The impact of case characteristics on child abuse reporting decisions.

Drawing distinctions on the basis of at least some case characteristics in making reporting decisions makes considerable sense. Using data from a national survey of mandated reporters that included vignettes in which case and personal characteristics were systematically varied, this paper examines the impact of selected characteristics while controlling for others. The data reveal that respondents noticed and responded to case characteristics. Abuse-relevant judgments and reporting intentions varied, often substantially, as a function of case characteristics. Three case characteristics--previous abuse, severity of abuse, and recantation--were powerful predictors of vignette outcomes. A history of previous abuse led to judgments of greater seriousness, a more salutary impact of a report, and greater likelihood of reporting. More severe abuse was more likely to be labelled as abuse, and was more likely to be reported. When the alleged victim retracted her accusation upon questioning by an authority figure, respondents were significantly less likely to intend a report. Child age, perpetrator intent and family socioeconomic status also influenced abuse-relevant judgments and reporting intentions. Respondents were more likely to intend a report when younger children, lazy or angry perpetrators and children from poorer families were portrayed.     

Assessing the Utility of Item Response Models: Computerized Adaptive Testing

How has Item Response Theory helped solve problems in the development and use of computer-adaptive tests? Do we need to balance item content with computer-adaptive tests? Could we use IRT to evaluate unusual responses to computer-delivered tests?     

金鸡报晓喜迎春--中国民间鸡文化信仰

中华民族养鸡有悠久的历史，距今8000多年的河北武安磁山村新石器遗址中，便出土许多鸡骨。此外，在新石器时代的仰韶、河姆渡等文化遗址中，鸡骨也屡见不鲜。早在殷商时期的“甲骨文”中便出现了鸡的象形文字，距今也有3300多年的历史。有趣的是，甲骨文中“日”字的象形符号是画一个圆圈(太阳)，圆圈的下方再画一抽象的鸟形图饰(鸡)，     

新型的高等数学教学模式

为适应现代科技对高等数学的要求，在高等数学教学中，一要加强数学素养教育，二要开设数学试验课。前者是指加强数学的人文教育，思想教育的数理哲学教育；后者则旨在提高对数学的应用能力。