Improving homework accuracy: Interdependent group contingencies and randomized components

Homework is an often employed teaching strategy that has strong positive effects on academic achievement across grade levels, content areas, and student ability levels. To maximize academic learning, accuracy of homework should be addressed. The present investigation employed a multiple‐baseline design across academic behaviors to examine the efficacy of randomization of the interdependent group contingency on the homework accuracy of six fourth‐grade students enrolled in a general education class. Results demonstrated that the interdependent group contingency coupled with randomly selected components improved accuracy of homework performance. Specifically, participants demonstrated gains in all three subject areas. Limitations and future research are also addressed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Developing math automaticity using a classwide fluency building procedure for middle school students: A preliminary study

To investigate the influence of an innovative math fluency intervention, 36 middle‐school students were randomly assigned to either an experimental (the Detect, Practice, Repair [DPR]) or control condition (reading intervention). After covarying pretest scores, the DPR treatment produced a significantly higher (p = .016) adjusted mean (M) math score (M = 47.53, standard deviation [SD] = 3.26) for the intervention group when compared to the control group (M = 33.31, SD = 4.39). The intervention is described so that teachers and consulting school psychologists can implement the steps for individuals or groups (e.g., in a multitiered response to intervention model). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Components of cooperative learning: Effects of collaborative skills and academic group contingencies on achievement and mainstreaming

The effects of four conditions were investigated: (a) opportunity to interact with classmates, (b) positive goal interdependence, (c) positive goal interdependence with a collaborative-skills group contingency, and (d) positive goal interdependence with both collaborative-skills and academic group contingencies. The dependent variables were achievement, cross-handicap relationships, and voluntary use of collaborative skills. Two subject populations were studied: (a) 83 eighthgrade nonhandicapped students and (b) four socially isolated and withdrawn students (2 eighth grade and 2 eleventh grade). The results indicate that positive goal interdependence with both collaborative-skills and academic group contingencies promoted the most positive relationships with nonhandicapped classmates, most frequent engagement in cooperative skills, and the highest achievement.     

A closed-loop algorithm to detect human face using color and reinforcement learning

A closed-loop algorithm to detect human face using color information and reinforcement learning is presented in this paper. By using a skin-color selector, the regions with color “like” that of human skin are selected as candidates for human face. In the next stage, the candidates are matched with a face model and given an evaluation of the match degree by the matching module. And if the evaluation of the match result is too low, a reinforcement learning stage will start to search the best parameters of the skin-color selector. It has been tested using many photos of various ethnic groups under various lighting conditions, such as different light source, high light and shadow. And the experiment result proved that this algorithm is robust to the varying lighting conditions and personal conditions. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 60105003) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 600025).     

多维度研究三十年发展综述和方法详介

鉴于国内尚无系统论述多维度分析法理论和实施方法的文献,本文介绍了多维度分析法的起源、理论基础和创新之处,综述了三十年来多维度分析法在语域变异、学术语篇变异、方言和性别语言变异、历时语域变异和跨语言变异等多个语言学领域的应用和发展趋势,并详细讲解了多维度分析法的操作方法。本文对多维度分析法的系统阐述有望推动和促进国内多维度研究在多个语言学研究领域的应用和发展。     

Quantitative content analysis procedures to analyse students’ reflective essays: A methodological review of psychometric and edumetric aspects

Reflective essays are a common way to develop higher education students’ reflection ability. Researchers frequently analyse reflective essays based on quantitative content analysis procedures (QCA). However, the quality criteria that should be met in QCA are not straightforward. This article aims to: (1) develop a framework of quality requirements for QCA; and (2) explore the extent to which QCA studies of students’ reflective essays meet these quality requirements. First, a methodological review of psychometric and edumetric criteria for QCA is conducted, resulting in a framework with required quality criteria. Second, 18 studies were selected in which QCA was used to analyse students’ reflective essays. These studies were scrutinised using the developed framework. The results showed that none of the selected studies met all requirements. It is concluded that QCA procedures for analysing students’ reflective essays need improvement and that the developed framework can be used to improve and evaluate these procedures.     

