions regarding the use of LF in the curricula in their middle schools. Increasing students' literacy TCAP scores may ultimately improve graduation rates for students.

The Affectionate Gesture Planner (AGP) is a smartphone application (i.e., “app”) that aims to increase relationship satisfaction for couples in long-term relationships by prompting couples to complete loving acts for each other on a daily basis. The AGP app is informed by concepts from social exchange theory and the investment model (Rusbult, 1983), which predict that increasing the mutual exchange of beneficial investments to the relationship improves the quality and stability of the relationship. The present study is a formative evaluation on the prototype of the AGP app. Based on participant feedback, the AGP app will be improved prior to future trials. Future models of the AGP app will be used to compare the efficacy of using standardized suggestions versus personalized prompts.

Thesis (LLD (Mercantile Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: International sales contracts have very specific needs that stem from the multiplicity of legal systems which apply to such contracts. In addition to harmonised law, mercantile custom is able to address many of these needs. Mercantile custom represents usages which are clear, certain and efficient and are expected to be known and applied by merchants in a particular trade or region. To this extent mercantile custom fulfils an automatic harmonisation function. However, where a custom does not enjoy uniform application across all branches of trade, the harmonisation function of mercantile custom is limited, as is the case with trade terms. Trade terms reflect mercantile customs and usages which developed over a long time in order to simplify the trade in goods that are transported from one place to the other. They regulate the delivery obligations of the seller and buyer as well as associated obligations such as the passing of risk. Trade terms negate the need for elaborate contract clauses and appear in abbreviated form in contracts of sale. Although they provide a uniform expression of mercantile custom in a particular location or trade, the understanding of trade terms tend to differ from country to country, region to region or from one branch of trade to the next. The ICC INCOTERMS is an effort to standardise trade term definitions at the hand of the most consistent mercantile customs and practices. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of INCOTERMS as a form of standardisation in international sales law. For purposes of the investigation the focus is limited to the passing of risk. Although national laws usually have a default risk regime in place, merchants still prefer to regulate risk by means of trade terms. This study will investigate the legal position in the case of FOB, CIF and DDU terms. An analysis of the risk regimes of a few selected national systems will show that each has their own understanding of these trade terms. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not refer to trade terms, but many commentators have concluded that the CISG risk rule is consistent with INCOTERMS. The study will discuss this in more detail. To determine the efficiency of INCOTERMS as a form of standardisation in international sales law, the study examines their characteristics, legal nature as well as their limited scope of regulation. Specific emphasis is placed on the interplay between the CISG and INCOTERMS and the possibility of some form of interaction and collaboration between the two instruments. It is concluded that collaboration between INCOTERMS and the CISG adds value to the international law of sales by increasing the efficiency of an international business transaction and thereby facilitating international trade. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionale koopkontrakte het spesifieke behoeftes wat voortspruit uit die veelvoudigheid van regstelsels van toepassing op so ‘n kontrak. Baie van hierdie behoeftes kan aangespreek word deur geharmoniseerde regsreëls in samehang met handelsgewoontes en –gebruike. Handelsgewoontes verteenwoordig duidelike, seker en effektiewe gebruike. Daar word dus van handelaars wat in ‘n bepaalde bedryf of streek handel dryf, verwag om van hierdie gebruike kennis te neem en hulle toe te pas. In hierdie konteks vervul handelsgebruike ‘n outomatiese harmoniseringsfunksie. Waar ‘n gebruik nie eenvormig toegepas word oor alle bedrywe heen nie, is die harmoniseringsfunksie van handelsgebruike egter beperk. Handelsterme bied ‘n tipiese voorbeeld hiervan. Handelsterme verteenwoordig bepaalde handelsgewoontes en –gebruike wat oor ‘n geruime tyd ontwikkel het ten einde handel in goedere wat van een plek na die ander vervoer word, te vergemaklik. Hulle reguleer die leweringsverpligtinge van die verkoper en koper asook ander verpligtinge wat met lewering verband hou, soos byvoorbeeld die oorgang van risiko. Handelsterme doen weg met lang en omslagtige kontraksbedinge aangesien hulle in die vorm van afkortings in die kontrak figureer. Alhoewel handelsterme ‘n uniforme uitdrukking van gebruike in ‘n bepaalde gebied of bedryf verteenwoordig, is dit egter so dat die inhoud van handelsterme van land tot land, streek tot streek of van een tipe bedryf tot die ander verskil. INCOTERMS is ‘n poging om die inhoud van handelsterme te standaardiseer aan die hand van die mees eenvormige handelsgewoontes en –gebruike. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die effektiwiteit van INCOTERMS as ‘n vorm van standaardisering in die internasionale koopreg te ondersoek. Vir doeleindes van die ondersoek word die fokus beperk tot die oorgang van risiko. Al het nasionale regstelsels gewoonlik ‘n verstek risiko-reël in plek, verkies handelaars steeds om risiko by wyse van handelsterme te reguleer. Die studie ondersoek die regsposisie in die geval van FOB-, CIF-, en DDU-terme. ‘n Analise van risiko-regulering in ‘n aantal nasionale sisteme toon dat elk hul eie betekenis heg aan die inhoud van hierdie terme. Alhoewel die Weense Koopkonvensie geensins na handelsterme verwys nie, voer verskeie kommentatore aan dat die Konvensie se risiko-bestel verenigbaar is met dié van INCOTERMS en sal hierdie aspek gevolglik in meer besonderhede in die studie aangespreek word. Ten einde die effektiwiteit van INCOTERMS te bepaal, word daar ondersoek ingestel na hulle kenmerke, regsaard en beperkte aanwendingsgebied. Spesiale klem word gelê op die wisselwerking tussen die Weense Koopkonvensie en INCOTERMS asook die moontlikheid van interaksie en samewerking tussen die twee instrumente. Die gevolgtrekking is dat interaksie tussen die Koopkonvensie en INCOTERMS waarde toevoeg tot die internasionale koopreg deur die effektiwiteit van die internasionale besigheidstransaksie te verhoog en gevolglik internasionale handel te bevorder. / Harry Crossley Fund / NRF Thuthuka Fund

