Category: LDRS591

Learning Activity 4.3:

• Does the review include relevant literature?

The article includes a reference section that is roughly 3 and a half pages in length. The authors referenced numerous sources related to the article. The authors clarify that the purpose of their study was to examine the research that is available on servant leadership (Parris and Peachey, 2013, P 378). They discuss that they systematically chose which research to include in their study and chose to include research that “ included empirical studies that investigated servant leadership in an organizational context and excluded studies with a primary focus on model development or testing measurement instruments.” (Parris and Peachey, 2013, P 378). The authors were very selective with which research to include.

• Does the review examine sources that are recent and of high quality?

The reference pages prove that the majority of their research was current. According to Clark and Creswell, current research includes research that has been published within the last ten years. (Clark and Creswell..) Although there are some sources that date back as far as the 70’s, the majority of their sources were published within the last ten years.

• Is the literature review documented properly?

All citations are done correctly in this piece of research. The authors included some citations which were found in more than one piece of research. For example, “Three studies (Fridell et al. 2009; McCuddy and Cavin 2009; Taylor et al. 2007) attempted to identify demographic characteristics conducive to practicing servant leadership. However, these studies lacked methodological quality sufficient to support any conclusions.” (Parris and Peachey, 2013, P 388).

• Is the literature thoughtfully synthesized?

The authors divide their research into subtopics that make sense for the research topic. They categorize their subtopics in a way that flows logically and is easy to read and comprehend.

• Is the literature critically examined?

Yes the literature is critically examined, first, in analyzing whether or not it should be included in the literature review at all, and then again, once it is included.  For example, they mention that the lack of one accepted conceptual outline of the characteristics of Servant Leadership Theory has resulted in a state of confusion and fragmented the outcomes of the research (Van Dierendonck, 2011) in (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p. 389).

• Does the study have a strong foundation in the literature?

The study is actually the first in this topic area to provide a “a synthesis based upon evidence in published peer-reviewed journal of empirical studies conducted on servant leadership theory in organizational settings” (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p. 380).

 

• Does the literature fit the study’s overall approach?

Yes overall it does. It is a comprehensive review of recent literature in the subject matter. I would rate the article at 3.

References

Parris, D., & Peachey, J. (2013). A Systematic Literature Review of Servant Leadership Theory in Organizational Contexts. Journal Of Business Ethics, 113(3), 377-393. doi:10.1007/s10551-012-1322-6

I have chosen to use the article by Parris, D., & Peachey, J. (2013).

A Systematic Literature Review of Servant Leadership Theory in Organizational Contexts. Journal Of Business Ethics, 113(3), 377-393 to complete the Unit 4.2 assignment.

 

• Is the topic interesting?

The topic of Servant Leadership is interesting because although its origins stem from the leadership style of Jesus Christ, it has not been studied in leadership theory until recently.  (Sendjaya, S. and Sattos, J., 2002, p. 57 and 58).The topic is introduced in a broad context, by Parris, D., & Peachey, J. by describing the topic of Servant Leadership as one that is linked to ethics, virtues,and morality” (2013, p. 377). By introducing the topic in a broad context, the research appeals to a broader audience.  Rating: 3

Is there a meaningful problem?

The problem is clearly stated that there is a controversy surrounding Servant Leadership, and according to Parris, D., & Peachey, J., critics of the theory are concerned whether this new leadership theory is “significantly distinct, viable, and valuable for organizational success” (Parris and Peachey, 2013, p. 377). I believe that the research is very important, as first and most importantly, the research must prove that Servant Leadership is a distinct style of its own. Rating: 3.

• Is the importance of the problem justified?

Clear evidence of the problem of proving that Servant Leadership is a distinct style of its own becomes apparent, when the Systematic Literature Review conducted by the authors reveals that part of the problem with Servant Leadership Theory is that there are several interpretations of what characteristics actually define Servant Leadership (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p.380). This lack of consensus has created confusion and has resulted in the majority of the research to date, focussing on conceptualizing a definition and creating measurement tools for empirical testing (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p. 389). Rating: 3

• Are there deficiencies in the knowledge about the problem?

Without one standard, accepted definition of what Servant Leadership is, many of the researchers have developed their own models for testing based on their definition of Servant Leadership; resulting in a state of confusion and detracting from the outcomes of their research (Van Dierendonck, 2011) in (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p. 389). To further complicate the theory, the researchers also discovered that cross cultural studies indicate that different attributes of Servant Leadership were weighted differently across cultures (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p.387). Rating: 3  

• Is an audience identified and are there specific examples of how the audience can use the missing knowledge?

