Program Design Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Background-African Americans are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer morbidity and mortality. Physical activity and healthy dietary practices can reduce this risk. The church is a promising setting to address health... more

Background-African Americans are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer morbidity and mortality. Physical activity and healthy dietary practices can reduce this risk. The church is a promising setting to address health disparities, and community-based participatory research is a preferred approach.

Recent scholars have dismissed the utility of self-esteem as well as programs designed to improve it. The authors challenge these contentions on conceptual, methodologi- cal, and empirical grounds. They begin by proposing that the scope... more

Recent scholars have dismissed the utility of self-esteem as well as programs designed to improve it. The authors challenge these contentions on conceptual, methodologi- cal, and empirical grounds. They begin by proposing that the scope of recent analyses has been overly narrow and should be broadened to include specific as well as global self-views. Using this conceptualization, the authors place

Much of the focus of programs designed to promote responsible conduct in research has traditionally been on the high crimes of fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. We believe that equally deserving of our attention are the... more

Much of the focus of programs designed to promote responsible conduct in research has traditionally been on the high crimes of fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. We believe that equally deserving of our attention are the misdemeanors that also can occur. Viewed as individual events, these "little murders" are far less serious. Yet, we believe that in the aggregate they can do great harm, not the least because they can set the stage for far greater crimes.

This paper discusses issues related to the introduction of computer uses for bilingual education into bilingual teacher education programs, including equity with mainstream education programs, the functions for which computers are used in... more

This paper discusses issues related to the introduction of computer uses for bilingual education into bilingual teacher education programs, including equity with mainstream education programs, the functions for which computers are used in the schools, differential student access to resources in the home, and preservice teacher computer anxiety. A successful Title VII program that developed and incorporated computer applications as a major program component within the bilingual teacher training sequence is described. Evaluation data are discussed in the context of the question of how to provide adequate coverage of the full range of competencies needed by bilingual teachers within the time constraints of conventional teacher education programs. (MSE)

We employed multilevel structural equation modeling with data collected during telephone interviews with 1,156 parents of sixth graders from 36 rural schools to examine the relationships of family sociodemographic factors, parents'... more

We employed multilevel structural equation modeling with data collected during telephone interviews with 1,156 parents of sixth graders from 36 rural schools to examine the relationships of family sociodemographic factors, parents' perceptions of their child's susceptibility to future substance use involvement, parents' perceptions of their ability to prevent such problems, and the perceived benefits of family-skills programs designed to prevent adolescent problems. Family-level findings suggested that parent gender and marital status were particularly salient; each exhibited direct effects on each of the three parent perceptions examined. Findings supported the hypotheses that parental efficacy perceptions inversely affect perceptions of child susceptibility and that perceptions of child susceptibility positively affect perceived program benefits. At the community level, lower household incomes were associated with higher levels of perceived child susceptibility to substance use.

A;c0Obsite model of exemplary inservice education,-derived from a selection of comprehensive soutces and basic references in the field, is described. In examining best practice statements, differentiation was made between three domains of... more

A;c0Obsite model of exemplary inservice education,-derived from a selection of comprehensive soutces and basic references in the field, is described. In examining best practice statements, differentiation was made between three domains of inservice. The procedural domain includes chiefly political questions

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by The Journal of Health and Population in Developing Countries (ISSN 1095-8940) is a publication of the Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health University of... more

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by The Journal of Health and Population in Developing Countries (ISSN 1095-8940) is a publication of the Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This is one of six innovative sessions proposed for the AHRD Scholar-Practitioner Track and coordinated by the AHRD Scholar-Practitioner Committee. It examines a suite of novel e-learning design options and how to implement an... more

This is one of six innovative sessions proposed for the AHRD Scholar-Practitioner Track and coordinated by the AHRD Scholar-Practitioner Committee. It examines a suite of novel e-learning design options and how to implement an action-based approach to online learning. Participants have the opportunity to hear about these innovative approaches to HRD practice and examine the potential for it impacting their own organizations.

