The Basic Cycles of Vocational Training: Student Satisfaction and Perceived Benefit.

This study aims to better understand students who attend Basic Vocational Training Cycles (Basic Professional Training, BTP) by implementing measures that ensure diversity. This quantitative research project approximated students' perception of their passage through previous studies and their satisfaction and goals after finishing the school year. The sample consisted of 352 students from Cordoba (Spain). A questionnaire was used that follows the CIPP model. After exploratory factor analysis was completed with different groups of items and their descriptive analyses, various tests were carried out to consider the hypotheses (Pearson's correlation (r), one-factor analysis of variance, and repeated ANOVA measures). The results indicate that the educational interest of the students is academic and professional. Likewise, there is no relationship detected between socio-professional goals and average academic levels and attributions with respect to repetitions of previous courses, although these goals vary depending on students' satisfaction with the vocational cycles. We conclude that the course of the FPB influences decisions regarding academic-professional projects.

Emotional Intelligence and Executive Functions in the Prediction of Prosocial Behavior in High School Students. An InterDisciplinary Approach between Neuroscience and Education.

One of the most analyzed variables in educational research is prosocial behavior, given its relevance and its application in favor of a culture of peace, the construction of solid democratic societies and the development of social justice. For this reason, it is necessary to extend the knowledge of predictors of prosocial behavior so that they can be transferred to teaching practice. The research reported here was carried out using a quantitative methodology through a survey, based on data collection instruments, whose data were treated statistically by means of descriptive, correlational and predictive analyses. The results obtained suggest that emotional intelligence has a strong predictive capacity for prosocial behavior while executive functions show a mild-moderate predictive behavior. In the conclusions and discussion, we provide a series of arguments on some of the results obtained in contrast with previous literature, as well as incorporating limitations of the study and prospects for future research.

Exploring the status of diversity in policies and practices of Spanish universities. An asymmetric dual model.

Higher education across the world is currently in the throes of assuming a commitment to diversity. However, certain critical positions maintain that such evolution is still guided by market principles. Within such a context, this paper explores what attention is given to diversity in Spanish university policies and practices and how it relates to key productivity indicators. To do so, a study with a descriptive and correlational design was conducted, based on analysing institutional documents and surveying chief diversity officers, techniques which provided evidence about diversity philosophy and practices, respectively. The results revealed at least an average level of institutionalisation of diversity, although it did not demonstrate, in most of the areas, any association with indicators derived from a consolidated ranking by productivity in Spain. The conclusion is that Spanish universities have adopted an asymmetric dual model, in which neo-liberal ideas maintain their hegemony while, although subordinately, certain innovations have been consolidated in parallel in order to protect a number of vulnerable groups under the rhetoric of equity and social justice.

Evaluating the institutionalisation of diversity outreach in top universities worldwide.

The participation of diverse demographics in higher education has risen over the last half-century; meanwhile, different political and social tiers have been assigning a more active role to institutions in terms of equality and social justice. This change in circumstances has led to the roll out of processes to institutionalise diversity outreach. This study was conducted for the clear purpose of assessing the current institutionalisation status of diversity outreach in 127 key universities from the Academic Ranking of World Universities based on the opinions of diversity outreach managers and the information published on institutional websites, in turn measuring compliance with various indicators. A qualitative analysis of the institutional statements, the goals sought through strategic plans and the definitions of diversity itself was also conducted. The evidence reveals the early stage of the institutionalisation process in universities on account of the low percentage obtained for the proposed indicators. Furthermore, the study failed to exhibit significant differences in this process in terms of the institutional ownership or position held in the ranking; however, more prominent progress was noted in the North-American region when geographical differences were taken into account, likely as a result of the historical background in the advocacy for equal opportunities. Lastly, a change of approach to the conceptualisation of diversity is suggested in favour of equality and social justice.

Is empathy one of the Big Three? Identifying its role in a dual-process model of ideology and blatant and subtle prejudice.

In the field of the social psychology of prejudice, John Duckitt's Dual-Process Cognitive-Motivational Model of Ideology and Prejudice has gained a firm grounding over the past decade and a half, while empathy has become one of the most powerful predictors of prejudice, alongside right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. This study integrates empathy into the dual-process model, exploring the effects of this variable, along with the impact of personality and ideological attitudes, on prejudice in both its blatant and subtle forms. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data from 260 university students by self-report measures. Despite its cross-sectional nature, a pattern of causal relationships was hypothesized according to experimental and longitudinal findings from previous studies. The path analysis results show that in the model fitted to the data, empathy does not have any direct impact on prejudice, although it plays a significant role in the prediction of prejudice towards a particular immigrant group. On the other hand, the dual-process model is confirmed in the explanation of blatant prejudice and, in a weaker and indirect way, of subtle prejudice; sustaining the distinctive nature of these constructs on some differential predictors and paths. In the discussion, this study proposes that when ideological and personality-based variables are both included in the model, general empathy is not so robust in the explanation of prejudice, since some of the empathetic components might become diluted among other covariates. But even so, its indirect effectiveness through personality and ideological attitudes remains relevant.