The research found that Servant Leadership theory remains under-defined with no theoretical framework (Parris, D., & Peachey, J., 2013, p. 389). In my opinion, more research needs to be done to reach consensus on the characteristics of Servant Leadership, so that a consistent model and framework can be utilized for future research.  The agreed upon model and framework could then be more easily applied and studied in an organizational setting. Rating: 3

• Does the passage clearly argue that the study is warranted?

The problem, deficiencies and results are clearly stated and logically discussed. The authors provide a thorough analysis and review of current literature and the status of Servant Leadership Theory.  Rating: 3.

• Is the passage well written?

The study is well-written and very interesting. The authors were very systematic in compiling their research.  The conclusions were discussed in detail.  Strengths and weaknesses of the study were also discussed and highlighted.  Rating: 3

My overall quality rating of the study is 3.

References

Parris, D., & Peachey, J. (2013). A Systematic Literature Review of Servant Leadership Theory in Organizational Contexts. Journal Of Business Ethics, 113(3), 377-393. doi:10.1007/s10551-012-1322-6

 

Learning Activity 4.1

• Why is servant leadership an interesting or worthwhile topic/phenomenon to research?

 

Servant leadership is an interesting topic/phenomenon to research because typically the words  “servant” and “leadership” are oxymorons, they are a contradiction in terms of how most scholars view attributes of a leader (Sendjaya, S. and Sattos, J., 2002 p. 57 and p. 59). Typically, a leader is thought to be someone who “leads”, “commands”, or “gives orders” to their organization, and not someone who “serves others first, rather than leads first” (Gromm, 1995; Yukl, 1989) in Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J. (2002, p. 59). In Greenleaf’s Model of Servant Leadership (1977), a servant leader deliberately chooses to serve first rather than lead first; it is a conscious decision to put others needs ahead of your own (Sendjaya, S. and Sattos, J., 2002, p. 57).

 

• Why would this article interest researchers in the leadership field?

 

Researchers are interested in the field of servant leadership, because it is intriguing to analyze how a person that displays the qualities typically perceived of a “servant” could be a leader. Intellectually, and based on common perceptions, it would seem that a servant cannot be a leader and vice versa. There has been anecdotal observation of servant leadership, such as Spears (1995), who attempted to establish ten characteristics of a servant leader. These would be:  “listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, a commitment to growth of people and community” (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p. 58). But these attributes were identified upon reading Greenleaf’s essays and not based on rigorous analysis and research. (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p. 57). Although the origins of servant leadership has been traced back to its founder, Jesus Christ, it has only recently become a topic of interest to researchers.    

 

• What is already known about servant leadership?

 

In religion we know that service is the core trait of leadership (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p. 58). Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, is an example of how Jesus not only taught his people the qualities of servant leadership, but practiced them as well (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J.,2002, p. 59). In thinking of Jesus Christ, he reveals the personality attribute of “strength” in the concept that “I am the leader, therefore, I shall serve”, rather than “I am the leader, therefore, I shall lead” (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p. 60). According to De Pree (1989), “at its core, the nature of the servant leadership is serving, not leading” (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p. 60). It is important to note that being a servant leader emanates from having a strong self-concept and being confident in yourself to make the decision to serve; it should not be viewed as a weakness. In the case of Jesus washing his disciples feet; Jesus made a deliberate decision to “serve his disciples, because of his strong self-image, he placed himself before them and made “a deliberate offering of himself”. (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p.60). The two core characteristics of servant leadership are: a strong core self-image, and the drive to consciously acknowledge “I am the leader, therefore I shall serve” (Sendjaya, S. and Sarros, J., 2002, p.62).

References

 

Sendjaya, S., & Sarros, J.C. (2002). Servant leadership: Its origin, development, and application in organizations. Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies, 9(2). 57-64.

Learning Activity 3.5

 

Direct Quote:

 

Other researchers have not yet investigated the impact of PCDD/F and PCB’s on human development “To our knowledge, the influence of PCDD/F exposure on attention performance in children of school age has not been studied yet” (Neugebauer, J.W., et al., 2015, p. 154).

