• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.66-79
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the effects of the educational context variables on 8th-grade science achievement of 5 top performing countries(Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan) in TIMSS 2015. TIMSS 2015 science data and questionnaire results were used for fitting Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) in this study. According to the results, such student-level variables as home resources for learning, students' interest in science learning, valuing science, Students' Educational Expectations gave significant influence on the science achievement of Korean students. School-level variables including Student Economic Background, and School Emphasis on Academic Success gave significant influence on the science achievement of Korean students. Comparing 5 countries, home resources for learning, students' interest in science learning, Students' Educational Expectations gave significant influence on the science achievement in all 5 countries. At the school level, Student Economic Background is statistically significant in explaining students' science achievement gap in all countries except Japan, and Teaching Limited by Student Needs gave significant influence on the science achievement in all countries except Korea. Discussed in the conclusion are ways to improve middle-school science teaching and learning including reducing the education divide among socioeconomic status, teaching innovation for competency education, inquiry and reinforcement of lab activities in science classes, and so on.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.27 no.2 s.46
• /
• pp.175-185
• /
• 1994

In order to anticipate disease pattern and health problems of Koreans in the 1st part of 21st century (by the year 2020), transition of population characteristics, mortality and morbidity data during the last 30 years Koreans have experienced were reviewed. On the actual basis of epidemiologic transition process that has undergone during last 30 years since 1960 along with socioeconomic development and successful implementation of selective national health policies (family planning, medical insurance and etc.), following changes can be expected in the 21st century in Korea, under the assumption that the current rate of progress is maintained. The population of South Korea alone will be doubled the population of 1960 by the year 2013 : aged Population older than 65 years will be increased from 3.3% in 1960 to 11.4% in 2020 with increased average age of the population from 23.6 year in 1970 to 39.2 year in 2020; urban population from 28% in 1960 to 83% in 2005. GNP/capita has increased tremendously from U.S. $120 in 1970 to $6,749 in 1992, and the government estimated it would be 519,350 in 2010 and $29,460 in 2020. Growth and developmental indices of children, educational achievement and social status of women also showed a remarkable improvement and anticipated to make futher progress. Leading causes of mortality and morbidity have shown a striking change during the last 30 years, from infectious diseases to chronic degenerative diseases and man-made injuries. Occurrence of communicable diseases may become minimal although viral hepatitis, venereal diseases Including AIDS, and well adapted herpes virus infections will maintain their endemic level. Newly evolving infectious agents, however, should be carefully monitored because of rapidly changing environments and human behaviours. Tuberculosis may increase up to the epidemic level when AIDS prevails. Ischemic heart diseases may increase steadily with increasing occurrence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus whereas cerebrovascular diseases may be decreased slowly. Musculaskeletal diseases which contribute a lot to the disability of aged people may be a major health problems due to increased aged population. Mental diseases, particularly that caused by alcohol and drug abuse, and senile dementia may become a prominent health problem. On the other hand injuries caused by traffic and industrial accidents that have shown most striking increase till now may be decreased considerably by intensive intervention. The health policies in the 21st century will be oriented to the health promotion for good quality life rather than life-savings.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 2012

BACKGROUND: The changes in the climatic conditions have brought potentially significant new challenges, most critical are likely to be its impact on local livelihoods, agriculture, biodiversity and environments. Water induced disasters such as landslides, floods, erratic rain etc., are very common in developing countries which lead to changes in biological, geophysical and socioeconomic elements. The extent of damages caused by natural disasters is more sever in least developing countries. However, disasters affect women and men differently. In most of the cases women have to carry more burden as compared to their male counterpart during the period of disasters. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study examines the impact of disasters on the local livelihood especially agriculture and income generating activities of women in three districts of Nepal. The study uses the primary data collected following an exploratory approach, based on an intensive field study. The general findings of the study revealed that women had to experience hard time as compared to their male counterpart both during and after the disaster happen. Women are responsible for caring their children, collecting firewood, fetching water, collecting grass for livestock and performing household chores. Whereas, men are mainly involved in out-migration and remained out-side home most of the time. After the disaster occurred, most of the women had to struggle to support their lives as well as had to work longer hours than men during reconstruction period. Nepal follows patriarchal system and men can afford more leisure time as compared to women. During the disaster period, some of the households lost their agricultural lands, livestock and other properties. These losses created some additional workload to women respondent, however at the same time; they learn to build confidence, self-respect, self-esteem, and self-dependency.Although Nepal is predominantly agriculture, majority of the farmers are at subsistence level. In addition, men and women have different roles which differ with the variation in agro-production systems. Moreover women are extensively involved in agricultural activities though their importances were not recognized. Denial of land ownership and denial of access to resources as well as migration of male counterparts are some of the major reasons for affecting the agricultural environments for women in Nepal. CONCLUSION: The shelter reconstruction program has definitely brought positive change in women's access to decision making. The gradual increase in number of women respondent in access to decision making in different areas is a positive change and this has also provided them with a unique opportunity to change their gendered status in society.Furthermore, the exodus out-flow of male counterparts accelerated the additional burden and workload on women.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.469-481
• /
• 2019

