Short-term memory for haptic cues in monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Short-term memory (STM) for haptic information was examined in a delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) task. Three rhesus monkeys were tested in DMTS with all possible combinations of different-size spheres and cubes as the sample and comparison stimuli. The results showed that the decrease in percentage correct as a function of the retention intervals was relatively independent of the size and shape of the sample and comparison stimuli. In general, at each retention interval, percentage correct was higher when the (1) comparison stimuli differed in both size and shape than when the comparison stimuli differed in only size or shape, (2) size differences between the comparison stimuli increased, and (3) samples were spheres rather than cubes. This pattern of results suggests that dimensions of the haptic stimuli influenced discrimination but had little effect on the animals’ STM. In Experiment 2, the same three monkeys responded to the sample and comparison stimuli with the same hand or responded to the sample with one hand and the comparison stimuli with the opposite hand. The decrease in percentage correct across retention intervals was comparable for all possible hand combinations. These results suggest that the loss of information from STM is comparable when the sample and comparison stimuli are both felt with the same hand or with opposite hands.     

Kindergarten children's symbolic number comparison skills relates to 1st grade mathematics achievement: Evidence from a two-minute paper-and-pencil test

Basic numerical skills provide an important foundation for the learning of mathematics. Thus, it is critical that researchers and educators have access to valid and reliable ways of assessing young children's numerical skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent, predictive, and incremental validity of a two-minute paper-and-pencil measure of children's symbolic (Arabic numerals) and non-symbolic (dot arrays) comparison skills. A sample of kindergarten children (M_age = 5.86, N = 439) were assessed on the measure along with a number line estimation task, a measure of arithmetic, and several control measures. Results indicated that performance on the symbolic comparison task explained unique variance in children's arithmetic performance in kindergarten. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated that both symbolic comparison and number line estimation in kindergarten were independent predictors of 1st grade mathematics achievement. However, only symbolic comparison remained a unique predictor once language skills and processing speed were taken into account. These results suggest that a two-minute paper-and-pencil measure of children's symbolic number comparison is a reliable predictor of children's early mathematics performance.     

Building Vocabulary Knowledge in Preschoolers Through Shared Book Reading and Gameplay

This study moves beyond previous investigations to examine whether an educational intervention combining shared book reading with a vocabulary game increases children's vocabulary knowledge. Four‐year‐olds (N = 44) were randomly assigned to dyads in either an intervention (shared book reading plus vocabulary review game) or comparison condition (shared book reading, after‐reading vocabulary review, and game that did not teach vocabulary). After two 30‐min sessions, results demonstrated that the intervention condition outperformed the comparison condition on measures of receptive and expressive knowledge of taught vocabulary words. Children in the intervention group who scored the lowest at pretest on the receptive measure saw the most gains in taught word knowledge. Findings suggest that combining vocabulary gameplay with shared book reading improved children's learning of the vocabulary words in comparison to a comparison group.     

Matching-to-sample in pigeons: In the absence of sample memory,sample frequency is a better predictor of comparison choice than the probability of reinforcement for comparison choice

In matching-to-sample, comparison choice should be controlled by the identity of the sample and, when the sample is not available, by the overall probability of reinforcement associated with each of the comparisons. In the present research, pigeons were trained to match a frequent sample (appearing on 80% of the trials) to one comparison (C _fr) and an infrequent sample (appearing on 20% of the trials) to the other (C _inf), with the number of reinforcements associated with each sample equated. In Experiment 1, the task was identity matching; in Experiments 2 and 3, it was symbolic matching. We asked whether, when control of comparison choice by the sample was reduced (by inserting a delay between the sample and the comparisons), pigeons would choose comparisons on the basis of (1) the number of reinforcements per comparison (and thus show no comparison bias), (2) the comparison associated with the more frequent sample during training (and show a preference forC _fr), or (3) the probability of reinforcement given a correct response (and show a preference forC _inf), or (4) inhibition produced by nonreinforced choice of the more frequently correct comparison (and show a preference forC _inf). Pigeons showed a significant tendency to chooseC _fr. In Experiment 3, we showed that this bias did not result from the effects of intertrial facilitation or interference. Thus, it appears that when control of comparison choice by the sample is reduced, pigeons’ choice is controlled not merely by the probability of reinforcement but also by overall sample frequency.     

Enhancing arithmetic in pre-schoolers with comparison or number line estimation training: Does it matter?