Early adolescence is a time of burgeoning independence, autonomy, and focus on peers. It is also a time when individual interests, skills, and preferences become salient to young people. Not surprisingly, out-of-school programs designed... more

Early adolescence is a time of burgeoning independence, autonomy, and focus on peers. It is also a time when individual interests, skills, and preferences become salient to young people. Not surprisingly, out-of-school programs designed to capture the interest of early teens are diverse in focus and varied in structure, ranging from sports teams to drop-in recreation centers, from museum apprenticeships to mentoring relationships between an individual teen and an adult. This article describes the array of various organizations that offer programs and services for youths in their early teens. It explains the philosophy of positive youth development that has emerged as a unifying theme in this long-standing but newly self-conscious field. Principles of best practice are reviewed, as are five key implementation challenges: increasing participation by youths; expanding access to programs, especially in low-income communities; improving funding; evaluating program effectiveness; and coordination with other youth services. The article closes with a discussion anticipating the new opportunities that accompany the attention and funding now going toward positive youth development programs that enrich the lives of young people through informal learning.

The colloid and radionuclide retardation experiments performed at NAGRA's Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland are part of an international collaboration program designed to collect in situ data on the impacts of colloids on radionuclide... more

The colloid and radionuclide retardation experiments performed at NAGRA's Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland are part of an international collaboration program designed to collect in situ data on the impacts of colloids on radionuclide transport. In this work, breakthrough behaviors of trivalent americium (i.e., 241 Am and 243 Am) both in the absence and presence of bentonite colloids are analyzed with COLFRAC-a code that models colloid-facilitated solute transport in discretely-fractured, porous media. Model fits to the experimental results indicate that Am sorbed onto mobile colloids, which enhance Am transport relative to a non-sorbing tracer, 131 I. Modelling results suggest that Am is kinetically sorbed onto both naturally occurring and exogenous bentonite colloids. Results also indicate that desorption of Am from colloids is slow with respect to the duration of the experiment. In addition, early colloid breakthrough compared to a conservative tracer suggests the effects of hydrodynamic chromatography. Overall, Am breakthrough curves suggest enhanced mobility due to co-transport with both naturally occurring and bentonite colloids.

Jobs in unionized construction trades are among the few forms of employment that provide significant, rapid, upward mobility to people who fall into the category of “hard to employ.” However, such jobs have also historically been racially... more

Jobs in unionized construction trades are among the few forms of employment that provide significant, rapid, upward mobility to people who fall into the category of “hard to employ.” However, such jobs have also historically been racially exclusive. In many cities, community-based organizations have acted as workforce intermediaries to address this issue of access. Judging the success of these programs is difficult. This paper compares and offers explanations for the different outcomes of two construction trade pre-apprenticeship programs that targeted a hard-to-employ demographic. Both were run by the Building Bridges Project of Arise Chicago. Both were intended to increase minority access to unionized building trade apprenticeship programs, and ultimately to union work in construction. The self-selection process, the high level of support provided to participants in one class but not the other, and a close organizational relationship to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) at a time when that union explicitly linked training with organizing made the critical difference in outcomes. These factors should be considered when planning future jobs programs. A jobs program designed to open up access to good jobs for the hard-to-employ should proceed by self-selection, substantial support, and viable links to the entities that control access to the work such as, in this case, union apprenticeship programs.

This final report describes a 3-year federally funded project designed to conduct an analysis of the factors that contribute to the performance of high intensity problem behaviors by students with severe disabilities. The project utilized... more

This final report describes a 3-year federally funded project designed to conduct an analysis of the factors that contribute to the performance of high intensity problem behaviors by students with severe disabilities. The project utilized a series of five integrated studies, which involved students with severe intellectual disabilities and the teachers who serve them, to define the theoretical and methodological issues related to the performance of high intensity behavior, develop a comprehensive assessment model for assessing and treating behavior response classes, and provide empirical documentation of the efficacy of the model. The objectives, activities, products, and accomplishments of the project are described and charts detailing the project's evaluation plan and timetables are included. The report includes a research report on three experimental analyses conducted to assess the effects of different consequent stimuli on the rate of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and stereotypical behavior of two individuals with severe developmental disabilities and dual sensory impairments. Findings indicate that noncontingent presentation of the specially selected stimuli resulted in reduction in stereotypical and self-injurious behavior. A concept paper that outlines an emerging model for assessing and treating low frequency, high intensity problem behaviors and data charts are also attached. (The concept paper contains 96 references.) (CR)