Bakgrund: Studier visar på att användandet av omvårdnadsdiagnoser har flera fördelar för sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsarbete. De främjar patientens delaktighet i vården samt uppmärksammar sjuksköterskan på patientens omvårdnadsbehov. Andra studier visar på att standardvårdplaner upplevs effektivisera sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsdokumentation och bidra till en likvärdig och god kvalité på vården. Dock kan de anses vara oflexibla och därför behöva kompletteras med en individuell vårdplan.  Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka i vilken utsträckning omvårdnadsdiagnoser och -åtgärder dokumenterades och utfördes. Vidare undersöktes vilken typ av vårdplan som användes och om det gick att se någon skillnad mellan avdelningarna avseende omvårdnadsdokumentationen. Metod: Det utfördes en retrospektiv journalgranskningsstudie med innehållsanalys och kvantitativ analys, även en statistisk analys Mann-Whitney U test användes. Studien utfördes på två medicinska avdelningar och undersökningsgruppen var patienter med hjärtsvikt. Resultat: Totalt ingick 43 patientjournaler i studien. Det förekom omvårdnadsdiagnoser endast i ringa utsträckning. Det identifierades 259 omvårdnadsproblem som indelades i 34 olika kategorier. Det identifierades 193 omvårdnadsåtgärder, de delades in i 28 olika kategorier. På avdelning 1 var majoriteten av SVP-er kopplade till undersökningar/ingrepp, på avdelning 2 gällde majoriteten hjärtövervakning och utskrivningsplanering. Individuella vårdplaner förekom endast i ringa utsträckning. Det fanns en signifikant skillnad mellan avdelningarna gällande antalet utförda omvårdnadsåtgärder/journal och förekomsten av individuella vårdplaner. Slutsats: Omvårdnadsdokumentationen var bristfällig. Avdelningarna skulle behöva göra en översyn och utveckla arbetet med journalföringen. Flera och mer djupgående studier behöver genomföras inom området. / Background: The use ofnursing diagnoseshas severalbenefits fornursing care. Previous studies showthat they promotepatientparticipationin the nursing careand increase nurses’ awareness ofthe patient'scare needs.Other studies showthatstandardized care plansare perceived as promoting theefficiency ofnursingdocumentation andcontribute to anequitable andquality of the nursing care.However,by some nurses they are considered inflexible, andtherefore they have to be supplementedwith an individualcare plan. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent nursing diagnoses and interventions were documented and executed. Furthermore there was an examination as to what kind of standardized care plan was used and whether it was possible to see any differences between the departments regarding nursing documentation. Method: A retrospective medical record study with content analysis and quantitative analysis was conducted, even a statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, was used. The studywas conducted ontwo medicalwards andthe study groupconsisted of patients with heart failure. Results: In total,43patient records were included in the study.Nursing diagnoses appearedonlyto a negligible extent. 259nursing problems were identified and divided into34different categories and 193nursing interventions were identified and partitioned into28 differentcategories.Onsection 1, the majority of the standardized care plansconcernedtreatments/interventions. The majority of standardized care plans onsection 2 concerned cardiac monitoringand dischargeplanning.Individualcare plansappeared only to a smallextent.There was asignificant difference between the departments regardingthe number of executednursing interventions per recordand the occurrence ofindividual care plans. Conclusion: The nursing documentation was inadequate. It would be advisable for the departments to conduct a reviewand developthe work ofthe nursing documentation. A greater number of studies, with additional depth, would have to be conducted.

