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Sanders, Sandra L. "Teacher Attitudes Toward the Professional Evaluation Process." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 1995. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2785.
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This study identified teacher attitudes toward the professional evaluation process as preparation for moving from the current traditional process toward a more authentic process. The descriptive study utilized survey methodology. The Teacher Evaluation Survey, developed by the researcher, was administered along with a demographic data sheet to a stratified random sample of 475 public school teachers in the Sullivan County Tennessee school system. A 60% return rate was obtained. Analysis of the data, collected to answer the five research questions and ten hypotheses, revealed the following: Teachers feel that the current evaluation process closely resembles a competency-based process and that the ideal process is more authentic in nature. Significant differences in teachers' attitudes toward the two processes were noted for all survey items except one. Teachers did not agree with using student test scores as a source of data for evaluation in either process. Recommendations were made to alter the current process to include a portfolio. Additionally, a rubric for evaluating the portfolio would need to be developed for the system. Practical examples of portfolios should be presented to administrators and teachers as models. School Administrators as well as teachers should participate in professional development to help them learn methods and advantages of personal reflection as it relates to professional growth. Establishment of an ongoing dialogue between school leaders and teachers was recommended to foster a more professional atmosphere and to attempt to make evaluation a process that continually grows and changes along with those whom it evaluates.
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Silvasi-Patchin, Judith Ann 1941. "A comparison of work-related values between professional temporary employees and professional traditional employees in the aerospace industry." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/277241.
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One segment of the Temporary Help Services (THS) industry which has not been well researched is that of the Professional temporary employee. The career THS professional employee is an employee who categorically refuses permanent employment. There is no research which compares the professional career THS employee with the traditional employee. This study examines the work values and expectations of technical writers within one company and compares responses of career THS employees and incidental THS employees with those of permanent employees in that same company. The Campbell Organizational Survey and the Work Values Survey were administered and the results were analyzed. Except for the perception of "Benefits" work cluster there were no significant differences between the groups. It was then possible to assume that perception of the organization was held constant. Differences in work values among groups were found. Results were discussed.
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Roberts, Charles T. (Charles Thomas) 1941. "Current Conservative Religious Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Counseling." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1994. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277950/.
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Vespie, Stanley Paul. "Attitudes of Southern Baptist Pastors Toward Professional Counseling." ScholarWorks, 2010. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/840.
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While clergy are at the forefront of providing mental health counseling services, many lack confidence in their ability to provide adequate care for those suffering mental health issues and many, across denominations, question the validity and reliability of mental health counseling and are reluctant to make referrals to professional counselors. There remains a gap in the current research literature regarding the views of Southern Baptist pastors. Using conflict theory as the framework for this study, the purpose of this exploratory quantitative study was to determine how 225 Southern Baptist pastors' conservative views, church size, and educational level (the independent variables) impacted their attitude towards counseling (the dependent variable). Data were collected using the Religious Attitude Scale and the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Help Scale. A three-way ANOVA was performed to measure interaction effects among the independent variables. The results of this research indicated that a pastor's level of education and conservative views, but not church size, had an impact on attitudes about counseling. While future research could better inform the kinds of education that influence counseling referrals from pastors, this research supports the idea that more educated pastors are more likely to use diverse resources for addressing congregants' issues of mental wellness. The results of this research can influence social change because Christians needing mental health counseling often go to their pastor for help. Providing further education to pastors about the benefits of professional counseling will result in improved mental health for those congregants and their families.
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Lumma-Sellenthin, Antje. "Learning professional skills and attitudes : Medical students' attitudes towards communication skills andgroup learning." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för medicin och hälsa, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-91722.
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Medical education aims at forming students’ professional identity. This includes skills and attitudes such as communication and teamwork skills. One of the thesis’ aims is to identify students’ typical difficulties with learning communication skills, and to understand how these affect their identity development. Group discussions of student-patient interviews were video-taped, and selected discussions were transcribed and analyzed. Students had difficulties in establishing trustful relationships with their patients, asking about sensitive topics, responding empathetically, and with applying formal structures to the consultation. Students’ professional identity was supported by peer students’ and teachers’ comments, which created a common language and fostered selfmonitoring abilities. Another aim was to study the relationship between students* attitude towards communication training, group learning, and their self-regulatory skills. In a survey study, established instruments were combined with a new questionnaire. Four medical schools participated – two with traditional and two with problem-based curricula – in Sweden and Germany. Statistical analyses revealed that female students were more positive towards learning communication skills than male students were. Good self-regulatory skills were related to a positive attitude towards group learning and clinical experience before academic studies. It was concluded that early clinical experience benefits students’ selfregulated learning, and promotes a positive attitude towards communication training. Awareness of typical difficulties can facilitate the acquisition of coping strategies.Medicinsk undervisning syftar till att forma studenternas professionella identitet. Den omfattar färdigheter och inställningar, t.ex. kommunikationsfärdigheter och förmågan att arbeta i grupp. Ett av avhandlingens syften är att identifiera studenternas typiska svårigheter med att lära sig färdighet i läkar-patient kommunikation samt att förstå hur den påverkar identitetsutvecklingen. Gruppdiskussioner av student-patient intervjuer videofilmades, utvalda diskussioner transkriberades och analyserades. Studenterna berättade om svårigheter med att etablera förtroliga relationer med patienterna, att prata om känsliga ämnen, att visa empati och att använda intervjumallen. Den professionella identiten stöttas av studenternas och lärarnas kommentarer, vilka bidrar till ett gemensamt språk och förmågan till själviakttagelse. Andra syftet är att undersöka sambandet mellan studenternas inställningar till kommunikationsfärdigheter och grupparbete, samt deras förmåga till självreglerat lärande. I en enkätundersökning kombinerades befintliga instrument med ett nytt frågeformulär. Fyra medicinska fakulteter deltog: två med traditionella och två med problembaserade undervisningsmetoder, en av varje i Sverige och i Tyskland. Statistiska analyser visade att kvinnliga studenter är, jämfört med manliga, mer positiva till att träna upp kommunikativa färdigheter. Förmågan till självreglerat lärande var relaterad till en positiv inställning till gruppinlärande och till klinisk erfarenhet innan studierna påbörjas. Slutsatsen är att tidig klinisk erfarenhet fostrar självstyrt lärande och en positiv inställning till kommunikationsträning. Medvetenhet om typiska svårigheter kan underlätta för studenter att anamma strategier att hantera dessa.
