The general purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between college environmental press variables and the attrition characteristics of college freshmen at Southern Methodist University.

This thesis compares certain developmental characteristics and value preferences of emerging adult university students and non-student employed young people at the age between 19-25 years in the Czech republic. According to some authors this life stage seems to be a new developmental period between adolescence and young adulthood. In comparison to the USA there has not been much research done on this topic in the Czech Republic. There are some special characteristics of this phase of life that are described in the theoretical part, and tested on a sample of Czech young people which is showed in the empirical part of this thesis. The differences of how students and non- students experience this time of life are compared. It is assumed that student life style brings different impulses than the life style of employed young people. The aim of this thesis was to test the assumption that university students show the features of emerging adulthood more plentifully than people at the same age who work. According to the results of this study the assumption was confirmed. Another focus of this thesis is the topic of value orientation among this sample of young people. Value orientation is influenced by life style and is formed especially during adolescence and young adulthood. Certain types of value...

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 L485 / Master of Science / Education

This study aims to examine the mental well-being and physical activity among university students. And to examine whether it is possible to determine whether there is a significant correlation between these.The sample of the research consists of 55 volunteering students (n=37 female and n=18 male) who study at a state university in Sweden. A quantitative method in the form of a questionnaire has been used in this study in order to gather data regarding mental health and physical activity. the questionnaire contained 14 questions with different types of questions such as self-scaling and open questions. The result indicated that most of the participants of this study is quite active and is generally quite healthy-minded. The programme SPSS was used for the statistical analysis of the data collected for the present research. According to the findings of the statistical analysis is that there is a weak positive correlation between the variable’s mental health and physical activity. / Denna studie ämnar att undersöka det mentala välmåendet och fysisk aktivitet hos universitetsstudenter. Samt att undersöka om det går att fastställa om det finns en signifikant korrelation mellan dessa. Datamängden för denna studie består av 55 volonterade studenter från ett statligt svenskt universitet. En kvantitativ metod i form av en enkätundersökning nyttjades i denna undersökning i ändamål att samla in data kring mental hälsa och fysisk aktivitet. Enkäten bestod av 14 frågor med olika sorter av frågor som självskattning och öppna frågor. Resultatet indikerade att majoriteten av deltagarna i denna studie är rätt aktiva och generellt vid god mental hälsa.​Programmet SPSS användes för att genomföra den statistiska analysen av den insamlade datan för denna undersökning. Enligt den statistiska analysen finns en svag positiv korrelation mellan variablerna mental hälsa och fysisk aktivitet.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg, South Africa June, 2015 / This doctoral thesis investigates highly emotive and topical aspects of student learning in higher education namely, assessment and feedback. The study deals with the complexities and barriers to using learning-oriented assessment approaches to equip students with skills needed to thrive within the uncertainty, demands and challenges of rapidly changing societies. In the current research literature, views about assessment, and in particular formative assessment, are diverse and in some instances contradictory. The argument I make in this thesis is that assessment is situated within a local context, comprised of students and their teachers, which is regulated by disciplinary, professional and institutional traditions, expectations and needs. This research study was impelled by the realisation that most research into pedagogical views held by teachers and their students in higher education has examined them in isolation of each other. In recognition of this disparity in the literature, a more comprehensive study on teachers' and students’ views, expectations, and experiences of assessment was undertaken in the South African context. The study was conducted at a research-intensive university and investigated the aforementioned assessment aspects in students and teachers involved in second year compulsory bioscience