Unemployment and mental health in a favorable labor market

in International Journal of Psychology (2011), 46(5), 377-385

Labour market variables may moderate the link between unemployment and mental health, as has been found in numerous research papers. The aim of this study was to test, in the context of a very favorable ... [more ▼]

Labour market variables may moderate the link between unemployment and mental health, as has been found in numerous research papers. The aim of this study was to test, in the context of a very favorable labor market, (1) the detrimental effect of unemployment on mental health and (2) the predictive validity of mental health on further employment status. The population of the study comprised 384 newly registered unemployed persons. Mental health was assessed through four variables: self-esteem, psychological distress, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. The results did not confirm previous studies. Using analyses of variance for repeated measures and linear regression, a negative change of mental health was not found after 6 and 12 months’ unemployment, and the four measurements of mental health at registration did not predict employment status 6 and 12 months later. Results are discussed in terms of moderating variables that capture Luxembourg labor market specificities. [less ▲]

Pulling the strings: The role of illness-related control perceptions in emotional adjustment to cancer

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 43

Change for the better or change for the worse? Perceived changes as a consequence of an adverse life event and their associations with ruminative thoughts.

in International Journal of Psychology (2008)

A web-based system for mathematical problem understanding and solving

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 43

In the domain of educational multimedia for primary school a lot of research has been done in the field of computer assisted calculation frameworks. However, much less work has been done in the area of ... [more ▼]

In the domain of educational multimedia for primary school a lot of research has been done in the field of computer assisted calculation frameworks. However, much less work has been done in the area of problem solving and especially in the area of problem understanding. The present project aims at the development and the scientific assessment of a computer assisted framework for mathematical problem understanding and solving (CAMPUS) based on analogical representations in form of number lines (Klein, Beishuizen, & Treffers, 1998; Petitto, 1990) and graphs. This tool will be deployed by our formerly developed computer assisted testing platform (http://www.tao.lu) [see our proposal on TAO] and will be the first learning tool on that system. The CAMPUS framework will help teachers to more efficiently analyze the different steps of the problem solving strategies of their students and thereby allow them to give more adapted feedback in order to guide the learner’s process. The main characteristic of this platform is the use of the computer as a framework for the development of problem solving strategies in mathematics. The tool imposes no restrictions in the resolution processes of the learner, but avoids him to get lost in those steps of solving that are obviously wrong (for example: addition of objects of different classes). In this way, the CAMPUS architecture is a sort of a cognitive tool that helps the student in structuring his thinking by telling him which calculations are mathematically or logically not permitted, but it does not suggest him a precise way towards the solution. In contrary, each logically correct action will be accepted by the system. Consequently, the CAMPUS tool is not a drill-and-practice tool, but it proposes a framework for the student in which he can develop problem solving strategies in complex situations. CAMPUS is based on a (socio-)cognitive approach, which means that the tool permits to solve the problems in an individual or a group situation, even if the teamwork is explicitly desirable in such a pedagogical approach (Webb, 1994; Yadrick, Regian, Connolly Gomez, & Robertson Schule, 1997). The tool is intended to be integrated into daily classroom teaching as a tool for triggering the learning process and therefore has not to be considered as a separate or additional exercising tool. The students learning process should be supported by the tool on one hand and by additional teacher support on the other hand. The learner and his learning process are at the centre of the learning activity (Tardif, 1998) and the teacher plays a supervision and support role in this sort of learning environment (Hudson, 1997; Tardif, 1998). Moreover, the use of analogical representations (of the operations to be taken) and graphs (representing the resolution steps adopted by the learner) should favour, on the learner’s side, the establishment of mental models including analogical representations and supporting the resolution process of this type of problems, even beyond the use of this computerized platform. We could expect that the learner will develop, through his experiences with the platform (which prevents experimentation with arbitrary meaningless calculations), thorough knowledge concerning the solving of mathematical problems based, at least partially, on non-explicit learning processes as described, for example, in the connectionist models of learning theories (Spitzer, 2000). These connectionist models show in fact that significant learning can be achieved in a non-explicit manner if the learner is placed in an environment which structures his behavior along certain regularities (even if these regularities are not taught in an explicit manner). The CAMPUS framework is based on a conceptual idea that emerged from previous research (Busana, 1999) where a prototype using a similar architecture has been developed in an alpha-version using Quest. This alpha-version was developed in only one language (German) and ran only under Windows. The new CAMPUS-tool will be published under the open-source licence, will be platform independent (plays in Macromedia’s Flash Player) and will be delivered over the Internet. [less ▲]

A Nation-Wide Computer-based School Monitoring Program

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 43

Empowering the practitioners in their daily educational work: development and use of the AcReDi e-Library

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 3

Network analysis of respiratory sensations during stress and sports using flowthrough centrality measurements

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 43(3-4), 329-329

Anchoring effects in teachers' assessments of student performance: An experimental study with novices and experts in teaching

in International Journal of Psychology (2008), 43