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Kerry, Matthew James. "Person and professional program determinants of health provider student attitudes toward inter-professional teamwork." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/45745.
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Health provider student characteristics and professional program were evaluated as predictors of attitudes toward inter-professional (IP) teams. Sixteen months after completing a self-report battery of demographic and non-ability trait measures, participants completed a second survey (N = 213), assessing components of attitudes toward IP teams. Non-ability traits showed comparable within-program predictive validities for affective reactions toward IP behavior. Additionally, results indicated the incremental predictive validity of trait Dominance and Motivational Inter-professional Team Intelligence, over professional program, for IP attitudes and affective reactions toward IP behavior, respectively. The independent, relative, and joint roles of non-ability individual differences and professional program as determinants of IP training outcomes are discussed.
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Nickerson, Kim J. (Kim Jung). "Mistrust Level and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500559/.
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This study explored the relationship between cultural mistrust level and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. It was hypothesized that Blacks with high levels of cultural mistrust, when compared to those with low levels, would show less favorable attitudes toward seeking formal help for psychological problems. Black students were administered the Cultural Mistrust Inventory, Help-Seeking Attitude Scale, Reid-Gundlach Social Service Satisfaction Scale, and Opinions About Mental Illness Scale. Using a 2 (gender) X 2 (mistrust level) MANCOVA, a main effect for the factor of mistrust level was found along with a mistrust level by gender interaction. Students with higher levels of cultural mistrust were found to hold less favorable attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help when compared to students with lower levels of cultural mistrust.
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Ásmundsdóttir, Elín Ebba. "Icelandic occupational therapists' attitudes toward educational and professional issues." FIU Digital Commons, 1998. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1328.
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The entire population of Icelandic occupational therapists were surveyed concerning characteristics and attitudes toward professionalism and educational goals. There were 87 questionnaires sent out and 80 (92%) were returned and used for analysis. This data will have a positive impact upon the development of the first Icelandic occupational therapy curriculum. Icelandic occupational therapists, in general, value academic skills over technical skills, are active in their association, willing to take on duties for the advancement of the profession and are interested in conducting research. The attitudes of the Icelandic occupational therapists were generally quite uniform. T- tests and one-way ANOVAs (p < .05) revealed some significant differences in a number of attitudes by education level, length of professional experience and country of education. The results show the importance of providing Icelandic occupational therapy practitioners with the opportunity to take part in research. This study will serve as a foundation for future studies on Icelandic occupational therapists and provide reference data for later comparison.
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Treleaven, Lorraine Dawn Clemes. "Midlife professional women envisage retirement, aspirations, attitudes and concerns." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0007/NQ41080.pdf.
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Shurtleff, Kay. "Teachers' Attitudes toward Professional Development: A Mixed Methods Study." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2020. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1703399/.
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Research has identified job context, specific attributes of professional development (PD), and perceived teacher input as factors that contribute to teachers' attitudes. This sequential mixed methods study tested those findings together and further investigated teachers' beliefs and attitudes about their own professional learning. The first phase of data collection included a 5-item attitude survey, demographic information, and two short-answer questions. Multiple regression analysis of the sample (N = 328) showed four statistically significant contributors to teacher attitude: (i) socioeconomic status of the school, (ii) teacher years of experience at the campus, (iii) content area taught, and (iv) degree attained by the teacher. During the second phase, six focus groups were conducted which confirmed earlier findings and revealed four themes in teachers' attitudes: (1) a need and desire for collaborative, engaging PD; (2) perceived interference from outside forces that supplant teachers' own PD goals and wishes; (3) a need to establish a context and a cohesive plan for long-term career and campus goals; and (4) a subgroup of teachers who believe that PD has little inherent value. Limitations and implications are included.
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Chatman, Patricia Chatman. "Relationship between Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusion and Professional Development." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3390.
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Integration of general and special education students in the classroom has become common in many educational systems. Researchers have found that some general education teachers may have negative attitudes of inclusion when they are inadequately prepared to instruct in an inclusion setting. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to investigate the relationship of teachers' professional development (PD) on their attitudes about teaching in an inclusive classroom at a northeast Georgia middle school. Using Vygotsky's sociocultural developmental theory, the research question examined the difference in teachers' attitudes toward inclusion as measured by the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusive Classrooms (STATIC) based on the number of PD workshops taken. All 150 general and special education teachers at the study site were invited to participate and the sample included 74 teachers who completed the STATIC. Analysis of variance results indicated that teachers who completed 3 or more PD courses had significantly more positive attitudes toward teaching in inclusive classrooms than teachers who took fewer than 3 courses. As an outcome of the study, a PD workshop was created that provided teachers with strategies to operate within an inclusive classroom. Informing administrators about the necessity to expose teachers to PD if they teach inclusion classes is essential to improving teacher attitudes, which creates an environment that promotes student success.
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Hobbs, Lisa Rose. "Australasian paramedic attitudes and perceptions about continuing professional development." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2019. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/134081/1/Lisa%20Rose%20Hobbs%20Thesis_Redacted.pdf.
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This study utilised constructivist grounded theory to explore the attitudes, engagement and perception of current Australasian paramedics in relation to CPD. The study found paramedics have not significantly modified their engagement in CPD/LLL despite professional registration. There is, however some confusion surrounding what constitutes CPD. Furthermore, education appears to be a new form of hierarchical stigmatisation within the paramedic culture. The study facilitated the creation of a framework of paramedic CPD, which includes CPD models; PDP; reflective practices; and LLL. The framework acknowledges professional, industrial, social, personal, political, organisational and economic factors which influence or change paramedic engagement in CPD.
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Moser, Chris A. "An analysis of studies on attitudes toward mandatory continuing professional education in 16 selected professions." Virtual Press, 1986. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/468244.