courses. Using an exploratory, interpretative, mixed method research approach, data were collected through a combination of interviews, questionnaires and document analysis. An in-depth examination of documents from the selected courses, including students’ marked work, provided evidence of assessment and feedback practices experienced by the students registered in the courses. Teachers were interviewed about their assessment practices and their rationale for using these practices. Students' views and their reactions to assessment and feedback were ascertained through questionnaires and interviews. Interpretations that emerged from using a socio-cultural-historical theoretical lens were helpful in understanding the factors that present challenges to the implementation of learning-oriented assessment approaches. From the characterisation of assessment environments based on learning-oriented assessment principles it was apparent that there was limited active involvement of students in the process. The data highlighted a complex array of factors influencing teachers’ conceptions of assessment and subsequently their practices. Significant about the study was the identification of the effects of existing course level assessment cultures and histories on teachers’ assessment practices. Program and course factors had more influence on teachers’ practice than their subject expertise, pedagogical beliefs and values. The main highlights emerging from the study were the multiplicity of students’ and teachers’ views of assessment and feedback with a number of convergent and divergent perspectives. Notably, the cause of dissonance between academics and students stems from the tension between the competing needs of facilitating students’ independence and the desire to give them detailed corrective feedback. This dissonance translated into varied emotional responses to feedback from students. Although the focus of the study was on the comparison between students’ and teachers’ understanding of assessment, the preponderance of students’ emotional reactions to assessment feedback that emerged offered an important insight into an unpredicted social-relational dimension of assessment. My original contribution to research knowledge is the generation of the Assessment-Systems-for-Practice (ASP) framework, a reflection and methodological tool for investigating and analysing assessment practices. This framework provides a holistic way of dealing with the complex nature of assessment in higher education. The framework thus has implications for assessment design that would take into consideration cognitive, structural and social-relational dimensions, and its use could have a positive impact on teachers’ individual assessment practices.

The self-compassion conceptualization developed by Neff (2003a, b) and its corresponding 26-item inventory (SCS) has gained interest in recent years. SCS have proven good validity and reliability, but its suggested six-factor model cannot always be replicated. Recent studies have shown a more promising two-factor model for the SCS. The aim of this study was to test the structural validity of a translated Swedish SCS in university students (n = 464; 22% men). The results showed good construct validity, test-retest and internal reliability (ICC = .97; α = .86). Partial confirmatory factor analysis could not confirm the six-factor model but did support the two-factor model consisting of a positively worded (self-compassionate attitude) and a negatively worded (self-critical attitude) factor. The modified scale (SCS-Swe22) showed good reliability and construct validity (ICC = .96; α = .89). Despite promising results, additional work is required to secure the structural construct of SCS-Swe22.

Este estudo teve por objeto a percepção de risco pessoal e a conduta sexual preventiva em relação a AIDS de estudantes universitários da região da Grande São Paulo. Realizou-se um \"survey analítico\", cujos dados foram obtidos a partir de uma amostra de 1039 estudantes de cursos das áreas de Ciências Exatas e Ciências Humanas, selecionada pelo critério da intencionalidade. Como instrumento de medida utilizou-se um questionário auto-aplicado, com questões elaboradas a partir de estudo exploratório. Os resultados indicaram que os estudantes apresentam-se bem informados acerca dos modos de transmissão da AIDS e consideram-na uma doença muito grave, embora considerem pequena a probabilidade de virem a contraí-la. Menos de metade dos estudantes declararam ter usado camisinha na relações sexuais mantidas nos últimos trinta dias, sendo essa proporção menor em relação às moças. Não foram verificadas relações significativas entre conhecimentos sobre AIDS e percepção de risco de contraí-la, porém os estudantes que admitiram conhecer menos a respeito são os que se percebem mais suscetíveis à AIDS. Os estudantes cuja percepção de risco em relação à