 

Reference:

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

 

Quote more than 40 words:

To our knowledge,this is the first study examining the influence of prenatal PCDD/F exposure on attention performance in school-aged children. We also analyzed associations between prenatal PCB and lead concentrations and the attention-related measures. At low environmental levels, we found significant associations with attention performance in healthy children, whereas ADHD-related behavior remained unchanged. Our results show that the associ-
ations of exposure to PCDD/Fs are – as expected – comparable to those of exposure to PCBs. Postnatal exposure through breastfeeding did not change the associations with attention performance. In addition, we provide evidence for the similar influence of BLLs on attention. In particular, we demonstrate the impact of prenatal lead exposure to be comparable to postnatal exposure. Although the sample size is limited, the longitudinal study design enables us to look at a possible link between prenatal PCDD/F, PCB and lead exposure and attention performance in children. Future analyses should consider incorporating a longitudinal exposure and outcome analysis design that make it easier to discriminate between prenatal and long-term postnatal exposure and to confirm attention performance in children. (Neugebauer, J.W., et al., 2015, p. 160).

Reference:

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

 

A sentence that refers to an idea from the article paraphrased:

 

Neugebauer et al. (2015) suggest that given that the sample size was somewhat small it is recommended that a longer post natal study be conducted to determine the effect of exposure to neurotoxicants over a longer period of time (Neugebauer, J.W., et al., 2015, p. 160).

 

Reference:

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

Unit 3 Learning Activities

References

Diet related to killer diseases: hearings before the Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs of the United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, first session. (1977). Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1977-.

Englehart, D. (2005). Health, hygiene, and nutrition: grades 3-4. Grand Rapids: Instructional Fair, c2005.

Hunter, E. M., Neubert, M. J., Perry, S. J., Witt, L., Penney, L. M., & Weinberger, E. (2013). Servant leaders inspire servant followers: Antecedents and outcomes for employees and the organization. Leadership Quarterly, 24(2), 316-331. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2012.12.001

Kaplan, T. and Stolberg, S.G. (2018, January 20). Is it Trump’s Shutdown or Schumer’s?. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/

Woodhouse, Dustan (2018, January 18). Retrieved from http://blog.dustanwoodhouse.ca/dustanwoodhouse/2018/01/are-you-in-a-variable-rate-mortgage.html

Woodhouse, Dustan (2018, January 18). Retrieved from http://blog.dustanwoodhouse.ca/dustanwoodhouse/2018/01/are-you-in-a-variable-rate-mortgage.html

 

Unit 3 Learning Activities

 

Article title

 

The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children.

 

Authors

Julia Neugebauer, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Jürgen Wittsiepe, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Monika Kasper-Sonnenberg, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Nina Schöneck, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Axel Schölmerich, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Michael Wilhelm, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Source

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 218 Issue. 1, 2015 pp. 153 – 162 © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

 

ADHD is a diagnosed at a very high rate. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and lead on attention performance in children. It is the first study to the author’s knowledge of prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and consequently how it impacts the exposed children with respect to attention performance in school. Exposure to to these neurotoxicants are thought to be contributing elements to the diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

Sample and Participant Selection

Within the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study, a study measured blood levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in expecting mothers during their 32nd week of pregnancy.  Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in the breast milk of mothers 2 weeks postpartum were measured. 117 school-age children with an average age of 8.5 participated in the KITAP testing.  114 school-age children with an average age of 9.5 completed the computer FBB-ADHS testing.  Participant selection included pre-screening the children using the Wechsler Intelligence scale.  One child who exhibited an intelligence quotient of less than 80 was elminated.

 

Assessments and Measures

School-aged children were tested for attention span using a questionnaire that was filled out by parents and through a computer-based test battery of attention performance (KITAP). Researchers used a multiple regression analysis to determine if exposure to these compounds influenced attention spans.

Results

The results showed that an increased exposure to PCDD/F and PCB did not significantly impact the ADHD-related behaviours. Researchers found that ADHD-related behaviours were affected by prenatal lead exposure. Increasing lead exposure, resulted in increased ADHD related behaviours.

Discussion

The study highlights the influence of prenatal PCDD/F, PCB and lead exposure on behaviours that are associated with ADHD.

Limitations of the Present Study

The sample size was somewhat small.  It is recommended that a longer post natal study be conducted to determine the effect of exposure to neurotoxicants over a longer period of time.

Conclusions and Future Prospects

Pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/F and PCB can influence or increase the ADHD behaviours in young and otherwise healthy children. Research indicates that environmental contaminants can be a factor in affecting the development of healthy children. Beyond dietary choice or knowledgeable exposure, women and children can be unknowingly exposed to harmful neurotoxicants. While it is clear that diet, (nutritional factors, the amount of processed food consumed, or chemical additives ingested) plays an important role, it is clear that factors other than diet and nutrition can play a role in the healthy development of children. It is probable that there are many other causal factors involved in the development of attention related disorders. The causes of attention related disorders are complex and possibly interrelated, and it is clear that the potential influence of external factors such as environmental organic pollutants cannot be ignored.