在线协作学习中小组学习投入的分析模型构建及应用

在协作学习中学习投入与学习成效紧密相关,是学生进行有效参与和深度学习的必要条件。但目前的研究大多针对个人学习投入,缺乏在协作学习中小组学习投入的相关研究。在前人研究基础上,本研究从认知投入、行为投入、社会投入、情感投入四个维度构建了在线协作学习中小组学习投入的分析模型,并通过实证研究进一步探索小组投入分析模型各维度与小组学习成绩之间的关系。结果表明,在小组学习投入中行为投入、社交投入与小组成绩呈显著正相关关系,而积极、消极、困惑三类情感投入则与小组成绩呈负相关关系。研究同时发现,高分组在中立情感投入、认知投入的问题和元认知维度中的均值都高于低分组。最后,通过分析在线小组学习投入与成绩之间的关系,为今后优化学习支持服务以及提高小组成员协作质量提供了依据。     

Children with autism and peer group support: using 'circles of friends'

Philip Whitaker (Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist, Leicestershire Educational Psychology Service with specialist responsibility in autism) and members of the Leicestershire Autism Outreach Team describe the rationale and process of establishing 'circles of friends' to support seven youngsters with autistic spectrum disorders, six of whom were attending mainstream schools.     

Culture,role and group work: A social network analysis perspective on an online collaborative course

This paper discusses the patterns of network dynamics within a multicultural online collaborative learning environment. It analyses the interaction of participants (both students and facilitators) within a discussion board that was established as part of a 3‐month online collaborative course. The study employs longitudinal probabilistic social network analysis (SNA) to identify the patterns and trends within the network. It conjectures and tests a set of hypotheses concerning the tendencies towards homophily/heterophily and preferential attachment. The paper presents identified interaction network patterns in relation to cultural differences. It also evaluates network dynamics by considering participant roles and group work in the course under study. Results of social network analyses are reported along with measures of statistical confidence in findings. The potential for extending exploratory SNA methods and visualisation techniques in educational research are discussed here.     

A comparison of white and black student academic success using noncognitive variables: A LISREL analysis

The structural relation of the seven noncognitive dimensions proposed by Sedlacek and Brooks in 1976 and traditional definitions of academic ability, as indicated by Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, to first semester grade-point average (GPA) and persistence after three and five semesters was examined in this study. Random samples of entrants at one predominantly white state university were administered the Non-cognitive Questionnaire (NCQ) during summer orientation in 1979 and 1980. The NCQ results and the SAT scores were used to derive structural models (using LISREL) or early academic success for both black and white students. The structural models for the black and white students were found to be very different. For black students, traditional academic ability was related to first semester GPA, but neither GPA nor academic ability was related to persistence. Only the noncognitive dimensions were predictive of black student persistence. For white students, academic ability was the best predictor of first semester grades, and these grades were the major predictor of subsequent persistence. The noncognitive dimensions were not important in white student academic success, whereas they were crucial in black student academic success.     

Ethnic, gender, and socio-economic group differences in academic performance and secondary school selection: A longitudinal analysis

This study examined gender, socio-economic (SES), and ethnic group differences in academic performance (measured at 14 and 16 years) in a sample of 517 British pupils (mean age = 16.5 years). White pupils outperformed their Black and Pakistani counterparts and high SES pupils consistently outperformed their low SES counterparts. Results from two Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) models showed that controlling for IQ variance minimizes these group differences. The MIMIC models also revealed that Pakistani pupils and girls tend to underperform academically relative to White pupils and boys, respectively, at 14 years, once IQ and SES have been partialed out. These and other, more specific, findings are discussed with reference to predictive test bias, selection and streaming procedures, and implications for educational policy.     

Perspectives of Musical Talent: A study of identification criteria and procedures

As the concept of intelligence and talent broadens to include the arts, there is a growing need for the development of effective procedures to identify students who show potential as well as demonstrated musical talent. This interview study gathered perspectives of musical talent and strategies for its recognition from specialists across gifted and music fields. The study's purpose was to synthesize findings from earlier analysis and quantitative findings with interviews to develop an identification framework of recommended criteria and procedures to guide musical talent identification in a variety of educational settings. In all 16 individuals (eight men and seven women), purposefully sampled, participated. Data were analyzed in accordance with the Constant Comparative Method (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Results of the study yielded basic talent criteria under categories of perceptual awareness and discrimination, creative interpretation, and commitment. Resulting identification procedures propose to expand identification beyond performance, seek nominations outside of school, and specify observation techniques for performance assessment. The study also raises questions concerning creativity, creative interpretation, and musical talent identification for future research consideration.     

