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Encoding perceptual ensembles during visual search in peripheral vision
(2020) Tanrikulu, Ömer Daglar; Chetverikov, Andrey; Kristjánsson, Árni; Faculty of Psychology; Health Sciences
Observers can learn complex statistical properties of visual ensembles, such as their probability distributions. Even though ensemble encoding is considered critical for peripheral vision, whether observers learn such distributions in the periphery has not been studied. Here, we used a visual search task to investigate how the shape of distractor distributions influences search performance and ensemble encoding in peripheral and central vision. Observers looked for an oddly oriented bar among distractors taken from either uniform or Gaussian orientation distributions with the same mean and range. The search arrays were either presented in the foveal or peripheral visual fields. The repetition and role reversal effects on search times revealed observers' internal model of distractor distributions. Our results showed that the shape of the distractor distribution influenced search times only in foveal, but not in peripheral search. However, role reversal effects revealed that the shape of the distractor distribution could be encoded peripherally depending on the interitem spacing in the search array. Our results suggest that, although peripheral vision might rely heavily on summary statistical representations of feature distributions, it can also encode information about the distributions themselves.
Verk
Faculty’s attitudes and perceptions related to applying motivational principles to their teaching : a mixed methods study
(2021-03-29) Snook, Abigail Grover; Schram, Asta B.; Jones, Brett D.; Faculty of Medicine
Background: It is uncommon for faculty development professionals to assess faculty attitudes towards their teaching responsibilities and their perceived obstacles to teaching effectiveness. The purposes of this study were (a) to document faculty attitudes and practices related to applying motivation principles, and (b) to identify the perceived contextual factors that may shape these attitudes and practices. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. Faculty members (n = 272; 32% response rate) were surveyed about their responsibility for and application of the five motivational principles that are part of the MUSIC Model of Motivation: eMpowerment, Usefulness, Success, Interest, and Caring. Repeated measures ANOVAs and Student’s t-tests were computed to detect differences. Subsequently, two focus groups of faculty members (n = 11) interpreted the survey results. We conducted a thematic analysis and used the focus group results to explain the survey results. Results: Faculty rated their responsibilities for applying principles related to Usefulness, Interest, and Caring significantly higher than they did for Success and eMpowerment. Most faculty also reported that they actually applied Usefulness, Interest, and Caring strategies within the past year, whereas over half of the faculty applied Success strategies and about a third of faculty applied eMpowerment strategies. Focus group participants identified factors that affected their ability to apply eMpowerment strategies, (e.g., offering choices), including students lacking generic skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving), a lack of confidence in their abilities to implement empowering strategies and meet the needs of students, passive students, and large lecture-type courses. Focus group participants cited obstacles to implementing Success strategies (e.g., providing feedback), including difficulty in providing feedback in large courses, lacking time and assistant teachers, limited knowledge of technologies, and lacking skills related to guiding effective student peer feedback. Conclusions: Faculty appear adequately prepared to implement some types of motivational strategies, but not others, in part due to contextual factors that can influence their attitudes and, ultimately, their application of these strategies. We discuss how these factors affect attitudes and application of motivational strategies and formulate suggestions based on the results.
Verk
Higher education and behavior analysis in Europe : creating a unified approach for the training of autism professionals
(2020-01-02) Roll-Pettersson, Lise; Gena, Angeliki; Eldevik, Sigmund; Moderato, Paolo; Sigurdardottir, Zuilma Gabriela; Dillenburger, Karola; Keenan, Mickey; Ala’i-Rosales, Shahla; Faculty of Psychology
Training of behaviour analysts for autism services, has improved notably within a European higher education context. However, regional discrepancies associated with economic, health care, social services, and institutional policies magnify the importance of creating appropriate unified training and consumer protection. Although the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA) has endorsed the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) designations, the absence of European and national regulations, recognition, and accreditation remain significant barriers to quality training and implementation. These challenges are  particularly pertinent in light of BACB decision to limit certification to residents in the USA and Canada after 2022. Advances, challenges, and future directions are discussed within the context of higher education in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Norway, and Sweden. The post-Bologna European agenda for higher education, globalization and opportunities for the training of behaviour analysts within European higher education are outlined.
Verk
The power of primary health care
(2020) Jónsson, Jón Steinar; Sigurðsson, Emil Lárus; Faculty of Medicine
Verk
How primary healthcare in Iceland swiftly changed its strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
(2020-12-07) Sigurdsson, Emil Larus; Blondal, Anna Bryndis; Jonsson, Jon Steinar; Tomasdottir, Margret Olafia; Hrafnkelsson, Hannes; Linnet, Kristjan; Sigurdsson, Johann Agust; Faculty of Medicine; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Objective To describe how the primary healthcare (PHC) in Iceland changed its strategy to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Design Descriptive observational study. Setting Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Population The Reykjavik area has a total of 233 000 inhabitants. Main outcome measures The number and the mode of consultations carried out. Drug prescriptions and changes in the 10 most common diagnoses made in PHC. Laboratory tests including COVID-19 tests. Average numbers in March and April 2020 compared with the same months in 2018 and 2019. Results Pragmatic strategies and new tasks were rapidly applied to the clinical work to meet the foreseen healthcare needs caused by the pandemic. The number of daytime consultations increased by 35% or from 780 to 1051/1000 inhabitants (p<0.001) during the study period. Telephone and web-based consultations increased by 127% (p<0.001). The same tendency was observed in out-of-hours services. The number of consultations in maternity and well-child care decreased only by 4% (p=0.003). Changes were seen in the 10 most common diagnoses. Most noteworthy, apart from a high number of COVID-19 suspected disease, was that immunisation, depression, hypothyroidism and lumbago were not among the top 10 diagnoses during the epidemic period. The number of drug prescriptions increased by 10.3% (from 494 to 545 per 1000 inhabitants, p<0.001). The number of prescriptions from telephone and web-based consultations rose by 55.6%. No changes were observed in antibiotics prescriptions. Conclusions As the first point of contact in the COVID-19 pandemic, the PHC in Iceland managed to change its strategy swiftly while preserving traditional maternity and well-child care, indicating a very solid PHC with substantial flexibility in its organisation.