Papers by nitza davidovitch
Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 1999
Aims-To determine normal concentrations of 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) for premature infants.... more Aims-To determine normal concentrations of 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) for premature infants. Methods-17OHP was measured in 66 consecutive premature infants once a week during the first month, and once every two weeks thereafter, until the age of 3 months. The 17OHP values in 100 full term healthy neonates on the third day of life served as controls. Blood was sampled on filter paper using a neonatal radioimmunoassay kit. Findings were correlated with gestational age, birthweight, mode of delivery, Apgar scores, presence of respiratory distress syndrome and intake of maternal steroids. Results-Mean 17OHP was raised at 7 days of age (138.9, 46.3, 53.3, 29.9 nmol/l, respectively, for infants whose gestational age was under 29 weeks, 29 to 30 weeks, 31 to 32 weeks, and 33 weeks and above). It fell sharply in the first two weeks after which it gradually decreased further, reaching 32.7, 23.6, 16.9, and 13.0 nmol/l, respectively, by the age of 90 days. The mean (SEM) 17OHP concentration in full term infants on day 3 of life was 17.8 (8.9) nmol/l. These values were independent of the presence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome and of prenatal maternal steroids. Conclusions-The increased 17OHP concentrations found at birth fell to those found in term infants during the first three months of life in infants over 31 weeks of gestation. Postconceptional age is the most important factor determining 17OHP concentration.
International Education Studies, Mar 26, 2023
The current study was designed to identity if and to what extent differences in motivation exist ... more The current study was designed to identity if and to what extent differences in motivation exist between high school students, for whom school is mandatory, and undergraduate students in tertiary institutions, who make an active choice to study in an academic institution. This study also explores whether and to what extent motivation affects the achievements of these two groups of learners, and whether motivation is related to their personal, family, and socioeconomic background and gender. To examine these questions, 121 participants responded to a 22-item questionnaire on motivation for learning. Findings show that undergraduate students are more highly motivated for learning compared to high school students. Associations were found between learners' personal and academic background and their motivation: Motivation increases with age and as grade average increases. A significant difference was, however, found in motivation levels between learners with average socioeconomic status and learners with above-average socioeconomic status. No gender effects in learners' motivation were found. Findings of the study shed light on the significant of motivation in high school, which is a significant period in youngsters' lives. High school is a scholastic space that also has the potential to strengthen motivation for learning in the future, in academic studies, as both education systems-high school and academic educationaffect each other.
Problems of Education in the 21st Century
This study explored the relationship between the size of the study group and the motivation and e... more This study explored the relationship between the size of the study group and the motivation and engagement of students in online and face-to-face classes while exploring the effect of personal and academic background variables, the number of students in the study group, and the level of their motivation to study. The study included 122 participants, students in their second, third, or fourth year of academic studies, who had experienced online studies during Covid-19 as well as face-to-face studies. They had all participated in both small classes (35 students or less) and large classes (more than 35 students). The study indicates that there is indeed a significant difference in students’ motivation and engagement, irrespective of the size of the study group, and the difference in motivation depends on the method of delivery, whether online or traditional (face-to-face). The research results reveal new knowledge regarding online studies and help enrich the literature on this topic, i...
Journal of Education Culture and Society
Aim. The aim of the research is to assess whether adult learners engaged in Torah/Bible studies r... more Aim. The aim of the research is to assess whether adult learners engaged in Torah/Bible studies report higher levels of psycho-social resources, specifically spirituality, meaning in life, hope, and social support, than learners who attend general enrichment courses, and whether psycho-social resources contribute to their meaning in life. Methods. Participants were 234 men and women over age 55 who study regularly in their leisure time: 56 Torah students in the hevruta (communal learning) method, 50 Torah students who participated in frontal Torah lectures, and 128 adults who attended lectures on various enrichment subjects. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that included demographic information and characteristics of the course, evaluations of the learning experience, the Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure, the Snyder Hope Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the PIL – Purpose in Life questionnaire. Results. T...
Journal of Education Culture and Society
Thesis. This article provides an analysis of online social interactions in two online Temporary L... more Thesis. This article provides an analysis of online social interactions in two online Temporary Learning Groups (TLG) and their correlates with both pre-admissions scores and academic achievements. Concept. The function of Social Networking Systems (SNS) use on academic achievements is most often indirectly assessed through surveying attitudes of students and teachers. Contrary to this approach, we directly assessed the content on a TLG and paired it with objective admission scores and academic achievements. Results and conclusion. The results reveal that the content of the discussions on the TLGs is practical, immediate, and focuses on the allocation of information required for academic achievements. The users of the TLGs are usually students with lower admission scores and academic achievements. They use these platforms as a compensating mechanism to improve their achievements. In addition, some of the TLG users serve as maximising agents of other students’ achievements. TLGs’ imp...
Frontiers in Psychology
IntroductionAcademic distress has been frequently reported following the COVID-19 pandemic. This ... more IntroductionAcademic distress has been frequently reported following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimates academic distress among undergraduate students, characterizes its nature in relation to economic, social, and health indicators, and examines the level of request for help following mental distress. Students with higher levels of academic distress were expected to show lower socio-economic status, lower social connections, and lower wellbeing indices.MethodsA cross-sectional study based on a structured anonymous questionnaire was delivered online to more than 1,400 undergraduate students from one university in Israel (women, 66.7%).ResultsAcademic distress was reported by 27.1% of the sample. Students who reported academic distress were more likely to report stress, negative psycho-somatic symptoms, changes in weight since COVID-19, low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, higher COVID-19 concerns, and higher security situation concerns. A hierarchic logistic regression mode...
