Review of Research on Practicum Supervision

This 10-year review of articles on practicum supervision examines articles in terms of findings and research design employed. Research is classified according to (a) role of the supervisor, (b) process of supervision, and (c) rating systems in practicum. While the studies reviewed were indicative of prevalent characteristics of counselor candidates and procedures for rating their counseling performance, still unclear are: expected supervisory roles, the effects of various roles on trainee performance, and the differential effectiveness of contemporary methods of supervision in assisting counselors to work more effectively with their clients. More highly refined experimental studies of counselor supervision are urged.     

Teacher training in K–12 student mental health: A systematic review

Teachers are in a unique position to identify and support students who experience mental health concerns. The purpose of this systematic review was to (a) identify current available evidence-based teacher training programs related to students' mental health, (b) review the content and delivery methods of the training, and (c) evaluate the quality of the research designs and evaluation methods of the training. Most training programs are delivered face-to-face and include interactive discussion and content knowledge. Content varied among the training programs. Most studies found improved knowledge among teachers; however, no studies found improvement in effective communication.     

Opportunities for development: the practice of supervision in early years’ provision in England

This article examines how the practice of supervision has developed within a range of early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision in a county in Central England in the United Kingdom. Supervision has been recently introduced as a mandatory requirement for ECEC in England in 2012, and there is limited research looking at the impact of this. The research aimed to examine how supervision is being implemented by ECEC providers. It employed a mixed methods research design including a questionnaire (n?=?38) and three subsequent telephone interviews, and draws out key themes on who is accessing supervision, the level of frequency, the purposes, challenges and enablers of supervision. It highlights the tendency of the managerial function of supervision including safeguarding of children to dominate, and the potential for supervision as a reflective space and as support for staff including managers and leaders to be overlooked.     

A systematic review of trends and findings in research employing drawing assessment in science education

ABSTRACT

In this study, we reviewed 76 journal articles on employing drawing assessment as a research tool in science education. Findings from the systematic review suggest four justifications for using drawing as a type of research tool, including assessment via drawing as (a) an alternative method considering young participants’ verbal or writing abilities, and affective or economic reasons, (b) a unique method that can reveal aspects not easily measured by other methods, (c) a major method that reflects characteristics of science subjects, and (d) a formative assessment to diagnose students’ ideas to benefit their learning. Furthermore, five research trends of studies using drawing as assessment tools are identified, including: (a) students’ conceptions of scientists from the Draw-a-Scientist-Test (DAST) and evolving studies, (b) students’ understanding or mental models of science concepts, (c) participants’ conceptions of science learning or teaching, (d) students’ inquiry abilities and modelling skills via drawing, and (e) technology to support drawing. For each trend, we synthesised and commented on the current findings. A framework conceptualising phases and issues when designing research and instruments employing drawing assessments is proposed. The review provides insights into the design and future direction of research employing drawing assessments in science education.     

Postgraduate Research Training: Some Issues

This three‐year study of research training policy and practice involved government and university executives, and university academics from the Philippines. A total of 53 participants were involved: two officials from the Commission on Higher Education, six directors of research centres, 28 university executives and 17 academic staff. Seven public and 15 private universities across the Philippines were involved. Findings suggest that: (1) there are inadequate facilities and resources dedicated to support staff and student research; (2) there is a lack of specific training to develop staff for research and supervision; (3) the emphasis of supervision is on proofreading and the rewards are unattractive; (4) the range of student support available is less dedicated to research; (5) there is low research quality in both staff and student research; and (6) there is limited research collaboration locally and internationally.     

Factorial Structure of Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale Among Crack-Cocaine Drug Users

Nine different confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models, including CFAs with correlated traits, uniquenesses, and methods, were employed to test the factorial structure of Rosenberg's (1965) self-esteem scale in a sample of crack-cocaine drug users. The results partially support earlier research and show that (a) there exists a single global self-esteem factor underlying responses to Rosenberg scale; (b) method effects associated with item wording exist; and (c) the method effects were associated primarily with positively, rather than negatively, worded items.     

Out With the Old-In With the New: Thoughts on the Future of Educational Productivity Research

The purpose of this article is to present a review of-and to provide insight into future directions for research on-the literature surrounding the efficient production of educational outcomes. Research studies on educational productivity and efficiency generally support 2 dominant paradigms within the field of school finance: (a) Money Does Not Matter and (b) Money Does Matter. After a brief historical review, the article critiques the cost-minimization assumptions implicit to both paradigms, using public choice theory as a basis to acknowledge that nonmarket forces influence educational productivity. Next, suggestions are made surrounding normative economics concepts that need to be expanded, explored, and operationalized to measure educational efficiency more appropriately. Finally, it is suggested that researchers investigate at least 3 nontraditional methods to measure levels of economic efficiency in public educational organizations: (a) modified quadriform analysis, (b) data envelopment analysis, and (c) stochastic frontier analysis.     