A group math intervention: The modification of cover,copy, and compare for group application

A drill and practice intervention was applied in a small-group setting to improve students' fluency (accuracy and speed) with basic math facts. The Cover, Copy, and Compare intervention (Skinner, Turco, Beatty, & Rasavage, 1989) was modified and implemented with a small, middle school Chapter I math class. Data are presented showing digits correct per minute (DCPM) using a multiple baseline design across sets of division facts. Component parts of DCPM, speed and accuracy, are further discussed. Results of this study provide the scientist-practitioner with ideas about implementing group interventions using drill for math facts. Ways to refine the intervention based on baseline data are discussed.     

A methodological framework for instructional design model development: Critical dimensions and synthesized procedures

Instructional design (ID) models have been developed to promote understandings of ID reality and guide ID performance. As the number and diversity of ID practices grows, implicit doubts regarding the reliability, validity, and usefulness of ID models suggest the need for methodological guidance that would help to generate ID models that are relevant and appropriate to the ever-changing design challenges in our world. Because the construction of an ID model involves an intricate externalization of unique sets of design experiences as well as a logical synthesis of relevant research, the purpose of this study was to formulate a methodological framework for ID model development. Through the analysis of 20 selected studies, four critical dimensions and ten synthesized procedures for constructing ID models were formulated. The resulting framework is intended to provide a useful theoretical and practical contribution to the field of ID.     

A classroom-based model of language intervention for preschool language-impaired children: Principles and procedures

It is now generally recognized that a language impairment in preschool children may be predictive of later linguistic, reading, and academic difficulties. Language intervention procedures, derived from theoretically-based principles of language development and implemented in a child’s regular classroom environment, may benefit children at risk for persistent language and learning problems. This paper describes the development and application of individualized intervention procedures in a classroom for preschool language-impaired children. The discussion focuses on selected language development principles which helped determine the setting, timing, interactive participants, purpose, and content of the language intervention program. Resulting changes in language comprehension and production are reported based on individual classroom performance as well as a comparison of pre-and posttest scores for a range of comprehension skills. A version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of the Orton Dyslexia Society, November 5, 1987, San Francisco.     

A structural reliability-based sensitivity analysis method using particles swarm optimization: relative convergence rate

This paper proposes a novel reliability-based sensitivity analysis (SA) method, namely relative convergence rate of random variables using particles swarm optimization (PSO). The convergence rate of a random variable during the optimum evolution process reflects the sensitivity of the objective function with respect to the random variables. An optimized group strategy is proposed to consider the fluctuation of the convergence rate of a variable during the optimum process. The coefficient of variation (COV) for candidate particles and the relative convergence rate of a random variable can be calculated using the particles in the optimized group. The smaller the COV for candidate particles, i.e., the larger the relative convergence rate, the more sensitive the objective function with respect to the variable. Three examples are available for the application of this method, and the results indicate that the sensitivity of the reliability index with respect to the variable obtained using the PSO technique and gradient of limit-state function is the same in the quantitative sense.     

Understanding the low mathematics achievement of Chilean students: A cross-national analysis using TIMSS data

The low performance of Chile in the TIMSS 1998/99 international study of mathematics and science achievement was a great disappointment for that country. To investigate the likely causes for low performance in mathematics, this study (1) compared Chile to three countries and one large school system that had similar economic conditions but superior mathematics performance, and (2) examined how important characteristics of the Chilean educational system could account for poor student achievement in mathematics. The study finds that, compared to South Korea, Malaysia, the Slovak Republic, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools: (a) Chilean 8th graders had parents with fewer years of schooling and with fewer educational resources at home; (b) the Chilean mathematics curriculum covered less content and fewer cognitive skills; and (c) the meager official curriculum translated into a weaker curricular implementation. Hierarchical linear models found that, in Chile, school assets were unequally distributed across social classes, with schools in socially advantaged areas more likely to have their own mathematics curriculum and better prepared teachers who emphasized more advanced mathematics content. Schools with their own mathematics curriculum and whose teachers covered more advanced content had significantly higher student achievement in mathematics.     

A tool for monitoring the development of written English: T-unit analysis using the SAWL

The article reports the development of the Structural Analysis of Written Language (SAWL), an instrument designed for use by classroom teachers in objectively documenting the ability of children to write in English. The SAWL allows teachers to use T-unit analysis to quantitatively assess language improvement regardless of whether the student writes perfect English, flawed English, and/or generates "wordstrings" with minimal English structure. The SAWL introduces two new indexes of linguistic maturity, morphemes per T-unit (MTU) and the word efficiency ratio (WER). The SAWL also allows teachers to (a) objectively compare a child's written composition with printed material and (b) make a seamless comparison of a student's written English across his or her academic life using the same indexes of measurement.