The contribution of psychological barriers in predicting the cognitive load among the university students’ users of blackboard system

Psychological barriers are one of the most common problems facing individuals nowadays due to everyday life pressures. The current research aimed at identifying the extent to which psychological barriers contribute to predicting the perceived cognitive load of blackboard e-learning management system users. The research sample comprised (240) male and female among the University Students. The descriptive-analytical approach, specifically the predictive correlative research method was utilized to reveal the relationship between the research variables. The research main results revealed that there was a statistically significant correlative positive relationship between the psychological barriers and the cognitive load (intrinsic, extraneous, and the overall degree), and there was no statistically correlative relationship between psychological barriers and the Germane cognitive load. Besides, results concluded that the external psychological barriers were better at predicting the overall degree of the perceived cognitive load. Psychological barriers and cognitive load must be considered within the e-learning settings through making use of the results of the current study in developing training and counseling programs to reduce the students' psychological barriers and cognitive load levels. Keywords: psychological barriers; cognitive load; Blackboard system

Hambatan Komunikasi dalam Perkuliahan Daring pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19

This study was conducted to obtain an overview of the communication barriers between lecturers and students during the online class in the Covid-19 pandemic. The method used in this research is a case study and descriptive qualitative in which the result obtained from the research and the processed of the data about the communication barriers that occur in online lectures are deeply processed. The collected data consists of primary data that is obtained from online interviews and discussions with informan. Secondary data is obtained from various literature sources related to information and policies online lectures. Based on the result of research, show that at least there are three communication barriers that take place in online lectures, namely technological, environmental, and psychological barriers. Those three barriers are considered as lecture processed disruptions which implicate that there are students' difficulties in studying and understanding the lecture material well.

Private Military and Security Companies and The Militarization of Humanitarianism

The widespread use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in United Nations peacebuilding missions often undermines the effectiveness of these missions. PMSCs tend to encourage, in unnecessary ways, what is called security risk management and promote the militarization of humanitarian efforts. They encourage humanitarian aid organizations to protect their personnel with barbed wire fences, security guards, armed convoys, and secure aid compounds, even if the security risks are relatively low. Consequently, these militarized humanitarian efforts heighten the perception of risks and intensify security measures, which create physical and psychological barriers between humanitarian aid personnel and the local communities in which they carry out their tasks. This situation undermines local ownership of peacebuilding efforts and makes them less responsive to the local communities involved in these efforts. This article provides a comparative analysis of the nature of this problem and its effects in the Global South.

Humble and Apologetic? Predicting Apology Quality with Intellectual and General Humility

Apologies are powerful predictors of reconciliation, but transgressors often fail to offer optimal, high-quality apologies that are comprehensive and non-defensive. We tested whether intellectual humility and general humility predict the use of high-quality apologies versus taking no action to resolve a conflict, and the processes that mediate these associations using online vignette experiments. In Study 1 (N = 397), transgressors with greater intellectual humility offered higher-quality apologies and were less likely to take no action following a relational offense. However, these associations did not remain significant when controlling for general humility. In Study 2 (N = 394), intellectual humility uniquely predicted greater apology comprehensiveness and less inaction following an intellect-based offense, demonstrating its context-specific associations with apology behavior. By contrast, general humility was a robust predictor of higher-quality apologies and less inaction across offense contexts. Consistent with recent theorizing on psychological barriers to apologizing, both studies also found support for the mediating roles of empathic effort and self-protection.

Adaptación de la escala Dragones de Inacción Barreras Psicológicas (DIPB) en población colombiana

El daño ambiental que se ha venido provocando a causa de la actividad humana es preocupante, razón por la cual se ha identificado como una de las posibles soluciones tener un comportamiento proambiental. Sin embargo, se ha visto que hay barreras psicológicas que impiden o dificultan esta conducta. Por este motivo, con el fin de tener un instrumento que permita evaluar estas barreras psicológicas en nuestro contexto, el objetivo de la presente investigación fue realizar la adaptación de la escala Dragons of Inaction Psychological Barriers (dipb) en población colombiana. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 810 estudiantes universitarios de Bogotá y Chía, Colombia; 367 hombres y 443 mujeres con edades entre los 15 y los 48 años (M = 19.67, DE = 2.414). En general, se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y un análisis factorial confirmatorio, con los cuales se comprobó la existencia de una estructura de cinco factores con 20 ítems; se realizaron análisis de reactivos y fiabilidad que demostraron que el instrumento tiene una alta consistencia interna; y se llevaron a cabo dos estudios de invarianza, con los que se demostró que la estructura factorial es invariante para todos los grupos de estudio. Además, se realizó la baremación del instrumento total. En conclusión, esta adaptación del dipb presenta adecuada validez y fiabilidad, y permite guiar futuras investigaciones acerca de las barreras de inacción en el contexto latinoamericano, a la vez que aporta un insumo para realizar un primer diagnóstico de este constructo en Colombia.

Overcoming Barriers to Injectable Therapies: Development of the ORBIT Intervention Within a Behavioural Change Framework

It is estimated among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) requiring injectable therapies to achieve optimal glycaemic control, one-third are reluctant to initiate therapies, with approximately 80% choosing to discontinue or interrupt injectable regimens soon after commencement. Initiation of injectables is a complex issue, with effectiveness of such treatments undermined by non-adherence or poor engagement. Poor engagement and adherence are attributed to psychological aspects such as individuals’ negative perceptions of injectables, depression, anxiety, feelings of shame, distress and perceived lack of control over their condition. The aim of this study was to describe the development of a structured diabetes intervention to address psychological barriers to injectable treatments among a cohort of those with T2D; conducted within a behavioural change framework. An evidence base was developed to inform on key psychological barriers to injectable therapies. A systematic review highlighted the need for theory-based, structured diabetes education focussed on associated psychological constructs to inform effective, patient-centric provisions to improve injectable initiation and persistence. Findings from the focus groups with individuals who had recently commenced injectable therapies, identified patient-centric barriers to initiation and persistence with injectables. Findings from the systematic review and focus groups were translated via Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW) framework to develop an intervention for people with T2D transitioning to injectable therapies: Overcoming and Removing Barriers to Injectable Treatment in T2D (ORBIT). This article describes how psychological barriers informed the intervention with these mapped onto relevant components, intervention functions and selected behaviour change techniques, and finally aligned with behaviour change techniques. This article outlines the systematic approach to intervention development within the BCW framework; guiding readers through the practical application of each stage. The use of the BCW framework has ensured the development of the intervention is theory driven, with the research able to be evaluated and validated through replication due to the clarity around processes and tasks completed at each stage.