Children's intuitive understanding of number, i.e. number sense, is associated with individual differences in mathematics achievement. To investigate the causal association between number sense, traditionally assessed with comparison or number line estimation tasks, and mathematics achievement, often assessed with an arithmetic test, an intervention study was conducted that aimed at training either comparison or number line estimation skills. We contrasted a comparison and number line estimation training. By doing so, we wanted to address the question which intervention had the largest effect on arithmetic. In addition, such a direct comparison between comparison and number line estimation trainings would allow us to get more insight in the association between both tasks. Participants were 151 five-year-olds that were randomly allocated to either an experimental condition (i.e. comparison or number line estimation) or one of the two control conditions (i.e., active control condition and empty control condition) in a pretest-posttest design measuring number knowledge, (non-)symbolic comparison and number line estimation and arithmetic. The results showed that both comparison and number line estimation trainings had a positive effect on arithmetic. However, the absence of transfer effects from one task to another, also suggested that comparison and number line estimation rely on different mechanisms and probably influence arithmetic through different mechanisms.     

Using comparison to develop flexibility for teaching algebra

In this paper, we describe a one-day professional development activity for mathematics teachers that promoted the use of comparison as an instructional tool to develop students’ flexibility in algebra. Effective use of comparison in mathematics instruction involves using side-by-side presentation of problems and solution methods and subsequent student discussion of these multiple solution methods to highlight the similarities and differences among problem-solving techniques. The goals of the professional development activity were to make teachers aware of how to use comparison effectively in their instruction, as well as to impact teachers’ own flexibility in algebra by using comparison instructionally during the professional development. Our analysis of teachers’ experiences in the professional development activity suggests that when teachers were presented with techniques for effective use of comparison, their own understanding of multiple solution methods was reinforced. In addition, teachers began to question why they relied exclusively on one familiar method over others that are equally effective and perhaps more efficient and started to draw new connections between problem-solving methods. Finally, as a result of experiencing instructional use of comparison, teachers began to see value in teaching for flexibility and reported changing their own teaching practices.     

Improving quick writing performance of middle-school struggling learners

Writing performanceperformance of 279 seventh- and eighth-grade students in four urban charter schools was evaluated in comparison group pretest/posttest quasi-experimental study. Thirty-three students, identified by cut scores on a standardized fluency measure, received supplemental one-to-one Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) instruction for persuasive quick writing. Fifty-one students with scores below the cut participated as an eligible non-treatment comparison; 195 students with scores above the cut participated as a non-eligible comparison group. All students’ written responses were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results of repeated measures analysis indicated that students in treatment (additional instruction time + SRSD + planned practice-testing) significantly improved quick writing performance after instruction when compared to pretest performance, and when compared to eligible comparison, with large effect sizes for number of persuasive elements and organizational quality and medium effects for persuasive quality. When compared to non-eligible comparison, students in treatment had significantly higher scores for organizational quality (large effects) and persuasive quality (small effects).     

SOCIAL COMPARISON IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO FRAMES OF REFERENCE AND ENGAGEMENT,DISAFFECTION, AND PHYSICAL SELF‐CONCEPT

Drawing from theory and research into social comparison processes, the present study sought to determine children's motives for comparison in addition to the coexistence of class and individual comparisons in school physical education. The main and interactive effects of these types of comparisons were examined in relation to pupils’ physical self‐concept, as well as self‐reported behavioral engagement and disaffection in class. In total, 545 children (M_age = 13.89 years, SD = 1.57 years) from two schools in England completed the questionnaire. Moderated hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that the higher a child's perception of his or her ability was compared with his or her classmates, the greater the level of engagement and physical self‐concept and the lower the level of disaffection. Interaction analysis showed that when perceived ability with reference to the class was low, a downward comparison with an individual enhanced engagement, but this was not the case when perceived ability was high. Findings suggest that further research into social comparison processes in this setting is warranted.     