El prejuicio de profesionales que trabajan con personas en exclusión social en Andalucía: un enfoque de proceso dual / Prejudice in practitioners who work with socially excluded people in Andalusia: A dual process approach

Se presupone que el perfil de los profesionales que trabajan con personas en exclusión social es incompatible con el mantenimiento de prejuicios hacia el colectivo al que sirven y, en todo caso, la elevada homogeneidad en los niveles de prejuicio y sus causas apenas permitiría confirmar modelos explicativos. El presente estudio puso a prueba esta hipótesis en relación con el modelo cognitivo-motivacional de proceso dual de Duckitt (2001) y Duckitt y Sibley (2010). Se recogieron datos de 565 profesionales andaluces en un estudio transversal basado en encuesta en el que se midieron variables sociodemográficas, de personalidad, valores, actitudes ideológicas, posicionamiento político y prejuicio. El modelo ajustado a los datos reprodujo las relaciones más básicas del modelo hipotético, si bien su capacidad explicativa fue limitada. Por otra parte, las vías del autoritarismo y la dominancia incidieron significativamente sobre el prejuicio, lo que sugiere que el ligero sesgo identificado en los profesionales correspondería a la percepción de las personas en exclusión social como pertenecientes a un colectivo disidente. Se sugiere la introducción de la identidad profesional como un macroconstructo modulador de la varianza explicada de prejuicio, así como, en el plano aplicado, la conveniencia de avanzar en el desarrollo profesional de estos trabajadores

It is assumed that the professional profile of those who work with socially excluded people is not compatible with the maintenance of prejudices against the group they help. The current study tested this hypothesis regarding the Dual Process Cognitive-Motivational Model of Duckitt (2001) and Duckitt and Sibley (2010). Data from 565 Andalusian professionals were collected in a cross-sectional survey, using measures of socio-demographics, personality, values, ideological attitudes, political position, and prejudice. The model fitted to data reproduced the basic relations in the hypothesized model, although its explanatory power was limited. Prejudice was significantly explained by both paths (authoritarianism and dominance), leading to the conclusion that the reduced level of prejudice held by professionals corresponds to the perception of socially excluded people as a dissident group. This suggests that professional identity as a broad construct may moderate the variance in prejudice. Finally, these findings also suggest that the professional development of social workers should be promoted

The fight against prejudice in older adults: perspective taking effectiveness / Combatiendo el prejuicio en personas mayores: efectividad de la toma de perspectiva

Inhibition of prejudice appears to be more problematic for older adults, hence the need to develop programs to reduce intergroup bias at later stages in life. Perspective taking was analyzed in this study, as one of various cognitive strategies that have been shown to reduce such bias. Data on a sample of 63 Spanish participants with a mean age of 64.1 years was gathered after an intervention based on mental imagery, aimed at reducing explicit prejudice. A wide array of variables was measured (personality traits, values, empathy, and attribution) which may moderate effectiveness in perspective taking. Despite no main effect was found, effects due to interaction of perspective taking found in OLS regression analysis revealed that perspective taking based intervention was effective for some older adults, particularly those who had low scores on agreeableness, empathy, and universalism, and high scores on conformity. The conclusions suggest that perspective taking might be successfully applied to some profiles of older people albeit it is not as strong and transferable strategy as it used to be thought.

La inhibición del prejuicio resulta más problemática en personas mayores, de lo que se deriva la necesidad de desarrollar programas que reduzcan el sesgo intergrupal en los estadios avanzados de la vida. En el presente estudio se analizó la toma de perspectiva como una de las estrategias capaces de reducir este tipo de sesgo. Se recogieron datos en una muestra de 63 participantes españoles con una edad media de 64.1 años, en la que se implementó una intervención basada en imaginería mental, dirigida a la reducción del prejuicio. Asimismo, se midieron diversas variables que podían modular la efectividad de la toma de perspectiva (personalidad, valores, empatía y atribución). Aunque no se encontró ningún efecto principal, los debidos a la interacción de la toma de perspectiva y los moduladores, hallados en el análisis de regresión por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios, revelaron que la intervención basada en la inducción de toma de perspectiva fue efectiva en determinadas personas mayores, particularmente en aquellas que puntuaron bajo en amabilidad, empatía y universalismo, y alto en conformismo. En las conclusiones se sugiere que la toma de perspectiva podría ser aplicada con éxito en determinados perfiles de adultos mayores, aunque no se trata de una estrategia tan potente y transferible como se pensaba.

Las metas en la reducción del prejuicio automático / Goals in the reduction of automatic prejudice: experiencing the discrepancy

Desde el enfoque de la cognición social se ha puesto de relieve que, por defecto, los estereotipos y los prejuicios se activan automáticamente, al tiempo que han proliferado los intentos por controlar las influencias automáticas no deseadas. En este marco, el presente estudio fue diseñado para evaluar la efectividad de un procedimiento de reducción automática del prejuicio, basado en la evocación de la experimentación de un fracaso en el logro de una meta. Distintas teorías de la discrepancia predicen que el preceptor llevará a cabo esfuerzos compensatorios en este tipo de situación. Los resultados evidencian, a partir de los datos recogidos con el Test de Asociación Implícita, que la estrategia aplicada produjo una reducción significativa del favoritismo endogrupal automático, sugiriendo la operatividad de algún tipo de compensación afectiva. En la discusión se subraya la contribución de este resultado al desarrollo teórico de la investigación sobre automaticidad y control

From a social cognition approach, it has been shown that, by default, stereotypes and prejudices are activated in automatic ways. At the same time, there is trend aimed at discovering the conditions under which automatic influences can be controlled. Within this field, the effectiveness of a strategy for the reduction of automatic prejudice was evaluated in the current study. The intervention was aimed at causing participants to experience a failure when a goal was to be achieved. Different discrepancy theories predict that the perceiver will try to compensate for the failure in this situation. Results obtained from data collected with the Implicit Association Test show that the spontaneous in-group favouritism can be reduced through the use of such a strategy, suggesting that the experience of discrepancies fosters affective compensation. The discussion underlines the contribution of results to theoretical development in the field of automaticity and control