An interim report on the congressionally mandated National Study of Student Support Services (SSS) focuses on the characteristics of college freshmen program participants and on the level and type of services they receive. The federally... more

An interim report on the congressionally mandated National Study of Student Support Services (SSS) focuses on the characteristics of college freshmen program participants and on the level and type of services they receive. The federally funded grant program is designed to help economically disadvantaged students achieve success at the postsecondary level. It is intended to facilitate participating students' high school completion, entry into and completion of postsecondary education, and entry into graduate study. Study data were from a baseline survey of all freshman participants (2,800) at 28 sampled 2-year and 4-year institutions with SSS programs and detailed service records kept for a sample of freshman and non-freshman participants over the course of one academic year. Findings include the following: (1) 60 percent of SSS freshmen were r.ther 18 or 19 years old but this proportion was lower than that foun ..mong all freshmen nationwide (90 percent); (2) 67 percent were female; (3) 41 percent were white, 38 percent were black, 22 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian, and 2 percent Native American; (4) SSS projects cost $768 per student in 1992; (5) most SSS programs offer a mix of counseling and tutoring and some involvement in instructional courses and workshops; (6) mean number of service contacts per SSS participant was 12 and mean number of hours of contact was 10; and (7) the mean grade point average for SSS students was 2.3. Appendices provide additional detail on sample methodology, the questionnaire used, and the file layout. (JB)

This book contains 13 papers examining topical issues in vocational education and training (VET) in Victoria, Australia. The following papers are included: "Vocational Education and Schooling: The Changing Scene" (Jane Kenway,... more

This book contains 13 papers examining topical issues in vocational education and training (VET) in Victoria, Australia. The following papers are included: "Vocational Education and Schooling: The Changing Scene" (Jane Kenway, Sue Willis, Peter Watkins, Karen Tregenza); "The Enterprise Approach" (James Mulraney); "VET Programs at James Harrison College" (John Bromilow); "'Great Organisations Dream Great Dreams" (David Gallagher); "An Investigation into the Impact of Mentoring Unemployment" (Barbara Hammond); "Issues Confronting Vocational Education in Victorian Schools in the Late 1990s" (Karen Tregenza, Jane Kenway, Peter Watkins); "Participant Pathways and Outcomes in Vocational Education and Training: 1992-95" (Peter Dwyer, Aramiha Harwood, Geoff Poynter, Johanna Wyn); "Paths to Pathways: Educational Pathways for Educationally Disadvantaged Young People" (Jennifer Angwin, Louise Laskey); "Enh...

This article offers an examination of instructional strategies and tactics for the design of introductory computer programming courses in high school. We distinguish the Expert, Spiral and Reading approach as groups of instructional... more

This article offers an examination of instructional strategies and tactics for the design of introductory computer programming courses in high school. We distinguish the Expert, Spiral and Reading approach as groups of instructional strategies that mainly differ in their general design plan to control students' processing load. In order, they emphasize topdown program design, incremental learning, and program modification and amplification. In contrast, tactics are specific design plans that prescribe methods to reach desired learning outcomes under given circumstances. Based on ACT* (Anderson, 1983) and relevant research, we distinguish between declarative and procedural instruction and present six tactics which can be used both to design courses and to evaluate strategies. Three tactics for declarative instruction involve concrete computer models, programming plans and design diagrams; three tactics for procedural instruction involve worked-out examples, practice of basic cognitive skills and task variation. In our evaluation of groups of instructional strategies, the Reading approach has been found to be superior to the Expert and Spiral approaches.

objective Information on Leishmania species diversity in western Brazilian Amazon and the clinical picture of human cutaneous leishmaniasis it causes is scarce. We describe clinical findings, diagnostic procedures and identification of... more

objective Information on Leishmania species diversity in western Brazilian Amazon and the clinical picture of human cutaneous leishmaniasis it causes is scarce. We describe clinical findings, diagnostic procedures and identification of Leishmania species in patients from that region.

