Factors related to motivation to learn and motivation to transfer learning in a nursing population

Ayres, Helen Williams North Carolina State University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

This study tested the Ayres' model of factors influencing learner motivation in continuing professional education for nurses. The model was applied to nurses who participated in continuing professional education programs. Analyses of data included factor analyses, path analyses and model testing. Factor analyses examined the construct validity of the items in the constructs. Path analyses assessed the relationships of factors to motivation to learn and motivation to transfer. Model testing, using hierarchical regression techniques, evaluated the interactive effects among the factors in this study. Motivation to learn 1 contained outcomes related to gaining (1) a pay raise, (2) a promotion, (3) special recognition, (4) job security, (5) respect of boss, and (6) respect from peers. The variables of career utility and peer support showed a significant relationship to motivation to learn 1 in path analyses. In assessing for interactive effects of these variables (model testing), career utility was the only variable identified as significant in a hierarchical model of motivation to learn 1 (external factors). Motivation to learn 2 contained outcomes related to (1) gaining feelings of accomplishment, (2) improving self-confidence, (3) gaining greater job autonomy, and (4) improving job competence. Initial formal nursing education (negatively correlated), reason for attending the CPE program, previous CPE learning, previous CPE evaluation, job utility, career utility, and peer support all showed significant relationships to motivation to learn 2 in the path analyses. In assessing for interactive effects of these variables (model testing), previous CPE evaluation, career utility, initial formal nursing education (negatively correlated), highest formal nursing education, and the degree of advancement in formal nursing education (negatively correlated) were the variables identified as significant in a hierarchical model for motivation to learn 2 (internal factors). Path analyses identified a significant relationship between motivation to transfer and the key variables of (1) motivation to learn 1 and motivation to learn 2 (combined), (2) pre-training self-efficacy, (3) previous CPE evaluation, (4) job utility, (5) peer support, (6) post-training self-efficacy, and (7) reactions to the CPE program. Post-training self-efficacy and previous CPE learning (negatively correlated) had significant relationships with motivation to transfer in model testing.

Distinguishing the impacts of prey availability and vessel traffic on an endangered killer whale (Orcinus orca) population

Ayres, Katherine Leah University of Washington 2011 해외박사(DDOD)

The Southern "resident" Killer whales hold considerable ecological, cultural and economic value to both the United States and Canada. My dissertation research tested two hypotheses, respectfully termed the "prey availability" and "vessel traffic" hypotheses, previously proposed to explain the decline and limited recovery of the endangered Southern resident killer whales. I applied an observational approach that correlated non-invasive physiological measures of stress and nutrition with indices of prey availability and vessel abundance around whales. The first chapter explores the use of scat detection dogs to non-invasively sample whale scat, minimizing the potential impact of the research vessel on the whales. The second chapter explores the use of fecal reproductive steroid metabolites and nuclear DNA genotyping to determine pregnancy and male maturity in free-ranging killer whales. Chapter 3 describes how I tested the prey availability and vessel traffic hypotheses using ecological model selection techniques, I found that the prey availability hypothesis is supported by the hormone measures and that vessels may add a cumulative impact on whales during times of low prey availability. These results suggest that identification and recovery of strategic Chinook salmon populations, in conjunction with enforcement of vessel regulations would most effectively promote population recovery of the Southern resident killer whales.

Factors associated with faculty participation in learning communities

Ayres, Heather Woodcock Harvard University 2004 해외박사(DDOD)

Learning communities are a method of enrolling cohorts of students in a common set of courses. By encouraging students to inter-relate course material and work collaboratively, learning communities foster involvement in the learning process and can be effective in improving freshman retention. Because the success or failure of learning communities depends on faculty support, this thesis examines factors that motivate faculty to participate in freshman learning communities. Data collection occurred at two urban public universities. Forty-seven faculty participants and non-participants in learning communities were first interviewed. Questionnaires to verify and expand on findings from interviews were subsequently administered to a total of 432 faculty participants and non-participants. Data analysis, comparing the results of interviews and questionnaires, used principles from cognitive motivational theories to explain differences in faculty interest and involvement in learning communities. Findings highlight aspects of learning communities teaching that faculty find intrinsically rewarding; program conditions that influence faculty perspectives on the efficacy and efficiency of learning communities, assessed primarily on the basis of student performance; and university policies that have a bearing on the professional costs and benefits faculty anticipate as a consequence of committing time to learning communities. A majority of questionnaire respondents from both universities regarded freshman retention as an important institutional priority; considered cohort experiences to be educationally beneficial for freshmen; and agreed that adjustments to the curriculum should be made in response to the needs of entering freshmen. Although highly interested in undergraduate teaching, the majority of questionnaire respondents indicated low to moderate levels of interest in working with learning communities. For some, the teaching requirements of these programs (i.e., co-teaching, advising freshmen, developing introductory course material, etc.) were not of interest. For others, learning community teaching was perceived to be overly time consuming and of questionable value to students and their departments. Conclusions underscore that increasing the value university administrators and department chairs assign to learning community teaching activities, through course staffing and tenure and promotion decisions, is essential to fostering greater faculty involvement in these programs. So too is systematic evidence to demonstrate that learning communities deliver significant educational benefits to students.

