Small group leadership self-efficacy is conceptualized as an individual’s degree of confidence in his/her ability to successfully assume a leadership role in a small group. The task specificity of self-efficacy and the conceptualization of leadership as context bound informs the need for a small group leadership self-efficacy measure that is a superior operationalization of the specified construct than extant measures of leadership self-efficacy in the context of small group leadership. Consequently, the purposes of this study were: (a) to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of small group leadership self-efficacy and establish its underlying structure through factor analytic procedures, and (b) to present preliminary validity evidence for the measure. In order to develop a representative item pool for the posited small group leadership self-efficacy dimensions, relevant theory was reviewed and extant literature was surveyed, with special attention to factor analytic studies. Using the data of 568 undergraduate students collected online, Study 1 investigated the factor structure of the initial 101-item measure. This resulted in the refinement and reduction of the initial measure to a 32-item measure, consisting of 5 dimensions. However, in Study 2, factor analyzing data collected from 296 undergraduate students who completed only the 32 items retained in Study 1 and the item-to-category sorts of 7 independent judges resulted in the confirmation of a second-order small group leadership self-efficacy factor structure with 2 dimensions (initiating structure and consideration) consisting of 23 items that best captured the content domain of the construct. The final 23-item measure of small group leadership self-efficacy was embedded into a nomological network where its relationships with four variables of interest was tested and results revealed that previous small group leadership experience, valence of previous small group leadership experience, and subjective vitality are correlates of small group leadership self-efficacy. The results of the present work have both theoretical and practical implications. An outcome of this study is a psychometrically sound measure of small group leadership self-efficacy which has the potential for high utility in both applied and scientific settings. These implications as well as possible directions for future research are identified and discussed.

This study sought to conceptualize forgiveness-granting communication as a facework phenomenon through utilizing the concepts of face concerns, degree of face loss, and facework strategies. Participants from public speaking courses (N = 248) completed a self-report survey questionnaire asking them to recall a recent forgiveness episode. Statistical analyses were conducted to discover the relationship between face and forgiveness-granting communication. The results of this study indicated the following important findings: (a) the greater one’s self-face concern, the less likely one’s forgiveness-granting communication is to be direct; (b) self-face concern positively predicted conditional forgiveness-granting communication; (c) degree of face loss was a positive predictor of non-expressive forgiveness-granting communication; and (d) facework strategies were the best predictors of forgiveness-granting communication. This study revealed face as a useful theoretical paradigm for understanding forgiveness-granting communication. Although the sample was fairly homogenous and three scales had undesirable reliabilities, this study has provided greater understanding of both the role of face within the forgiveness process and how communicators choose certain strategies to grant forgiveness. Based on this study, future directions were also discussed.

A cooperative small group facilitated case-based learning method has been used in the medical college at the researchers educational institution since the 2003-2004 academic year. They were designed to be a supplement to a primarily lecture-based curriculum where it was believed that these cooperative cases helped students to develop a better understanding of the material taught in the lectures, although no rigorous investigations had been completed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of these cooperative facilitated small group cases on five specific outcomes which included: 1) achievement, 2) knowledge confidence, 3) student satisfaction, 4) students perceived time on task, and 5) the students perceptions of the degree to which they believed a facilitator helped them to learn the material. These outcomes for cooperative learning (CL) were compared with individual learning (IL) outcomes. Quantitative data on student achievement and knowledge confidence were collected using a pre-test post-test 10 multiple choice question quiz. A brief questionnaire was also distributed to students to collect data regarding student satisfaction, time on task and perceived helpfulness of the facilitator.<p>Fifty-nine medical students were randomly assigned to either the CL or IL cohort (cooperative cohort, n = 32; individual cohort, n = 27). All students were blinded to the purpose of the study until all data were collected at the end of the investigation. Students completed the 10 multiple choice question pre-test. After each question they rated their level of confidence (on a scale from 1 to 10) that they had chosen the correct answer. Immediately after completion of the pre-test, they worked on the case, either cooperatively or individually. One week after the pre-test and case, the students completed the post-test quiz with the same questions, as well as the questionnaire.<p>A repeated-measures MANOVA was used to compare achievement and confidence in the CL (n =19) and IL (n =13) cohorts. An alpha level of .05 was used for all statistical tests. Effect sizes (d) were calculated for within-group and between-groups comparisons for achievement and confidence. Descriptive data on student satisfaction, time on task and facilitator helpfulness were gathered from the questionnaire and compared between groups.<p> Within-group results from the study showed that CL had a greater impact on student achievement and confidence than IL (achievement, d = 0.57 vs. 0.16; confidence, d = 0.52 vs. 0.14). The results for the statistical analysis did not reach significance for achievement or confidence. Between-groups effect sizes were calculated for average pre- to post-test change for achievement and confidence (achievement, d = 0.35; confidence, 0.40). Students in the CL cohort reported spending more time on task before and during the case session and less after the session. They also reported greater levels of satisfaction with the learning experience than IL group. The majority of students (90.5%) in the CL cohort felt that the facilitator helped them to learn.<p>The findings from this study showed that this CL method had a greater impact on the five outcomes outlined above compared to the IL method. Students made greater gains in achievement and confidence. They also spent more time on task, and had higher levels of satisfaction with the learning experience. Students in the CL cohort also believed that the facilitator helped them to learn. Implications of the study include possible expanded use of the cases within the curriculum of this medical college although the demands of resources and curriculum content would have to be carefully considered.

