Monday, February 14, 2011

“Psychology students aim for cheap textbook alternatives” plus 2 more

“Psychology students aim for cheap textbook alternatives” plus 2 more


Psychology students aim for cheap textbook alternatives

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:28 PM PST

ScienceDaily (Feb. 14, 2011) — A group of University of Cincinnati seniors in the psychology program will nationally present their comparison of educational technology alternatives to purchasing college textbooks that can run into hundreds of dollars per academic quarter. Their research as part of the statewide Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project will be presented on Feb. 14, at the national EDUCAUSE Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

The Digital Bookshelf Project is an initiative under the University System of Ohio (USO) Strategic Plan for Higher Education to develop a high-quality, affordable, flexible system of higher education with a wide range of educational options. The Digital Bookshelf Project is exploring educational textbook alternatives including e-texts and other technology alternatives aimed at reducing student costs.

The 11 UC students who took part in the research project compared the value and educational quality of a current $168 freshman textbook with the draft of a new textbook that they could get free on the Web, along with what they could find through online search engines. The students -- all senior members of UC's chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society of psychology students -- conducted their research last autumn.

"For our generation raised on the Internet, online searches for class materials often replace purchasing the textbook," explains presenter Libby Cates, one of the student researchers and president of the UC Psi Chi chapter. "So, our primary research question was: Can students depend on what they find when they Google key terms? Secondly, we wanted to see what benefits are delivered through textbooks in their various forms."

Under the guidance of Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project researcher Charles Ginn, associate professor of psychology, the students reported, "The materials found on Wikipedia were accurate and thorough, perhaps excessively thorough for an introductory course. These summaries were equal to or exceeded those found in the two textbooks."

Students also found that the free e-textbook and lower-cost print materials all provided similar learning support. They suggested that a combination of digital and print materials were most supportive of student learning.

Ginn and Digital Bookshelf Project leader Stephen Acker, research director of OhioLINK's eText Project, will also take part in the student project presentation in Washington, D.C. The UC Psi Chi student researchers presented their research on the state level before the Ohio Board of Regents last month.

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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Cincinnati. The original article was written by Dawn Fuller.


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Psychology students to present on cheaper textbook alternatives at national conference

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 11:28 AM PST

Psychology students to present on cheaper textbook alternatives at national conference

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Contact: Dawn Fuller
dawn.fuller@uc.edu
513-556-1823
University of Cincinnati

A group of University of Cincinnati seniors in the psychology program will nationally present their comparison of educational technology alternatives to purchasing college textbooks that can run into hundreds of dollars per academic quarter. Their research as part of the statewide Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project will be presented on Monday, Feb. 14, at the national EDUCAUSE Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

The Digital Bookshelf Project is an initiative under the University System of Ohio (USO) Strategic Plan for Higher Education to develop a high-quality, affordable, flexible system of higher education with a wide range of educational options. The Digital Bookshelf Project is exploring educational textbook alternatives including e-texts and other technology alternatives aimed at reducing student costs.

The 11 UC students who took part in the research project compared the value and educational quality of a current $168 freshman textbook with the draft of a new textbook that they could get free on the Web, along with what they could find through online search engines. The students � all senior members of UC's chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society of psychology students � conducted their research last autumn.

"For our generation raised on the Internet, online searches for class materials often replace purchasing the textbook," explains presenter Libby Cates, one of the student researchers and president of the UC Psi Chi chapter. "So, our primary research question was: Can students depend on what they find when they Google key terms? Secondly, we wanted to see what benefits are delivered through textbooks in their various forms."

Under the guidance of Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project researcher Charles Ginn, associate professor of psychology, the students reported, "The materials found on Wikipedia were accurate and thorough, perhaps excessively thorough for an introductory course. These summaries were equal to or exceeded those found in the two textbooks."

Students also found that the free e-textbook and lower-cost print materials all provided similar learning support. They suggested that a combination of digital and print materials were most supportive of student learning.