历史比较初论:比较研究的一般逻辑

当代西方分析哲学与科学哲学思想中有关“不可公度性”的讨论,为我们深入探究历史比较的理论根基提供了参照。历史比较必须遵循一般比较研究的逻辑:比较是不可公度性与可公度性的统一;比较研究中,不能由比较对象之间局部要素的可公度性推导出整体的可公度性;比较对象的可公度性与不可公度性随着比较者设定的比较范围或概念层次而变化;没有比较就没有认识;事物的本质并非完全外在于比较者的客观存在,它同时也有赖于比较者的理论构想;比较研究意在形成新的认同,而在比较研究中保持差异是比较研究成为一种创造性活动的源泉。     

Comparing ethnographies of teaching when comparison seems impossible

ABSTRACT

This essay examines comparison in a double sense. Focusing on ethnographies of teachers’ work in the published literature, I ask whether it is possible to compare ethnographic studies across national borders without losing the particularities of local context, and also without losing the distinctive theoretical perspective of ethnographers operating within different national traditions. Building on the volume Comparing ethnographies, I explore as a tool an expansion of Noblit and Hare’s ‘meta-ethnographic’ approach. Because meta-ethnography aims to remain faithful to local contexts, it works for cross-national comparison; because it is meant as an interpretation of the ethnographers’ interpretations, it can allow for national differences in scholarly traditions. I illustrate with a comparison of ethnographies of practices in Danish and in Japanese preschools, identifying ‘reciprocal’ translations, ‘refutational synthesis’ and ‘line-of-argument synthesis’. The essay demonstrates that meta-ethnography’s interpretive approach does permit comparison across national contexts and scholarly traditions, and that it actually encourages ‘theoretical generalisation’, the ability to expand our understanding, without obscuring local context.     

哈希表与一般查找方法的比较及冲突的解决

众所周知,在表中查找记录时需进行查找值和关键字的比较。这一类查找方法建立在"比较"的基础上。一般的查找方法有:顺序查找、折半查找、二叉查找。查找的效率依赖于查找过程中所进行的比较次数,甚至有一些数据的位置会影响某一次查找效率。理想的是希望不经任何比较,一次存取便能得到所需查找的记录。这个理想的情况可以通过哈希表来实现。     

University Applicants’ Critical Thinking Skills: The Case of the Finnish Educational Sciences

This study investigates the quality of the critical thinking skills of applicants (n?=?77) seeking entry to the faculty of educational sciences in a Finnish university and how these skills are associated with the applicant’s age, previous higher education experience, and matriculation and entrance examination scores. The data consist of the applicants’ responses to problem-solving tasks and their matriculation and entrance examination scores. Critical thinking skills were measured with comparison and argumentation tasks. The results indicate that comparison of the texts and analysis of the arguments they contained were more difficult tasks than putting forward arguments both for and against of one’s personal standpoint. In addition, previous experience of higher education predicted participants’ comparison skills and their matriculation examination grades predicted their argumentation skills. The feasibility of using critical comparison tasks in the entrance examination tests is discussed.     

The role of test stimuli in matching to compound samples by pigeons

Two pigeons matched to sample in a three-key operant conditioning chamber. In Experiment I, two different kinds of samples were presented on the center key.Element samples were members of one of two sample sets — colors (a red or blue disk) or lines (a vertical or horizontal orientation of a set of white lines). These samples were followed by their respective sample sets on the side keys as comparison stimuli.Compound samples consisted of a set of lines superimposed on a colored disk. Following these samples, either sample set could appear as comparison stimuli. Matching to compound samples was less accurate than matching to element samples. One interpretation is that sharing of attention among elements of a compound sample weakened stimulus control by each element. A different interpretation is that an element sample controlled matching better because it was physically identical to a comparison stimulus whereas a compound sample was not. Experiments II–IV evaluated this “generalization decrement” alternative by testing element- vs. compound sample control with both element and compound comparison stimuli. Irrelevant elements were added to form compound comparison stimuli, some of which were physically identical to a preceding compound sample, but never identical to an element sample. In all experiments, the addition of irrelevant elements of comparison stimuli reduced sample control. However, the generalization decrement hypothesis failed to predict how differences in performance maintained by element and compound samples were affected by different tests of sample control. Matching accuracy appeared to be independently determined by the number of elements in a sample and whether irrelevant elements were present during tests of sample control.     

Interaction of sample dimension and sample-comparison mapping on pigeons’ performance of delayed conditional discriminations

Coding strategies developed in the acquisition of delayed conditional discriminations can be assessed by independently manipulating sample and comparison memory load. Two stimulus dimensions that can affect memory load were examined: Number of stimuli in the sample and comparison sets (two vs. four) was manipulated between groups in a 2×2 design, and discriminability of sample and comparison stimuli (hues vs. lines) was manipulated between counterbalancing subgroups and within subjects. The results indicated large effects of sample discriminability but not of comparison discriminability, evidence for retrospective coding. There was also a significant effect of number of stimuli in the comparison set (although only with hard-to-discriminate samples) but not of number of stimuli in the sample set, evidence for prospective coding. These findings suggest evidence for retrospective coding with easy-to-discriminate samples, independently of number of stimuli in the comparison set, and evidence for prospective coding with hard-to-discriminate samples.     