Cyberbullying, defined as any behavior performed through electronic or digital media by individuals or groups that repeatedly communicates hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or discomfort on others, is a widespread problem. Bystanders play an integral role in the initiation, maintenance, and prolonged presence of such aggressive behaviors, but have thus far been overlooked in cyberbullying literature. Cyberbullying bystanders are defined in this study as those who witness cyberbullying, either within or outside their personal social network(s) and whose available responses range from inaction to intervention. Operating from a social-ecological perspective and guided by multiple goals theories, this study used focus group methodology and found that cyberbullying bystanders have an impact on perpetration and victimization by way of multiple, distinct goals, which impact their choice of behavioral response. Bystanders’ goals and behaviors served to inform the creation of a cyberbullying bystander typology inclusive of five types: the oblivious/distant bystander, the entertained bystander, the conspiring bystander, the unintentional instigating bystander, and the active/empowered bystander. By allowing a thorough, nuanced understanding of bystanders’ role in cyberbullying, the study has significant implications for communication theory and practical application in the development of prevention and intervention efforts.

This research examined how college students feel about their professors requesting them to be a Facebook friend. Recognizing the ways in which professors and students communicating through social networking could produce additional educational opportunities for collaboration and instruction, while also causing tension or awkwardness as the process develops. Semistructured interviews were utilized by the researcher to obtain information from the selected participants, and the data were analyzed by comparative methods. Through this study, it was revealed that students are split on the appropriateness of professors as Facebook friends. They prefer little to no self-disclosure from their professors. They do not see Facebook friendships with professors as an invasion of their privacy. Although most students believe Facebook can be an effective educational tool, there are mixed feelings whether using Facebook as an educational tool strips the site of its originally intended social purpose, most students will accept their professor’s Facebook request but only because they feel that they have to. This study extends the limited initial research on Facebook usage in education, namely with students.

This thesis examines the tenets and approaches of integrative learning for sustainability, and critiques the adequacy and effectiveness of conventional, higher education practices in preparing students for what is an increasingly uncertain future. At the centre of this inquiry is the study of a fourth year, undergraduate field course from the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria that took an integrative, whole-person approach to sustainability in light of integral systems theory. The course provided students with an experiential and integrative learning approach to the study of sustainability that sought to engage the multiple intelligences of students, issuing from their intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions. To support this process, the course aimed at meeting the needs associated with these facets through diverse learning experiences that included contemplative exercises, the development of a learning community, a critical examination of course readings and experience in service learning activities. The evaluative research of the course’s impacts examined the learning experiences from the students’ perspective to identify which experiences and approaches were most meaningful. The enquiry also investigated which, if any, of these experiences led to enduring personal transformation and/or community action. The methodology undertaken involved a phenomenological examination of two small group interviews with six of the participating students, as well as an analysis of the six students’ written reflection assignments. The results of this research show the effectiveness and impact of some of the distinctive approaches of the course, namely the powerful effects of experiential learning, community based learning and the provision of time and space for personal and group reflection. These activities supported students in broadening and changing their view of themselves, their sense community, as well as provided opportunities for students to engage in sustainable practices. / Graduate