Background: As South Korea is becoming an aged society very rapidly, the increase in osteoarthritis prevalence raises various public health issues in this country. This study aimed to explore the socio-demographic factors associated with osteoarthritis in the current Korean elderlies. Methods: Using the National Survey of Korean Elderly data (2014, 2017), we analyzed 20,326 elderlies (males, 8,248; females, 12,078) and conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses by sex. The dependent variable is whether a participant was diagnosed with osteoarthritis or not. Independent variables of interest is socio-demographic factors such as age, marital status, household type, residential area, household income, religion, the longest job, the number of close relatives, the number of close friends, and survey year. Control variables are various health behavioral factors and disease-related factors. Results: Prevalence of osteoarthritis was 19.2% in male elderlies and 47.0% in female elderlies. According to the results of the multivariate logistic regression adjusted for all studied control variables, the odds ratio (OR) for having osteoarthritis of under-elementary school graduates (their counterpart was college graduate group) was 1.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-2.52) in males and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.12-2.47) in females. The OR of those having a job in agriculture & forestry fishery as their longest job (their counterpart was those who had never participated in labor force during their lifetime) was 5.07 (95% CI, 1.46-17.58) in males and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.27-1.74) in females. In males, the second-low quartile group in household yearly income (their counterpart was the highest quartile group) had the OR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.98-1.53). In females, the OR of those having a religion of Buddhism (their counterpart was those having no religion) was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07-1.35) and the OR of those who had no relatives (their counterpart was those having more than 3 close relatives) was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.10-1.56). Conclusion: This study found that in Korean elderlies, education, the longest job, household income, religion, and the number of close relatives are associated with their suffering from osteoarthritis. Further study and designing appropriate interventions are needed to alleviate current and future individual and socioeconomic burdens of osteoarthritis in an aged society like South Korea.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The Assessing Care Of Vulnerable Elders project has developed indicators for the quality of the end-of-life (EOL) care. However, family members of cancer patients may have a different view on the quality indicators (QIs) established by health care experts. We evaluated the QIs from the family members' perspective. Methods: The information used in this study was gathered by surveying family members of cancer patients who were admitted to the inpatient hospice ward in Korea. A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 120 potential respondents from July to October 2009. We included 69 responses in this study (effective response rate, 57.5%). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS for Win ver. 14.0, with independent t-test and Pearson's chi-square test. Results: Among QIs for good hospice care, families agreed the most on "Medical examination by the palliative care team or specialist" (88.4%) and "Dying in the family's presence" (88.4%). They agreed the least on "Discussing cardiopulmonary resuscitation with patients" (15.9%). Among QIs for bad hospice care, "Occurrence of fall or pressure ulcer are undesirable" showed the highest agreement rate (94.2%). The lowest agreement rate was 11.6% on "Dying in the hospital is undesirable." In addition, women, patients who were aware of their prognoses, and people with a high socioeconomic status tended to agree more on the QIs. Conclusion: Patients' families did not agree on some of the QIs recommended by previous studies. Family members' characteristics were related to their opinions on QIs.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.13-27
• /
• 2013

The purpose of the study was to analyze the levels of knowledge and behaviors of green dietary life and the factors affecting them, and to examine the educational content need for green dietary life. The data were collected from 246 middle school students in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region through a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS Windows V.21.0. The levels of knowledge and behaviors of green dietary life were not generally high. Percentage of correct answers of health category was higher than that of environment category in the knowledge of green dietary life. On the other hand, in the mean of the behaviors of green dietary life, health, environment, and consideration was higher in order. According to the result of multiple regression analysis for knowledge of green dietary life, grade was significant. In addition, monthly allowance (60,000~90,000 won), socioeconomic status (medium), and knowledge of green dietary life were the significant factors affecting behaviors of green dietary life. In the educational content need, the mean of weight maintenance was the highest, followed by separate garbage collection, prevention of environmental pollution, healthy foods, and traditional foods. On the basis of these results, education to increase knowledge of green dietary life is needed to revitalize behaviors of green dietary life.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.671-681
• /
• 2002