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The primary purpose of the study was to determine if a parenting program would affect the reading achievement scores of single-parent children. Secondary purposes were to determine if male and female students were affected differently and if middle school students were affected differently than elementary students.Ninety-three students from a rural school district in northern Shelby County, Indiana, were identified to participate in the program. Forty-seven experimental children, were instructed in the parenting program twenty-one weeks, twenty-five minutes, two times a week. Forty-seven control students remained in the classroom.Multivariate analysis of covariance was done to test the null hypotheses. The criterion for rejecting or retaining the null hypothesis was set at the .05 level of probability.Data collected from the pre- and post-test reading scores of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, the Martinek-Zaichkowsky Self-Conce t Scale for Children, and the Behavioral Characteristics of Single-Parent Children Checklist were analyzed. Findings were:1. There was not a significant difference between experimental and control groups or gender;however, the following differences did exist:a. The experimental group scored higher in reading than the control group, with the exception of the lower grade control females, who scored higher than the experimental lower grade females.b. The females of both groups had higher gain scores than the males.2. There was a significant difference at the .05 level in reading for the variable grade with lower grade students making larger positive gains than the upper grade students.3. There were significant differences in self-concept between the control and experimental groups in the area of anxiety, school status, happiness and athletics.a. The lower grade experimental, upper grade control, and male students (of both groups) were less anxious.b. The lower grade students felt better about school and were happier than the upper grade students.c. The second grade control group felt more confident about ability in athletics than the experimental group.4. The teachers perceived the experimental students as needing less discipline, having higher general achievement and better reading comprehension. Conclusions based on the findings were: 1. The group or the gender did not make a significant difference:a. However, the upper grade experimental group did perform better than the upper grade control group.b. The lower control females performed better than the lower grade experimental females, but the lower grade experimental males out performed the lower grade males in comprehension.2. The lower grade students performed significantly better than the upper grade students in reading vocabulary and comprehension.3. The lower grade experimental students, the upper grade control students and the male students were significantly less anxious.4. The lower grade students felt significantly better about school than the upper grade students.5. Teachers perceptions of experimental students were higher in classroom behavior, general achievement, and reading comprehension.
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Adedipe, Adebimpe O. "Social identity, professional collective self-esteem, and attitudes of interprofessional education in health professions faculty." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1492368848048543.
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Wolfe, Dianna K. "Autonomy : behavior change in nurses after continuing professional education program." Virtual Press, 1999. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1159137.
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The purpose of the study was to determine how participation in a three and one-half hour continuing professional education program (CPE) influenced the nursing practice of 51 nurses three months later. The study sample was 45 staff nurses and six nurse managers.Four variables were measured using questionnaires before, immediately after, and three months after the CPE program. The variables measured were (a)"the characteristics of continuing professional education program, (b) the characteristics of individual professional, (c) the nature of the proposed change, and (d) the social system in which the professional must implement the behavior change" (Cervero, 1985, p.87). Qualitative data were collected using open-ended statements to ascertain how the content of the CPE program was useful in practice. Nurse managers were surveyed to ascertain their judgements about autonomy and empowerment levels of the nurses.Findings revealed significant positive relationship between behavior change, autonomy, and the variables the nature of the proposed change, empowerment, and the motivational levels of the 51 nurses. Characteristics of the social system and the CPE program were not found to be significantly related to behavior change. No significant differences were found between motivation levels of participants from before the CPE to three months later.Responses to the open-ended statements revealed four themes: the importance nurses placed on meeting the needs of patients, nurses were flexible and accepted change, nurses had positive perceptions about nursing, and nurses felt frustrated and inadequate. Judgements revealed in the responses of the nurse managers before and three months after the CPE program have significant implications for nurse managers when attempting to change nursing practice.Department of Educational Leadership
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Evans, Lyle Elton. "Teacher Attitudes Toward The Henrico County Public Schools Professional Growth Plan for Licensed Professional Personnel." Diss., Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/40279.
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Experts have suggested that the primary purposes of teacher evaluation systems are to promote the professional development of teachers and to provide information on their strengths and weaknesses so that appropriate training might be planned. It is important for teachers to have ownership in such planning and to be provided options for their professional development. The primary focus of this study is a professional growth plan which includes options that are designed to provide opportunities for teachers' continuous growth; assist teachers with instructional planning; empower teachers to be responsible for analyzing their performance; and empower teachers to facilitate learning for themselves.
The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in the views of teachers under the four different options of the Henrico County Professional Growth Plan (structured, individual, collegial, and peer observation). A survey was the primary instrument for data collection. The sample for this study consisted of 58 schools (39 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 10 high schools). For each of the primary options, a proportionate sample of teachers was drawn from each level, i.e., elementary (kindergarten through grade five), middle (grades six through eight), and secondary (grades nine through twelve), with the sample proportion being equal to the proportion of the total group. From this group, teachers were randomly selected for participation. The actual sample consisted of 574 teachers who returned the completed survey instrument used in the analyses. This number represented a response rate of 80.6 percent.
Major findings revealed that teachers on the collegial and structured growth options indicated the greatest satisfaction with regard to continuous growth. With regard to instructional planning, an important factor to be considered in the professional development of teachers, elementary teachers who participated in the collegial option indicated the greatest satisfaction. Specific staff development activities offered by the school division were viewed as creating the greatest satisfaction among the many professional growth factors examined. These factors, developed through exploratory factor analysis process, included satisfaction with opportunities for growth in instructional planning, the role of and interaction with the principal, commitment to the profession, increase in knowledge base, peer support and interaction, and educational conferences. Other findings indicated that teachers valued the advice from and work with their peers and principal as a form of professional development more than other factors. Teachers who participated in the collegial and structured options, in particular, responded positively in this regard. On the whole, elementary teachers expressed higher satisfaction with professional development activities as related to their professional growth plans than did middle or high school teachers, regardless of the plan option with which they were associated.
Although a major objective of the professional growth plan was to empower teachers to facilitate their own learning, teachers indicated less satisfaction with this factor than with other factors examined. Teachers, in general, did indicate that they were empowered to analyze their own performance, with teachers participating in the structured option indicating the greatest satisfaction with opportunities to analyze their performance.Ed. D.
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Tzavellas, Georgia. "Public school teachers' concerns about their professional lives." Thesis, McGill University, 2006. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=102222.
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A historic turnover in the teaching profession has begun. There is no doubt that worldwide demand for teachers is on the rise and will continue to increase over the next decade. Yet many new teachers leave the profession, stating reasons such as low salaries, lack of professional opportunities and career advancement, and heavy workloads. The present study examined the concerns (in-school, external and personal) of elementary and secondary school teachers. The purpose of this research was to determine if teachers in Quebec, Canada, have concerns similar to teachers in other countries where studies are more common. This study also examined if there were any differences related to teachers' stages of teaching, level of education, and gender. Four hundred and fifty-seven teachers (335 females and 120 males) from five school boards in Quebec participated in this study. The five school boards represented urban, suburban, rural, large and small English-language boards. The instrument designed for this study was a questionnaire based on the teacher concerns identified in the literature. The questionnaire, named the Public School Teacher Concerns Questionnaire, has seven sub-scales and 64 items. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of respondent thinking reveal similar concerns regarding eight factors (37 items) derived by factor analysis: student characteristics and behaviour, teacher/administration relationship, student behaviour (non-academic), material and temporal resources, teachers control of day-to-day activities, professional development and opportunities, status of profession, and degree of non-teaching duties. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are offered.
