Category: research

Summary
A nationally representative study of video game play among adolescents in the United States showed that 97% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years play computer, web, and portable (or console) video games (Lenhart et al., 2008). We hypothesized that if people play games as a regular exercise regime, gaming will correlate with an improvement in their cognitive skills. For this experiment, a few games that tested the logical reasoning and critical analysis skills under a given time constraint were coded in Python using Pygame and were played by a group of 7th grade students. In order to test whether there is a relationship between gaming and test performance, we divided the students into two groups and gave them tests before and after the experimentation period in order to measure their improvement. One group played the games while the other did not. In the group of students that played the games, an average improvement of 62.19% was seen (p < 0.0001). The group that did not play the games only improved their performance by an average of 18.51% (p = 0.0882).

 

Mohnish Chakravarti and Arati Chakravarti

Parents’ Perception of Online College Degree Programs for their Children

 

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the rapid increase in enrollments in online learning programs as an effective alternative to traditional school settings because of various advantages offered by such programs, including convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. As a result, online college degree programs have received increased research attention in the field of education. This study examines parents’ attitudes toward online college degree programs and investigates whether there are any differences in their perceptions depending on the gender or age of their children. The study also considers the most important factors influencing parents’ perception of online college degree programs and analyzes any gender or age differences in the factors they emphasize. The results indicate that although parents generally had favorable attitudes toward online college degree programs regardless of the gender of their children, those with female students were more likely to support online programs than those with male children. In terms of the age of the child (measured based on the child’s level of education–elementary, middle, or high school), parents with middle school students were most likely to favor online college degree programs. Parents with female children were most likely to emphasize program quality as the most important factor, whereas those with male students, program credibility. Parents were most likely to emphasize program quality as the most important factor regardless of the age of the child. These results have important implications for school administrators, teachers, and policymakers, and some limitations of the study are discussed.

Keywords: Online Degree Program, Parents, Attitudes, Children

Kelly Sunho Park

Summary
Sound can be focused through a non-linear acoustic lens to produce high-energy waves capable of a variety of applications, such as eradicating cancer cells. Our previous research focused sound using a primitive system incapable of precise and predictable targeting. We engineered and assembled an improved device for focusing longitudinal waves that consisted of a non-linear acoustic lens, a release system, and a microphone recording array for data collection. During experimental trials the non-linear acoustic lens had a force applied to each of the 11 chains depending on the chain number from the desired focal point. Central trials focused sound waves to a calculated focal point to the center of the lens, while right side trials focused sound waves to the right side of the lens. The relative sound amplitude was recorded using a microphone array, analyzed, and averaged using sound analysis software. The average relative amplitudes of the control data compared to the experimental data at the predicted focal points were examined using a two-tailed t-test and were significantly different. This research was considered a success because the non-linear acoustic lens produced an evident increase in relative amplitude at a specific focal point in both sets of experimental trials.

Thorsen M. Wehr and Jeffery R. Wehr

Click here for PDF file: July2014

Summary
Autism (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction and communication, often impairing individuals for a lifetime. In our study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive brain imaging technique, to identify possible biomarkers for ASD. We hypothesized that there would be significant differences in brain connectivity patterns between the ASD group and the controls. We recorded the brain activity of individuals looking at a stationary colorful image while in the resting state. The resting state refers to the brain activity of a subject when he or she is not engaged in any particular task. We found the ASD group had a high concentration of coherent brain activity in the frontal lobe, while the control group had a high level of coherence in the occipital lobe. Areas of high coherence indicate that the brain is well connected and communicating with many other areas of the brain. In controls, we expected high coherent activity in the occipital cortex, since they were looking at a colorful picture. In the ASD group, we found that the frontal lobe was unusually active. This area is typically used in higher-level cognition. These regions of abnormally high coherent brain activity indicate possible biomarkers for autism. Additionally, the ASD group had a significantly lower overall level of coherence than controls.

 

Frank Wang, Jordan Zhu, Annette E. Richard, Renee R. Lajiness-O’Neill, Susan M. Bowyer

Summary
With the rise of the older adult population worldwide and the rapid advancements in technology, it is becoming more important that senior citizens learn to use new technologies to remain active in society. To facilitate learning, technology-training programs should strive to capture and maintain a high level of engagement among older adults. In order to understand how to design effective technology-training programs, we examined the factors that affect the engagement of older adults as they learn to use technology. The first part of our study consisted of a survey that collected information about their preferences on various factors relating to learning engagement. Responders frequently indicated preferences for morning lessons in a familiar environment, often by teenage or older (over 50 years old) instructors, with a guided hands-on method. The second part of our study recorded the behavior of a group of older adults as they responded to different teaching delivery methods. The results indicated that an interactive lesson style was associated with a significantly higher level of engagement by participants. Older adults in interactive lessons asked more questions and retained course material at a higher rate than those subjected to video and written methods. In summary, these results suggest that many older adults prefer learning in the morning, in a familiar environment, by teenage or 50+ instructors, and with a guided hands-on method. Furthermore, an interactive learning method may increase engagement.

Josh Seides and Tracy Mitzner