Background and Purpose. In the outpatient setting, it can be difficult to effectively manage the complex medical and rehabilitation needs of people with Parkinson disease (PD). A multidisciplinary approach in the inpatient rehabilitation... more

Background and Purpose. In the outpatient setting, it can be difficult to effectively manage the complex medical and rehabilitation needs of people with Parkinson disease (PD). A multidisciplinary approach in the inpatient rehabilitation environment may be a viable alternative. The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate the effectiveness of an inpatient rehabilitation program for people with a primary diagnosis of PD, (2) to determine whether gains made were clinically meaningful, and (3) to identify predictors of rehabilitation outcome.

Since the watershed Dawkins reform policies in 1987, Australian higher education has undergone a fundamental transformation from a traditional public service provider to a market-driven commercial enterprise. These reforms have been... more

Since the watershed Dawkins reform policies in 1987, Australian higher education has undergone a fundamental transformation from a traditional public service provider to a market-driven commercial enterprise. These reforms have been driven in part by a change in the assumptions that policy makers hold regarding the motivations of academics, administrators and students. Drawing on Julian Le Grand's (2003) conceptual model of the interaction between human motivation and policy formulation and implementation, this paper examines how motivational endogeneity in the academy has distorted policy outcomes in Australian universities. After a brief review of the Le Grand model, the paper outlines the evolution of higher education policy, and then considers some of its unintended results in the light of Le Grand's model of motivation.

Using panel data econometric techniques and propensity score matching procedures, this study evaluates the impact of the MAUNLAD agricultural development program - a program designed to help alleviate poverty in Philippine... more

Using panel data econometric techniques and propensity score matching procedures, this study evaluates the impact of the MAUNLAD agricultural development program - a program designed to help alleviate poverty in Philippine coconut-producing communities. Our results ...

The objective of this review was to use meta-analysis to calculate the mean effect of programs designed for families whose children are at risk of out-of-home placement. We attempted to find answers to two questions. First, what was the... more

The objective of this review was to use meta-analysis to calculate the mean effect of programs designed for families whose children are at risk of out-of-home placement. We attempted to find answers to two questions. First, what was the net effect of the intervention on placement? Sixteen of the 27 programs included in our review reported placement rates. The results show that, in most cases, children who received program services were placed almost as often as the children in the control groups. Programs that targeted a specific clientele, however, obtained much more significant results. Second, what was the impact of the program on the children and their families? Seventeen of the 27 programs included reported measurements focussed on families and children. After examining the data at our disposal, we were forced to abandon our intention of calculating the global effectiveness score for the evaluated programs. Consequently, we rather compiled all the information in an integrative table. This table shows that regardless of format, the programs did indeed have an effect on the children and their families. The conclusion focused on conditions to consider for promoters and evaluators who implement or evaluate programs of this type. ᮊ

This study sought to identify variables related to higher levels of elementary and secondary school teacher use of wait-time I and whether knowledge and skill can be increased by focused staff development. Wait-time I is the time a... more

This study sought to identify variables related to higher levels of elementary and secondary school teacher use of wait-time I and whether knowledge and skill can be increased by focused staff development. Wait-time I is the time a teacher pauses after asking a question before acknowledging a student's response. The study used research on QUILT (Questioning and Understanding To Improve Learning and Thinking), a staff development program designed to increase teacher use of effective classroom questioning techniques and procedures. Based on analysis involving 9,595 teacher initiated questioning episodes from 254 coded videotapes, several variables were significantly related to wait-time I: level of wait-time II, cognitive level of the question, whether the student to answer is designated before or after the question is asked, who actually answers the question, the number of students responding, cognitive level of student response, the teacher repeating or rephrasing the question, ...