英汉语句子比较初探

英语应在与汉语的比较中学习。英语句子有一个“一二三规律”,即英语句子只有一个基本模式ＳＰ,ＳＰ通过第一级和第二级扩大而得到千千万万的句子,所有这些句子按其结果进行分类不外乎三个基本类型：简单句、并列句和复合句。掌握了英语的“一二三”规律,英语学习就能事半功倍。     

Animal memory: The contribution of generalization decrement to delayed conditional discrimination retention functions

Delayed conditional discriminations in which a sample indicates which comparison stimulus is correct have typically been used in working memory research with animals. Following acquisition with no (0-sec) delay between the offset of the sample and the onset of the comparison stimuli, delays of variable duration are introduced. The resulting retention functions are taken as a measure of memory. We suggest that, in addition to memory loss due to the delay, the comparison of matching accuracy at the 0-sec training delay with relatively novel test delays may produce a generalization decrement that varies as a function of increasing delay. We tested this hypothesis by training pigeons with a mixed delay procedure from the start and found that the retention functions for these pigeons were significantly shallower than those for a control group trained with 0-sec delays and tested with longer delays, and, although reduced in magnitude, the differences persisted for as many as 15 sessions. We propose that a measure of animals’ working memory can be obtained uninfluenced by a generalization decrement if they have received comparable training with all of the delays that are tested.     

比较法之路径分析

长期以来,比较法形成了三种主要研究路径。其一是规则比较,其二是文化比较,其三是功能比较。规则比较将不同的法律规则进行对比;文化比较则将法律视为文化的一部分,在一个更广阔的视角内进行比较;功能比较是一种在确定目的的前提下探讨手段的比较方法。这三种比较方法各有其优缺点,应当在运用当中综合使用。然而,必须首先明确这三者之间的关系。这三者之间是目的与手段的关系。功能比较是一种目的,而规则比较和文化比较则主要是手段。比较法的研究需要做到目的与手段相结合,"求同"与"求异"相结合。     

Pastoral Care: Unique or Universal?

The nature, development and current position of Pastoral Care in England are considered. Attention is drawn to both the strengths and problems of Pastoral Care, and the problematic dimensions are underlined by the comparison of Pastoral Care in England and Western Australia. The question raised in the paper's title is addressed through a comparison with guidance in Canada. The writer suggests that, though this comparison suggests broad underlying principles to affective education, it also shows that Pastoral Care has some unique qualities which could be profitably used as models. It is stressed that Pastoral Care is best understood in a broad international context.     

Nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude comparison skills as longitudinal predictors of mathematical achievement

What developmental roles do nonsymbolic (e.g., dot arrays) and symbolic (i.e., Arabic numerals) magnitude comparison skills play in children's mathematics? We assessed a large sample in kindergarten, grade 1 and 2 on two well-known nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude comparison measures. We also assessed children's initial IQ and developing Working Memory (WM) capacities. Results demonstrated that symbolic and nonsymbolic comparison had different developmental trajectories; the first underwent larger developmental improvements. Both skills were longitudinal predictors of children's future mathematical achievement above and beyond IQ and WM. Nonsymbolic comparison was moderately predictive only in kindergarten. Symbolic comparison, however, was a robust and consistent predictor of future mathematics across all three years. It was a stronger predictor compared to nonsymbolic, and its predictive power at the early stages was even comparable to that of IQ. Furthermore, the present results raise several methodological implications regarding the role of different types of magnitude comparison measures.     

比较文学平行研究功能模式新论

平行研究可划分为三种基本的功能模式:一、连类比物、相类相从的类同研究;二、相映成趣、相得益彰的互衬式的平行研究;三、相生相克、相反相成的对比式、反比式研究。其中的类同研究模式被使用最多,但不少文章流于生硬比附,结论平庸。主要原因在于目前流行的A与B两项式的平行比较,不能容纳尽可能多的同类的和相关的事项,不能在多个事项中进行分析、比较和归纳,有价值的结论也就无从得出。为此,在方平先生总结并提倡的A∶B→C的公式的启发下,提出了X1∶X2∶X3∶X4……→Y的新模式,主张突破A与B的两项比较,变A与B两极两项的比较为多极多项、平行交叉、上下贯通的比较。