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Ozguner, Halil. "Public and professional attitudes to naturalistic landscapes in urban areas." Thesis, University of Reading, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.390594.
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Masilela, Calvin Onias. "Professional attitudes in urban planning and management: an exploratory study of the professional culture of Third World planners and planning consultants." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54239.
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This research is concerned with the professional culture of planners and planning consultants working on aspects of urban planning and management in Third World settings. Research on planners' professional culture is of intrinsic value in development studies, where little is known about the socio-economic background, values, attitudes, and role orientations of either group despite the key roles both groups play in the management of human settlements. The particular point of departure here, however, is the significance of such research to planning studies. Of particular relevance, in this context, are the critical notions in the current literature on Third World urbanization and planning that the skills and attitudes of planning professionals are not attuned to the economic, social, and environmental questions which lie behind the material aspects of human habitat in Third World countries. This, it is contended, is in part due to the socialization of Third World planners to Western attitudes, standards, and values during their professional training in industrialized countries.
The research reported here represents an attempt to explore these issues, drawing on samples of planning practitioners in several Third World countries (Barbados, Jamaica, India, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) and of planning consultants and academics working regularly on urban problems in Third World settings. The results were derived from a questionnaire survey designed to elicit information on respondents’ role orientations and values, and on their attitudes toward specific issues that relate to the theory and practice of urban planning and management. These include attitudes toward rural-urban migration, the informal sector, squatter settlements, self-help service provision, the use of Western versus indigenous methods and solutions, and receptiveness to current ideas about project replicability and cost recovery.
Findings revealed that Third World planners and planning consultants do share some important professional traits as well as elements of a common culture, with a core of shared ideology, similar to that found among developed-world planners despite the differences in contextual detail. Nonetheless, the study findings point to significant overall differences in the attitudes of Third World planners and planning consultants toward planning issues and professional role orientations. The typical Third World planner is a middle-class male of mid-career age who attaches a good deal of importance to his profession and supports the notion of success via technical competence, and administrative and managerial skills, and yet at the same time pragmatic and grassroots oriented. Furthermore, Third World planners as a group do not see the profession as elitist, nor do they regard Western concepts, methods, or training in developed-world institutions as inappropriate to their professional roles. The typical planning consultant, on the other hand, though also male is somewhat older, is more likely to have a social science than a planning, architecture, or engineering background is more likely to have a higher degree and is rather skeptical about professional effectiveness and egalitarianism.
It is suggested here that the difference between these actors emanates from the differences in the modus operandi of each group. In short, whereas planning consultants have the luxury to conceptualize problems and solutions in stable environments, insulated from the cut and thrust of local practice, Third World planners operating in environments afflicted with rapid change, uncertainty, and instability are of necessity compelled to adopt a more pragmatic outlook. Thus despite the seeming overpowering circumstances, Third World planners were found to be guardedly optimistic, quietly confident, and resiliently content to pursue their ideals. lt was thus concluded that contextual factors to which planners are exposed to are major determinant of planners' professional role orientations and world-views.Ph. D.
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Yong, Karen Elizabeth. "Continuing professional education : a study of geoscientists' participation, attitudes and felt CPE needs in one professional organization." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29893.
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Little data exist on continuing professional education (CPE) participation among geoscientists. This study sought to establish an understanding of CPE participation amongst geoscientists through their behaviour, attitudes toward CPE and felt need of CPE. Members in the Mineral Deposits Division (MDD), an affiliate of the Geological Association of Canada (GAC), were used as the population for the survey. A mail survey questionnaire of the 819 members of MDD produced a response rate of 72%.
The findings revealed the majority of geoscientists held positive attitudes toward voluntary participation in CPE. The respondents participated in both instructional and informal activities such as, attending field trips and reading professional journals. Eighty percent of the respondents indicated having participated in instructional CPE activities during the previous 12 months, with a mean of 6 activities. In addition, 100% reported participating in the informal activity of reading professional journals for an average of 0.5 hours per week. Contrary to findings in the literature, no significant relationships were found between educational level, attitude, occupational positions, barriers to participation and the extent of CPE participation. These findings reflect the homogeneity of the
sample's socio-economic status: high education levels (39% B.A's/B.Sc's, 32% M.A's/M.Sc's and 27% PhD's), with a mean income of $44K. The general character of a MDD member is one who specializes in geology (68%), works for industry (60%), holds an occupational position of either project geoscientist or middle management (57%). Few barriers to participation were identified: scheduling difficulties and lack of time.
The anticipated future of the geoscience profession was reflected in the perceived CPE needs of the group. Geostatistics (59%), oral presentations (49%), mining laws (50%), and geochemistry (49%), were items most frequently cited.
Sixty five percent reported that sponsors of CPE other than their own institution were better providers of CPE activities. Although the lecture format was the most frequented CPE format during the previous year, field trips were the preferred format. T.V and video as CPE delivery systems were not favoured by geoscientists which contrasts trends amongst other professionals, particularly engineers in the United States (Greenburg & Beidenburg, 1987).
These findings are of importance to those in geoscience who sponsor, plan, provide, or evaluate CPE activities, but particularly the MDD in developing its CPE policy, and to those in the field of adult education conducting participation research because data has been gathered specifically pertaining to mineral deposit geoscientists in
Canada. Recommendations were proposed for the national umbrella organization, the Canadian Geoscience Council, which has the structure and influence to establish CPE as a priority within geoscience in the areas of programme planning, CPE policy development and resource management.Education, Faculty of
Educational Studies (EDST), Department of
Graduate
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Mitakos, Dimitrios. "Computer literacy among Greek primary school teachers : knowledge, skills and attitudes." Thesis, University of Bath, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.311362.
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Pesce, Jessica Rose. "Professional Development for Teaching in Higher Education: Faculty Perceptions and Attitudes." Thesis, Boston College, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:104134.
