Problems of Education in the 21st Century

3-4

Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 67, 2015, PEC

7-16

Authors: Hakan Aydoğan, Azamat Akbarov

General intelligence is a good predictor of academic achievement. However, according to Howard Gardner, there are several types of intelligence. They have to be considered in the educational context because education requires various skills and abilities to be employed so that students could be successful. The main aim of our study was to examine subjective assessments of multiple intelligences among adolescents as well as to investigate possible gender differences. The questionnaire called 'Subjective assessment of multiple intelligences' (SAMI) was applied, which serves us to collect data from the targeted sample of 162 participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Firstly, the results showed non-significant gender differences. Secondly, only verbal/linguistic ability significantly correlated with the age of participants. Lastly, almost all correlational coefficients calculated between different types of intelligence were statistically significant. For example, subjective assessment of logical/ mathematical intelligence correlated with intrapersonal abilities/skills, verbal/linguistic intelligence correlated with visual/spatial intelligence, and musical abilities correlated with visual/spatial intelligence as well.

29-39

Authors: Agnieszka Kozerska

From the perspective of adult education, the engagement of older people in developing relationships with other people is related to their learning and creating their identities. The research conducted in the areas of various countries shows a relationship between a social participation of seniors and their well-being. Moreover, participation in rich social networks, composed of many people, coincides with a high quality of life. The article focuses on senior citizens functioning in restricted networks (less numerous social networks, consisting of several people).The study is to serve three purposes: firstly, to identify determinants of a subjective assessment of own life of senior citizens living in restricted networks; secondly, to analyse a relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and their opinion on what determines a successful and happy life; thirdly, to analyse the relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and the ways they handle problematic situations. The analysis has been conducted on the basis of the data collected in 2013, available to the general public on www.diagnoza.com. The data was collected within the Social Diagnosis (Diagnoza społeczna) project. The objective of the Social Diagnosis is an investigation of the conditions and quality of life in Poland. It is based on panel research. A questionnaire has been used as a research tool. The article presents information regarding 5623 individuals, aged 60+functioning in restricted social networks in Poland. The Mann-Whitney U test and the two proportions test helped to analyse the differences between variable distributions. The results show that a poor social life of the elderly does not have to be linked with a feeling of loneliness. The group of individuals with a high level of general satisfaction is more satisfied with a relationship with the family (especially children) than the group with a low level of life satisfaction. The analysis confirms that good relationships with family and friends are an important predictor of life satisfaction of the elderly. Health is considered to be a condition of a successful life by seniors with a high level of life satisfaction, as well as relationships with close family members: with children and a spouse. This group of respondents shows more confidence in other people, by whom they feel loved and confided in. In difficult situations people with a high level of life satisfaction turn to others for help, but they also act themselves. Seniors with a low level of satisfaction differ from the previous group in these terms. These are people who do not feel confided in by others and they also hardly ever turn to others for help. In difficult situations they are more often passive. In conclusion, the author highlights the significance of informal learning occurring in families to enhance older people’s quality of life. It is important, especially in case of poorly educated persons with low incomes who often function in small social networks.

52-60

Authors: Hadassah Littman-Ovadia, Aryeh Lazar, Tamar Ovadia

This study focused on the manner in which a sense of calling - presence and search - is perceived by first- and final-year male and female medical students. Differences in level of calling between first-year students and last-year students were predicted, more so for women than for men due to gender bias and family-work integration challenges. A total of 192 medical first and sixth (last) year students at the five Israeli medical schools filled-out a short self-report measure of calling and recorded demographic factors. Discriminate function analysis resulted in one significant discriminate function weighted positively on presence of calling and negatively on search for calling. Group centroids indicate that male medical students perceived presence of calling and search for calling as two poles of a bipolar continuum, whereas first-year students had a distinct feeling of the presence of calling coupled with a low need to search for calling and final-year students had a low feeling of presence of calling coupled with a distinct need to search for calling. In contrast, female medical students - both first-year and final-year - perceived presence and search as two independent dimensions that can coexist. Understanding these differences may be important in helping medical educators find gender-specific ways to maintain and enhance feelings of calling among tomorrow’s male and female physicians.

72-80

Authors: Thomas McCloughlin

The objectives of this research are to provide the theoretical basis for the analysis of qualitative data, such as teachers' responses to reflective questions using quantitative methods such as multidimensional scaling. The starting point is Estes' assumption that classification is basic to all intellectual activities, and since reflections are artefacts of intellectual activities, they should be amenable to classificatory methods such as multidimensional scaling. Similarity relates to distance between perceptions and MDS can utilise this feature. By way of example, N=29 teachers - graduates, experienced primary and experienced secondary - were probed for reflections on a science lesson and the results reflections analysed by the application of a scoring rubric and subsequent MDS - they were compared to a hypothetical 'ideal'. This method is discussed and future possibilities for analysing teachers' perceptions and reflections. The results of this method provide a valuable means to adapt a standard classification tool to involve a comparative element thus moving beyond mere representation of data.

95-102

Authors: Aina Strode

The research problem is determined by involvement and competitiveness of young designers in the labour market that is related to the opportunities of gaining professional experience within independent professional activities during the design studies in higher education. The aim of the research is to determine development of the formation of students’-prospective designers’ professionalism in the study process. Literature study, questionnaire and interview included in mixed methods design. Qualitative and quantitative data collected from six 4th year students of Rezekne Higher Education Institution Bachelor program "Interior design". The research results show the opportunities for independent professional activities during the design study process in the context of interaction between personality and professional abilities.