The idea that parental involvement has a positive influence on gifted children is so intuitively appearing that society in general. and educators in particular, have considered parental involvement as the remedy for many problems in education. However the vast proportion of the literatures in this area give results qualitatively. Among the empirical studies that have investigated this issue quantitatively, there appear to be considerable inconsistencies. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the quantitative literatures about the relationship between parental involvement and gifted development. The findings reveal a moderate relationship between parental involvement and gifted development. We focused on the effect between parental involvement and gifted development, and conducted meta-analysis involving correlation coefficients between the two constructs. Using correlation coefficients, We can get the effect size, and explain the influence. We initially identified 539 articles over twelve-year period. Based on abstracts of these 539 articles, 463 studies were used for analyzing the current stream of the study. Finally, 15 studies met our inclusion criteria, and were subsequently used in this meta-analysis. From the 15 studies, 37 variables influenced on gifted development were collected. Using meta-analysis, it is revealed that internal effects for gifted development have stronger relationship than parents' socioeconomic status. In addition, the differences between female and male student have been reducing.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.1010-1029
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this research was to survey middle school students' preference for science and its causal factors, so as to analyze the causal relationships between them. Preference for science and its causal factors were defined theoretically, and a theoretical model was constructed to measure them and analyze the causal relationship by structural equation modeling. According to the theoretical model and a pilot test, a questionnaire was developed with three parts; the background information of a respondent, the preference for science, and the causal factors of preference. The questionnaire was administered to one class per grade of randomly selected 8 middle schools from 4 areas across the country, and 819 students' data were collected. Preference for science was defined as a state of mind. It revealed to what extent, and how, one likes science. It consisted of 3 categories - 'emotional response', 'behavioral volition', 'valuational comprehension', and each category was divided into two subcategories. Causal factors affecting the preference for science consisted of three categories - personal, educational and social factors, and each was divided into 2 or 3 subcategories. Middle school students' preference for science was middling as a total. Curiosity about contents of science and valuation of science were high, comparatively, but behavioral volition about science was especially low. Students' responses to the causal factors were relatively high in every educational factor and sociocultural valuation of social factors, but relatively low in socioeconomic rewards of social factors, and especially low in personal factors. The causal relationship about the preference for science was investigated by multiple regression analysis and path analysis, using the structural equation model. Multiple regression analysis about the preference for science and its causal factors revealed important factors. The important factors were personal ability, the personal traits, rewards in school science, and contents of school science in order of magnitude of standardized regression coefficient ${\beta}$. Stepwise regression analysis with each of the subcategories of the preference for science as dependent variables showed what factors were important in each subcategory. According to the result of structural equation modeling, personal factors affected 'emotional response' and 'behavioral volition' directly, and social factors affected 'valuational comprehension' directly. Educational factors affected all categories of the preference for science by influencing not only 'emotional response' and 'valuational comprehension' directly, but also 'behavioral volition' indirectly. The way to promote middle school students' preference for science was suggested, based on the analysis result.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.636-644
• /
• 2015

In this paper, we examined factors that affect the success of a policy on trekking time restriction using questionnaire survey data collected from the visitors of seven national parks where the trekking time restriction policy is in force as of 2014. Results suggest that the trekking time restriction policy has been successfully publicized. In total, 60.7% of the survey respondents were aware of trekking time restrictions in the national parks they were visiting. Using exploratory factor analysis, we identified three latent factors (visitors' careless trekking, park rangers' insufficient management and visitors' unpreparedness) that the visitors perceived the causes of trekking accidents in the national parks. Multiple regression analysis on the three extracted factors and respondents' socioeconomic status shows that the respondents who read information signs in national parks and who judged visitors' careless trekking and visitors' unpreparedness as the causes of trekking accidents tended to agree more with restricting trekking time. These results indicate that visitors who do not agree with the trekking time restriction tend to attribute trekking accidents in national parks not to individual visitors, suggesting that educating visitors is more effective in preventing trekking accidents in national parks than installing and maintaining safety facilities by park rangers.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.113-144
• /
• 2020

Throughout various data sources, it is widely observed that air quality in South Korea has become improved. Koreans, however, insist that their health status and economic burden due to worsened air quality get degenerated. This study aims to explain the mismatch between perception and measured data, air pollution-led medical expenses, and consumption behaviors in the economics perspectives. First, we demonstrated data-driven evidence of mismatch in the perceived severity of air pollution and its enhancement in measured data. Second, using the health demand model, we theoretically derived and empirically showed a co-rising relation between air pollution severity and medical expenses. Last, we analyzed that the perception led to increased defensive expenditures in consumption. This result implies the possibility of overestimation in air pollution impacts on socioeconomic losses and its possible reverse interpretation from increased social benefit after improved air quality. Our results recommend policy consideration to strengthen air quality standards, to support socially vulnerable groups regarding defensive expenditures, and to improve the accessibility and credibility of air pollution information.