The influence of feedback of diagnosis and executive function skills on rates of false positive and false negative outcomes for ADHD

This study examined executive function (EF) skills and self-reported symptoms of ADHD. EF skills were measured to determine whether skills were different between groups that reported clinical levels of ADHD symptoms (clinical group) and nonclinical levels of ADHD symptoms (nonclinical group). EF skills in the nonclinical group were also investigated to determine whether differences existed for those who received false positive and negative feedback about an ADHD diagnosis. Results indicated statistically and clinically significant differences in EF skills between the clinical and nonclinical group. Participants in the nonclinical group who reported elevated scores on the ADHD screener after receiving false positive feedback had statistically significantly different EF function scores, but not clinically significant scores, compared to the participants in nonclinical group who received negative feedback.     

An Evaluation of Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy (SWELL) in Six Disadvantaged Schools

A within‐school evaluation of Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy (SWELL) was undertaken in six disadvantaged schools in NSW in 1995 and 1996 using a sample of Kindergarten students in each school before (control group) and after (experimental group) the implementation of SWELL. As many control and experimental students as could be accessed were tested on four different early literacy measures when they were mid‐way through Year 1. Assessment at the end of the Kindergarten year and mid‐way through Year 1 indicated that experimental students significantly outperformed their control counterparts on tests measuring pseudoword decoding and reading connected text at the end of Kindergarten, and on tests measuring pseudoword decoding, reading connected text, invented spelling, and a standardised reading measure mid‐way through Year 1.     

Equipping Leaders to Capitalise on the Outcomes of Quality Assessment in Higher Education

Has the quality movement in universities become so sophisticated that it has outpaced the capacity of academic leaders to respond? The authors of this paper argue that this has been their experience within the context of New Zealand universities. In response, the University of Otago has developed an innovative programme to provide academic and administrative leaders with an opportunity to enhance those skills and attributes needed to meet the challenges of change arising from audit and other reforms.     

Early Years Parenting Mediates Early Adversity Effects on Problem Behaviors in Intellectual Disability

A family developmental framework was applied to data from families of children with intellectual disabilities to understand the role of parenting in the path from early adversity to problem behaviors in mid-childhood. Data from 9 months to 11 years tested the Family Stress Model in families of 555 children. Adversarial parenting between 3 and 5 years mediated the path from early adversity (family poverty and maternal psychological distress at nine months) to problem behaviors at 7 and 11 years. Positive parent–child relationship only mediated the path to conduct problems. Multiple mediation was not present. Early adversity impacts both positive parent–child relationship and adversarial parenting between three and five, but the latter is crucial for problem behaviors in mid-childhood.     

The Developmental Sequence and Relations Between Gesture and Spoken Language in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

In typical development, gestures precede and predict language development. This study examines the developmental sequence of expressive communication and relations between specific gestural and language milestones in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who demonstrate marked difficulty with gesture production and language. Communication skills across five stages (gestures, word approximations, first words, gesture-word combinations, and two-word combinations) were assessed monthly by blind raters for toddlers with ASD participating in an randomized control trial of parent-mediated treatment (N = 42, 12–30 months). Findings revealed that toddlers acquired skills following a reliable (vs. idiosyncratic) sequence and the majority of toddlers combined gestures with words before combining words in speech, but in contrast to the pattern observed in typical development, a significant subset acquired pointing after first words.     

On the same page in sporting dyads: does dissimilarity on 2 x 2 achievement goal constructs impair relationship functioning?

This study examined the extent to which 2 x 2 achievement goal constructs (Elliot, 1999) were associated with key relational perceptions (i.e., relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction) for members of athlete-athlete dyads. Both members from 82 regional-level partnerships (mean age = 22.72, SD = 3.83) were recruited from a variety of dyadic sports (e.g., tennis, badminton, rowing). Actor-partner interdependence model analyses revealed that greater dissimilarity between partners on mastery-approach and performance-approach goals was associated with lower commitment and satisfaction. Mastery goals displayed positive actor effects with respect to both relationship perceptions, whereas performance-avoidance goals were negatively related to commitment (i.e., actor and partner effects) and satisfaction (i.e., partner effect). These results indicate that achievement goal constructs may align with important interpersonal perceptions in athlete dyads.     

Quantum phenomena in Communities of Practice

Although Communities of Practice have become a core concept in understanding how knowledge is managed within organizations, there have been few studies of the praxis of formation of Communities of Practice. In this article, we report on a Grounded Theory study of the members of a previously identified Community of Practice within the UK Higher Education Academy Psychology Network. In addition to providing data on the functioning of the community, the study also revealed a hitherto unrecognized form of community that exhibits all of the characteristics of CoPs yet has only a transient existence that seems to nucleate around an existing core community. Drawing on the metaphor of quantum behaviour, we termed these communities Quantum Communities of Practice. We describe a theory to explain this phenomenon that is grounded in the data from the study. We conclude by discussing the value and validity of our findings and methodology and indicating the next steps we will take in our research.     

The reliability of some VOSTS items when used with preservice secondary science teachers in England

A selection of Views on Science–Technology–Society (VOSTS) items was made and administered to a group of 29 postgraduate trainee science teachers. Two sections of VOSTS were addressed: VOSTS 1 (Defining Science and Technology) and VOSTS 9 (Epistemology). Reliability was determined by a cross-tabulation procedure following a retest. All 27 items selected were generally found to be reliable, although when put to a severe treatment, 24 of 27 items were found to be reliable. A cluster analysis of the responses was also carried out: Two main clusters were obtained for VOSTS 1 and three for VOSTS 9. The findings are discussed, compared with those from the Canadian study, and reviewed in the context of professional development of science teachers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 35: 53-71, 1998.