Psychometric examination of the short version of the learning climate questionnaire using item response theory

Self-determination theory proposes that autonomy support in the classroom is critical for students’ optimal motivation and performance. However, the literature has not adequately demonstrated the psychometric qualities of the most popular measurement for autonomy-supportive classrooms, the Learning Climate Questionnaire (LCQ) and its short version. Using the graded response model in item response theory (IRT), the current study evaluates the short version of the LCQ with a large sample (N?=?13570). IRT and classic psychometric analyses show that the scale is generally satisfactory in measuring latent learning climate, with the exceptions that Item 4 appears to be inadequate and that the scale is relatively weak in distinguishing highly autonomy-supportive classrooms. We provide suggestions for future studies, such as dropping Item 4 and including more items that tap into instructional practices located on the higher end of the latent autonomy support spectrum. Implications of the current findings for the conceptualization of autonomy support are also discussed.     

Media consumption and crime trend perceptions: a longitudinal analysis

ABSTRACT

For over two decades, despite the downward crime trend, the American public has persisted in believing crime is on the rise. Cultivation theory holds that the media is responsible for the public’s crime trend perceptions. Previous cultivation studies heavily rely on cross-sectional data, which may lead to spurious conclusions due to reverse causation and omitted variable bias. This study aims to address these issues by utilizing longitudinal analyses. Drawing on three waves of the 2008–2009 American National Election Survey, we test the cultivation hypothesis using traditional OLS, OLS with lagged crime trend perceptions, fixed effects, and dynamic panel models. Newspaper and TV news consumption are related to crime trend perceptions in traditional OLS models. In other models, media consumption is not related to crime trend perceptions. The results do not support the cultivation hypothesis. It is likely that the cultivation effect of media has been overstated in the previous cross-sectional research.     

Microstructures and tensile properties of 304 steel with dual nanocrystalline and microcrystalline austenite content prepared by aluminothermic reaction casting

The microstructures of 304 stainless steels with different amounts of nanocrystalline and microcrystalline austenite prepared by an aluminothermic reaction casting, without and with annealing at 1073?K for 8?h, have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, an electron probe micro-analyser, a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The steels, both without and with annealing, consisted of different dual nanocrystalline and microcrystalline austenite combinations and a little nanocrystalline δ ferrite, while the average grain size of the nanocrystalline austenite increased from 19 to 26?nm and volume fraction of the microcrystalline austenite increased from 17 to 30% after annealing. The tensile strength of the steel was dramatically increased from 500 to 1000?MPa and the tensile elongation ratio increased from 8 to 12% after annealing. However, the tensile strength was decreased to 600?MPa and the tensile elongation ratio increased from 12 to 22% after an annealing at 1273?K. The combination of dual nanocrystalline and microcrystalline austenite obtained after the annealing at 1073?K results in the best tensile properties.     

Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin solution of cut-off frequency for horizontal shear (SH) waves in various inhomogeneous thin films

The Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin method is employed to study the cut-off frequencies of the horizontal shear waves in a freestanding functionally graded piezoelectric–piezomagnetic material film with the electrically and magnetically open boundary conditions. An analytical solution, which could be used in analyzing the problems of various functionally graded materials, is proven to have high precision by analytical analysis and a numerical example. The results reveal that the set of cut-off frequencies is a series of approximate arithmetic progressions. A theoretical foundation based on the relationship between the cut-off frequencies and the materials’ gradient property is established for nondestructive evaluation.     

任法融会长参加香港啬色园黄大仙祠90周年纪庆系列活动

1月8日至11日,中国道教协会会长任法融一行应邀赴港参加香港啬色园黄大仙祠90周年纪庆系列活动。随同任会长访港的有中国道教协会副秘书长李兆彩、北京白云观管委会主任李信军等9人。     

2011年宗教界人士迎春茶话会在北京举行

1月28日上午,由中央统战部、全国政协民宗委、国家宗教事务局联合举办的2011年宗教界人士迎春茶话会在北京金台饭店举行. 茶话会由国家宗教事务局副局长蒋坚永主持,全国政协民宗委主任田聪明致新春贺词.中央统战部副部长斯塔,全国政协民宗委副主任周明甫,国家宗教事务局副局长张乐斌,中国佛教协会会长传印,中国道教协会会长任法融,中国伊斯兰教协会会长陈广元,中国天主教爱国会主席房兴耀,中国天主教主教团主席马英林,中国天主教一会一团名誉主席刘柏年,中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席傅先伟,中国基督教协会会长高峰,以及在京宗教界人士共200多人出席了茶话会.     

中国道协代表赴意大利出席道教活动

应意大利道教协会的邀请,中国道教协会副秘书长孟至岭道长和编辑部副主任尹志华博士于3月4日抵达意大利卡塞塔省(Provinciadi Caserta),出席2011年道教节世界庆典开幕典礼。出席典礼的还有新加坡道教协会和马来西亚沙巴     

Mentoring in China: Enhanced Understanding and Association with Occupational Stress

Purpose  

Given the increased usage of mentoring programs in multi-cultural settings, including the Chinese workplace, the present study examined Chinese employees’ understanding of mentoring relationships and whether mentoring played a role in their occupational stress process.     

Supervisors' upward exchange relationships and subordinate outcomes: testing the multilevel mediation role of empowerment

This study empirically examined the proposition that supervisors' exchange relationships with their own supervisors (i.e., leader-leader exchange, or LLX) are related to their subordinates' work-related outcomes through 3 mechanisms: (a) leaders modeling their LLX to develop and maintain their exchange relationships with their subordinates (i.e., leader-member exchange, or LMX), (b) motivating the team and its members, captured by team and individual empowerment, and (c) facilitating the relationships between LMX and individual outcomes. Analyses of multisource and lagged data from 104 team supervisors and 577 subordinates showed that LMX mediated the positive relationship of LLX on subordinates' individual empowerment. Furthermore, team empowerment and individual empowerment sequentially mediated the positive relationships between LLX and subordinates' job satisfaction and job performance. The authors also found that the indirect relationships of LMX with job satisfaction and job performance via individual empowerment were stronger when LLX was higher. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Spirituality in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pastoral Psychology - In today’s world, Western medicine has a dominant place in most people’s lives, and that is true in contemporary China. However, many Chinese people also seek...