Peer-assisted study session attendance is associated with multiple indicators of student success. However, attendance levels are generally low. We applied an extended theory of planned behaviour model, incorporating student role identity, to the prediction of peer-assisted study session attendance. Participants were 254 undergraduate students enrolled in 24 peer-assisted study session supported units. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control each had a significant direct effect on attendance intentions, which had a significant direct effect on attendance. All three predictors also had significant indirect effects on attendance, mediated by intentions. After controlling for intentions, only perceived behavioural control had a significant direct effect on attendance. The model accounted for 61% and 42% of the variance in intentions and attendance, respectively. Student role identity did not improve the predictive utility of the model. Theory of planned behaviour–informed strategies for increasing peer-assisted study session attendance are recommended.
Peer-assisted study sessions (PASS) are an international, widely adopted, supplementary instruction programme that has shown to have multiple academic benefits for students. However, PASS attendance rates across the world are typically very low, and the reasons for this are unclear. (1) To test the predictability of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) on PASS attendance and subsequently students' academic performance; (2) To assess the role of students' motivation within the TPB; e.g. can motivation close the intention-behaviour gap and (3) To test whether a large-scale intervention based on the TPB can improve PASS attendance and subsequently improve students' academic performance. TPB measures, academic motivation, PASS attendance, and final unit grade were assessed three times pre-intervention across two Australian universities (N = 965) and modelled using latent variable analysis. The intervention consisted of a series of 'PASS Facts' delivered to students (total N = 2087) via multiple media. The findings showed that the TPB predicted PASS attendance and performance. Academic motivation predicted performance, but it did not close the intention-behaviour gap nor moderate the PASS attendanceperformance relationship. Furthermore, in all three implementations, the interventions did not increase the theoretical constructs. The TPB is useful for predicting PASS attendance and can be extended to predict students' performance. Future research should investigate factors other than academic motivation to attempt to close the intention-behaviour gap. Future research may also develop a more active intervention, wherein students can practice a skill (i.e. time management) instead of passively receiving messages.
Over the years, aquaponics has become a powerful technological tool that allows the sustainable production of food, integrating conventional fish farming with vegetable production. The present study evaluated the production of late seedlings of açai Euterpe oleraceae in an aquaponic system with tambaqui Colossoma macropomum. A total of 36 tambaquis with an initial average weight and length of 1086.75 ± 16.38 g and 38.49 ± 0.90 cm were distributed in 12 independent aquaponic units, totaling 3.62 kg m−3. The fish were fed three times daily with commercial feed at a rate of 3%. Three flooding levels of 5, 10 and 15 cm, with constant water flow through the hydroponic bed (0.5 m2), were evaluated, and a control-hydroponic bed with flooding levels of 10 cm was established, all in triplicate. In the 5 and 10 cm treatments, 3450 açai seedlings with an initial height of 12.3 ± 1.9 cm were used (575 per aquaponic units), while the 15 cm treatment contained non-germinated açai seeds. The control group did not receive açai seeds and remained empty. Analyses to monitor total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, alkalinity, hardness, nitrogenous compounds, and phosphate levels were performed. At the end of the 30-day trial, the growth performance of tambaqui and plants was evaluated. Water quality was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by different flooding levels. Electrical conductivity and TDS decreased with an increasing in flooding levels. The flooding levels significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the concentration of total ammonia and nitrate between the treatments. The 5 cm flooding level showed the best plant development indexes for total height, aerial portion height, root height and aerial portion fresh mass. No significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in tambaqui growth performance. The aquaponic system proved to be effective in reusing fish waste (excreta and feed leftovers) generated in the system. The biotransformation of waste into nutrients allowed the growth of plants and nitrifying bacteria, which, through their metabolic pathways, ensured the purification and reuse of water, avoiding the discharge of this waste into the environment.
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