{"title":"The Evaluation of ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors – Sri Lanka (ENACT-SL) to Assess Common Factors in Counselling in Determining Therapist Competence in Sri Lanka","authors":"N.H.L. Abeysinghe, B. Kohrt, A. Galappatti","doi":"10.54389/cwrv8325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/cwrv8325","url":null,"abstract":"Counselling and psychotherapy play an essential part in mental health care. The modern field of mental health care includes many counselling modalities. Each modality consists of specific knowledge and skills. This diversity makes objective evaluation of a therapist's competence across counselling modalities challenging. The \"common factors\" theory claims that along with each modality's specific strengths and techniques, common factors in counselling are essential for successful counsellor–client relationships. In high-income countries, the mental health care field has developed many tools to evaluate counselling skills based on the common factors relevant to specific socio-cultural settings. Hence, the usefulness of these tools is limited to the socio-cultural backgrounds where the tools were developed. The current study evaluated the ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors – Sri Lanka (ENACT-SL) rating scale with the participation of 68 novice and experienced counsellors who used two versions of the scale to evaluate 10- minute pre-recorded counselling sessions. The scale's reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). The ICC for interrater reliability was above 0.75, denoting ‘good’ inter-rater reliability, while the ICC for intrarater repeatability was poor for both groups. The research findings contributed in developing a new version of ENACT-SL based on 'five domains' of counselling skills to be used in counsellor training and assessment in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Counselling; common factors; ENACT-SL; therapist-assessment; therapist competence","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125554638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recruitment and Retention of Secondary School Teachers: with Reference to International Schools in Colombo","authors":"F.S Sharifdeen","doi":"10.54389/znjf4053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/znjf4053","url":null,"abstract":"Teacher recruitment procedures are vital in being one of the significant factors in providing effective and quality teachers. However, limited research has delved into how teachers are recruited in international schools. Hence, this study attempts to investigate the factors considered in teacher recruitment procedures and how teachers can be retained in international schools, especially in the secondary section which is from year 10 to 13. A quantitative research approach was used. The study involved 72 teachers who were selected from six leading international schools in Colombo using the purposive sampling technique. This included Head of departments and senior teachers from the Science, Commerce, Arts, and Technology streams. From each school, 12 teachers were selected, representing three teachers from each stream. A survey research design was executed, and a questionnaire was administered to collect the data. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean were used to analyze data. The findings of the study showed that since the expectations are so high, many of the applicants are not eligible to teach in these schools. Therefore, there is a shortage of qualified teachers in all streams. The findings also revealed that the teacher turnover rate is very high in the Arts and the Technology streams. Hence, a system change is required. The management should rethink the teacher recruitment and retention protocols by managing human resources more effectively. Keywords: International schools; teacher recruitment; retention; turnover","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127227613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Health Beliefs on Covid-19 Related Preventative Health Behaviours and Coping Behaviours","authors":"W. A. S. Weerasinghe, S. Akuretiya","doi":"10.54389/qhwg9659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/qhwg9659","url":null,"abstract":"Non-adherence to health regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic has been associated with health beliefs. Thus the present study studies the impact of these health beliefs on preventative health behaviours and coping behaviours. The research followed an ex-post facto survey design and convenience sampling was used to recruit a sample of 100 Sri Lankans with chronic illnesses. Data collection was carried out online using Google forms. The multiple regression analyses reveals that the Health Belief Model was a significantly useful predictor explaining 53% of the variation in preventative health behaviours. The findings reveal no significant predictive relationships between the health beliefs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits with preventative health behaviours. Perceived barriers are found to significantly and negatively predict preventative health behaviours. Perceived selfefficacy and cues to action are found to significantly and positively predict preventative health behaviours. Educational level and marital status moderate the relationship between self-efficacy, cues to action and preventative health behaviours. In fact, selfefficacy is positively and significantly correlated with adaptive coping but not significantly correlated with maladaptive coping behaviour. Overall, the findings highlight the utility of reducing barriers, enhancing self-efficacy, and promoting health literacy through education and provision of social support, especially spousal support, to foster adherence to preventative health behaviours. Keywords: Health Beliefs; Preventative Health Behaviour; Coping Behaviour; Covid-19","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"212 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126037447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Study of L2 Motivational Self System: A Comparison between First Year Students Following Engineering Local and Foreign Degrees in a Non-State Campus","authors":"D. Gunawardhana","doi":"10.54389/bpvh2351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/bpvh2351","url":null,"abstract":"L2 motivation is vital to enhance L2 learning experience of L2 learners. The L2 Motivational