Creatine and whey protein are supplements believed to have an ergogenic effect. Very little is known regarding the effects of these dietary supplements in older men. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of creatine and... more

Creatine and whey protein are supplements believed to have an ergogenic effect. Very little is known regarding the effects of these dietary supplements in older men. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of creatine and whey protein supplements, consumed independently and in combination, on total and regional body composition in middle-aged men during a resistance-training program. Forty-two men were randomly assigned to four groups to receive supplements according to a double-blind protocol. Groups consumed their supplements three times per week immediately following their resistance training sessions. The groups were: 1) placebo (480 ml of Gatorade); 2) creatine (480 ml of Gatorade plus 5 grams of creatine); 3) whey protein (480 ml of Gatorade plus 35 grams of whey protein powder); and 4) whey protein/creatine (480 ml of Gatorade plus 5 grams of creatine and 35 grams of whey protein powder). All groups participated in resistance training 3 times per week for 14 wee...

This document presents key findings about the team evaluation process used in seven workplace basic skills programs in 1993 and 1994. An introduction summarizes the methodology used to develop the case studies and key findings about the... more

This document presents key findings about the team evaluation process used in seven workplace basic skills programs in 1993 and 1994. An introduction summarizes the methodology used to develop the case studies and key findings about the team evaluation process. These key findings present the strengths and challenges of using evaluation teams, along with recommendations for those interested in trying this approach. Recommendations include the following: evaluation teams need to create time, interest, expertise, a supportive context, a code of confidentiality, and an ethic of Primary funding for this project was provided by the National Institute for Literacy in Washington, D.C. Additional support for the Canadian field-site was provided by ABC CANADA, a national workplace education service based in Toronto. 4 13 3 math classes 3 language classes 2 blueprint reading classes 1 introduction to measurement class 1 machliie maintenance class 5 14 STATE UNIVERSITY OF N.Y. (at Albany, NY) Educational institution (state university) Custodial workers on state university campus 10-week basic reading and LESSONS LEARNED: KEY FINDINGS ABOUT TEAM EVALUATION This section summarizes what the researchers learned about the team evaluation process. These findings draw directly from the project's seven test sites, as well as from prior work done by the researchers in other workplace education evaluations-"team-based" and otherwise. This summary presents the strengths and challenges of using evaluation teams, along with recommendations for those interested in trying this approach. 9

Over the past decade, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states have developed environmental leadership programs (ELPs), a type of voluntary environmental program designed to recognize facilities with strong environmental... more

Over the past decade, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states have developed environmental leadership programs (ELPs), a type of voluntary environmental program designed to recognize facilities with strong environmental performance records and encourage all ...

Purpose -The dependence on human involvement and human behavior to protect information assets necessitates an information security awareness program to make people aware of their roles and responsibilities towards information security.... more

Purpose -The dependence on human involvement and human behavior to protect information assets necessitates an information security awareness program to make people aware of their roles and responsibilities towards information security. The purpose of this paper is to examine the feasibility of an information security vocabulary test as an aid to assess awareness levels and to assist with the identification of suitable areas or topics to be included in an information security awareness program. Design/methodology/approach -A questionnaire has been designed to test and illustrate the feasibility of a vocabulary test. The questionnaire consists of two sections -a first section to perform a vocabulary test and a second one to evaluate respondents' behavior. Two different class groups of students at a university were used as a sample. Findings -The research findings confirmed that the use of a vocabulary test to assess security awareness levels will be beneficial. A significant relationship between knowledge of concepts (vocabulary) and behavior was observed. Originality/value -The paper introduces a new approach to evaluate people's information security awareness levels by employing an information security vocabulary test. This new approach can assist management to plan and evaluate interventions and to facilitate best practice in information security. Aspects of cognitive psychology and language were taken into account in this research project, indicating the interaction and influence between apparently different disciplines.