Globalisation, comparative education and policy research, 2023
Education and Society, Nov 1, 2022
Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research
International journal of higher education, Nov 18, 2022
The uncertainties and risks of high-tech ventures are well known, and, despite the increasing num... more The uncertainties and risks of high-tech ventures are well known, and, despite the increasing number of start-up companies founded annually, few survive. This study examines the correlation between the entrepreneurial skills and multiple intelligences of entrepreneurs, as well as their influence on success in high-tech ventures. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on Salamzadeh and Kirby's (2017) venture-creation model and Gardner's (1983) multiple-intelligences theory. A convenience sample of three hundred entrepreneurs (281 men, 19 women) in different stages of their ventures was evaluated via an online Qualtrics questionnaire. The results indicate that the most successful entrepreneurs have the highest levels of logical intelligence but also the lowest levels of linguistic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal intelligences. Entrepreneurial skills were found to be related to all types of intelligences, as well as to success in entrepreneurial ventures. The study adds to the limited literature on the connection between personal characteristics and the success of entrepreneurial startup companies, and may contribute to improving entrepreneurship education programs. Future research is needed to examine other characteristics of both successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs across a wider range of venture stages.
Education and Society
Under-representation of minority groups in the academy reflects inequality and lack of social mob... more Under-representation of minority groups in the academy reflects inequality and lack of social mobilization. The Druze in Israel are a small minority, but they have a unique place in society because they have been serving in the IDF almost since its formation. The IDF maintains an academic reserve track, where young men and women complete their studies and then serve an extra number of years as professionals. Through in-depth interviews with 30 Druze participants and graduates, this study examines the effects of the academic reserve track on Druze young men, seeking to learn its impact on their future.
Problems of Education in the 21st Century
The research literature on leisure indicates that it is perceived differently by sector and cultu... more The research literature on leisure indicates that it is perceived differently by sector and culture. In Israel, one’s affiliation with religious or non-religious groups affects one’s perception of leisure and its legitimacy. The common activities of religious and secular people include studies in general, and Torah study in particular, as activities carried out by choice and for pleasure. In this research Torah study is considered in its wide meaning, as including all traditional Jewish texts. The research sought to try and understand various characteristics of people who study Torah as a leisure activity and to illuminate aspects rarely addressed in the academic literature, mainly students' perception of study efforts, importance of studies, the contribution of studies and satisfaction with studies. The sample included 234 respondents divided into three groups: Torah students (56) who were studying in a hevruta (collaborative) format, Torah students (50) who were studying a cou...
Political Crossroads
This study explores postcards written in the Lodz Ghetto, which serve as a source of knowledge ab... more This study explores postcards written in the Lodz Ghetto, which serve as a source of knowledge about their historical context. The postcards, by their very nature, reflect the social, demographic, and psychological processes among the ghetto inhabitants during their years of forced habitation. Postcards were found to be a primary source of information and an outstanding historical testament to that which occurred, moment by moment, at the time they were written. The study charts them by means of two extensive catalogues: The first is the “Catalogue of years”, which examines the historical events in the Lodz Ghetto from 1940-1945, as they appear in “The Chronicle of the Lodz Ghetto” versus their reflection or lack of reflection in the postcards. The second catalogue is the “Catalogue of postcards”, which presents a wide and detailed review of all the topics emerging from the postcards, relating to events in the ghetto by the chronological order in which they were written and sent, as...
International Journal of Pedagogy, Innovation and New Technologies, 2021
The purpose of the current study is to examine the differences in the functioning of school staff... more The purpose of the current study is to examine the differences in the functioning of school staff and management in the southern district (a peripheral area) and in the central district. This, in light of the Meitzav test (Hebrew acronym for School Efficacy and Growth Measures) administered in junior high schools from 2016-2019. The preparations undertaken by the school management and educational staff for the Meitzav and the resources allocated by the school principal for studying for these tests were examined. The research findings indicate that the significance of the Meitzav tests as perceived by the principal is critical for success on the tests in the core subjects of math, Hebrew, English, and science. The more principals see the Meitzav as an effective measurement tool for them and for the school’s progress, the more they will act to provide reinforcement learning, focus days in the core subject, individual learning, so that the preparation for this test will be optimal. The...
Higher Education Studies, 2021
For over six decades Israel’s system of higher education has been managed by the Ministry of Educ... more For over six decades Israel’s system of higher education has been managed by the Ministry of Education and the Council for Higher Education (CHE). During this period, significant transitions have occurred in the academic system throughout the world and in Israel, leaving their mark on research and teaching and on the related regulatory agencies. The purpose of the study is to examine the need for regulation of higher education in a capitalist world, with Israel serving as a case study. The study examines the CHE’s management of changes that occurred in the academic world and the overall considerations utilized by the pilots of this regulatory agency, which led to shaping policy from a perspective of time and with an eye to the challenges of the future, in comparison to supervisory agencies around the world. The research method is based on research literature addressing the system of higher education in Israel and elsewhere as well as on interviews with senior academics occupying key...
From We to Me: Changing Values in Israeli Poetry and Song. A Comparative Study of the Works of th... more From We to Me: Changing Values in Israeli Poetry and Song. A Comparative Study of the Works of the Modern Israeli Poets Nathan Alterman and Yehuda Amichai
Dutch Crossing: Journal of Low Countries Studies, 2016
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Papers by nitza davidovitch