Résumé : Introduction : La prise en charge de la douleur aiguë pédiatrique persiste à être sous-optimale. Cette situation est souvent expliquée par la présence de barrières qui nuisent à l’application des connaissances. Depuis plus de 10 ans, un protocole standardisé (algorithme) basé sur une échelle d’auto-évaluation est utilisé au CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS afin de traiter la douleur aiguë chez les enfants hospitalisés âgés entre 5 et 17 ans. Les infirmières pédiatriques ont demandé d’adapter cet algorithme afin de pouvoir l’utiliser chez les enfants plus jeunes. Pour ce faire, nous devions débuter par établir l’état des lieux de la gestion de la douleur pédiatrique. Puisqu’aucune échelle d’hétéro-évaluation de la douleur n’était utilisée au CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, l’échelle EVENDOL fut implantée. Objectifs : 1. Répertorier les scores de douleur avec l’échelle EVENDOL, les analgésiques prescrits et administrés pour les enfants âgés de 1 à 7 ans hospitalisés pour une condition douloureuse; 2. Évaluer la satisfaction et les changements de pratique des infirmières et infirmières auxiliaires suite à l’implantation de l’échelle EVENDOL. Méthodologie : 1. Une étude de cohorte fut réalisée. Tous les enfants âgés de 1 à 7 ans hospitalisés pour douleur aiguë furent inclus. Les scores de douleur ainsi que l’analgésie prescrite et reçue ont été relevés dans chacun des dossiers des enfants recrutés; 2. Les appréciations des infirmières furent consignées. Résultats : 1. Quarante patients ont participé à l’étude : 24 pour des soins chirurgicaux et 16 pour des soins médicaux. Un total de 260 scores de douleur fut relevé : la moyenne de douleur selon l’échelle EVENDOL fut de 2,3 (ÉT = 3,2) sur 15 (score maximal représentant une douleur sévère). Seulement 12 évaluations de douleur sur un total de 260 relevées furent cotées sévères (≥ 10/15); ces enfants avec douleur sévère ont reçu une analgésie proportionnelle à leur niveau de douleur. L’ensemble des patients a reçu une analgésie multimodale (deux analgésiques ou plus) dans une proportion de 95%. Plus de la moitié des prescriptions PRN (au besoin) ont été administrées sur un horaire régulier par les infirmières; 2. Les infirmières ont trouvé l’échelle simple d’utilisation à 93%. Le score global de satisfaction fut de 6,7/10. Conclusion : Les enfants ont reçu une analgésie multimodale de façon régulière et appropriée selon l’évaluation basée sur l’échelle EVENDOL. De plus, très peu de douleurs sévères furent notées. Nous suggérons que les infirmières ont donc transposé les principes de l’algorithme des 5-17 ans chez les enfants âgés de 1 à 7 ans. Ainsi, le projet subséquent de démontrer l’efficacité d’un algorithme chez les 1-7 ans fut jugé inopportun. L’application des connaissances peut être facilitée en contrant plusieurs barrières nuisant à une prise en charge optimale de la douleur en utilisant un algorithme. / Abstract : Background: Pediatric pain remains sub-optimally controlled. Many existing barriers that prevent knowledge translation (KT) are often mentioned as a reason for this situation. We used an algorithm based on an auto-evaluation scale in the CIUSSS of Estrie-CHUS for over 10 years for the 5 to 17 old hospitalized children. Pediatrics nurses ask to adapt this algorithm for using it with younger children. To do so, we had to dress an inventory of pediatric pain management. Because no hetero-evaluation scale was use in our pediatric ward, the EVENDOL scale had to be implemented. Objective: 1. Describe pain scores from the EVENDOL scale plus the prescribed and administrated analgesia from 1-7 years old hospitalized children with painful condition. 2. To evaluate the satisfaction and practice changes of nurses following the EVENDOL scale implementation. Methods: 1. This study used a cohort design. All children 1 to 7 years old admitted for painful medical or surgical conditions were evaluated using EVENDOL. Pain values and analgesia were noted for each patient by electronic and paper charting. 2. Satisfaction within the nursing staff were also evaluated. Results: 1. Forty children participate at this study: 24 were under surgical care and 16 under medical care. A total of 260 pain measurements were documented. The mean EVENDOL scores were 2.3 (SD 3.2) on 15 (maximal score that represent an intolerable pain). Only 12 of 260 pain assessments were in the severe pain category (≥ 10/15). These children with severe pain received an appropriate and timely analgesia. Overall 95% of this cohort received multimodal analgesia which are two or more types of pain medication. More than 50% of prescribed PRN medications were given on a regular basis. 2. Nurses’ ease of EVENDOL use was rated at 93%. Nurses’ global satisfaction score about the scale was 6.7/10. Conclusions: Children received a multimodal and a regular based analgesia combined to a valuable pain evaluation using the EVENDOL scale. Therefore, a low rate of severe pain was noted. We suggest that nurses spontaneously transposed the pre-existing 5 to 17 years old standardised analgesia protocol and used it in the 1-7-years-old group. Thereby, evaluating experimental group after algorithm implementation was irrelevant. KT can be facilitated to overcome several barriers to PPM by combined the use of an algorithm with several factors.