Content analysis of selected features of K‐8 environmental education research studies in Turkey, 1997–2007

This study aimed to analyze environmental education research (EER) in Turkey conducted in Grades K‐8 and published over the years 1997–2007. Due to the fact that there had been no systematic reviews of EER in Turkey prior to this time period, it was more appropriate to explore the implications of the results of this review for research policies and practices than for educational policies and practices in Grades K‐8. A substantial search of the international and national literature revealed 53 studies that fit the time frame and study characteristics. Three analyses of these studies were undertaken: (a) features of the research method; (b) socio‐demographic characteristics of the subjects; and (c) components of environmental literacy assessed. Three charts were constructed to support these analyses; e.g., one for each analysis. For analysis (a), quantitative surveys were the most common method. For analysis (b), greater attention was paid to the age, grade level, gender and residence of participating students. For analysis (c), greater attention was paid to knowledge of ecology and natural history, and knowledge of environmental problems and issues, less attention was paid to components of affect, and very little attention was paid to socio‐political‐economic knowledge, cognitive skills and environmentally responsible behavior.     

An examination of the evidence-based literacy research in deaf education

The ability to read and write for a variety of purposes is essential to success in school and in contemporary society. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct an exhaustive review of the literature and a meta-analysis of literacy research in the field of deaf education. Computer and manual searches of 40 years of peer-reviewed journal articles were conducted. A total of 964 articles related to literacy and deafness were identified and examined; 22 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Results indicate that (a) no two studies examined the same dimension of literacy; (b) there was a paucity of well-designed group studies; (c) there were no systematic replication of studies; (d) there is limited data to establish evidenced-based practices. Consequently, increasing the quantity and improving the quality of research in the field is recommended.     

Teacher supervision and evaluation challenges: Canadian perspectives on overall instructional leadership

This inquiry focuses on the overall instructional leadership approaches used by exemplary principals in three high performing Canadian provinces to overcome three persistent obstacles to effective teacher supervision and evaluation: (a) the management challenge, (b) the complexity challenge, and (c) the learning challenge. Analysis of data collected from interviews, focus groups, observations, field notes, documents, artifacts, and reflective research journals yielded the following four assertions: (a) Shared, distributed, and collective approaches to overall instructional leadership deepen and widen impact. (b) Effective supervision and evaluation are part of a career-long continuum of practice that fosters teacher growth while ensuring quality teaching. (c) There are multiple learning pathways to effective overall instructional leadership. (d) Policy contexts that place teacher supervision and evaluation practice within a broader conception of overall instructional leadership are beneficial.     

Personal Learning Environments, social media, and self-regulated learning: A natural formula for connecting formal and informal learning

A Personal Learning Environment or PLE is a potentially promising pedagogical approach for both integrating formal and informal learning using social media and supporting student self-regulated learning in higher education contexts. The purpose of this paper is to (a) review research that support this claim, (b) conceptualize the connection between PLE, social media, and self-regulated learning, and (c) provide a three-level pedagogical framework for using social media to create PLEs that support student self-regulated learning. Implications for future research in this area are provided.     

An analysis of a decade of research in 10 instructional design and technology journals

In this paper, we review findings from an analysis of the past decade (2001–10) of research in 10 major journals in the field of instructional design and technology. Each research paper published in these journals during this decade was categorized according to its focus or methodology, topical keywords, authorship and citation trends; and the findings were aggregated across all of the journals to show trends over the last decade. We found there is a strong emphasis on technology‐related issues, distance education, communication strategies and instructional methods over cognitive‐related topics and learning issues. There is a strong history of theoretical inquiry and a fairly even balance of qualitative and quantitative research being published, with other research methods emerging. However, there are distinct differences in methodological stances among the journals. We also found some evidence that the Institute for Scientific Information Impact Factor may not be the best indicator of impact quality for journals in our field.     

A social learning explanation for age-related changes in children's conceptual behavior

A social learning explanation for children's conceptual development is proposed. Recent training research on conservation is discussed, and it is concluded that it fails to support three key assumptions underlying Piaget's theory (a) Children are able to learn to conserve without being “in transition,” (b) nonconservation experiences are successful in promoting developmentally immature cognitive functioning, and (c) there is evidence of inconsistencies in children's cognitive functioning across tasks assessing the same cognitive stage. Two aspects of children's conservation responding are explained according to a social learning position: decalages and the shift from perceptual cues to quantitative cues. This explanation involves consideration of cognitive factors such as prior rule learning as well as impinging social experience.     