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Thesis advisor: Karen D. ArnoldFaculty members in higher education typically have been trained in their subject matter but not in pedagogy (Austin, 1992; Healey, 2000). With increased concerns over the rising cost of college, traditional institutions of higher education face scrutiny and external challenges to their stability. Higher education groups and the public at large have called into question the teaching skills and preparedness of faculty members (Altbach, 2011), often criticizing their lack of interest in teaching and preference for research (Advisory Committee to the National Science Foundation, 1996). As a result, a growing number of institutions have developed means for supporting and enhancing teaching on campus. Despite studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of such programs (Coffey & Gibbs; 2001; 2004; Van Note Chism & Szabo, 1998), faculty participation in professional development for teaching remains low (MacKinnon, 2003; Sorcinelli, 2006). This mixed-methods study uses survey and interview data from full-time faculty (n = 432) at two research-intensive universities in the Northeastern United States to determine their attitudes and preferences regarding professional development for teaching in order to increase participation rates. Statistical tests showed significant differences by demographic groups; female and non-tenure track faculty are more likely to attend professional development, more likely to view it positively, and more likely to feel it is undervalued on campus. No significant differences were found by discipline or institution. Semi-structured, follow-up interviews were conducted with 11 faculty members. The findings showed that faculty perceive that their institutions do not value teaching. With limited time, faculty feel compelled to prioritize research over teaching, despite wanting to devote more attention to teaching. Other issues they discussed were: work-life balance, lack of preparation for teaching in graduate school, preferred topics and formats for programs, messages received from the administration, and the desire to collaborate with other faculty. The findings are analyzed using Bronfenbrenner's (1979; 1993; 1995) ecological systems theory to develop a full picture of faculty members' ecologies. The study concludes with recommendations for program facilitators, administrations, and future research
Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015
Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education
Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education
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Witwit, May. "An evaluation of anti-feminist attitudes in selected professional Victorian women." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/294460.
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The Victorian era paved the way for the emancipation of the modern British woman. The women who fought for the parliamentary vote, especially those who were imprisoned and experienced the torture of forcible feeding, eventually won their cause. Women who opposed enfranchisement did so for their own reasons. Both sides of the suffrage campaign claimed the majority was on their side and struggled to prove it. This thesis argues that those women who opposed were a subaltern group and compares them with the colonised subjects of the British Empire. The emancipation of women ran against the interests of the state which treated the cause as an insurgent movement. The political leaders spared no effort to thwart the liberation of women and the middle-and upper-class Anti-Suffrage women sided with ruling class interests. This work divides women into three sub-sections; resistance, colonised public and collaborators. Eliza Lynn Linton, Flora Shaw, Janet Hogarth and Gertrude Bell are well known middle-class Victorian women for whom the emancipation was of more benefit than opposition. The study throws a fresh look at these women by tying the notion of the collaborative elite with the State's exploitation of the intellectual subaltern. Linton, Shaw, Hogarth and Bell are studied in detail as case studies for this theory. Through the textual analysis of selected works, published articles, public and private correspondence, available diaries, biographies and autobiographies it emerges that although these women were ardent 'Antis' in public they were feminists in private. The thesis explains the reasons behind their public opposition to the emancipation of women.
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Godfrey, Clinton David. "Attitudes towards education in a professional football academy : the scholar's perspective." Thesis, University of Central Lancashire, 2017. http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/24009/.
Full textAbstract:
Despite an array of research focusing on elite sport in the UK, less attention has been afforded towards academy football within these elite environments, particularly in relation to the educational programmes that the players aged 16-18 are required to undertake. Little is known about the perspectives of these players and therefore the aim of this thesis was to explore their attitudes towards education and identify the factors that influenced them. A relativist ontological position was adopted in fitting with the constructivist paradigm in an attempt to understand the phenomenon from the perspective of the scholars focusing on one specific Premier League club. A phenomenological case study approach was adopted to understand the shared meanings created by the scholars in relation to their educational programme at the club. After undertaking eight focus groups and a further six in-depth interviews six main themes emerged in relation to the scholars’ attitudes and the factors that influenced them. It was clear from this research that the scholars at this club were diverse by way of past educational attainment and levels of engagement, they had mixed views of their educational programme at the club and their attitudes towards education were influenced to varying degrees by parents, peers and experiences with teachers. The scholars were focused more on their football ambitions and their intentions were to pursue careers in elite football with education being perceived as a back-up. Staff changes at the club resulted in a renewed focus on education, yet this was still set against the backdrop of the ambiguous and uncertain world of professional football. Due to the methodological approach that underpins this study, the findings are not expected to be regarded as generalisations across all elite level football clubs. They are intended to serve as a starting point for practitioners in these settings to develop practice accordingly.
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Roth, Susan Elizabeth 1959. "LIKELINESS OF SEEKING PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/277259.
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McDonald, Kimberly S. "A study of the attitudes of adult education practitioners about codes of ethics." Virtual Press, 1991. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/762984.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate adult educators' attitudes regarding the need for a code of ethics to guide their practice. Through the use of survey methodology, three major groups of adult education practitioners in Indiana responded to various questions about ethical dilemmas they had encountered, their personal experiences with codes of ethics, and their perceptions of the need for a code, as well as their ideas regarding the creation and implementation of a code of ethics for adult education.This study produced eight major findings regarding ethics and codes of ethics for adult educators:1). The majority of Indiana adult basic educators, American Society for Training and Development members within Indiana, and the Indiana Council for Continuing Education believe there should be a code of ethics for them as adult educators.2). The majority of practitioners do not cite situations encountered that have created ethical dilemmas for them.3). The two most frequently cited ethical dilemmas involve confidentiality concerns and ownership of instructional materials.4). The overwhelming majority of Indiana adult basic educators, American Society for Training and Development members in the state of Indiana and the Indiana Council on continuing Education members have had limited experience with codes of ethics.5). Even though there appears to be a lack of experience withcodes, the majority of practitioners feel positive about the functions of codes of ethics.6). Learner-centered issues are most frequently cited as issues a code for adult education should address.7). Across the total study population, the professional association is the favored organization to create and disseminate a code of ethics.8). It is not clear to adult educators whether a code of ethics should have a regulating function.Results of this study indicate that organizations associated with adult education should seriously consider codes of ethics. However, the results do not overwhelmingly indicate a code should be adopted. Many practitioners (28%) were not sure about the need for a code, largely because of problems associated with implementation and enforcement of a code. More emphasis on providing practitioners with training and education regarding ethics and more research conducted on ethics in adult education are suggested.Department of Educational Leadership
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Somerville, Brown Carolyn M. "A strategy for enhancing girls' attitudes towards professional careers in the mining industry." Thesis, Curtin University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1711.
