Performance-approach goals: the operationalization makes the difference

The operationalization of performance-approach goals (PAGs) was found to be an important moderator of the associations between different PAGs and several educational outcomes. To explore this aspect in more detail, we conducted two studies with school students (N₁ = 425, mean age = 16.6 years, SD = 0.61; N₂ = 310, mean age = 14.91, SD = 1.72). In study 1, we mainly focused on the associations between achievement goals and school grades. In study 2, we additionally assessed several motivational variables (academic self-concept, school values), as well as test anxiety and school well-being. All variables were assessed for school in general, mathematics, and German (mother tongue). The results of confirmatory factor analyses replicated and extended the finding on the different facets of PAGs. Besides a normative-based PAG component (the aim is to perform better than others) and an appearance-based PAG component (the aim is to demonstrate one’s ability), an additional proving PAG component (the aim is to demonstrate one’s ability toward significant others) was found. Contrary to earlier findings, both normative and appearance-based PAGs were positively correlated with school grades, whereas the proving component showed smaller associations. Moreover, differential associations with self-concept, school values, and school well-being emerged regarding the different facets of PAGs. The results are discussed with regard to the operationalization of PAGs.

     

ICT implementation: what makes the difference?

This paper addresses the question of why some schools have managed to introduce widespread use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into teaching and learning across the curriculum, where other schools have had much less “success” in this matter. The issue is addressed through interpretive, case study research in a UK secondary school where almost all staff are now using ICT to enhance and extend learning in their subject areas. After setting the context, a summary of the methods used and an overview of the findings are presented. Whilst some of the findings are specific to the context, it is suggested that much can be learnt from the single case, both by practitioners seeking to develop ICT use and researchers interested in taking the subject forward in other contexts.     

Education makes a difference: Results of a survey of writing on the job

A survey of 182 employees participating in writing workshops reveals some differences in writing practices, based on the educational level of the employee, and suggests that employees with advanced degrees (e.g., master's or doctoral) vary most noticeably from the other groups. In particular, it seems that a large percentage of workers with graduate training write long reports, write to other experts in their field, and spend time revising. Additional research needs to be done on the impact of educational level on writing practices.     

Peer rejection and HPA activity in middle childhood: friendship makes a difference

Exclusion and victimization by classmates were related to levels and diurnal change in cortisol in 97 fourth graders (53% boys, M = 9.3 years). Number and quality of friendships were considered as moderators. Salivary cortisol was collected 5 times daily on 2 school days. Excluded children had elevated cortisol levels at school and a flattened diurnal cortisol curve, suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis dysregulation. This effect was weaker for children with more friends or better friendships. Victimization was not associated with cortisol level or change. The results demonstrate the role of HPA activity in peer group processes and indicate that group and dyadic factors interact in predicting stress in the peer group.     

From being silenced to having a voice: when mentoring makes all the difference

Higher Education - The 2010s witnessed unparalleled policymaking and development in international higher education in China. Whilst research has shed light on the broader...     

An examination of language learning disabilities in youth with psychiatric disorders

This study examined the relationship between psychiatric and language disorders in a sample of youth who were hospitalized at a private psychiatric hospital. Ninety six participants were given a test battery that consisted of tests measuring phonology, syntax, and semantics. The resulting sample scored in the average range on IQ measures and in the low-average to below-average range on written language abilities tests. Over 33% of the participants qualified for the diagnosis of a language learning disability (LLD); however, only 44% of those participants who qualified as LLD were receiving special education services upon admission. The participants who had both a psychiatric and LLD exhibited significant deficits in both phonology and syntax. General implications for identification and treatment are presented.     

Antiracism defined as equitable sociocultural interactions in prekindergarten: Classroom racial composition makes a difference

This study used secondary data from the My Teaching Partner-Math/Science 2013–2016 randomized control trial to explore whether equitable sociocultural classroom interactions (see Curenton et al., 2019) were associated with the skills of 105 four- and five-year-olds (52% boys; drawn from 20 unique video recordings of preschool teachers/classrooms; 43% were Black, Latine, Asian, or other racially marginalized learners). Equitable interactions predicted children's skills with effect sizes ranging from small (0.01–0.44) to large (1.00). Moderation analyses revealed that when classrooms had more racially marginalized learners, teachers’ use of equitable disciplinary and personalized learning practices were associated with higher executive functioning gains across prekindergarten. Findings illustrate how classroom composition can be a key indicator between equitable classroom interactions and young children's early skills.     