Ginn and Digital Bookshelf Project leader Stephen Acker, research director of OhioLINK's eText Project, will also take part in the student project presentation in Washington, D.C. The UC Psi Chi student researchers presented their research on the state level before the Ohio Board of Regents last month.

###


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Psychology students to present on cheaper textbook alternatives at national conference

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 14-Feb-2011
[

| E-mail

| Share Share

]

Contact: Dawn Fuller
dawn.fuller@uc.edu
513-556-1823
University of Cincinnati

A group of University of Cincinnati seniors in the psychology program will nationally present their comparison of educational technology alternatives to purchasing college textbooks that can run into hundreds of dollars per academic quarter. Their research as part of the statewide Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project will be presented on Monday, Feb. 14, at the national EDUCAUSE Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

The Digital Bookshelf Project is an initiative under the University System of Ohio (USO) Strategic Plan for Higher Education to develop a high-quality, affordable, flexible system of higher education with a wide range of educational options. The Digital Bookshelf Project is exploring educational textbook alternatives including e-texts and other technology alternatives aimed at reducing student costs.

The 11 UC students who took part in the research project compared the value and educational quality of a current $168 freshman textbook with the draft of a new textbook that they could get free on the Web, along with what they could find through online search engines. The students � all senior members of UC's chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society of psychology students � conducted their research last autumn.

"For our generation raised on the Internet, online searches for class materials often replace purchasing the textbook," explains presenter Libby Cates, one of the student researchers and president of the UC Psi Chi chapter. "So, our primary research question was: Can students depend on what they find when they Google key terms? Secondly, we wanted to see what benefits are delivered through textbooks in their various forms."

Under the guidance of Ohio Digital Bookshelf Project researcher Charles Ginn, associate professor of psychology, the students reported, "The materials found on Wikipedia were accurate and thorough, perhaps excessively thorough for an introductory course. These summaries were equal to or exceeded those found in the two textbooks."

Students also found that the free e-textbook and lower-cost print materials all provided similar learning support. They suggested that a combination of digital and print materials were most supportive of student learning.

Ginn and Digital Bookshelf Project leader Stephen Acker, research director of OhioLINK's eText Project, will also take part in the student project presentation in Washington, D.C. The UC Psi Chi student researchers presented their research on the state level before the Ohio Board of Regents last month.

###


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'Psychology For All' Public Event In London

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 06:35 AM PST


Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 14 Feb 2011 - 3:00 PST email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon opinions  

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Top UK psychologists Richard Wiseman and Geoff Beattie are guest speakers at the British Psychological Society's 'Psychology for All' event at the University of Westminster, Marylebone Campus on Saturday 26 March 2011 (9:30-5:30pm).

Professor Richard Wiseman will answer the age old question of why some people always seem to land on their feet whilst others suffer repeated failure and sadness in 'The Luck Factor'. Richard, who was recently listed by the Independent on Sunday as one of the top 100 people who make Britain a better place to live, worked with some of the world's luckiest and unluckiest people to seek answers to these fascinating questions.

Professor Geoff Beattie (known for his work as the resident psychologist on Channel Four's Big Brother series) will examine new research about how we can understand more about how people communicate their hidden thoughts through body language in 'Get the edge: understanding the body's little secrets'.

There is a mixture of presentations and workshops on a range of interesting and everyday topics
Including:

'The mysteries of love and lust' - Dr Lisa Matthewman
'How to feel good about yourself' - Ramesh Perera-Delacourt
'Ageing and your brain' - Dr Catherine Loveday
'Does being a parent make you a better worker' Jennifer Liston-Smith

'Psychology for All' is organised by the London and Home Counties (LHC) Branch of The British Psychological Society.

Miles Thomas LHC Media Liaison Officer said: "Many people are interested to find out more about human behaviour and this event is a great introduction to a broad range of topics. If you are interested in health and well-being, how the mind works and why people behave the way they do then this event is for you. There is a great mix of speakers from a variety of psychological areas and opportunities to get involved in workshops."

Source:
British Psychological Society

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