AIDS é maior são os que apresentaram atitudes mais favoráveis aos homossexuais e os que avaliaram menos negativamente a conduta sexual dos pacientes de AIDS. O fato de admitir a gravidade da AIDS, no entanto, parece não conduzir a condutas sexuais preventivas. Os estudantes cuja conduta sexual denota maior risco são os que manifestaram maior propensão à crença de que a AIDS está relacionada ao homossexualismo. A aceitação de que a camisinha reduz o prazer nas relações sexuais está relacionada ao menor número de parceiros. Sugere-se que sejam desenvolvidos programas destinados a universitários que enfatizem aspectos afetivos e que procurem descaracterizar a AIDS como doença relacionada a grupos de risco. Sugere-se também que esses programas envolvam a participação dos pares. / This study focused the perception of personal risk and preventive sexual behavior related to AIDS concerning university students attending schools at the Great São Paulo region, State of São Paulo, Brazil. An analytical survey was carried out with a sample constituted of 1039 students attending courses on the fields of Exact Sciences and Human Sciences. The sample obeyed the criterion of intentionality. An exploratory study aiming the elaboration of questions preceded the measuring tool of this survey, which comprehended a self-applied questionnaire. Data disclosed that the students present themselves as well informed on the ways of AIDS transmission. Although considering AIDS a very serious disease, they indicate a low probability of coming to get it. Less than half the students report having used condom in theirs sexual intercourse in the last thirty days, this proportion is lower when young women are considered. No significant relationships were found out between AIDS knowledge and perception of the risk of coming to get it; however, the students who admit having less knowledge about AIDS are the ones who perceive themselves as more susceptible to it. On the other hand, the students whose risk perception in relation to AIDS is higher are the ones who present more favorable attitudes toward homosexuals and who have a less negative evaluation regarding the sexual behavior of AIDS patients. Notwithstanding, admitting the seriousness of AIDS seem does not necessarily imply preventive sexual behaviors. Students whose sexual behavior points to a higher risk are the ones who display a higher degree of adherence to the belief that AIDS is related to homosexuality. The statement that the condom reduces pleasure in the sexual intercourse is related to a lesser number of sexual partners. Taking in view the results of the survey, the Author suggests the development of programs targeted to university students emphasizing affective aspects and attempting to deprive AIDS of the characteristic of being seen as a disease related to risk groups. It is also proposed that these programs get the participation of the peers.

Os modelos de Educação a Distância (EaD) agregam um elemento adicional ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem: a adoção das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC). Pesquisas têm explorado a sua presença em cursos EaD, porém com excessivo enfoque em fatores antecedentes e determinantes do seu uso, negligenciando os resultados dele decorrentes. A utilização das TIC é investigada nesta tese no que concerne à satisfação do estudante, tendo por certo que é indissociável da EaD, e como esse recurso implica no desempenho acadêmico, tomando por base o que exibe a literatura. Isto significa dizer que os resultados de aprendizagem decorrem do modelo de EaD e não de uma tecnologia específica, como sistemas de e-learning. Assim, foi conduzido um estudo ex post facto partindo de um recorte transversal com objetivo de compreender como a satisfação do estudante com a modalidade EaD está associada ao seu desempenho acadêmico. Foi adotada uma estratégia mixed methods, por meio de survey e archival, para que um banco de dados original fosse construído e empregado nos cálculos. Esta combinação foi analisada com enfoque quantitativo. Desse modo, a partir de uma extração especial dos microdados do ENADE 2012, fornecida pelo INEP, os registros relativos a 39.190 estudantes na modalidade EaD dos cursos de Administração, Ciências Contábeis, Turismo e Economia foram concatenados às 5.087 respostas válidas de uma survey conduzida por meio de um questionário eletrônico. Após a identificação de correspondência entre os registros destas duas bases de dados, as relações entre a satisfação e o desempenho acadêmico de 4.529 alunos da amostra foram analisadas. Uma Modelagem por Equações Estruturais com estimação por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais (MEE PLS-PM) permitiu inferir pela validade nomológica dos construtos. O modelo teórico proposto ajustou-se de forma satisfatória à percepção da amostra quanto a sua experiência com a EaD, inclusive