Acute effects of different warm-up protocols on highly skilled golfers’ drive performance

Previous research has highlighted the positive effect that different warm-up protocols have on golf performance (e.g. Sorbie et al., 2016; Tilley & Macfarlane, 2012) with the design of warm-ups and programmes targeting and improving golf performance through the activation and development of specific muscle groups. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of two warm-up protocols on golf drive performance in comparison to a control condition. Using a randomised counterbalanced design over three testing sessions, twenty-three highly skilled golfers completed the control, dynamic and resistance-band warm-up conditions. Following each condition, a GC2 launch monitor was used to record ball velocity and other launch parameters of ten shots hit with the participants’ own driver. A repeated-measures ANOVA found significant increases in ball velocity (η_p² = .217) between the control and both the dynamic and resistance-band warm-up conditions but no difference between these latter two, and a reduction in launch angle between control and dynamic conditions. The use of either a dynamic stretching or resistance-band warm-up can have acute benefits on ball velocity but golfers should liaise with a PGA Professional golf coach to effectively integrate this into their golf driving performance.     

The Vietnam War and the ‘Miracle of East Asia’

Abstract

The Muslim community in Sri Lanka has a pre-Islamic origin. Ethnically they are a mixed group, but changing political fortunes throughout the course of Sri Lankan history have made them realize that their identity lies in holding fast to the religion of Islam and not to any ethnic category. The current Sinhala-Tamil ethnic war has once again reinforced the need to hold on to the religious identity even more tightly. However, recent economic and political changes in the country and changes taking place in the Muslim world have injected new concerns for the community to worry about. The community is well and truly trapped in a political quagmire. This article highlights some aspects of this predicament.     

我国优秀乒乓球人才流动特征分析

通过对新中国成立以来不同时期中国优秀乒乓球人才国内、国外流动方向、范围、规模等方面的研究,探究我国优秀乒乓球人才流动的特征与趋势,结果表明:(1)优秀乒乓球人才流动始终以垂直流动为主要方式;(2)优秀乒乓球人才在国内、国际流动的区域呈现出不均衡的分布趋势;(3)优秀乒乓球人才资源丰富与基层群众文化发展的急需相矛盾、脱节;(4)优秀乒乓球人才职业转换的跨度、范围增大,自主性流动趋势增强;(5)优秀乒乓球人才的流动促进r乒乓球运动全球化整体的发展与提高,推动了中国文化的繁荣与世界文化的全面交融.     

我国警察体育研究的基本现状研究* ——基于Bibexcel的文献计量与可视化分析

首先对中国知网数据库中收录的以警察体育为主题的文献时序分布进行梳理,通过论文发表时间与数量的变量关系对比,分析揭示该研究领域的历史脉络、发展速度以及演变规律。随后利用信息可视化软件Bibexcel绘制出警察体育研究领域的核心作者、研究机构、高被引文献的知识图谱,阐释该领域的研究结构、力量分布以及合作平台建设等情况。最后运用词频分析、共词聚类和可视化法生成关键词共现网络图谱,挖掘、提炼文献数据背后的规律与逻辑,捕捉警察体育研究领域中的研究热点和前沿动态,并在此基础上深入探讨警察体育未来研究的基本趋势和发展方向。     

Inclusion in Norway: a study of ideology in practice

The purpose of this research was to examine how Norway's ideology of inclusion is realized in Norwegian schools and school systems, and what factors work to support or hinder its implementation. Using semi-structured interviews, we obtained data from our informants at multiple levels in the Norwegian educational system in one municipality. Our data analyses focused on identifying themes that were shared by multiple informants, as well as retaining important points or perspectives from individuals. Generally all of the informants were positive towards the ideology of inclusion. The biggest difficulty facing its implementation seemed to be that of social integration. This was much more of a concern than curricular integration. Probably because of such challenges, schools still placed students in separate settings. Factors that affected inclusion included: characteristics of teachers, classroom environment, school climate, cooperation, support from people with competence, attitudes and resources.     

Does STES‐Oriented Science Education Promote 10th‐Grade Students’ Decision‐Making Capability?

Today’s society is continuously coping with sustainability‐related complex issues in the Science‐Technology‐Environment‐Society (STES) interfaces. In those contexts, the need and relevance of the development of students’ higher‐order cognitive skills (HOCS) such as question‐asking, critical‐thinking, problem‐solving and decision‐making capabilities within science teaching have been argued by several science educators for decades. Three main objectives guided this study: (1) to establish “base lines” for HOCS capabilities of 10th grade students (n = 264) in the Israeli educational system; (2) to delineate within this population, two different groups with respect to their decision‐making capability, science‐oriented (n = 142) and non‐science (n = 122) students, Groups A and B, respectively; and (3) to assess the pre‐post development/change of students’ decision‐making capabilities via STES‐oriented HOCS‐promoting curricular modules entitled Science, Technology and Environment in Modern Society (STEMS). A specially developed and validated decision‐making questionnaire was used for obtaining a research‐based response to the guiding research questions. Our findings suggest that a long‐term persistent application of purposed decision‐making, promoting teaching strategies, is needed in order to succeed in affecting, positively, high‐school students’ decision‐making ability. The need for science teachers’ involvement in the development of their students’ HOCS capabilities is thus apparent.     

Improving Risk Education in Grades 6–12: A Needs Assessment of Michigan,Ohio, and Wisconsin Science Teachers

Abstract

If formal educators are to play a role in preparing future citizens for making decisions about health and environmental risks, then they must be willing and able to incorporate risk education. This article presents 10 goals for risk education. It also describes current risk education practices, future interests, and perceived barriers to risk education of Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin Grades 6–12 science teachers. Data were collected through a mail questionnaire (1,336 surveys were returned, adjusted return rate = 80%) and in-depth telephone interviews (completed with 45 teachers, return rate = 90%). Many teachers had covered some aspect of risk education and were interested in enhancing their efforts. Results also suggest that teachers need to be made aware of risk education resources and provided with training, particularly regarding psychological influences on risk decisions.