Self System can be considered as one innovative solution through research advocating possible selves that act as future guides to motivate learners to improve their language fluency to that of an ideal fluent speaker. There is inadequate L2 motivational self-system research conducted in non-state institutes of higher education in Lankan context. Hence, the present research was administered to evaluate the L2 motivational self-system comprising of Ideal L2 self, Oughtto L2 self, and L2 Learning experience among first-year students following local and foreign engineering degree programs offered in a nonstate institute of higher education. The hypothesis for the present study is whether there is a significant difference in the Ideal L2 self, Ought-to L2 self, and L2 Learning Experience for first-year students following the engineering local and foreign degree programs. The sample selected was 62 students following foreign degrees and 212 students following local engineering degree programs. A questionnaire with 40 statements to test the 3 components of the theory was given to students following local and foreign engineering degrees. The data were evaluated with the 2 sample T-test. It was found that all 3 components of the L2 motivational self-system have significant values. In conclusion, students following the foreign degree programs have higher ideal L2 selves than those following local degree programs. Keywords: L2 motivation; Ideal L2 self; L2 learning experience","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134498806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current Status and Challenges in Using Plant-Food Waste in the Cosmetic Industry – A Case Study in the Sri Lankan Context","authors":"M.A.P.K Thilakarathne, W.D.C.C Wijerathne","doi":"10.54389/jjlv9028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/jjlv9028","url":null,"abstract":"The majority of contemporary research has focused on the cosmetic application in fresh plant materials but there is a lack of critical analyses on the potential of plant waste material for the cosmetic industry. In this regard, this study was conducted with aid the literature from the 2000-2022 period. Accordingly, we can conclude that the nonedible plant materials such as seeds and peels and food wastes contain a significant number of phytochemicals which are the key ingredient of natural cosmetic products, and low-cost as well as non-toxic ingredients for cosmetic products. But using food waste can be challenging since plants are biodegradable, before using for cosmetics it should be tested for any microorganism activity which can affect the skin as well. Then availability and collection of waste such as soaked water, seeds, and peels will be difficult since first of all it has to be consumed in the food used in the cosmetic industry. However, the analysis result of the phytochemical content of plant waste has shown a significant value in the cosmetic industry due to their anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, anti-tyrosinase, and elastase activity for the skin.","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126034701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Primary Caregivers of Children with Invisible Disabilities in Sri Lanka","authors":"Waahidah Mohamed, Raneesha De Silva","doi":"10.54389/hwfu7849","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/hwfu7849","url":null,"abstract":"Children with invisible disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, speech impairments, and learning difficulties require special support and a diligent caregiving environment to thrive. Primary caregivers have to take on additional roles to provide extra support for children with invisible disabilities while accommodating their professional and personal lives through the process. This research analyzed depression, anxiety, and stress between primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and primary caregivers of typically-developing children in Sri Lanka. Data was gathered through an online survey. The sample consisted of 75 primary caregivers between the ages of 23 years to 56 years, which included 38 primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and 37 primary caregivers of typicallydeveloping children. The DASS-21 (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) was administered to measure depression, anxiety, and stress. The Independent sample t-test was used to compare the mean difference between the two groups of caregivers. The findings did not reveal a significant difference in the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress between primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities and primary caregivers of typicallydeveloping children. However, regression analysis revealed that parental age had a significant impact on the levels of anxiety among caregivers of children with invisible disabilities. This implies that experience gained with age may reduce anxiety in primary caregivers of children with invisible disabilities. Keywords: Caregivers; Children; Disabilities; Depression; Anxiety; Stress","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"106 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134335972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trajectory of Learning Academic Vocabulary: IT Undergraduates’ Vocabulary Learning Strategies and Performance at the Exam","authors":"Jayathri Kalinga","doi":"10.54389/qvzz4399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/qvzz4399","url":null,"abstract":"Learning vocabulary is an integral part in language acquisition and acquisition of academic vocabulary is crucial for the success in an academic context. Therefore, many studies have been conducted to formulate academic vocabulary lists and identify vocabulary learning strategies. This study seeks to explore the vocabulary learning strategies employed by IT undergraduates when studying academic vocabulary and to examine their performance on the academic vocabulary related questions at the formative exam. The sample of the study includes 276 first year IT undergraduates who follow the module English for Academic Purposes. A questionnaire is used as the research tool to obtain data from the sample and the result of the formative exam is used to examine the performance related to academic vocabulary. According to the data analysis, most of the students often use either monolingual or bilingual dictionary as a strategy to