Adel Soleimani Nejad; Elaheh Amirmahani
Abstract
Background Data visualization refers to the methods of data presentation in visual formats using specific technologies, which can present data through a visual process with better understanding and recognition. The current study aimed at evaluating the rate of data transfer, learning, and ease of access ...
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Background Data visualization refers to the methods of data presentation in visual formats using specific technologies, which can present data through a visual process with better understanding and recognition. The current study aimed at evaluating the rate of data transfer, learning, and ease of access to data through data visualization in virtual learning systems. Methods The current survey was conducted on 131 students and teachers of virtual medical courses at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences as the statistical population in the academic year 2015 - 2016. Of the study population, 79 subjects were selected using the simple random sampling method. Data collection tool was a 28-item researcher-made questionnaire, which its reliability was confirmed by the Cronbach’s alpha 0.82. Results Based on the results of the current study, data visualization could significantly affect virtual learning in the students. In addition, data visualization improved productivity indices as well as rate of data transfer, learning, and ease of access to data among students and teachers. Conclusions Based on the results of the current study, it is recommended that data visualization be used in educational programs at all grades and courses in order to benefit from its advantages in improving productivity, rate of data transfer, learning, and ease of access to data among students and teachers of universities and institutes.
Adel Soleimani Nejad; Abass Ali Shahreki
Abstract
Background The negative impact of anxiety on information seeking is of great importance and it has been studied in different ways worldwide. Based on the results of such studies, it is possible to identify different aspects of information seeking anxiety, to design different tools to assess it, to evaluate ...
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Background The negative impact of anxiety on information seeking is of great importance and it has been studied in different ways worldwide. Based on the results of such studies, it is possible to identify different aspects of information seeking anxiety, to design different tools to assess it, to evaluate personal and social factors affecting it, and to identify various methods to inhibit and reduce it. Hence, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of teaching scientific search methods and increasing familiarity with databases on reducing the level of anxiety among students of dentistry at the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods The current survey included all students of the faculty of dentistry at the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in the academic year of 2015 - 16 as the study population. A total of 60 volunteers were selected by convenience sampling and were randomly allocated to 2 groups of 30, as the experimental and control groups. The information seeking anxiety scale was used to collect data. Results The present findings revealed the effectiveness of teaching interventions on reducing the level of information seeking anxiety among students using the independent t test. Specifically, findings revealed a reduction in the anxiety caused by barriers to using information resources (t = 3.79; P value = 0.001), by the barriers to using the computer and Internet (t = 5.35; P value = 0.001), and by information seeking and topic selection barriers (t = 2.50; P value = 0.015). However, the intervention had no effect on the level of anxiety caused by barriers to using the library (t = 0.89; P value = 0.373) and technical barriers (t = 0.68; P value = 0.495). Conclusions Considering the findings of the current study, some measures can be taken to reduce information seeking anxiety in students, especially in the academic environment. Hence, it is recommended to design other studies to further evaluate information seeking anxiety.