Significance,Effect Sizes,Stepwise Methods,and Other Issues: Strong Arguments Move the Field

The author asserts that editors should publicly declare their expectations and expose the rationales for editorial policies to public scrutiny. He argues that editorial policies ought to require effect size reporting, as those at 17 journals now do. He also argues (a) that score reliabilities should be reported; (b) that stepwise methods should not be used; (c) that structure coefficients should be interpreted; and (d) that if used wisely, confidence intervals differ from hypothesis tests in important ways. The use of noncentral t and F distributions to create confidence intervals about effect sizes also is appealing.     

Likelihood-Based Confidence Intervals for a Parameter With an Upper or Lower Bound

The precision of estimates in many statistical models can be expressed by a confidence interval (CI). CIs based on standard errors (SEs) are common in practice, but likelihood-based CIs are worth consideration. In comparison to SEs, likelihood-based CIs are typically more difficult to estimate, but are more robust to model (re)parameterization. In latent variable models, some parameters might take on values outside of their interpretable range. Therefore, it is desirable to place a bound to keep the parameter interpretable. For likelihood-based CI, a correction is needed when a parameter is bounded. The correction is known (Wu & Neale, 2012), but is difficult to implement in practice. A novel automatic implementation that is simple for an applied researcher to use is introduced. A simulation study demonstrates the accuracy of the correction using a latent growth curve model and the method is illustrated with a multilevel confirmatory factor analysis.     

Using Wherry's Adjusted R 2 and Mallow's Cp for Model Selection From All Possible Regressions

Selecting a subset of predictors from a pool of potential predictors continues to be a common problem encountered by applied researchers in education. Because of several limitations associated with stepwise variable selection procedures, the examination of all possible regression solutions has been recommended. The authors evaluated the use of Mallow's C_p and Wherry's adjusted R ² statistics to select a final model from a pool of model solutions. Neither the C_p nor the adjusted R ² statistic correctly identified the underlying regression model any better and was generally worse than the stepwise selection method, which itself was poor. Using any of the model selection procedures studied here resulted in biased estimates of the authentic regression coefficients and underestimation of their standard errors. The use of theory and professional judgment is recommended for the selection of variables in a prediction equation.     

国外数学焦虑的研究进展

数学焦虑是一种特殊的学科焦虑。从数学焦虑的心理层面出发,一些测量数学焦虑的工具被开发出来,并得出了它的维度。数学焦虑的影响因素主要来自三个方面:环境性因素、个体的人格特征和情境性因素,同时数学焦虑会影响到数学认知,进而影响个体的数学成绩。     

数学学习焦虑的预防与消除

学习心理学的相关研究表明：一部分学生的确存在数学学习焦虑这样一种心理现象。引起中小学生数学学习的焦虑的因素主要有数学学科的性质、教师的行为和学习者的个性特点。控制焦虑、改善学生数学学习的途径有：帮助学生分析焦虑的真正内容与根源，使用技术暗示及鼓励合作学习等。     

A Comparison of Preservice Teachers' Mathematics Anxiety Before and After a Methods Class Emphasizing Manipulatives

The changes in levels of mathematics anxiety among future teachers in two different mathematics materials and methods classes were investigated. The changes were a function of using: (a) Bruner's framework of developing conceptual knowledge before procedural knowledge, and (b) manipulatives to make mathematics concepts more concrete. The sample included 87 preservice teachers enrolled in mathematics methods courses. Two strategies were used to gather data both at the beginning and ending of each quarter. First, future teachers completed 98-item, Likert-type questionnaires. Second, some of the factors that influence the levels of mathematics anxiety were determined through the use of questionnaire-guided narrative interviews. Multivariate analysis of variance was employed as the quantitative measure for comparing mathematics anxiety both at the beginning and ending of the quarter. Data revealed a statistically significant reduction of mathematics anxiety levels (p < .05). Tukey's HSD was used to determine that a significant difference in mathematics anxiety levels occurred between the classes in the fall and winter quarters. Results of the study have implications for teacher education programs concerning the measurement of mathematics anxiety levels among future teachers and the determination of specific contexts in which that anxiety can be interpreted and reduced.     