Doctor of Philosophy / Excerpt Chapter 2 - A review of the literature has revealed that asthma management practices in the Australian community are currently suboptimal resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. In adolescent asthma there are added challenges, with problems of self-image, denial and non-adherence to therapy where self-management skills assume a greater importance (Forero et al 1996, Price 1996, Brook and Tepper 1997, Buston and Wood 2000, Kyngäs et al 2000). In rural and remote areas in Australia, asthma management practices have been shown to be poorer and mortality rates from asthma are considerably higher compared to metropolitan areas (AIHW ACAM 2005, AIHW 2006). Limited access and chronic shortages of specialist services in rural areas are shifting the burden more and more towards the primary sector (AIHW 2006). It becomes paramount that people with asthma in rural settings become involved in self-management of their asthma and that community based health care providers be more proactive in facilitating these self-management behaviours by appropriate education and counselling. Health promotion activities, which are a broad range of activities including health education, have been acknowledged as having the potential to improve the health status of rural populations (National Rural Health Alliance 2002). Community pharmacy settings have been shown to be effective sites for the delivery of health promotion, screening and education programs (Anderson 2000, Elliott et al 2002, Cote et al 2003, Hourihan et al 2003, Watson et al 2003, Boyle et al 2004, Goode et al 2004, Paluck et al 2004, Sunderland et al 2004, Chambers et al 2005, Saini et al 2006). In the case of asthma, outreach programs have been shown to have beneficial effects in terms of reducing hospital admissions and emergency visits and improved asthma outcomes (Greineder et al 1995, Stout et al 1998, Kelly et al 2000, Legorreta et al 2000, Lin et al 2004). We proposed to extend the role of the community pharmacist beyond the traditional realm of the “pharmacy” into the community in rural Australia with the first asthma outreach programs designed for community pharmacy. The outreach programs were designed to include two health promotion strategies, the first targeting adolescents in high schools and the second targeting the general community. The project aimed firstly, to assess the feasibility of using community pharmacists to deliver two asthma outreach programs, one targeting adolescents and one for the wider community in a rural area and secondly, to assess the programs’ impact on adolescent asthma knowledge and requests for information at the community pharmacy. Excerpt Chapter 3 - Patient education is one of the six critical elements to successful long-term asthma management included in international and national asthma management guidelines, which have emphasised education as a process underpinning the understanding associated with appropriate medication use, the need for regular review, and self-management on the part of the person with asthma (Boulet et al 1999, National Asthma Council 2002, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 2002, British Thoracic Society 2003, NHLBI/WHO 2005). The ongoing process of asthma education is considered necessary for helping people with asthma gain the knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to control their own asthma. Since most health care professionals are key providers of asthma education, their knowledge of asthma and asthma management practices often needs to be updated through continuing education. This is to ensure that the education provided to the patient conforms to best practice guidelines. Moreover, health care professionals need to tailor this education to the patients’ needs and determine if the education provided results in an improvement in asthma knowledge. A review of the literature has revealed that a number of questionnaires have been developed that assess the asthma knowledge of parents of children with asthma (Parcel et al 1980, Fitzclarence and Henry 1990, Brook et al 1993, Moosa and Henley 1997, Ho et al 2003), adults with asthma (Wigal et al 1993, Allen and Jones 1998, Allen et al 2000, Bertolotti et al 2001), children with asthma (Parcel et al 1980, Wade et al 1997), or the general public (Grant et al 1999). However, the existing asthma knowledge questionnaires have several limitations. The only validated asthma knowledge questionnaire was developed in 1990 and hence, out of date with current asthma management guidelines (Fitzclarence and Henry 1990). The shortcomings of the other knowledge questionnaires relate to the lack of evidence of the validity (Wade et al 1997, Grant et al 1999, Bertolotti et al 2001), being outdated 81 with current concepts of asthma (Parcel et al 1980) or having been tested on small or inadequately characterised subject samples e.g. subject samples consisting of mainly middle class and well educated parents (Brook et al 1993, Wigal et al 1993, Moosa and Henley 1997, Allen and Jones 1998, Allen et al 2000, Ho et al 2003). Furthermore, most of the published asthma knowledge questionnaires have been designed to assess the asthma knowledge of the consumer (i.e. a lay person with asthma or a parent/carer of a person with asthma). There is no questionnaire specifically developed to assess the asthma knowledge of health care professionals, who are key providers of asthma education. It is hence important to have a reliable and validated instrument to be able to assess education needs and to measure the impact of training programs on asthma knowledge of health care professionals as well. An asthma knowledge questionnaire for health care professionals might also be used to gauge how successful dissemination and implementation of guidelines have been. Excerpt Chapter 4 - Asthma self-management education for adults that includes information about asthma and self-management, self-monitoring, a written action plan and regular medical review has been shown to be effective in improving asthma outcomes (Gibson et al 1999). These interventions have been delivered mostly in a hospital setting and have utilised individual and/or group formats. Fewer interventions have been delivered in a primary care setting, usually by qualified practice nurses and/or general practitioners or asthma educators and, to date, their success has not been established (Fay et al 2002, Gibson et al 2003). Community pharmacy provides a strategic venue for the provision of patient education about asthma. Traditionally, patient education provided by community pharmacists has been individualised. However, group education has been shown to be as effective as individualised education with the added benefits of being simpler, more cost effective and better received by patients and educators (Wilson et al 1993, Wilson 1997). While small group education has been shown to improve asthma outcomes (Snyder et al 1987, Bailey et al 1990, Wilson et al 1993, Yoon et al 1993, Allen et al 1995, Kotses et al 1995, Berg et al 1997, de Oliveira et al 1999, Marabini et al 2002), to date, no small-group asthma education provided by pharmacists in the community pharmacy setting has been implemented and evaluated.