This report examines effects of structural and process features of professional development programs on teachers' knowledge, practice and efficacy. It is based on four recent (2002)(2003) studies undertaken through the Australian... more

This report examines effects of structural and process features of professional development programs on teachers' knowledge, practice and efficacy. It is based on four recent (2002)(2003) studies undertaken through the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme, designed to enhance teacher quality. The total data set for the survey study includes 3,250 teachers who had participated in eighty individual professional development 1 activities within these studies. Teachers were surveyed at least three months after participating in an activity, which provided them with the opportunity to gauge the impact of programs on their practice. To investigate factors affecting impact, a theoretical model was developed based on recent research into the characteristics of effective professional development and tested using blockwise regression analysis. The model included contextual factors (e.g.

Community-academic partnership research is a fairly new genre of community-based participatory research. It has arisen in part, from recognition of the potential role of alliances in the development and translation of applied knowledge... more

Community-academic partnership research is a fairly new genre of community-based participatory research. It has arisen in part, from recognition of the potential role of alliances in the development and translation of applied knowledge and the elimination of health disparities. This paper reports on the learning process of academic and community members who worked together in developing a logic model for a research program focusing on partnerships with vulnerable populations. The Partners in Community Health Research is a 6-year training program that seeks to combine research, training, and practice through the work of its ''learning clusters''. As these types of partnerships proliferate, the articulation and exploration of clear models will assist in their implementation. The authors, coming from both academia and community agencies, present a logic model meant to facilitate program management. Key considerations in the model's development are discussed in the context of an ongoing research partnership; namely, the complexity of the research partnership, power and accountability, alignment with health promotion policy, and the iterative nature of program design. Recommendations challenge academics, policy-makers, service providers, and community members to reflect on the elements needed to support and manage research partnerships and the tools necessary to ensure continued collaboration. r

This study was part of a larger research program designed to investigate how effort interacts with strategy use to mediate the academic performance of successful students with learning disabilities (LD) and how teachers' and students'... more

This study was part of a larger research program designed to investigate how effort interacts with strategy use to mediate the academic performance of successful students with learning disabilities (LD) and how teachers' and students' perceptions influence these relationships. The sample consisted of 46 students with LD and 46 matched students without LD and their seven teachers from Grades 6-8. A self-report survey was used to obtain an index of students' perceptions of their effort, strategy use, academic struggles, and academic competence. Our findings indicated that students with LD with positive academic self-perceptions were more likely to work hard and to use strategies in their schoolwork than were students with LD who had negative academic self-perceptions. Teachers viewed students with LD who had positive academic self-perceptions as working equally hard and attaining similar levels of academic competence as their peers without LD. In marked contrast, students with LD who had negative academic self-perceptions were judged by their teachers as making limited effort in school and achieving at a below-average level in comparison with their peers. Findings suggested a cyclical relationship between students' self-perceptions and their teachers' judgments and supported the notion of a reciprocal strategy-effort interaction.

Background. Many rural residents do not have access to high-quality nutrition counseling for high blood cholesterol. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention program designed to facilitate dietary... more

Background. Many rural residents do not have access to high-quality nutrition counseling for high blood cholesterol. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention program designed to facilitate dietary counseling for hypercholesterolemia by rural public health nurses.

This exploratory study examines the implementation of campus support programs designed to provide financial, academic, and other types of supports to students who had aged out of foster care. Data were collected from program... more

This exploratory study examines the implementation of campus support programs designed to provide financial, academic, and other types of supports to students who had aged out of foster care. Data were collected from program administrators and student participants in California and Washington State. Telephone interviews were conducted with 10 campus support program administrators that covered a variety of domains. Student participants from 8 of the 10 programs completed a web-based survey that asked about their perceptions of and experiences with the program. Recommendations for moving forward with a methodologically sound impact evaluation of campus support programs are discussed.