 

Reference:

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

 

Unit 3 Learning Activities

Article title

 

The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children.

 

Authors

Julia Neugebauer, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Jürgen Wittsiepe, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Monika Kasper-Sonnenberg, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Nina Schöneck, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Axel Schölmerich, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Michael Wilhelm, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Source

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 218 Issue. 1, 2015 pp. 153 – 162 © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

 

ADHD is a diagnosed at a very high rate. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and lead on attention performance in children. It is the first study to the author’s knowledge of prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and consequently how it impacts the exposed children with respect to attention performance in school. Exposure to to these neurotoxicants are thought to be contributing elements to the diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

Sample and Participant Selection

Within the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study, a study measured blood levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in expecting mothers during their 32nd week of pregnancy.  Levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in the breast milk of mothers 2 weeks postpartum were measured. 117 school-age children with an average age of 8.5 participated in the KITAP testing.  114 school-age children with an average age of 9.5 completed the computer FBB-ADHS testing.  Participant selection included pre-screening the children using the Wechsler Intelligence scale.  One child was eliminated that exhibited an intelligence quotient of less than 80.  

 

Assessments and Measures

School-aged children were tested for attention span using a questionnaire that was filled out by parents and through a computer-based test battery of attention performance (KITAP). Researchers used a multiple regression analysis to determine if exposure to these compounds influenced attention spans.

Results

The results showed that an increased exposure to PCDD/F and PCB did not significantly impact the ADHD-related behaviours. They found that ADHD-related behaviours were affected by prenatal lead exposure. Increasing lead exposure, resulted in increased ADHD related behaviours.

Discussion

The study highlights the influence of prenatal PCDD/F, PCB and lead exposure on behaviours that are associated with ADHD.

Limitations of the Present Study

The sample size was somewhat small.  It is recommended that a longer post natal study be conducted to determine the effect of exposure to neurotoxicants over a longer period of time.

Conclusions and Future Prospects

Pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/F and PCB can influence or increase the ADHD behaviours in young and otherwise healthy children. Research indicates that environmental contaminants can be a factor in affecting the development of healthy children. Beyond dietary choice or knowledgeable exposure, women and children can be unknowingly exposed to harmful neurotoxicants. While it is clear that diet, (nutritional factors, the amount of processed food consumed, or chemical additives ingested) plays an important role, it is clear that factors other than diet and nutrition can play a role in the healthy development of children. It is probable that there are many other causal factors involved in the development of attention related disorders. The causes of attention related disorders are complex and possibly interrelated, and it is clear that the potential influence of external factors such as environmental organic pollutants cannot be ignored.

 

Reference:

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

Learning Activity 3.1

Unit 3 Learning Activities

The article I have chose can be found at: http://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2145/retrieve/pii/S1438463914000947

Article title

The influence of low level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children.

Authors

Julia Neugebauer, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)
Jürgen Wittsiepe, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)
Monika Kasper-Sonnenberg, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)
Nina Schöneck, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)
Axel Schölmerich, (Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)
Michael Wilhelm, (Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801 Bochum, Germany)

Source

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 218 Issue. 1, 2015 pp. 153 – 162 © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Introduction

ADHD is a diagnosed at a very high rate. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and lead on attention performance in children. It is the first study to the author’s knowledge of pre-natal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs and consequently how it impacts the exposed children with respect to attention performance in school. Exposure to to these neurotoxicants are thought to be contributing elements to the diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

The study measured blood levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in expecting mothers during their 32nd week of pregnancy. They measured the levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and lead in the breast milk of the mothers 2 weeks post-partum. 117 school-age children with an average age of 8.5 participated in the KITAP testing. 114 school-age children with an average age of 9.5 completed the computer FBB-ADHS testing. All children in the study were pre-screened using the Wechsler Intelligence scale for children. One child was eliminated that exhibited an intelligence quotient of less than 80. School-aged children were tested for attention span using a questionnaire that was filled out by parents and through a computer-based test battery of attention performance (KITAP). Researchers used a multiple regression analysis to determine if exposure to these compounds influenced attention spans.