The effectiveness of a lesson planning strategy to aid preservice elementary teachers in developing reflective practice on lesson design

Ayres, Donna B George Mason University 2002 해외박사(DDOD)

Although schools of education spend considerable effort teaching future teachers to develop lessons, teachers spend little time writing lesson plans on the job. This study explored preservice teachers' lesson development processes. Research shows that reflective dialogues and metacognitive self-talk prompts help prospective teachers become more deliberate in their planning. Research questions addressed the effectiveness of an original metacognitive lesson planning strategy—“P.A.C.M.A.N.”—in improving lesson development effectiveness for interns who were coached in the strategy via the Internet and who responded through e-mail. Twelve preservice interns matriculating through a master's degree program while working as instructional aides in an elementary school represented teachers in transition from preservice program to classroom. Quantitative analyses compared six interns who used the strategy to six interns who did not through questionnaires developed to measure perceived and actual lesson planning and lesson delivery effectiveness, reflectivity, metacognition, and lesson confidence. Whereas both groups improved their actual lesson planning and lesson delivery effectiveness, those coached in the strategy were significantly higher in their perceived skills to plan and deliver a clear lesson, reflect on its effectiveness, and employ strategic teaching. The more reflective or metacognitive the intern, the more strategic was the intern's approach. Qualitative analyses of interviews and lesson documents showed that effective lesson planners internalized a mental model linking learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments and consciously kept this linkage in mind as a lesson design template. Ancillary analyses highlighted the instructor of a graduate reflectivity seminar as critical in reinforcing the Linkage Model. An on-line strategic dialogue was productive for those who liked e-mail conversations and who sought coaching for problem solving. Qualitative analyses of journals indicated that coaching via the Internet was problematic for those preferring face to-face communications or who viewed the strategy's questions as homework. Differences between <italic>Reflective</italic> and <italic>Commonsense Teachers</italic> suggested cognitive style differences in lesson approaches. Qualitative analyses suggested that personality and motivation inhibits lesson competency development.

Photocatalytic oxidation of cobalt(II)-EDTA in aqueous titanium dioxide

Ayres, David Martin University of Maryland College Park 2003 해외박사(DDOD)

This research examines the use of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) in aqueous TiO₂ suspensions for treating Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super> Solutions. Chelated cobalt solutions are a byproduct of nuclear waste processing and a reliable means of treating these solutions is needed to recover the metal and to prevent the dispersal of this very stable complex into the environment. Two factors govern the treatment of Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super> solutions: adsorption and solution kinetics. Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super> exhibits ligand-like adsorption onto TiO₂ whereas once PCO initiates, its oxidized intermediate, Co(III)EDTA<super>−</super>, exhibits no appreciable adsorption over the pH range from 3 to 9. MINEQL<super>+</super>, incorporating inner-sphere complexation and diffuse layer effects, successfully modeled the adsorption behavior of the complexed and uncomplexed Co. The overall reaction of Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super> has two pathways: an adsorbed phase pathway and a solution phase pathway. The rate equation is represented by two components, a hyperbolic rate expression, describing a solution-phase pathway and a first-order expression to represent the reaction of adsorbed Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super>. At a pH value of 4, the Co(III)EDTA<super> −</super> is a transitory species whereas at pH 7, the persistent Co(III)EDTA<super> −</super> retards the oxidation of the chelated metal species. Furthermore, at both pH conditions, intermediates such as acetate, formate, formaldehyde, ammonium and nitrate are formed. The formation of these intermediates is governed by either amine or carboxyl group oxidative attack by hydroxyl radicals. As a corollary to this research, a new analytical procedure was developed to quantify concentrations of chelated and free-Co species in aqueous solutions. Exploiting the resin selectivity of a Dowex 50X2 column, free Co(II) and Co(II)EDTA<super> 2−</super> species are retained whereas Co(III)EDTA<super>−</super> elutes completely. Determining the original Co(III)EDTA<super>−</super> in solution and then oxidizing the original Co(II)EDTA<super>2−</super> to Co(III)EDTA<super>−</super> and eluting this oxidized species through the column enables us to accurately measure all Co components. This analytical technique greatly enhances the quantification of the metal waste components with the ultimate goal being the determination of the effectiveness of the PCO treatment of Co-EDTA wastes.

