i-manager's Journal on Educational Psychology (JPSY)


Volume 9 Issue 1 May - July 2015

Research Paper

Anxiety as it Pertains to EFL Writing Ability and Performance

Mohammad Ali Salmani Nodoushan*
Iranian Institute for Encyclopedia Research, Iran.
Nodoushan, M.A.S. (2015). Anxiety as it Pertains to EFL Writing Ability and Performance. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 9(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.9.1.3521

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a study conducted to find (a) the impact of anxiety on EFL learners' writing performance, and (b) the relationship between anxiety and foreign language writing ability. 137 (N = 137) EFL learners took the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), the Oxford Placement Test (OPT), and a writing task on a sensitive political topic. Results of the FLCAS were used to assess the participants' degrees of trait, state, and situational anxiety, and OPT scores indicated their proficiency levels. The writing task scores were used as a measure for the participants' writing task performance. Regression and partial correlation analyses were conducted. The findings of the study showed that state anxiety is debilitative whereas situational anxiety and trait anxiety are facilitative. It was concluded that mitigation strategies, discursive textual techniques, and the use of passive voice are in fact triggered by state anxiety rather than by writers' face-saving intentions or their inclination to show politeness.

Research Paper

Tracking Concept Development through Semiotic Evolution

Ilana Ronen*
Senior Lecturer, Science Faculty, Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and Art, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ronen, I. (2015). Tracking Concept Development through Semiotic Evolution. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 9(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.9.1.3522

Abstract

A qualitative research focused on a case study aiming to monitor emergent knowledge in a discourse group by tracking the development of the concept 'goal'. The analysis, based on 'Semiotic Evolution' methodology facilitates the description of interactions between personal perceptions in the group discourse, illustrating the change process and signs development. It is suggested that knowledge was emerged from a free, self-organized discourse interaction which was encouraged by a constructivist leadership. The new knowledge was manifested by expanding the boundaries of the concept 'goal' and it changed the members' behavior. Understanding emergent knowledge is useful in teaching and Teacher Education processes as well as in Adult Education.

Research Paper

Students Perception is the Instrument to Predict the Quality of Teachers in Higher Education: A Regression Analysis

Ananta Kumar Jena*
Department of Education, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India.
Jena, A. K. (2015). Students Perception is the Instrument to Predict the Quality of Teachers in Higher Education: A Regression Analysis. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 9(1), 25-37. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.9.1.3523

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper was to study the students' perception towards teachers' depth of content knowledge, teachers' skill of using instructional strategies, diagnosis of learning difficulties and teachers' knowledge of students' understanding in relation to their professional health. The students' of different Indian Universities were the population of the study. Among them 2000 students and 500 University teachers from the population were the Selected sample of the study. All the samples were collected by following random sampling techniques. The present study was an survey by means of enquiring the present status of learners' perception of teachers' depth of content knowledge, teachers' skill of using instructional objective, diagnosis of learning difficulties and knowledge of students understanding as the instruments for professional health check up at University level. It indicated that there was a positive significant relationship between all the factors above. It was resulted that students' perception on these factors were the predictors of teachers' professional health check-up. Therefore, teachers should be aware and they should increase their overall depth of knowledge for the flexible teaching-learning process. It is necessary to conduct investigation regarding all teachers' depth of knowledge, Academic career and the relation with age and gender.

Research Paper

A Study of Prosocial Behaviour and Self Concept of Adolescents

Deepty Gupta* , Geeta Thapliyal**
* Assistant Professor, Guru Ram Dass College of Education, New Delhi, India.
** Assistant Professor, Gitarattan Institute of Advanced Studies and Training, New Delhi, India.
Gupta, D., and Thapliyal, G. (2015). Study of Prosocial Behaviour and Self Concept of adolescents. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 9(1), 38-45. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.9.1.3524

Abstract

Adolescence is a vital period in social development, because adolescents can be easily influenced by the people they develop close relationships with. At the stage of adolescence peer groups offer the opportunity to develop social skills such as empathy, sharing, and leadership. A number of family characteristics are also related to the development of prosocial and antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents. Prosocial behaviour is aimed to establish positive, empathic, co-operative and socially responsible relationships in order to benefit others. Prosocial behaviour fosters positive traits that are beneficial for children and society. Similarly their self-concept begins being much more complex and tangible than it was when they were children. Self-concept reflects how an adolescent evaluates himself or herself in domains (or areas) in which he or she considers success as important. Previous empirical evidence reveals that acting in a prosocial and altruistic manner could increase someone's self-concept. So the researchers have conducted the study of prosocial behaviour and self concept in Male and Female Adolescents, and also to identify the relationship between prosocial behaviour and self concept. The findings of the study have revealed that overall self concept of adolescents was found to be average and favourable and there was no significant difference found between self concept of male and female adolescents. The Prosocial Behaviour of adolescents was average and favourable and there was significant difference found between prosocial behaviour of male and female adolescents. There was significant relationship found between prosocial behaviour and self concept of adolescents.

Research Paper

A Study on Intelligence of High School Students

Usha Rani* , Prakash S.**
* Principal, TVS Teacher Training Academy, Veerapanchan, Madurai
** Assistant Professor of Physical Science, TVS Teacher Training Academy, Veerapanchan, Madurai
Rani, M. U., and Prakash, S.(2015). A Study on Intelligence of High School Students. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 9(1), 46-51. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.9.1.3525

Abstract

Intelligence involves the ability to think, solve problems, analyze situations, and understand social values, customs, and norms. Intelligence is a general mental capability that involves the ability to reason, plan, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. Intellectual ability involves comprehension; understanding, and learning from experience. The objective of the study is to find out the intelligence of High School Students. Survey method was used for the study.1564 High School Students from Madurai and Virudhunagar Districts were taken as sample using stratified random sampling technique. Raven's Standard Progressive matrices were used to measure the intelligence of high school students. Mean. Standard deviation and t test were used to analyze the data. The results showed that there is significant difference in intelligence test scores of high school students in terms of area of study, gender, medium of instruction and board of school.