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This study reports on in-service mathematics teachers’ views of geometry in the context of ethnomathematics. A convergent parallel mixed method design which includes both quantitative and qualitati...

This study examined Turkish early childhood teachers’ playfulness and their support of playfulness in classrooms. An explanatory mixed method design was utilised with a convenience sample of 485 te...

Teacher resilience as a capacity for teachers enables them to bounce back and thrive rather than just survive in challenging circumstances. Although reflection is theoretically introduced to enhanc...

This study explored the role of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in school-based practice addressing mental health (MH) needs of all students. A sequential explanatory mixed method design ...

Objective: To evaluate temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients' experiences of a supervised jaw-neck exercise programme. Materials and methods: The study used a mixed method design. All patients were diagnosed with myalgia according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD and divided into local myalgia (n = 50; 38 women, mean age 43 yrs, SD 14), and myalgia with generalized pain (n = 28; 27 women, mean age 43 yrs, SD 13). Patients participated in a ten-session supervised exercise programme that included relaxation, coordination and resistance training of the jaw, neck and shoulders. After the 10 sessions an evaluation form was filled out including both open- and closed-ended questions. The quantitative analysis was based on closed-ended questions concerned experience, adaptation and side-effects from the exercise programme. The qualitative analysis was employing inductive content analysis of open-ended questions. Results: Patients reported similar positive overall experiences of exercise regardless of diagnosis, although more individuals in the general pain group experienced pain during training (57%) compared to the local pain group (26%; p = .015). Patients in both groups shared similar experiences and acknowledged the possibility to participate in an individualized and demanding exercise programme. They expressed feelings of being noticed, taken seriously and respectful care management to be key factors for successful treatment outcome. The exercise programme was acknowledged as a valuable part of treatment. Conclusion: The hypothesis generated was that individualized and gradually demanding exercise in the rehabilitation process of TMD stimulates self-efficacy and confidence in chronic TMD patients regardless of whether the pain was localized or combined with wide-spread pain.

The current study used a mixed method design with 245 preschool children, 255 teachers, and 156 parents. Researchers interviewed children and surveyed teachers and parents about their perceptions o...

Insight represents a cognitive leap in understanding that is distinct from other types of problem-solving. How moments of insight subsequently link to behaviour has not been investigated in real world settings such as coaching. By extending findings from neuroscience into the field of life coaching, our study examined the link between moments of insight and changes in behaviour in a one group, pre-post, mixed method design. Moments of insight and non-insight were tracked over nine life-coaching sessions with a population of women (N = 6) and their coaches (N = 6). Changes in behaviour were assessed at eight weeks post intervention. Insights occurred five times more often (p = .03) during life coaching than in the previous six months. Analysis of qualitative data showed a narrative pattern between goal-progress, moments of insight, and sustained behaviour change. The coach’s role in evoking insight is explored.

This study used an embedded mixed method design to examine teachers’ experiences with a state-mandated kindergarten readiness assessment during its inaugural year. Participants were 143 kindergarten teachers from one county in a Midwestern state. In general, teachers did not perceive the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment as useful for one of its intended purposes of guiding instruction. Our findings did not indicate an adversity to assessment in general. Rather, perceptions that the new KRA was less useful for practice seemed to stem from administration issues, problems with the content assessed by the KRA, and participants’ misunderstandings regarding the purpose of the KRA. Furthermore, participants reported that the KRA took away valuable time needed to help students adjust to their first time in formal schooling and needed to create a classroom community. Implications for creating and implementing kindergarten readiness and other assessments as well as preparing teachers to use readiness asses...

While many people with a mental illness care for young children, there is a paucity of resources for these families and the professionals working with them. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new online resource, Pathways of Care, specifically designed for parents with a mental illness, early childhood educators, and mental health workers, and report on a pilot evaluation of the resource. Using a mixed method design, the effectiveness of the online resource in effecting worker confidence, knowledge and family-focused practice change will be examined. Pathways of Care aims to promote collaborative practice between agencies, identify relevant agencies and support workers in talking to parents about mental illness in families. Fifteen workers completed the Family Focus Mental Health Practice Questionnaire pre- and post-viewing the resource, to measure confidence and practice change; semi-structured interviews were then conducted with eight of these same workers to further explore the utility of the r...

