We examined relations among select components of the 4-H Thriving Model, focusing on youth sparks and four presumed determinants: program quality, developmental relationships, situational engagement, and dosage. Based on our results and results of previous studies, we propose a formal theory of youth program sparks. Three hundred fifty-six Texas…

Despite the utility of cognitive interviews, very few studies report on the practical application of this survey design procedure. Likewise, very few studies querying perceptions of honors education incorporate valid survey items that reflect the views of students of color who are eligible yet opt out of participation. We respond to these areas of…

Science education is crucial for students as it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of the natural world. The present study explored factors beyond the classroom that impact students' science academic performance (SSAP) at secondary schools. Based on research questions and literature, three hypotheses were…

Enhancing teachers' work engagement requires systematic exploration of its contributors. Job insecurity has been considered a significant factor; however, other mediators and moderators may affect the relationship between job insecurity and work engagement. The present study tested a model of work engagement involving job insecurity as a…

Rehabilitative and habilitative therapies can help children with disabilities increase independence and overall wellbeing. However, children and their caregivers face many barriers to accessing these therapies and often rely on the school for therapy access. Given the limited resources available within the special education system, increasing…

Student loan debt is at record levels in the United States. The negative psychological and financial effects for borrowers are well-documented. This article turns to the individual-level political effects of student loan debt. Rooted in the policy feedback literature, we examine whether the rise in student loan debt is associated with negative…

Exams can be a stressful time in a student's life where they are required to review notes and memorize facts and figures. Many students leave these exams and forget the material relatively quickly. An alternative pedagogical exam style where students create their own exam questions is a method that engages students through active participation and…

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Learning Framework-2030 presents critical thinking as one of the transformative competencies for incorporation into the curriculum. Critical thinking refers to one's ability to distinguish relevant information from irrelevant information, relate ideas, infer and justify whether a…

This article aims to contribute to the theorization of power in workplace learning. We examined the ways in which civilian investigators participate in criminal investigation practice, and how these modes related to the social ordering in the police organization. Civilians, mostly women and well educated, are being hired in large numbers to help…

In a time of record polarization and the questioning of the value of higher education, the internship plays an important and positive role in developing the civic minded graduate. Utilizing best practices in experiential education, an internship nurtures important civic skills in students and an orientation towards the common good. Through focus…

Objective: This study examined (1) the validity and reliability of the 3 × 2 achievement goal questionnaire (3 × 2 AGQ) in a college physical activity (PA) setting, and (2) relationships between achievement goals and students' persistence/effort. Methods: Participants were 556 students (M = 20.31 years, SD = 1.34; 305 males; 251 females) enrolled…

An i-voting system may promote electoral participation by reducing travel cost and time to polling places, especially among youth who are more accustomed to technological changes. We study the linkage between travel costs on election day and voter turnout by comparing past electoral participation with stated voting behavior in a hypothetical…

Flipped learning (FL) has positive effects on the teaching-learning process. Nevertheless, and given that it is a relatively new methodology, it still raises some misgivings. This work aims to highlight the potential of FL by the analysis of academic results in a subject in higher engineering education and, thus, to contribute to overcome possible…

This paper critically examines the increasing instance of anti-democratic experiences in institutions which rely on democracy to exist, including public schools, government agencies, and civil society. Arguing that the undefined nature of American democracy threatens to undermine the foundational principles of the nation's sustaining civic…

Amidst the backdrop of lackluster student achievement and a need for parents to understand how their children are doing in school, this paper presents data on the frequency of technology-enabled parent practices in the post-pandemic educational era. Using three years of randomly sampled parent survey data collected for a larger community broadband…