Results

The results showed that an increased exposure to PCDD/F and PCB did not significantly impact the ADHD-related behaviours. They found that ADHD-related behaviours were affected by prenatal lead exposure. Increasing lead exposure, resulted in increasing ADHD related behaviours.

Conclusion

The study highlights the influence of prenatal PCDD/F, PCB and lead exposure on behaviours that are associated with ADHD. Their studies resulted in the conclusion that these exposures can influence or increase the ADHD behaviours in young and otherwise healthy children. Given that the sample size was somewhat small it is recommended that a longer postnatal study is conducted to determine the effect of exposure to neurotoxicants over a longer period of time.

Personal comment

This research proves that environmental contaminants can be a factor in affecting the development of healthy children. I was not aware that women and children could unknowingly be exposed to a neurotoxicant, such as lead. In our everyday life a person just assumes that the food and water ingested is safe and free of harmful chemicals. In selecting my research topic, I was initially interested in the influence of diet, such as nutritional factors, the amount of processed food consumed, or chemical additives ingested through dietary intake, that may negatively impact a child’s behaviour. I find myself reflecting on all of the possible factors other than diet and nutrition that can play a role in the healthy development of children. I feel that there are many more factors involved in determining the cause of attention-related learning disorders in children that just diet. The incidence of environmental organic pollutants and their impact on attention-related disorders in children is an evolving area of research.

References

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Neugebauer, J., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Schöneck, N., Schölmerich, A., & Wilhelm, M. (2015). The influence of low-level pre- and perinatal exposure to PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and lead on attention performance and attention-related behavior among German school-aged children: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study. International Journal Of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 218(1), 153-162. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.09.005

I have learned many new and more efficient ways to use the TWU library search page and I believe that this will help me to be more successful with my research. Although I found some of the topics for e-books very interesting, I believe that I will find the most current and valuable information through peer reviewed articles. In Clark and Creswell’s Understanding Research, they state, “when reading about research on a specific topic, journal articles are generally the best source.” (Clark and Creswell, 2015, P 11). The explain that journal articles are the best source because they are written by the people who actually conducted the research. This provides an unbiased viewpoint.

To ensure that the articles are credible and reliable, I will invest time in not only reading th research article, but researching the background/credentials of the author(s). Also, I noticed with some of the articles that you can tell how many times it has been cited. I will look for this as well because if it has been cited by other authors of peer review journals, it is more reliable. I will also make sure that the majority of the articles that I reference have a publishing date that is current.

Once I have found a reliable article, I will also access the sources referenced within that article for further information.

Even though most of my resources will be peer reviewed articles, I will still access some information found in e-books on the TWU website as I feel that the information is valuable and helpful.

My topic that I have started with is as follows. It is formatted according to the 3 step statements that were provided to me by Dr. Strong.

1. I am researching chemicals or dyes in processed and packaged foods and children with special needs (topic)
2. because I want to find out if chemicals/dyes in processed and packaged foods have an effect on the behaviour of children with special needs(issue/question)
3. in order to develop a nutrition program at our school that promotes the health and well-being of our students (application – audience).

 

As I learn more about being an effective researcher, I believe that this topic will change and evolve so that I can more effectively and efficiently find reliable sources.

References:

Plano-Clark, V., Creswell, J. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer’s guide (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

The e-book I have found for this learning activity is Hope for the autism spectrum [electronic resource] : a mother and son journey of insight and biomedical intervention. The author of this books is Sally Kirk. It was published by Jessica Kingsley out of London, Philadelphia in 2008, c2009. http://library.twu.ca/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/?ps=pDd8hy8duD/MAIN/16210070/9

The author, Sally Kirk, is a mother of a son who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. When her son was diagnosed, she took it upon herself to learn all that she possibly could about treatment and therapy for this disorder.

In this book, the author intended to share her family’s experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She intends to target other families who may be experiencing similar situations.The book provides a wealth of information on biomedical interventions for ASD. Her information is intended to target family’s, physiologists, practitioners and pediatricians who may be able to share the information with other families as well.

This book is published in 2008 and copyright in 2009. According to the Unit 2 notes, this follows the general rule that a source published within the last 10 years is up to date.

I found it more difficult to determine if the e-book is peer reviewed. I do not believe it is peer reviewed. You can find reviews of the book online, written by authors of other books on similar subjects and founders of recognized societies such as the Autism Society of America, and the Director of the Autism Research Institute.

The book may have biases in that it is a personal experience told from Sally Kirk. Her experiences may not be the same for others in similar situations.