Research question: Despite pervasive attention to the concept of rivalry, there is neither uniform definition nor universal understanding. The purpose of this paper is to explore sport rivalry and derby matches from the fan perspective and identify the most influential elements that characterize rivalry.Research methods: This work employs a sequential exploratory mixed method design. Study 1 engaged 38 fans through open-ended questions to explicate antecedents to 76 rivalries. Study 2 used an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on survey responses (n = 429) that measured a broader sampling of rivalries to quantify the importance of the rivalry elements identified in Study 1.Results and findings: We define a rival group as a highly salient out-group that poses an acute threat to the identity of the in-group or to in-group members' ability to make positive comparisons between their group and the out-group. Study 1 identified 11 recurring elements of rivalry: frequency of competition, defining moment, re...

Secondary school is a high-risk academic period for young immigrants from disadvantaged environments. Despite this, some students are successful in their transition to post-16 education. The present study examines the relationship between resilience and completing school in immigrant young people in Spain. A mixed method design was followed. Ninety-four students in their fourth year of compulsory education participated; they included 19 different nationalities. Results of this study suggest that students who continue their studies beyond obligatory education have higher levels of resilience. The findings also suggest the activation of the relational dimension of ‘social capital’ in young people. Factors such as academic self-concept, the presence of peers as models of school success and the social capital available in their networks are also relevant.

This article describes the theoretical foundation and methodology used in a study intended to increase knowledge concerning informal caregivers' resources to health (in salutogenesis; General Resistance Resources, GRRs). A detailed description of how the approach derived from salutogenic theory was used and how it permeated the entire study, from design to findings, is provided. How participation in the study was experienced is discussed and methodological improvements and implications suggested.Using an explorative, mixed method design, data was collected through salutogenically guided interviews with 32 Swedish caregivers to older adults. A constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify caregiver-GRRs, content analysis was further used to describe how participation was experienced.The methodology unraveled GRRs caregivers used to obtain positive experiences of caregiving, but also hindrances for such usage contributing to negative experiences. Mixed data made it possible to venture beyond actual findings to derive a synthesis describing the experienced, communal context of the population reliant on these GRRs; Caregivinghood. Participating in the salutogenic data-collection was found to be a reflective, mainly positive, empowering and enlightening experience.The methodology was advantageous, even if time-consuming, as it in one study unravelled caregiver-GRRs and hindrances for their usage on individual, communal and contextual levels. It is suggested that the ability to describe Caregivinghood may be essential when developing health-promoting strategies for caregivers at individual, municipal and national levels. The methodology makes such a description possible and suggested methodological improvements may enhance its usability and adaptability to other populations.

University counseling centers (UCC) must rely on referrals to off-campus providers, due to limited staffing, severity of clients' issues, and ethical treatment considerations. In a mixed method design, this study found that 42% of clients were unsuccessful in connecting with an off-campus provider when referred by a university counseling center therapist. Clients of color were more unsuccessful in connecting with an off-campus provider than Caucasian clients. Regardless of ethnicity, clients reported that therapist follow up, accessible referral sources, and high personal motivation assisted in a successful referral process. Financial issues were the primary inhibitory factor for the referral process. Suggestions for clinical practice and university counseling center policies are provided.

Collaborative, equal partnerships between families and schools have been emphasized in early childhood education. However, researchers and practitioners have most often viewed the partnership from the perspective of what families can learn from the school rather than what school staff can learn from families. This study examined the beliefs of kindergarten, first and second grade teachers regarding families' competence to contribute knowledge to their child's educational process. A mixed method design using nominal group technique, Q methodology and interviews was employed. Thirty-three teachers, from a variety of schools, participated in nominal group discussions as a source of Q statements. Q sorts were conducted with 43 teachers. Results indicated three distinct factors characterizing teachers' attitudes regarding family competence to influence classroom practice. Seven teachers, representing the varied beliefs expressed through the Q sort, were interviewed to clarify the three factors emerging from th...