York. The PDA offers a comprehensive education through an extensive variety of both degree and continuing education courses. It offers basic skill courses in the academic division and, in the Division of Adult and Continuing Education, an... more

York. The PDA offers a comprehensive education through an extensive variety of both degree and continuing education courses. It offers basic skill courses in the academic division and, in the Division of Adult and Continuing Education, an extensive college-preparation course, a preparatory program for foreigners with deafness, Adult Basic Education, Regents Competency Test Preparation, General Education Diploma preparations and tests, pre-vocational skills, computer skills training, and support services such as interpreting, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and notetaking. The publication discusses student enrollment in PDA programs, outreach and recruitment of students from diverse backgrounds, recruiting teachers and interpreters, and programs and services. Initiatives to improve students' academic skills, placement and assessment, and support services are addressed. Extracurricular activities

The purpose of this article is to describe statistical procedures to assess how prevention and intervention programs achieve their effects. The analyses require the measurement of intervening or mediating variables hypothesized to... more

The purpose of this article is to describe statistical procedures to assess how prevention and intervention programs achieve their effects. The analyses require the measurement of intervening or mediating variables hypothesized to represent the causal mechanism by which the prevention program achieves its effects. Methods to estimate mediation are illustrated in the evaluation of a health promotion program designed to reduce dietary cholesterol and a school-based drug prevention program. The methods are relatively easy to apply and the information gained from such analyses should add to our understanding of prevention.

Majority of the research suggests plyometric training (PT) improves maximal strength performance as measured by 1RM, isometric MVC or slow velocity isokinetic testing. However, the effectiveness of PT depends upon various factors. A... more

Majority of the research suggests plyometric training (PT) improves maximal strength performance as measured by 1RM, isometric MVC or slow velocity isokinetic testing. However, the effectiveness of PT depends upon various factors. A meta-analysis of 15 studies with a total of 31 effect sizes (ES) was carried out to analyse the role of various factors on the effects of PT on strength performance. The inclusion criteria for the analysis were: (a) studies using PT programs for lower limb muscles; (b) studies employing true experimental design and valid and reliable measurements; (c) studies including sufficient data to calculate ES. When subjects can adequately follow plyometric exercises, the training gains are independent of fitness level. Subjects in either good or poor physical condition, benefit equally from plyometric work, also men obtain similar strength results to women following PT. In relation to the variables of program design, training volume of less than 10 weeks and with more than 15 sessions, as well as the implementation of high-intensity programs, with more than 40 jumps per session, were the strategies that seem to maximize the probability to obtain significantly greater improvements in performance (p < 0.05). In order to optimise strength enhancement, the combination of different types of plyometrics with weight-training would be recommended, rather than utilizing only one form (p < 0.05). The responses identified in this analysis are essential and should be considered by the strength and conditioning professional with regard to the most appropriate dose-response trends for PT to optimise strength gains.

Purpose -The purpose of this mixed methods study is to define the core components of a system-wide, acute care program designed to meet the needs of older adults. Design/methodology/approach -Concept mapping methodology (multidimensional... more

Purpose -The purpose of this mixed methods study is to define the core components of a system-wide, acute care program designed to meet the needs of older adults. Design/methodology/approach -Concept mapping methodology (multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis) was used to obtain data describing the core components of a geriatric acute care model. The input of 306 "stakeholders" (clinicians, administrators, consumers, educators, and researchers) was obtained through a world wide web interface, supplemented with consumer interviews. Findings -The findings yielded eight clusters describing components of a geriatric acute care program: guiding principles, leadership, organizational structures, physical environment, patient-and family-centered approaches, aging-sensitive practices, geriatric staff competence, and interdisciplinary resources and processes. A total of 113 items that describe dimensions of quality were identified with these clusters. Practical implications -The clusters and dimensions provide a framework for a hospital to use to plan, implement, and evaluate an acute care model for older adults. Originality/value -There is not a common understanding of what constitutes a comprehensive set of resources, programs, and activities to address the needs of hospitalized older adults and their families and the staff who serve them. Concept mapping was an effective method of engaging the perspectives of various stakeholders in creating a framework to address these needs, as well as useful in illuminating areas for future research.