Statistical Techniques Employed in AERJ and JCP Articles from 1988 to 1997: A Methodological Review

The authors of the present methodological review investigated the patterns of statistical usage and reporting practices in 756 articles published in the American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) and in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP) over a 10-year period. First, some findings from other similar reviews are summarized. Second, the authors present a framework for characterizing selected research practices that emphasizes, in part, elements of the recent report of the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Statistical Inference (Wilkinson & APA Task Force on Statistical Inference, 1999). Third, characterizations of 10 years of analytic practices in 2 journals are presented and evaluated within that framework. The article concludes with a discussion of the changes that may be necessary to improve the statistical state of affairs in behavioral research.     

国外数学教学中引入数学史的研究概述

数学教学中引入数学史的理由是它可以作为一种激励学生学习数学的因素,也可以作为学生数学学习的认知工具,还可以有助于学生的文化理解;至于如何在数学教学中引入数学史,学者们已经提出了不少方法;尽管多数学者都肯定了数学教学中引入数学史的积极作用,但一些学者也提出了质疑;在今后的研究中应加强经验研究以及数学教育者与数学史家应密切合作。     

论数学教师专业化的内涵

数学教师专业化是世界数学教师教育的发展趋势，数学教师专业化的内涵包括：数学教师数学专业化、数学教师教育专业化和数学教师专业情意，数学专业化结构由数学学科知识，数学能力和数学素养构建起来，教育专业化结构由教育学科知识，一般文化科学知识、一般教学能力和数学教学能力构建起来，数学教师专业情意在数学教学中对激发学生学习数学的兴趣和动机，营造数学学习环境，提高数学成绩、完善学生个性、塑造学生人格，优化情感品质、提高数学认知加工水平等方面均有重要价值。     

引导学生欣赏与发现数学美——以极限教学为例

数学既求真又求美.数学求真在于用数量关系和空间图形表达世界;数学求美则在于用美丽的图形、精炼的语言、简练的定理、公式给人以视角和精神上的享受.在数学教学中,应挖掘教材人文因素以培养学生人文精神,充分利用数学史料以提升学生人文品质,在解题中揭示哲理以丰富学生人文素养,利用教师人格魅力以提升学生人文品位,建设数学课堂文化以充实学生人文内涵.     

Tackling Complexity In Mathematics Teaching Development: Using the Teaching Triad as a Tool for Reflection and Analysis

This paper reports research that attempts tomake sense of the complexity of mathematicsteaching and its development at secondaryschool level. The research was conducted inpartnership between two teachers and twoeducator/researchers over one school term intwo U.K. schools. A theoretical construct, theteaching triad, was used as an analyticaldevice (by the researchers) and as a reflectiveagent for teaching development (by theteachers). The focus of analysis was theinteractions between teacher and students atwhole class and small group level. Both micro-and macro-analyses were undertaken. We presentdetails of the processes involved in examplesfrom the teaching of one teacher as shetranslated theoretical aims into classroompractice. The use of the triad allowed accessto complexity, involving both psychological andsociological elements, and to the position of asincere teacher with respect to competingforces in the educational system. Thepotential of the triad for teacher and teachingdevelopment is discussed.     

以校园网为平台推进儿童文学课外阅读

以校园网为平台开展儿童文学课外阅读,不仅具有生动性、时效性和交互性等网络阅读的特点,同时因为有严格的管理和安全可靠的技术保障,可以避免儿童在一般网络阅读中的随意性、无序性和迷失性,这既是推进儿童文学课外阅读的有效途径,也是校园网功能深度开发的有益尝试。     

高职高专外国文学精品课程建设对教师成长的意义

高职高专外国文学精品课程建设对于全面提高教师素质,促进教师成长有着重大意义。本文试图从目标方向、全面发展、角色转化、意识观念、自我构建、骨干培养、监督体制七个方面加以论述。     

近三十年来对外汉语报刊阅读教材述评

1978年以来,我国对外汉语报刊阅读教材在词汇篇章、内容设计和练习形式等方面有了可喜的发展,表现在教材的实用性与篇章的系统性相结合,词汇的多样性、动态语料的时效性相结合,教材等级和"国别化"教材的针对性与内容涉及领域的多元性相结合,练习题型形式多样等方面。特别是近10年来,报刊阅读教材在文章的选取方面,借助于网络技术的进步,更多地体现了教材的科学性与创新性。这些变化,预示了未来报刊阅读教材的发展趋势:新词语的需求量增加、海外国别性教材需求量大增以及科学助推应用的要求加速。这一趋势,为报刊阅读教材的编写提供了广阔的发展空间。