Full textAbstract:
The problem addressed in the study concerned the lack of attraction of girls into professional Mining Industry (MI) careers. The study had four main objectives. The first was to review the literature to determine the reasons why there were so few women currently in MI careers, and then to describe strategies that have been successfully used to increase their participation. It quickly became apparent that while little research could be located relating directly to MI, the broader fields of science, engineering and technology (SET) could be reviewed to include the subset of mining-related careers.The second objective was to determine the attitudes towards MI careers of a select group of Year 10 schoolgirls, with the ability to proceed to the tertiary prerequisites for MI courses. This was accomplished through the development, implementation and statistical analysis of an instrument, the Mining Industry Attitude Survey (MIAS), designed specifically to focus on MI-related careers, rather than SET generally.The third objective was to develop and implement appropriate intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the attitudes of the group of girls, as determined through analyses of MIAS and related research. Under the auspices of the Western Australian School of Mines Engineering and Technology Camp, conducted annually in Kalgoorlie, a program of strategies was adapted and implemented over a period of five days at the residential camp.The final objective of the study was to determine if the intervention program did, in fact, enhance participating girls' attitudes. Using quasi-experimental research methods, quantitative data were collected and analysed from girls attending the camp, as the experimental group, and from applicants that did not attend as the control group. In addition, qualitative data were collected from select girls in the experimental group, during the camp program.The outcomes of the study are set out in terms of the main objectives, culminating in a discussion of the implications which the stated findings pose for researchers, practitioners of equity programs and employers of future MI graduates.
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Holder, Polly Stewart Liston Delores D. "Different lattitudes, different attitudes educator narratives of a professional development in Honduras /." Diss., Statesboro, Ga.: Georgia Southern University, 2009. http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/archive/fall2009/aronica_m_gloster/gloster_aronica_m_200908_EDD.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
"A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education." Title from PDF of title page (Georgia Southern University, viewed on May 6, 2010). Delores D. Liston, major professor; Grigory Dmitriyev, Hsiu-Lien Lu, David Alley, committee members. Electronic version approved: December 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p.167-181).
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Simpson, Amber M. "The relationship between racial identity and attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help /." Available to subscribers only, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1273120431&sid=17&Fmt=2&clientId=1509&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Al-Rowaie, Odah O. "Predictors of Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Among Kuwait University Students." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30166.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was: (1) to investigate Kuwait University (KU) students'
attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help; and (2) to investigate if family, friends, and societal support played a role in the student's decision to seek professional psychological help as measured by the Family, Friends, and Societal Support Scale (FFSS), which was developed by the author. Other assessment tools used in the study included: (1) Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS) as developed by Fischer and Turner (1970); (2) Orientation Toward Utilization of Social Resources (OTUSR) as developed by Vaux, Burda, and Stewart (1986); (3) a modified Life Stress Events Scale (LSE) based on 18 items selected from the 43 items Social Readjustment Scale published by Holmes and Rahe (1967); and (4) Demographic Data Sheet (DDS). A total of 529 participants completed all five assessment tools. The results indicated that KU students have less favorable attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help than groups studied by other researchers. The results also supported previous research, which found females, in general, to have more favorable attitudes toward seeking professional help than males. Individuals who received previous counseling were more likely to have favorable attitudes toward seeking professional help than those who did not receive such help. Students who majored or minored in psychology had more favorable attitudes toward counseling than those who were not psychology majors or minors. The newly developed scale, FFSS, was an effective predictor of KU students' attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and explained more variance in ATSPPHS scores than any other predictors used in the study.Ph. D.
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Smith, Tara J. "The effect of teacher attitudes on response to professional development in literacy /." View online ; access limited to URI, 2008. http://0-digitalcommons.uri.edu.helin.uri.edu/dissertations/AAI3328731.
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Bowen, Kathleen Ann 1959. "Intervention in intrafamilial child sexual abuse: A comparative analysis of professional attitudes." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291926.
Full textAbstract:
This study used a questionnaire to explore the similarities and differences in professional attitudes towards intervention in incest cases. Demographic data were collected from a sample consisting of 35 men and women employed at one of the following: a counseling agency, child protective services, the sheriff's department, and the police department in a Southwest community. Results showed significant differences in mean ranks, and several conclusions were drawn from the data analysis: counselors and child protective service workers' attitudes are similar, with agreement for mental health therapy. Sheriff and police detectives' attitudes are similar, with agreement for incarceration of the father.
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Dodge-Quick, Ginger. "Use of Professional Development to Improve Attitudes of General Educators Towards Inclusion." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/856.
Full textAbstract:
This study involved the inclusion of special needs students in the general education classroom as required by law. The problem centered on general educators' perceptions of their abilities to meet the education needs of included students and their lack of training in special education issues. Research questions studied perceptions general educators had regarding inclusion and whether professional development addressed those concerns, and improved their perception of inclusion. The Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) was the conceptual framework utilized throughout the sequential mixed-methods case study. Quantitative data of teachers' concerns were determined using the Survey of Concerns Questionnaire from the CBAM and the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale; interviews were used to provide clarifying qualitative data. Using mean percentile scores, independent t tests and paired samples t tests, quantitative data showed no statistically significant change in teachers' perceptions of inclusion, yet the qualitative data from interviews showed changes in participants' thought processes about inclusion. Data show a need for further research focusing on the effect of more training over a longer period of time. The study has social change implications in that it shows how the right training for general educators in special needs issues can help move those teachers past resistance of inclusion to acceptance of it, although the change may require multiple training sessions over an extended period of time. As general educators take responsibility for the success of special needs students in their classrooms, they can better assist those students to increase their potential for productivity within society.
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VanEaton, Sunny F. C. "An investigation of the attitudes of selected professional classical solo singer-actors toward specific concerns of the music profession." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1990. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332850/.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose was to investigate attitudes of successful full-time performing classical singer-actors toward career concerns of the music profession. Five research problems were formulated to: (1) describe attitudes toward control of work conditions; (2) describe attitudes toward entrapment; (3) describe attitudes toward dependency; (4) report attitudes concerning current practices of training the solo singer; and (5) identify commonalities among the subjects regarding demographic, the attitudes described in problems one through four, and demeanor during the interviews.
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Zhang, Naijian. "Acculturation and counseling expectancies : Asian international students' attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help." Virtual Press, 1998. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1125367.