Thesis (M.A.T.) -- School for International Training, 2006 / Advisor -- Patrick Moran Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-140).

abstract: How hard should the books be in elementary small-group reading? This study explored text difficulty for bilingual students reading below grade level in third grade. Using a convergent parallel mixed methods design, I used qualitative methods to analyze students’ engagement and discussion during small groups and single case design to evaluate students’ fluency and reading comprehension after reading and discussing texts in small groups. Six Spanish-English bilingual students, split into two groups of three, participated in twelve, 30-minute, small-group reading sessions. Students in Group 1 read approximately one year below grade level, and students in Group 2 read approximately a year and a half below grade level. In six of the twelve sessions, students read and discussed texts matched to their reading levels, and in the other six they read and discussed texts one year ahead of their reading levels. I assigned matched and difficult texts across the twelve days by blocked randomization. I analyzed video transcripts of each session to understand students’ engagement (focus of engagement, strategies, and interaction) and discussion (inferential vs. literal responses, instances of verbal participation). At the end of each session, students reread and retold the book the group had read and discussed that day to produce a fluency (words correct per minute) and comprehension (ideas correctly retold) score. Findings were complex and revealed that different levels of texts have both advantages and drawbacks. Key findings included: For fluency, half of the students benefited from matched texts. The other half read difficult texts with similar fluency to matched texts. For comprehension, text difficulty did not matter for anyone except one student, and for him it only had an effect on 3 of 12 days. Group 2 engaged much more with texts and ideas in difficult books and with pictures in matched books. Group 1 had more inferential/interpretive responses with matched texts, and Group 2 had more inferential and interpretive responses with difficult texts. Most students participated evenly regardless of the difficulty of the text under discussion. However, two students talked more when discussing matched texts. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Learning, Literacies and Technologies 2018

INTRODUCTION: Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidenced based counseling style to elicit health behavior change. Team-based student clinics are an ideal climate for students to learn and practice team-based care, yet little is understood as to how client-centered communication styles such as MI are implemented in a team setting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an exploratory study using mixed methods to better understand how an MI training translates to team-based communication with clients, the factors impacting team-based implementation of MI, and how team-based MI impacts clients’ perceived autonomy at a student-led, interprofessional, team-based wellness clinic for low-income seniors. METHODS: Fifty-five clinic sessions were audio recorded and participants completed the Health Care Climate Questionnaire to measure perceived autonomy support, 16 clinic participants were interviewed, and 15 health care students participated in four focus groups. The recordings were coded with the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code (MITI 4.2.1). Independent t-tests, and multiple regression models were used to assess differences in MITI scores, association between MITI scores and team/patient characteristics, and associations between MITI scores and perceived autonomy support. Interviews and focus groups were qualitatively analyzed to identify themes. RESULTS: A short training in MI was not associated with MI proficiency as measured by the MITI, and student teams were found to overstate their use of MI on team-report measures. Less education, older age, and a larger team size were associated with lower MITI scores. High levels of perceived autonomy support were found across all clients, but MITI scores were not associated with perceived autonomy support. Clinic participant interviews identified benefits to engaging with the student teams including opportunities to socialize, as well as support in managing their health. The students found the MI training to be beneficial but noted that team dynamics ultimately effected MI use. CONCLUSION: It is possible to implement MI in team-based settings, but sufficient training and ongoing coaching is needed to ensure translation to practice. As health care programs continue to promote team-based care, further research is needed to fully understand how teams can effectively communicate with clients, and how they can provide the autonomy supportive environment needed to elicit internal motivation to engage clients in their own health management.