As stated before, both the Florida State Assessment Test and the EST measure the achievement of students on minimal objectives in the areas of communications and mathematics. One might therefore ask the question, “Why is there a need to administer both tests?” It would seem that both tests evaluate similar subject areas. This study is designed to explore this similarity of test items. Its purpose is to examine the relationship between the tests in terms of the test items. It is assumed that if there is a high degree of semblance between test items, there may not be a need for the administration of both tests. Specifically, the project is designed to analyze the contents of the State Assessment Test and the Essential Skills Test to determine if the test items measure different learnings or similar areas. This examination of items will be studied through a content analysis procedure to be developed by the author.

"The problem here is to determine the scholastic prediction in English at the college freshman level by means of the correlation coefficients of the following test scores and marks at North Texas State Teachers College..."--1.

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of alternative middle school programs utilizing a longitudinal, mixed methods design and was driven by research questions which analyzed trends in attendance, discipline, and Standard of Learning test pass rates in history and science for 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. It also examined student perceptions concerning preparedness for high school, skills previously taught, transition to high school, and relationships with peers and adults. Data on attendance, discipline, and SOL scores were collected from 34 students from the 2009-2010 8th grade cohort who attended one of two alternative middle schools. Attendance data indicated a decrease in the number of absences each year from 8th – 10th grade, ranging from two days to 53 days per student. Discipline data reflected a drop in discipline referrals, each year, from 8th to 10th grade. The greatest improvement in discipline, indicated by a decrease in per student referrals, occurred between 9th and 10th grade. History SOL results indicated a pass rate that remained between 70% - 71% for grades 8-10. The test results for the science SOL showed a drop in number of students passing from 8th to 9th grade and increasing from 9th to 10th grade. An analysis of interviews with twelve students found that they perceived their alternative middle experience as having a positive effect on relationships, both with peers and adults, and a desire to graduate. They attributed an improvement in relationship skills and ability to select positive relationships with alternative middle school attendance. Students consistently noted small class size, as experienced in the alternative middle school, as an influence on both behavior and achievement. Students previously considering dropping out of school felt their alternative middle school experience had contributed to their changed mindsets and goals. Overall this study indicated that students attending the alternative middle school for 8th grade perceived their experiences as providing greater social rather than academic preparation for high school. In addition, best practices are similar for high school and middle school alternative programs.