Full textAbstract:
Coming to the United States, international students face numerous cross-cultural adjustment difficulties. Asian international students have had the most cross-cultural difficulties among all international students. Helping Asian international students deal with their life stress has become a challenge for American counselors and psychologists.Studies on the attitude toward seeking professional psychological help have been done primarily with African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans. As the population of Asian international students increases, it becomes important that the attitudes of Asian international students toward seeking professional psychological help be examined. The present study examined the relationship between Asian international students' levels of acculturation and their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. In addition, this study explored the relationships between Asian international students' levels of acculturation and their recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help, their stigma tolerance, their interpersonal openness, and their confidence in mental health practitioners.One hundred and seventy Asian international students from one Midwestern university and one Northeastern university participated in this study. Participants completed two questionnaires and a demographic profile sheet: (1) the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale-International (SL-ASIA-I); (2) the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS); and (3) the demographic sheet which included country of origin, religious beliefs, plans/intentions to stay in U.S., the length of time in the U.S., previous therapy experiences, age, gender, education, major, marital status, and children. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) There was a significant relationship between Asian international students' acculturation levels and their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help; (2) The higher levels of acculturation the Asian international students had, the more positive their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to predict Asian international students' attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help.As was expected, a significant relationship between Asian international students' levels of acculturation and their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help was observed. In addition, significant correlations were perceived between Asian international students' levels of acculturation and their stigma tolerance and their confidence in mental health practitioners. Discussions of these findings and limitations and recommendations for future research were presented.Department of Secondary, Higher, and Foundations of Education
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Law, Lik-hang Darick, and 羅力恒. "Attitudes toward rape and sexual assault: a comparative analysis of professional groups in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B29705113.
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Chung, Chan Yuk. "The attitudes of social workers and police officers to wife abuse in Hong Kong." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.243614.
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Palmer, Josephine Chiara. "Factors associated with professional nursing practice in medical-surgical nurses." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/277266.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify and describe factors perceived to be important to nursing practice by registered nurses. The sample, 170 medical-surgical nurses, was 37% of the total in the primary study (N = 455). An exploratory/descriptive design was used to content analyze the qualitative data obtained from one open-ended question asked in the Differentiated Group Professional Practice in Nursing project. Results showed two concepts in the conceptual framework, Group Cohesion and Job Satisfaction, with regard to Pay and Physician/Nurse Relationships, were supported. Other categories generated included the importance of Administrative Support, both Nursing and Non-Nursing, Education, Adequate Staffing, Flexibility in Hours, and Role Recognition. Another set of responses were categorized as Conflicts - Dissatisfiers. Categories generated included Entry into Practice, Non-Nursing Functions and Changing Attitudes.
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Somerville, Brown Carolyn M. "A strategy for enhancing girls' attitudes towards professional careers in the mining industry." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 1999. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=10103.
Full textAbstract:
The problem addressed in the study concerned the lack of attraction of girls into professional Mining Industry (MI) careers. The study had four main objectives. The first was to review the literature to determine the reasons why there were so few women currently in MI careers, and then to describe strategies that have been successfully used to increase their participation. It quickly became apparent that while little research could be located relating directly to MI, the broader fields of science, engineering and technology (SET) could be reviewed to include the subset of mining-related careers.The second objective was to determine the attitudes towards MI careers of a select group of Year 10 schoolgirls, with the ability to proceed to the tertiary prerequisites for MI courses. This was accomplished through the development, implementation and statistical analysis of an instrument, the Mining Industry Attitude Survey (MIAS), designed specifically to focus on MI-related careers, rather than SET generally.The third objective was to develop and implement appropriate intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the attitudes of the group of girls, as determined through analyses of MIAS and related research. Under the auspices of the Western Australian School of Mines Engineering and Technology Camp, conducted annually in Kalgoorlie, a program of strategies was adapted and implemented over a period of five days at the residential camp.The final objective of the study was to determine if the intervention program did, in fact, enhance participating girls' attitudes. Using quasi-experimental research methods, quantitative data were collected and analysed from girls attending the camp, as the experimental group, and from applicants that did not attend as the control group. In addition, qualitative data were collected from select girls in the experimental group, during the camp ++program.The outcomes of the study are set out in terms of the main objectives, culminating in a discussion of the implications which the stated findings pose for researchers, practitioners of equity programs and employers of future MI graduates.
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Yeung, Po-shan, and 楊寶山. "Attitudes of teacher-librarians in secondary schools of Hong Kong towards professional development." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1998. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31960583.
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Rapoport, Ayla G. "Craniofacial Healthcare Professional Attitudes and Involvement in Addressing Spirituality within the Clinical Setting." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367925452.
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Rowley, James B. "The professional development of mentor teachers : knowledge and attitudes undergirding mentor/inductee relationships /." The Ohio State University, 1989. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487670346875649.
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Shier, Emily. "Preparing future educators to support inclusion college students' attitudes following pre-professional preparations /." Online version, 2002. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2002/2002shiere.pdf.
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Yeung, Po-shan. "Attitudes of teacher-librarians in secondary schools of Hong Kong towards professional development." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1998. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B20135919.
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Liu, Zhaoyang Amanda, and 刘朝阳. "Professional identity formation : a case study of three English teachers in mainland China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/193514.
Full textAbstract:
Recent studies reveal that language teacher identity makes the difference in classroom teaching and has increasingly become a valuable focus in the field of language teaching research. However, a review of the research literature shows that there have been limited studies about the professional identity formation and even fewer studies involving teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) in the context of mainland China.
English language teaching (ELT) has increasingly gained attention in mainland China, with the curriculum reforms, which promoted communicative language teaching (CLT) and later task-based approach (TBA), have been initiated since 1970s, yet the professional identities of English teachers acting as the key players of the curriculum reforms have not been given due attention. This is particularly true for those teachers in the Northwestern Hinterland areas with relatively limited resources and a challenging environment.
In order to fill the diverse gaps, this study provides valuable information and knowledge not only for teacher professional identity research area but also for Chinese ELT, CLT and TBA reforms, By exploring three experienced secondary EFL teachers’ professional identity formation in Lanzhou city, in Gansu province, a whole heretofore unresearched area has been brought into view.
With a case study approach, the study collected the teachers’ personal life experiences from their childhood to current teaching experiences. By building up a theoretical framework based on the features of professional identity formation proposed by Beijaard et al. (2004), the study has examined the teachers’ personal life experiences, school contexts and agency and achieved rich understandings about their professional identity formation.
This study shows that the teachers’ biographies, particularly their fathers and pre-service teacher education acted as important components of and exerted an enduring influence on their professional identity formation of the three teachers. Findings highlight that teachers’ three levels of professional contexts had an important impact on their professional identity formation; among the three levels of contexts, the macro context of the College Entrance Examination and the meso context of school leaders were the most influential.
