Digital Module 17: Data Visualizations: Effective Evidence-Based Practices https://ncme.elevate.commpartners.com

In this digital ITEMS module, Nikole Gregg and Dr. Brian Leventhal discuss strategies to ensure data visualizations achieve graphical excellence. Data visualizations are commonly used by measurement professionals to communicate results to examinees, the public, educators, and other stakeholders. To do so effectively, it is important that these visualizations communicate data efficiently and accurately. These visualizations can achieve graphical excellence when they simultaneously display data effectively, efficiently, and accurately. Unfortunately, measurement and statistical software default graphics typically fail to uphold these standards and are therefore not suitable for publication or presentation to the public. To illustrate best practices, the instructors provide an introduction to the graphical template language in SAS and show how elementary components can be used to make efficient, effective, and accurate graphics for a variety of audiences. The module contains audio-narrated slides, embedded illustrative videos, quiz questions with diagnostic feedback, a glossary, sample SAS code, and other learning resources.     

Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on the Mathematics Performance of Students with Learning Disabilities: A Synthesis of the Research

ABSTRACT

Over the past decades, there has been a significant increase in the use of computers and mobile devices in schools as part of mathematics instruction for students with learning disabilities (LD). The purpose of this synthesis was to provide a systematic review of the research on the effects of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for both computers and mobile devices when teaching mathematics to students with LD. Twenty studies met the selection criteria that were published between 1980 and 2017. Findings revealed a wide range of effect sizes across the studies, but in general, the results represent a medium intervention effect and a large maintenance effect of using CAI for students with LD on their mathematics progress. In addition, findings revealed a relationship between the number of evidence-based instructional variables embedded in the CAI instruction and the effect on student performance. Overall, results indicated that well designed CAI with effective instructional variables should be considered as a promising intervention to support mathematics instruction for students with LD.     

Inter-limb differences in quadriceps strength and volitional activation

In this crossover study, we wished to determine if normalized inter-limb differences in strength differed from inter-limb differences in voluntary activation at 30°, 70°, and 90° of knee flexion. We also assessed the relationship between inter-limb differences in torque with the inter-limb differences in activation. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were used for final data analyses; the order of leg tested, joint angle, and measurement technique (isokinetic strength, voluntary activation) were randomly assigned. Quadriceps strength was measured isokinetically at 1.05 rad · s(-1), while quadriceps voluntary activation was assessed via the central activation ratio. Absolute values of inter-limb differences for both measures were calculated by subtracting the non-dominant leg values from those of the dominant leg. Inter-limb isokinetic strength differences were greater than inter-limb central activation ratio differences at all joint angles (P = 0.003). Interestingly, inter-limb deficits between measures were not strongly correlated, suggesting that these measurements may be evaluating completely different phenomena within the neuromuscular system. These measurement techniques may provide unique information regarding neuromuscular function, suggesting that researchers and clinicians must utilize information from both techniques to determine the true clinical nature of inter-limb deficits.     

Short report: Recovery of jump performance after a simulated cricket batting innings

The time-course of physical recovery was determined after a 2-h 20-min, simulated cricket batting innings. Several vertical jump measures were assessed before (baseline), immediately after, 24 h after and 48 h after simulated batting. Six, male, academy cricketers (20 ± 2 years) completed a previously developed simulated batting innings (BATEX) at an outdoor net facility. At each assessment point, participants completed countermovement-jumps, squat-jumps and 5-repeated reactive-jumps on a contact mat. Compared with baseline, countermovement flight time was similar immediately after, but decreased 24 h after batting (-3.0 ± 1.8%, p < 0.05, effect size [ES] ± 90% confidence interval [CI]: -1.38 ± 0.52). At 48 h post, countermovement-jump flight time was similar to baseline. A similar pattern occurred in the squat-jump and the decrease in squat-jump flight time 24 h after simulated batting approached significance (p = 0.053, ES ± CI -0.80 ± 0.51). The 5-repeated reactive-jump measures (flight time, contact time and reactive-strength-index) did not decrease after simulated batting (p > 0.05), but there were moderate effect sizes calculated (0.64-0.96). These findings support the continued use of countermovement flight time to assess recovery in cricket, since full recovery of jump performance occurred 48 h after a simulated, prolonged and high intensity-batting century.     

Who is more influenced by customer equity drivers? A moderator analysis in a professional soccer context

Despite the recent progress in understanding consumer moderators, much of this work has focused on the satisfaction-behavioral intentions link. There is a lack of research regarding the potential moderating effects of consumer variables on the relationship between the three dimensions of customer equity (value, brand, and relationship equity) and behavioral intentions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how the effects of value, brand, and relationship equity on consumer behavioral intentions are enhanced by demographic (age and gender) and relational (season-ticket purchase) moderators. Furthermore, this study views brand equity as a psychological moderator and attempts to investigate the moderating effects of brand equity on the relationships between value equity, relationship equity, and behavioral intentions. Data were collected from spectators at a professional soccer event in Japan (n = 383). The results indicate that the effect of brand equity on behavioral intentions is positive and significant, while relationship equity has positive effects on both brand equity and behavioral intentions. A series of moderator analyses using the multi-group SEM method revealed that the influences of brand and relationship equity on behavioral intentions are stronger for younger consumers, men, and season-ticket holders than for older consumers, women, and non-season-ticket holders. Moreover, the moderator analyses verified that the effect of value equity on behavioral intentions was positive and significant only for those spectators belonging to the low brand equity categorization. The research findings, contributions, and directions for future research are discussed.     

Quadrotor vehicle control via sliding mode controller driven by sliding mode disturbance observer

Over the last decade, considerable interest has been shown from industry, government and academia to the design of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) autonomous aerial vehicles. This paper uses the recently developed sliding mode control driven by sliding mode disturbance observer (SMC-SMDO) approach to design a robust flight controller for a small quadrotor vehicle. This technique allows for a continuous control robust to external disturbance and model uncertainties to be computed without the use of high control gain or extensive computational power. The robustness of the control to unknown external disturbances also leads to a reduction of the design cost as less pre-flight analyses are required. The multiple-loop, multiple time-scale SMC-SMDO flight controller is designed to provide robust position and attitude control of the vehicle while relying only on knowledge of the limits of the disturbances. Extensive simulations of a 6 DOF computer model demonstrate the robustness of the control when faced with external disturbances (including wind, collision and actuator failure) as well as model uncertainties.     

3D与2D电视体育收看体验的对比研究

3D技术是体育电视发展的必然趋向。运用传播心理学的方法,通过心率监测仪等器械的实证研究,我们对受众对3D和2D的体育节目观测体验进行了对比研究。虽然仍有很多人对这一技术存在疑问,但研究结果证明3D体育转播的前景仍然是值得期待的。