pela validação cruzada conduzida pari passu a Multi-group Analysis (MGA) entre os grupos de estudantes de Administração e Ciências Contábeis. Entre os resultados, destaca-se que as hipóteses de associação positiva entre a satisfação com a Interatividade e com o Desempenho e os resultados de aprendizagem do estudante foram sustentadas. Por sua vez, as evidências empíricas não foram suficientes para sustentar a hipótese concernente à satisfação no âmbito da Formação, dado que a relação observada foi negativa. O teste t de Smith-Satterthwaite entre estudantes de Administração e Ciências Contábeis exibiu diferenças significativas quanto a estas associações. Esta evidência permitiu concluir que a variância explicada do Desempenho Acadêmico foi superior entre os estudantes de Administração (R² = 0,124) devido à interveniência da Interatividade (? = 0,092) proporcionada pelas IES que ofertam este curso. Contrapondo este resultado, os indícios encontrados permitem inferir que a satisfação com o Desempenho foi superior entre os estudantes de Ciências Contábeis (? = 0,155). Além disso, estes estudantes apresentaram melhor desempenho médio na Nota Geral no ENADE. Porém, o coeficiente de determinação relativo aos seus resultados de aprendizagem foi inferior (R² = 0,086) ao observado entre os estudantes de Administração. As evidências são discutidas à luz da teoria, visando expor algumas razões que podem estar associadas a estes achados. / The various modalities of Distance Education (DE) add an additional element to the teaching and learning process: the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Several studies have analyzed their presence in the DE environment but focus excessively on the antecedent and determining factors of their use rather than the results achieved. This thesis investigates the use of ICT, which is an indissociable part of DE, from a student satisfaction perspective, positing the existence of a causal relationship with academic performance, as demonstrated in the literature. This suggests that learning results are a consequence of the DE model and not of a specific technology such as e-learning systems. Thus, a cross-sectional ex-post facto study was undertaken in order to understand how students\' satisfaction with DE influences their academic performance. It was decided to adopt a mixed method strategy comprising survey and archival investigations in order to build an original database for use in subsequent calculations. This combination was analyzed using a quantitative approach. First of all, based on a special extraction of micro-data from the 2012 National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) provided by the National Study and Research Institute (INEP), records of 39,190 students enrolled in the DE format of the Business Administration, Accounting, Tourism and Economics courses were concatenated with 5,087 valid responses to a survey conducted using an electronic questionnaire. After identifying correspondences between the information in these two databases, the study analyzed the relations between satisfaction and the academic performance of 4,529 students of the sample analyzed. The use of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) allowed the research to infer the nomological validity of the constructs. The theoretical model proposed fit the sample\'s perception regarding its experience with DE satisfactorily and was also confirmed by the cross-validation conducted pari passu with the Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) between the groups of Business Administration and Accounting students. Among the results it should be highlighted that the hypotheses of a positive association between satisfaction with Interactivity and with Performance and the students\' learning results were sustained. However, the empirical evidence was insufficient to sustain the hypothesis regarding Formation, given that the relation observed was negative. The Smith-Satterthwaite t-test performed on Administration and Accounting students showed significant differences as to these associations. This evidence allows one to conclude that the explained variance of Academic Performance was higher among Business Administration students (R² = 0.124) due to the Interactivity (? = 0.092) provided by the Higher Education Institutions that offer this course. In contrast, the study\'s findings showed that satisfaction with Performance was higher among Accounting students (? = 0.155). In addition, these students had a better average performance measured by their National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) overall scores. However, the coefficient of determination regarding their learning results was lower (R² = 0.086) to the one observed among Business Administration students. The evidence is discussed in terms of the theory in order to find some explanations for these findings.