The findings of this study extend the understanding of the complexity of teachers’ professional identity formation, and shed light on how to develop a more effective professional learning mode for pre-service teachers. This study also gives a voice to life history and offers the possibility of helping pre-service teachers to effectively understand the teaching profession in new ways in the teacher education programs.published_or_final_version
Education
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
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Chan, Lai-yin Dora, and 陳麗燕. "Could the current professional training programme meet the needs of the professional development of newly appointed secondary schoolprincipals?" Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2003. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31963328.
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Ehrich, Lisa Catherine. "Principals' experience of professional development and their response to teachers' professional development : a phenomenological study." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1997.
Find full textAbstract:
That professional development is one of the most challenging and important activities facing principals and their staff, has been highlighted in the policy and professional development literature. The central purpose of this study was to explore the nature of professional development from the unique experiences of principals. It was felt there was a need to understand professional development outside the confines of theoretical constructs and overarching frameworks. A phenomenological methodology, therefore, guided the study and allowed the principals' experiences to speak for themselves.
Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with eight primary school principals in Queensland who were asked to describe experiences of two phenomena. Firstly,
they were asked to describe experiences of professional development for themselves. Secondly there were asked to describe experiences which demonstrated their responsiveness to teachers' professional development. Following the work of Giorgi (1985a, 1985b), a phenomenological psychological approach was used to analyse the data.
The two investigations yielded 17 essential themes, and each of these themes was supported strongly in the professional development literature. In addition, three
significant findings were raised for further comment. These related to the mismatch between current policy directions for professional development and the reality of
principals' experiences; the principals' conceptualisation of professional development as a planned and unplanned activity; and principals as curriculum leaders.
The study concluded by providing recommendations for further research to be conducted in the area of professional development and recommendations for the
continual promotion of professional development for principals.
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Crane, Joyce L. (Joyce Lydia). "Independent Piano Teachers: An Investigation of Their Attitudes toward Selected Attributes of Profession." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc330700/.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate independent piano teachers' view of themselves in the light of selected attributes found in sociological writings on the professions. The research problems were: (a) to determine the attitudes which independent piano teachers held toward selected professional attributes; (b) to determine the relationship between the attitudes toward the professional attributes and selected background variables; and (c) to determine the degree of association between these attributes. The problems were addressed by a questionnaire directed to independent piano teachers active in the area of Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas. Thirty teachers were also interviewed to determine consistency of response and to explore issues which the questionnaire had raised. Reliability and validity were established at acceptable levels. Techniques of statistical analysis included Pearson's product-moment correlation, multiple regression, chi-square in conjunction with Cramer's V_, and factor analysis. The strongest attitudes expressed by the teachers in the study concerned professional self-image, altruism, client orientation, commitment to work, and independence. The most important background variables were age, years of experience, number of students, certification by a professional association, and college degree in music. A multiple regression analysis tested each variable against the dependent variable professional self-image; recognition by others, commitment to work, client orientation, and qualification were found to account for 25% of the common variance. A factor analysis was also conducted to seek out patterns of attitudes among the attributes being studied; seven factors were identified among the subjects' belief systems as Professional Actions, Satisfaction, Quality Control, Professionalism, Compliance, Autonomy, and Focus on Student. These factors accounted for almost half of the total variance in the data. The study concluded that: (a) independent piano teaching was a female-dominated, subsidized occupation, and (b) the piano teachers' professional self-image seemed to be an evaluation of themselves and their work, rather than the use of profession as a definable goal for which to strive.
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Basson, Marina. "Professional nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards the mentally ill in an associated psychiatric hospital." Thesis, University of Western Cape, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/3302.
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Magister Curationis - MCurProfessional nurses, with additional training in mental health, report attitudes and perceptions of mental health nursing that are more positive, whilst those with less training report more negative attitudes and perceptions to mental health nursing. The primary aim of this research study was to describe the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill in a psychiatric hospital in the Cape Metropole. The objectives of the study were: to explore the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill; to identify common factors that influence the professional nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards the mentally ill; to compare the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses who have completed the Regulation 425, Regulation 808 and Regulation 212 training in mental health nursing towards the mentally ill. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive design was employed and cross-sectional survey was carried out. Participants comprised all permanent professional nurses (n=60) at a governmental Associated Psychiatric Hospital in the Cape Metropole. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and two self-report questionnaires, measuring attitudes to and perceptions of mental health problems. Nurses with a diploma report significantly higher role competency than those nurses with a degree. The ethnicity of nurses played a role in the stereotyping of the mentally ill. No significant differences were evident between those professional nurses who had completed the advanced mental health course and those whom had not. However, the combined effects of learning the appropriate course and experience in the practical field of the mentally ill are necessary for the task of impacting positively on the attitudes of the nurses towards the mentally ill.
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Hoy, Kathleen Elaine. "Licensed Professional Counselors’ Attitudes Toward People with Schizophrenia: Predictors of Interest in Providing Interventions." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2012. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc149610/.
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For individuals with schizophrenia and their caregivers, psychosocial interventions have been shown to significantly improve recovery and reduce relapse rates. Although this population is underserved and stigmatized, counselors have been excluded from most research into attitudes toward and interventions for these families. Using a stratified random sample survey design, researchers explored the relationships between participating U.S. Licensed Professional Counselors’ attitudes towards, recovery beliefs regarding, familiarity with, desire for social distance from, and interest in providing services to individuals with schizophrenia and their caregivers. Most of the 111 participants (11.1% response rate) identified themselves as female (83.8%) and Caucasian (86.5%). A few participants described themselves as Hispanic (6.3%) or Black or African-American (5.4%). Respondents ranged in age in years from 20’s to 60’s with the largest group in their 40’s. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority of LPC participants reported low to moderate stigmatizing attitudes, strong beliefs in recovery, and moderate to high interest in providing interventions for people with schizophrenia and their caregivers. Furthermore, almost half of participating LPCs reported already working with individuals with schizophrenia. Bivariate correlations and hierarchical regressions indicated that high interest in providing interventions for this population was significantly correlated (p < .01) with high frequency of already working with the population (large effect), low desire for social distance (medium effect), high desire to help socially (medium effect), and strong beliefs in recovery (small effect). The results support including LPCs in all areas pertaining to interventions, research, and recovery for people with schizophrenia and their caregivers.