Operant Conditioning in the Classroom Setting: A Review of the Research

Abstract

The purposes of this review were (a) to summarize the research following an applied behavioral analysis which has relevance for public school classrooms and (b) to discuss the problems and important considerations involved in an applied behavioral analysis of classroom behavior. Studies in this area are grouped into the following categories according to the nature of the reinforcement employed and assessed: (a) teacher attention, (b) peer attention, (c) token reinforcement, and (d) vicarious reinforcement. The problems of obtaining teacher cooperation, valid and reliable measurements, and confirmation of stimulus control through design of the experiment were discussed. Finally, the implications of these studies for classroom behavior control, as well as for future research, were explored     

Supervisory Working Alliance: A Model Providing Direction for College Counseling Supervision

This article presents an overview of the Supervisory Working Alliance Model (E. S. Bordin, 1983) and related research. The author proposes an extension of the model by applying it to evaluation and multicultural competency. The following major advantages of the model for supervision in college counseling centers are discussed: (a) model's transtheoretical nature, (b) model's compatibility with alternate models, (c) model's conduciveness toward multiculturally competent supervision, and (d) model's utility in evaluation.     

Co-counseling Supervision in Practicum

Two groups of 12 trainees were exposed to either monitor-modeling or immediate-feedback supervision in their practicum. Ten-minute individual counseling sessions with coached clients were taped before and after the practicum. Three independent judges rated the tapes, using Carkhuff's scales for gross ratings of facultative interpersonal functioning (Carkhuff 1969). Results indicated that (a) the judges' mean ratings from pretest to posttest increased significantly for the monitor-modeling group but not for the immediate-feedback group; (b) although the results approached significance (p < .09), there were no significant differences on the posttest; and (c) the amount of growth from pretest to posttest was significantly greater for the monitor-modeling group. The data supports the relative effectiveness of monitor-modeling supervision. Additional, more extensive evaluations are suggested to more fully assess the relative value of such team approaches to supervision.     

Refining the Map of the Counselor Development Journey: Response to Rønnestad and Skovholt

In this article, we respond to Rønnestad and Skovholt's reformulated counselor development model itself, then to some of its implications. With respect to the model: (a) although this version is more parsimonious than the original, we show that it could be more so; and (b) because the authors do not discuss determinants of psychotherapy as a career choice, we draw from existing literature to suggest some. With respect to the implications of the work, we note that: (a) trainee anxiety may not be as important as its prominence in their model suggests; (b) Rønnestad and Skovholt's finding that older practitioners turn to alternative sources (e.g., cinema; literature) to learn about human nature may be related to the consistent finding that practitioners are not research consumers; and (c) the importance Rønnestad and Skovholt attach that post-licensure supervision should be given more attention.     

Applying methods to evaluate construct validity in the context of A level assessment

Validity is a central principle of assessment relating to the appropriateness of the uses and interpretations of test results. Usually, one of the inferences that we wish to make is that the score reflects the extent of a student’s learning in a given domain. Thus, it is important to establish that the assessment tasks elicit performances that reflect the intended constructs. This research explored the use of three methods for evaluating whether there are threats to validity in relation to the constructs elicited in international A level geography examinations: (a) Rasch analysis; (b) analysis of processes expected and apparent when students answer questions; and (c) qualitative analysis of responses to items identified as potentially problematic. The results provided strong evidence to support validity with regard to the elicitation of constructs although one question part was identified as a threat to validity. Strengths and weaknesses of the methods can be identified.     

The Disposition of Eleventh-Grade Science Students Toward Critical Thinking

The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) was used to assess the disposition of Israeli eleventh-grade science students toward critical thinking according to school type affiliate, scientific level, and gender. Our findings, strongly support (a) the establishment of a baseline reference for disposition toward critical thinking of high school science students; (b) the application of the CCTDI in the context of ongoing science education in different settings; and finally (c) the reliable use of the CCTDI in future research aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of critical thinking (CT) and higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) oriented instructional goals.     

Developmental dyslexia,cerebellar/vestibular brain function and possible links to exercise-based interventions: a review

The Phonological Processing Deficit (PPD) hypothesis remains the most influential theory to explain why some children fail to acquire appropriate reading skills. However, current research suggests that there may be other deficits operating, and that the phonological processing deficit may be just one manifestation of a deeper underlying anatomical syndrome that originates in the cerebellar or vestibular areas of the brain. Claims that exercise regimes or programmes of vestibular stimulation may provide a ‘cure’ for developmental dyslexia (specific reading difficulties) prompt scepticism among the scientific community and raise concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable parents. The paper provides a review of research into the causes of specific reading difficulties at the behavioural, cognitive and biological level of explanation, and considers whether or not there is any theoretical basis for the use of exercise-based intervention programmes. Following consideration of recent findings from a range of scientific disciplines, it is concluded that such ‘unconventional’ methods of intervention may draw some theoretical support from the scientific literature, although researchers are cautioned to be wary of comorbidity issues. It is also concluded that more rigorous and independent evaluations of the success (or otherwise) of exercise-based interventions are needed.