Church schools,educational markets and the rural idyll

Researchers have begun to explore the role that faith schools play in contemporary educational markets but the emphasis to date has been on urban rather than rural contexts. This article approaches the issue of marketisation through a qualitative case-study comparison of two Anglican primary schools in contrasting rural localities in England and Wales. Engaging with a range of stakeholders, including parents and pupils, the article explores reasons why the schools were valued, drawing on wider constructions of childhood, religion and rurality. The consequences of the schools’ popularity on factors such as traffic, parking, school ethos and local community ties are also considered. The findings of the study problematise some of the prevalent assumptions about marketisation, including the role of social class and geography in these processes. As such, the article makes an important contribution to the sociological literature on faith schools, rural schools and educational markets.     

Using transdisciplinary research to examine talent identification and development in sport

Abstract

Effective sport talent identification and development (TID) programmes are integral to a nation’s success in international sport. Using a transdisciplinary approach that involved sport practitioners and researchers with diverse theoretical perspectives, we investigated TID factors in four Australian sports (Australian rules football, cricket, kayaking and tennis). A transdisciplinary approach allowed us to isolate and explore a range of factors critical to successful sport TID. This methodological article explores how this project moved TID research beyond its paradigmatic, quantitative, sport science lens and advanced knowledge and practice in TID from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The use of a transdisciplinary approach in future TID research is recommended.     

Causal Attributions following Success and Failure at an Achievement Motor Task

Abstract

Past research has shown that success is predominantly attributed to internal factors and failure attributed to external factors. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether this attributional pattern was also found when subjects were performing a motor task. The degree of ego involvement in the task (evaluation) and the effect of prior practice (novelty) were also investigated in order to determine the extent to which these variables affect subjects' self-attributions. Thus, the effects of ego involvement and past experience following success and failure on causal attributions were investigated in a 2 × 2 × 2 (evaluation × novelty × outcome) factorial design with 80 college undergraduates. The task was a motor maze. Consistent with past research, subjects showed a relative tendency toward internal attributions over external attributions and a tendency toward stable attributions over unstable attributions. Moreover, success increased the relative bias toward internal attributions. However, evaluation apprehension and experience with the motor task did not interact with outcome to affect internal and external attributions.     

Joggers versus Nonexercisers: An Analysis of Knowledge,Attitudes and Beliefs about Jogging

Abstract

The Health Belief Model was utilized to examine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of individuals regarding regular jogging. Based on an elicitation procedure developed by Martin Fishbein, a questionnaire was developed according to the theoretical tenets of the Health Belief Model and was found to be valid and reliable. Responses from 124 joggers and 96 nonexercisers were analyzed, and significant differences were found. Factors which accounted for the largest portion of predictable variance (40%) were barriers to action such as lack of time, job or family responsibilities, or weather constraints. As a whole, the results provided support for the Health Belief Model in that 61% of the variance in jogging behavior was determined. The study suggests that physical and health educators might more effectively change the behavior of sedentary individuals by utilizing strategies which address perceived obstacles to jogging.     

Data Mining in Elite Sports: A Review and a Framework

Sophisticated data analytical methods such as data mining, where the focus is upon exploration and developing new insights, are becoming increasingly useful tools in analysing elite sports performance data and supporting decision making that is crucial to gaining success. In this article, we investigate the different data mining demands of elite sports with respect to a number of features that describe sport competitions. The aim is to more structurally connect the sports and data mining domains through: (a) describing a framework for categorizing elite sports, and (b) understanding the analytical demands of different performance analysis problems. Therefore, we review different aspects such as sport categories and performance analysis requirements that influence each stage in sports data mining. We also present a model bringing together performance analysis requirements, data mining methods, data mining techniques, and technique characteristics. This will assist both data scientists and sport professionals to more effectively collaborate and contribute to success in elite sport events.     

Free operant avoidance behavior in hooded rats: IRTs and response chains

Twenty-five hooded rats were given 50 avoidance training sessions with leverpress IRTs obtained during as well as between sessions. Five qualitatively different shapes to the IRT profiles were found: single- or double-peaked shapes, positively or negatively accelerated shapes, and U-shaped distributions. Both the specific shape of the profile and the stability of that shape during a session were related to the avoidance proficiency of an individual rat. Six rats received two additional training sessions, with the final 30 min of each videotaped to obtain frequency counts of nine behavior categories. The observational data showed that avoidance-proficient rats typically incorporated the leverpress requirement into repetitive response chains.