O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a relação entre atividade física e a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos. Com esta finalidade foram pesquisados 228 estudantes universitários voluntários, sendo 59 homens e 169 mulheres, com idade entre 18 e 56 anos, média de 28,7 anos (DP=8,6). Para analisar a qualidade de vida foi usado o Índice de Qualidade de Vida criado por FERRANS e POWERS (KIMURA, 1999). O instrumento elaborado por AADAHAL e JORGENSEN (SANTOS e SIMÕES, 2009) foi utilizado para medir o Nível de Atividade Física. Para análise dos dados foi estabelecido o Coeficiente de Correlação de Pearson entre o Índice de Qualidade de Vida e seus domínios com o Nível de Atividade Física, e ainda foi realizada regressão logística binária. Em uma escala de 0 a 30 foi encontrado 21,9 pontos de média (DP= 4,1) para o Índice de Qualidade de Vida. O Nível de Atividade Física ficou em 48,8 METs em média (DP=10,2). O coeficiente de correlação encontrado entre o Índice de Qualidade de Vida e o Nível de Atividade Física foi de 0,09. O coeficiente de correlação encontrado entre os domínios de qualidade de vida e o nível de atividade física foram: IQVsauNAF = 0,10; IQVsocNAF = 0,09; IQVpsicNAF = 0,13 e IQVfamNAF = -0,06. De acordo com os instrumentos de pesquisa utilizados e a partir dos dados encontrados conclui-se que não houve relação estatisticamente significativa entre os diferentes níveis de atividade física e os diferentes índices de qualidade de vida no grupo pesquisado / The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and quality of life of the individuals. Within this purpose 228 volunteer university students had been researched, being 59 male and 169 female, range of age between 18 and 56 years, mean of 28,7 years (SD=8,6). To analyze quality of life was used the Quality of Life Index created by FERRANS and POWERS (KIMURA, 1999).. The instrument elaborated by AADAHL and JORGENSEN (SANTOS and SIMÕES, 2009) was used to measure level of physical activity. To analyze it was established the Pearson correlation coefficient between quality of life and its domains with level of physical activity, along with binary logistic regression. In a scale from 0 to 30 were found 21,9 points as mean (SD=4,1) for the Quality of Life Index QLI. The Physical Activity Level PAL reached 48,8 METs (SD=10,2). The correlation coefficient between quality of life and level of physical activity was 0,09. The correlation coefficients found between domains of quality of life and level of physical activity had been: QLIhealthy PAL=0,10; QLIsocialPAL=0,09; QLIpsycologicPAL=0,13 and QLIfamiliarPAL = -0,06. According the instruments used on this research and the data collected no significant statistical relationship was found between different levels of physical activity and the different indexes of quality of life

Os modelos de Educação a Distância (EaD) agregam um elemento adicional ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem: a adoção das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC). Pesquisas têm explorado a sua presença em cursos EaD, porém com excessivo enfoque em fatores antecedentes e determinantes do seu uso, negligenciando os resultados dele decorrentes. A utilização das TIC é investigada nesta tese no que concerne à satisfação do estudante, tendo por certo que é indissociável da EaD, e como esse recurso implica no desempenho acadêmico, tomando por base o que exibe a literatura. Isto significa dizer que os resultados de aprendizagem decorrem do modelo de EaD e não de uma tecnologia específica, como sistemas de e-learning. Assim, foi conduzido um estudo ex post facto partindo de um recorte transversal com objetivo de compreender como a satisfação do estudante com a modalidade EaD está associada ao seu desempenho acadêmico. Foi adotada uma estratégia mixed methods, por meio de survey e archival, para que um banco de dados original fosse construído e empregado nos cálculos. Esta combinação foi analisada com enfoque quantitativo. Desse modo, a partir de uma extração especial dos microdados do ENADE 2012, fornecida pelo INEP, os registros relativos a 39.190 estudantes na modalidade EaD dos cursos de Administração, Ciências Contábeis, Turismo e Economia foram concatenados às 5.087 respostas válidas de uma survey conduzida por meio de um questionário eletrônico. Após a identificação de correspondência entre os registros destas duas bases de dados, as relações entre a satisfação e o desempenho acadêmico de 4.529 alunos da amostra foram analisadas. Uma Modelagem por Equações Estruturais com estimação por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais (MEE PLS-PM) permitiu inferir pela validade nomológica dos construtos. O modelo teórico proposto ajustou-se de forma satisfatória à percepção da amostra quanto a sua experiência com a EaD, inclusive pela validação cruzada