Language Background and Assessment in the Physical Sciences

A project was initiated at the University of Technology, Sydney to look at the role of language and gender in assessment of first‐year university students in Physics. Research on student learning has shown that assessment, to a large extent, determines the curriculum for students and their approaches to learning. Assessment plays a crucial role in students’ interest and motivation in a subject and the quality of their learning outcomes. In this paper, we report on a three‐part study. The first involved an analysis of assessment items. The second involved the use of paired questions to investigate the effect of the format of the question. The third involved investigating the effects of including a range of assessment types. The effects of language background were important and were found to interact with gender. Strategies will be discussed for changing assessments in the physical sciences to make them more equitable.     

College institutional characteristics and the use of barrier methods among undergraduate students

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be prevented through the use of barrier methods, but rates of use among US college students are low. Previous research focuses on individual-level factors influencing barrier method use, but few studies consider community-level influences. This study examined consistency of barrier use by college institutional characteristics including region, enrolment, control (public or private), locale, type, or religious-affiliation. Data from the Autumn 2013 US National College Health Assessment-II (n?=?13,400; 57 colleges) were analysed. Prevalence ratios were calculated for consistent barrier method use during vaginal, oral and anal sex. Consistent barrier use during vaginal sex was associated with enrolment at a college in the Northeast, compared to the West (aPR: 1.16 [95%CI 1.01–1.29], p = 0.04), and enrolment at larger institutions compared to smaller colleges. Attending a private college or university was associated with more consistent barrier method use during vaginal sex and anal sex compared to those attending a public college or university. Findings demonstrate differences in barrier method use by institutional-level factors, and future research should consider the role of the college community. US college-based health promotion should include barrier method interventions at multiple levels if STIs are to be reduced.     

Links between Communication Patterns in Mother-Child, Father-Child, and Child-Peer Interactions and Children's Social Status

Black, Betty, and Logan, Arliss. Links between Communication Patterns in Mother-Child, Father-Child, and Child-Peer Interactions and Children's Social Status . Child Development, 1995, 66 , 255–271. In this study, we examined communication in the family and peer systems in relation to children's sociometric status. Codes measured turn-taking skills and utterance types for 43 children (ages 24–60 months) with mothers, fathers, and peers. Communication differences in the family and peer systems were strongest for popular versus rejected status children and their parents, but differences were also found for controversial and neglected status children and their parents. Rejected status children demonstrated turn-taking styles that included irrelevant turns, interruptions, simultaneous talking, and noncontingent responding. Parents of rejected children used higher proportions of requests than parents of popular children but failed to allow their children time to respond to the requests. Popular status children were more likely to alternate turns, provide explanations to peers, and participate in episodes of cohesive discourse. Interaction patterns were examined for potential mechanisms of transfer between family and peer systems.     

The effect of relative age on achievement in middle school

To determine the relationship between relative age and achievement in middle school, standardized math and reading scores for a sample of middle-class, suburban middle school students (N = 933) were examined. Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference among relative age groups in only one area, sixth-grade reading, F(2, 146) = 3.1, p < .05. There was no main effect for gender and no interaction between age and gender in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade. When the birth month of students who had repeated one or more grades was examined, it was revealed that a large percentage of these students would have been the youngest in the class when beginning school. Results suggest that a relationship between relative age and achievement may exist in the lower grades but diminishes or disappears by seventh or eighth grade because of the retention of a larger proportion of the youngest children.     

INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED CONTROL OVER TIME ON COLLEGE STUDENTS' STRESS AND STRESS-RELATED OUTCOMES

Assertions that time management results in less stress, healthier employees, and more effective organizations have received little empirical examination. This study investigates the influence of perceived time management (operationalized as perceived control over time) as a stress coping strategy among college students. Also, the influence of perceived time management on valued student outcomes such as academic performance, problem-solving ability, and health are also investigated. Results from a sample of 164 college students found low levels of stress and high levels of academic performance, problem-solving ability, and health for students that perceived high levels of perceived control over time compared to students who perceived low control over time. Discussion of the study findings, implications, and direction for future research is presented.     

Collaborating Around Critical Multiliteracies: A Formula for Success

This article explores facets of effective collaboration between a librarian and a professor in the education field at a master's-level public institution. When we reflected on what made (and continues to make) our collaboration work, we discovered what actions and approaches proved most critical. Accordingly, we frame what helped us collectively become more literate around four pieces of advice: (1) Move what you offer closer to end users and make it “just right”; (2) unite around similar purpose; (3) create wins for all; and (4) leave them wanting more.     

Quality Control: A Necessary Good for Improving Service

This article reports the benefits, challenges, and effective methods of assessing the quality of virtual references services at an academic library.