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Middle school boys who are reluctant readers value reading more after using e-readers

A new study by Southern Methodist University found that middle school boys who used e-readers rated reading more valuable as an activity, but girls struggled with motivation. The study, which included Amazon's Kindle e-reader, showed that boys improved their attitudes towards reading after using the e-readers.

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalInternational Journal of Applied Science and Technology·DateMar 27, 2012

Some NHS trusts consistently outperform others on patient experience

Research published in BMJ Quality & Safety found that some NHS trusts deliver a consistently better experience for patients, with a strong association between Foundation Trust status and improved performance. The study identified system-wide successes and failures, highlighting areas for improvement across the healthcare system.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Quality & Safety·DateMar 14, 2012

Very good experiences don't just happen for patients

Rhode Island Hospital's new simulation-based training program, Project CLEAR!, aims to standardize communication skills among emergency department staff and enhance patient satisfaction. The program has been successfully implemented with nearly 400 staff members, resulting in improved quality of care, safety, and service.

Technology boost for math skills

The Economic & Social Research Council announces twenty new projects to develop quantitative methods (QM) skills in social science undergraduates. The projects aim to create online and interactive teaching resources, videos, and podcasts using technology to facilitate QM curriculum development and expansion of QM teachers.

Middle-class elementary school students ask for help more often than their working-class peers

A study by University of Pennsylvania researcher Jessica McCrory Calarco found that middle-class children are more proactive in asking for help from teachers, while working-class children wait longer or ask in less obvious ways. This results in middle-class children receiving more support and assistance from teachers.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateDec 7, 2011

Prostate cancer surgery better at teaching hospitals

A recent study published in the Journal of Urology found that prostate cancer patients who undergo radical prostatectomy experience fewer complications and shorter hospital stays at teaching hospitals compared to non-academic institutions. The study suggests that the characteristics of teaching hospitals, including higher subspecialty ...

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateNov 7, 2011

Conflicting views of a child's behavior problems from parents, teachers, and the child may be helpful to clinician

A new study explores the challenges of making sense of conflicting reports from parents, teachers, and children about a child's behavioral problems. The research reveals that clinicians can benefit from considering these discrepancies as valuable information to improve treatment outcomes.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology·DateNov 1, 2011

Hospital patients suffer in shift shuffle

Inadequate handovers during patient care shifts lead to decreased continuity of care and higher risk of adverse events. Effective strategies, such as prioritizing acutely ill patients and minimizing discussion on straightforward cases, can improve the quality of sign-out processes.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateOct 20, 2011

Experimental mathematics

The article discusses how modern computer technology has expanded the ability to discover new mathematical results, enabling the exploration of complex patterns and relationships. Computer simulations have been used to explore various mathematical problems, including Giuga's Conjecture, providing empirical evidence in favor of its truth.

SourceAmerican Mathematical Society·JournalNotices of the American Mathematical Society·DateOct 13, 2011

'Benevolent sexism' is not an oxymoron and has insidious consequences for women

Recent research by Peter Glick and Susan T. Fiske found that benevolent sexism motivates chivalrous acts but reinforces assumptions about men's competence over women's. Studies have shown that women who exhibit traditionally feminine traits receive benevolently sexist treatment, while those who assert themselves are met with hostility.

SourceSAGE·JournalPsychology of Women Quarterly·DateOct 3, 2011

Primary schoolchildren can be great tutors

A trial of peer tutoring in Scotland's primary schools found that children as young as seven to eight years old can benefit from a twenty-minute weekly session. The boost to school pupils' attainment provided by peer tutoring was equivalent to about three months progress in both maths and reading.

SourceDurham University·JournalSchool Effectiveness and School Improvement·DateSep 13, 2011