conduzida pari passu a Multi-group Analysis (MGA) entre os grupos de estudantes de Administração e Ciências Contábeis. Entre os resultados, destaca-se que as hipóteses de associação positiva entre a satisfação com a Interatividade e com o Desempenho e os resultados de aprendizagem do estudante foram sustentadas. Por sua vez, as evidências empíricas não foram suficientes para sustentar a hipótese concernente à satisfação no âmbito da Formação, dado que a relação observada foi negativa. O teste t de Smith-Satterthwaite entre estudantes de Administração e Ciências Contábeis exibiu diferenças significativas quanto a estas associações. Esta evidência permitiu concluir que a variância explicada do Desempenho Acadêmico foi superior entre os estudantes de Administração (R² = 0,124) devido à interveniência da Interatividade (? = 0,092) proporcionada pelas IES que ofertam este curso. Contrapondo este resultado, os indícios encontrados permitem inferir que a satisfação com o Desempenho foi superior entre os estudantes de Ciências Contábeis (? = 0,155). Além disso, estes estudantes apresentaram melhor desempenho médio na Nota Geral no ENADE. Porém, o coeficiente de determinação relativo aos seus resultados de aprendizagem foi inferior (R² = 0,086) ao observado entre os estudantes de Administração. As evidências são discutidas à luz da teoria, visando expor algumas razões que podem estar associadas a estes achados. / The various modalities of Distance Education (DE) add an additional element to the teaching and learning process: the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Several studies have analyzed their presence in the DE environment but focus excessively on the antecedent and determining factors of their use rather than the results achieved. This thesis investigates the use of ICT, which is an indissociable part of DE, from a student satisfaction perspective, positing the existence of a causal relationship with academic performance, as demonstrated in the literature. This suggests that learning results are a consequence of the DE model and not of a specific technology such as e-learning systems. Thus, a cross-sectional ex-post facto study was undertaken in order to understand how students\' satisfaction with DE influences their academic performance. It was decided to adopt a mixed method strategy comprising survey and archival investigations in order to build an original database for use in subsequent calculations. This combination was analyzed using a quantitative approach. First of all, based on a special extraction of micro-data from the 2012 National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) provided by the National Study and Research Institute (INEP), records of 39,190 students enrolled in the DE format of the Business Administration, Accounting, Tourism and Economics courses were concatenated with 5,087 valid responses to a survey conducted using an electronic questionnaire. After identifying correspondences between the information in these two databases, the study analyzed the relations between satisfaction and the academic performance of 4,529 students of the sample analyzed. The use of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) allowed the research to infer the nomological validity of the constructs. The theoretical model proposed fit the sample\'s perception regarding its experience with DE satisfactorily and was also confirmed by the cross-validation conducted pari passu with the Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) between the groups of Business Administration and Accounting students. Among the results it should be highlighted that the hypotheses of a positive association between satisfaction with Interactivity and with Performance and the students\' learning results were sustained. However, the empirical evidence was insufficient to sustain the hypothesis regarding Formation, given that the relation observed was negative. The Smith-Satterthwaite t-test performed on Administration and Accounting students showed significant differences as to these associations. This evidence allows one to conclude that the explained variance of Academic Performance was higher among Business Administration students (R² = 0.124) due to the Interactivity (? = 0.092) provided by the Higher Education Institutions that offer this course. In contrast, the study\'s findings showed that satisfaction with Performance was higher among Accounting students (? = 0.155). In addition, these students had a better average performance measured by their National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) overall scores. However, the coefficient of determination regarding their learning results was lower (R² = 0.086) to the one observed among Business Administration students. The evidence is discussed in terms of the theory in order to find some explanations for these findings.