School improvement plans and student achievement: Preliminary evidence from the Quality and Merit Project in Italy

Abstract

This study provides preliminary evidence from an Italian in-service training program addressed to lower secondary school teachers which supports school improvement plans (SIPs). It aims at exploring the association between characteristics/contents of SIPs and student improvement in math achievement. Pre-post standardized tests and text analysis of SIPs were performed regarding a sample of 248 schools (13,816 students) participating in the project. Results show differences in planning strategies: better school improvements are associated with the ability to carry out a careful analysis of the context, prioritize elements in the diagnostic phase of the process and detect specific improvement goals.

Comparing theoretical models for the understanding of health-risk behaviour: Towards an integrative model of adolescent alcohol consumption

“…Indeed, parents are important facilitators for the transmission of alcohol-related attitudes and rules ( Adolfsen et al, 2017 ), and the perceived legitimacy of parental authority regarding alcohol use is a relevant factor during early adolescence ( Jackson, 2002 ). As well, because of the strong association between peer alcohol use and individual drinking habits in student populations ( Kuntsche & Jordan, 2006 ), intervention programs should be carried out at the class and school level, thus overall contributing to better organisational health ( Caputo & Rastelli, 2014 ). Specifically, such interventions could promote peer education and group discussion about alcohol-related issues, so that peers may act as positive role models who can reinforce behavioural messages ( MacArthur, Harrison, Caldwell, Hickman, & Campbell, 2016 ).…”

The Positive Relationships Between Paranoia, Perceptions of Workplace Bullying, and Intentions of Workplace Deviance in United Kingdom and French Teachers: Cross-Cultural Aspects

“…Moreover, organizational support has been found to moderate the effect of workplace bullying on workers' workplace deviance and paranoia (8). Other studies also found support for the role of perceived organizational support in reducing emotional exhaustion and in improving personal accomplishment (two indicators of burn-out) in special education teachers (54,55). Also, studies have found that workers' affective commitment on the one hand is positively related to workers' self-efficacy and career adaptability (56) and on the other hand, is negatively related to workers' deviant behaviors (57).…”

“…Moreover, it is important to recognise in schools how a "toxic" environment that is characterized by teachers' paranoia and victimization may be behind their display of workplace deviance. Therefore, components of the psycho-social intervention for teachers should also address their workplace deviant behaviors and how they might negatively affect not only their relationships with staff, parents and students but the school environment, productivity and the students' achievement (55,60) and wellbeing. Teachers should be taught on how to behave ethically by role modelling positive and ethical behavior, thus impacting positively on students' academic achievement and well-being.…”

Why do Italian psychology graduates dream of becoming psychotherapists?

“…This allows for greater systematization and transparency in the analysis, as well as a reduction in the possible errors that the researcher may incur when having to analyze large amounts of data (Flores-Kanter & Medrano, 2019). The T-LAB text analysis tool used was the "Thematic analysis of elementary context" (Lancia, 2004), which represents a relevant method for qualitative inquiry in clinical, social and educational fields (Caputo, 2014(Caputo, , 2015Caputo, Giacchetta, & Langher, 2016;Caputo & Rastelli, 2014), which may provide useful insights also in the examination of psychotherapy related issues (Caputo, 2013). In more detail, through some statistical multidimensional techniques ( i.e.…”