青少年体育自身行为影响因素的调查分析

本文从学校体育、家庭体育、社区体育以及青少年自身因素四个方面,对江苏省不同区域的（地级市市区、县级市市区、农村）青少年体育现状进行调查、分析、归纳,发掘影响我省青少年体育开展的主要因素,从而有的放矢提出合理建议,为探索加强我省青少年体育、增强我省青少年体质的适宜路径提供可操作思路,为我省进一步开展青少年体育工作提供参考依据,从而更有利于我省青少年体育资源的优化配置,推动体育强省的建设。     

Lifetime assessment of poly-victimization in a national sample of children and youth

ObjectiveTo use a lifetime assessment of victimization experiences to identify children and youth with high cumulative levels of victimization (poly-victims). Also to compare such children to other victims and non-victims, and assess the contribution of cumulative victimization to levels of psychological distress.DesignA national sample of 1,467 children aged 2–17 recruited through random digit dialing and assessed via telephone interviews (with caretakers and youth themselves) about a comprehensive range of 33 types of victimization experiences in the previous year and at any time in their lives.ResultsNearly 80% of the children and youth reported at least one lifetime victimization. The mean number of lifetime victimizations was 3.7 and the median 2.6. The total number of different lifetime victimizations was highly predictive of symptoms of current distress. The best linear prediction of distress on the basis of cumulative victimization entailed weighting child maltreatment and sexual assault by factors of 4 and 3 respectively compared to other victimizations. We proposed classifying poly-victims as those 10% of children and youth with the highest victimization scores, and calculating different thresholds for children at different ages. Poly-victims designated in this way had significantly more distress, more non-victimization adversities than other youth and were less likely to come from an intact family.ConclusionLifetime assessment of victimization has value as a means of identifying groups of highly victimized children and youth.Practice ImplicationsThis paper describes a procedure under which practitioners can assess for a group of children, termed “poly-victims,” who have a very high burden of lifetime victimization. These children merit identification because they have high levels of psychological distress, some of the most serious victimization profiles, and a presumed vulnerability for further victimization.     

Trauma resilience among youth in substitute care demonstrating sexual behavior problems

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the relationship between several proposed protective factors and trauma symptoms among highly vulnerable youth in the child welfare system. METHODS: Participants were 142 youth identified with a sexual behavior problem and their caregivers. Two waves of data were collected for each participant an average of 18 months apart. Foster parents reported on perceived level of support from the child welfare agency, youth involvement in club activities, and perception of youths' interpersonal and emotional competence. Youth provided self-reports of their sexual and physical abuse experiences, trauma symptoms at both time 1 and time 2, and ratings of parenting practices. RESULTS: Youth with higher rates of sexual abuse showed more negative affect and higher levels of sexual and non-sexual rumination at time 2, controlling for time 1 scores. Boys and youth who experienced better parenting practices displayed lower negative affect. Youth with higher levels of emotional and interpersonal competence showed lower levels of non-sexual rumination. Moderation analyses revealed that youth with more significant sexual abuse histories whose foster parents did not feel supported by their child welfare caseworkers had higher levels of sexually ruminative thoughts. Finally, the results revealed that only youth without sexual abuse histories experienced the benefits of club involvement in terms of lower sexual rumination scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that youth with significant vulnerabilities can still exhibit a degree of protection from trauma symptomatology in the presence of a wide range of personal and social variables. These findings support the efforts of stakeholders to promote strengths at the level of the individual, family, and broader social network and community.     

Increasing Situational Interest in the Classroom

This paper explores three ways to increase situational interest in the classroom. Situational interest is defined as temporary interest that arises spontaneously due to environmental factors such as task instructions or an engaging text. We review the history of interest research and summarize recent empirical work. We describe three ways to increase interest based on offering meaningful choices to students, selecting well-organized texts that promote interest, and providing the background knowledge needed to fully understand a topic. We conclude with six specific suggestions for increasing situational interest in the classroom.     

Externalizing behavior disorders, situational generality, and the type A behavior pattern

Measures of the Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) in children have demonstrated good sensitivity but problematic specificity. Using the most popular measure of childhood TABP, a teacher rating scale called the MYTH, we sought to (a) replicate earlier findings of extensive overlap between TABP and externalizing behavior problems, (b) further distinguish between and extend the empirical networks for the positive (Competition) and negative (Impatience-Aggression) components of TABP, and (c) explore cross-situational generality. Normal boys and those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were assessed on multiple instruments in diverse contexts. ADHD boys obtained higher TABP Total and Impatience-Aggression scores than normal boys, and these scores were associated with a wide array of behavior problems and peer difficulties. In contrast, the Competition subscale was related to popularity and athleticism and, inversely, to internalizing problems. Discussion focused on the construct validity of the MYTH, the heterogeneity of boys identified by the MYTH as showing the TABP, and the need for distinguishing research uses of the measure from applications of the TABP concept.