The Survival of Pathogenic Bacteria and Other Micro-Organisms in Fruit Juices

Ayres, John Clifton ProQuest Dissertations & Theses University of Illi 1942 해외박사(DDOD)

The survival of micro-organisms in fruit juices is of interest from several standpoints: (1) length of processing time required for preparation of a commercially sterile product, (2) relation of fresh fruits sold on the open market to potential disease-disseminating bacteria, and (3) prevention of spoilage of fresh fruits and their juices by fermentation and various types of decomposition. (Shortened by ProQuest.).

Signal modulation for holographic memories

Ayres, Mark Randall University of Colorado at Boulder 2007 해외공개박사

Holographic memories use a photosensitive medium to record the optical interference pattern of a reference beam and a signal beam as a volumetric refractive index distribution. The modulation method used to impart the digital information onto the signal beam can greatly impact the efficiency and uniformity of media consumption, crosstalk among the recorded data, and ultimately, the storage capacity and speed achievable by the device. Previous holographic storage efforts have overwhelmingly concentrated on binary amplitude shift keying (ASK) for signal modulation owing to the considerable difficulties in detecting alternative signal qualities such as phase or frequency with a conventional optical intensity detector. The main thrust of this thesis is to motivate and enable the use of phase shift keying (PSK) for holographic signal modulation. The first chapters are devoted to theory and analysis. Chapter 2 reviews the well-known problem of intensity inhomogeneity caused by the D.C. component of an ASK signal near the Fourier plane, and introduces the issue of intra-signal modulation noise. Both are sharply alleviated for PSK signals when compared to ASK signals. Chapter 3 addresses the topic of medium consumption, and develops a method for relating this to the signal strength of complex data storage holograms. Chapter 4 is about metrology, and presents a novel phase-sensitive microscope with a transfer function suitable for independently measuring the volumetric index distributions written by holographic signal beams. The final chapters are concerned with the technical implementation of signal detection. In Chapter 5, a sub-Nyquist detection method is presented that allows ASK data to be recovered from an arbitrarily-aligned, slightly oversampled hologram detector array. This method is currently used in InPhase Technologies, Inc.'s first-generation holographic storage drive. Finally, Chapter 6 develops three different methods for the detection of PSK signals. The third, quadrature homodyne detection, extends the resampling method of Chapter 5 in a natural way in order to provide an evolutionary path towards a PSK-based second-generation holographic storage device.

Speaking like a state: Nationalism, language, and the case of Pakistan (Indonesia, India)

Ayres, Alyssa The University of Chicago 2004 해외박사(DDOD)

This dissertation examines the conflicted and puzzling history of language and nationalism in Pakistan, through three historical narratives. The first concerns the cultural politics of a state project to propagate a national language, the story of the centrality accorded the Urdu language by national policymakers in Pakistan to create a culture, a history, and an identity that could be "truly national." Pakistan's story illustrates the cultural logic of nation-building, and its often severe limitations. The case of Punjab represents one limit on the historical process of becoming national. Over the past decades a quiet language movement has emerged in the very region which has long functioned as the ethnic and political hegemon. The "Punjabiyat" language movement, however, appears to operate with an aesthetic logic quite distinct from instrumental rationales typically offered to explain such movements. In the absence of clear material, let alone secessionist, interests to explain this, the case suggests that aesthetics, a literary tradition, and historical exemplars are not epiphenomena, not mere symbols manipulated to achieve other ends, but rather valued for their own merits and with often entirely counterintuitive political consequences. The final narrative looks comparatively at the role language plays in nationalism-indeed, in the most literal articulation of the nation. Our most powerful theories of nationalism assume the centrality of language, and literacy, to communicative practices that form national consciousness. The experiences of India, Indonesia, and Pakistan---the three largest states to emerge from colonial rule---invite us to question that assumption by the clear evidence they provide that the idea of the national language flowed from an idea of national consciousness rather than the reverse. This narrative suggests that the relative success of some national language projects can be explained by language ideological factors that present the national language in a supplemental, rather than supplanting role. Thus the final chapter reexamines the paradox resulting from theories that emphasize industrialization, literacy, and print-capitalism as constitutive factors for the creation of national consciousness. In the three major postcolonial cases examined here, large illiterate and multilingual populations have been no less national despite lacking these constitutive factors.

Vaugelas and the development of the French language : theory and practice

Ayres, Wendy Margaret British Library 국내박사

THE DOMESTIC MUSEUM IN MANHATTAN : MAJOR PRIVATE ART INSTALLATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY, 1870-1920 (ART MUSEUMS)

AYRES, WILLIAM SMALLWOOD University of Delaware 1993 국내박사