discover the meaning of a new word. This is more emphasized as they have mentioned that they prefer using dictionary apps as a strategy to learn vocabulary online. A significant number of students study the spelling, meaning and form of a word and ask for help from their friends as strategies for consolidating a new word they encounter. However, when comparing the marks obtained for the vocabulary related questions at the exam, it is noted that the students have obtained less marks to the question in which they had to replace the underlined word/phrases with a more academic alternative. Thus, students need to adapt more effective strategies to acquire mastery of academic vocabulary. Keywords: Academic vocabulary, Vocabulary learning strategies, IT undergraduates, formative assessment","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"148 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134388212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Analytical Study of the Factors Influencing the English Speaking Proficiency of Prospective English Medium Teachers","authors":"Uditha Amaratunga","doi":"10.54389/xalk8515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/xalk8515","url":null,"abstract":"National Colleges of Education (NCOEs) conduct Pre-service Teacher Education courses in English medium to cater to the demand of English medium teachers to implement bilingual / bi-medium education in government schools. Although English speaking proficiency is very important to English medium teachers, it has been revealed that the majority of the prospective teachers who follow the Information Communication Technology (ICT) course in NCOEs do not have the required level of English speaking proficiency. This paper discusses the nature of the English speaking deficiencies of prospective English medium teachers of ICT and the major factors that affect their English speaking proficiency. This analysis was done as part of an ongoing study conducted using the Mixed Methods approach. Quantitative and qualitative data was gathered through questionnaires, interviews and documentary analysis from a sample of prospective teachers of ICT, English medium lecturers who teach in the ICT course in three NCOES, Directors of Education at the Ministry of Education and Senior Lecturers at the National Institute of Education. Findings revealed that the prospective English medium teachers’ English speaking proficiency is lower than that of the other language skills due to several psychological, linguistic and socio-cultural factors. Therefore, effective strategies should be introduced to improve the Teacher Education Programme of the NCOEs to enhance the development of English speaking proficiency of prospective English medium teachers. Keywords: English speaking proficiency, English medium instruction, Prospective English medium teachers, National Colleges of Education","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114122140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exact Solution for the Upper Minimal Total Cost Bound of Multi-Supplier Single-Buyer Interval Transportation Problem","authors":"J. Gamage","doi":"10.54389/ogsz5068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/ogsz5068","url":null,"abstract":"Transporting a commodity from sources to destinations with minimal transportation cost is the main goal in all industries. In the literature, researchers have given considerable attention to find the total minimum transportation cost in fixed supply and fixed demand quantities. However, in the real-world supply, demand values will vary in a certain range due to the variation of the global economy. The number of combinations of supplies and demands rapidly increase in their respective ranges as the number of suppliers and buyers increases. To make better decisions on investments, it is useful to know the lower and the upper bounds of the minimal total costs in the interval transportation problem (ITP). However, no exact solution has been identified to obtain the upper bound of minimal transportation cost. In this research, a new algorithm has been developed to determine all the choices of supplies and demands in multi-supplier singlebuyer transportation problems. Based on the new method, the minimum transportation cost can be found for each combination that satisfies the fundamental theory of transportation problem (total supplies value ≥ demand value). Furthermore, the maximum cost as the upper minimal total cost bound can also be obtained. The new methodology is illustrated using real data. It is also shown that the proposed method is able to obtain the exact solution for the upper minimal total cost bound of multi-supplier single-buyer ITP. Keywords: Demand and Supply; Transportation problem; Transportation cost; Total cost bound","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122224078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modeling Weekly Covid Data in Europe and Sri Lanka: Time Series Approach","authors":"J. Jayakody","doi":"10.54389/fxwm6962","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54389/fxwm6962","url":null,"abstract":"Novel Corona Virus, commonly known as COVID-19 has become a global threat affecting more than 200 countries up to date. Still a vaccine that can assure of hundred percent prevention has not been discovered. All the countries are currently following WHO guidelines such as lockdowns and social distancing. This study was conducted to develop ARIMA models for COVID-19 data in Europe and Sri Lanka and validate the models. For both these regions, number of COVID-19 cases were collected considering for a period of one year in which the first real wave happened. ACF and PACF plots were used to identify the stationarity, and out of the results possible ARIMA models were developed for the two regions separately. For Europe, the best fitted model was ARIMA (0, 2, 1) and for Sri Lanka, the best fitted model was ARIMA (1,1,0). The models were evaluated using AIC criteria. The errors of the models were found to be white noise. The forecasted values that were obtained from the model showed an increase of cases in Europe and a constant flow in Sri Lanka. Keywords: ARIMA Models, Covid-19, Forecasting","PeriodicalId":112882,"journal":{"name":"PROCEEDINGS OF THE SLIIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES [SICASH]","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124275965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}