Interpersonal Behavior,Laboratory Learning Environments,and Student Outcomes in Senior Biology Classes

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between students' perceptions of their biology teachers' interpersonal behavior and their laboratory learning environments and their attitudinal, achievement, and performance outcomes. A sample of 489 students from 28 senior biology classes in eight schools in Tasmania, Australia completed the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI). Responses to two attitude questionnaires, achievement on an external written examination, and performance in laboratory practical tests were used as student outcome measures. Statistical analyses supported the reliability and validity of the QTI and the SLEI when used with senior secondary biology students. We investigated associations between students' perceptions of teacher behavior and their laboratory learning environment with student outcomes, including the unique and common contributions of the QTI and SLEI to variance in student outcomes. Associations with students' perceptions of the learning environment were stronger for the attitudinal outcomes than for the cognitive or practical skills outcomes. Some commonality between the QTI and SLEI scales was found in their contributions to the variance in attitudinal outcomes, but not in their contributions to variance in cognitive and practical skill outcomes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 37: 26–43, 2000     

A paradox of sport management and physical activity interventions

Managers of sports programs, facilities, and organizations can have a role in promoting health through physical activity participation. From the perspective of a leisure scientist who has examined various dimensions of leisure-time physical activity, this paper aims to appraise the status of how sports as potential physical activity interventions have been examined, particularly in the sport management literature. Although the purpose of many sport management organizations is to encourage spectatorship, sports have always offered significant opportunities for children and adults to be more physically active. Sports are a motivator for physical activity because they are enjoyable to participants. Therefore, research done by academics in sports management could reflect more about how mass participation recreational sports can serve as interventions to promote healthy physical activity behavior for individuals and within communities.     

Solving the quandary between questionnaire length and response rate in educational research

A controversial issue exists in questionnaire survey techniques as to the relationship between questionnaire length and rate of returns. Questionnaire return rates were, therefore, examined under the following six controlled methodological conditions: (1) a large random sample, 1,650; (2) no follow-up procedures; (3) same type of mailout procedures and instructions for each questionnaire length; (4) no incentives or high interest factors; (5) same type of questionnaire for each of the three questionnaire lengths; (6) questionnaires of appropriate lengths (1, 3, and 5 pages); and (7) a daily tally of returns kept for each type of questionnaire. There was a difference in the rate of return among the three types of questionnaires when other influences on rate of return were held to a minimum. The variant results between the study and previous studies referred to in the review of literature can be explained by the fact that the controlled conditions were maintained for this study and not for previous studies.     

‘Technological me’: young children’s use of technology across their home and school contexts

Research into children’s learning with digital technologies is represented by a growing body of literature examining the relationship between home–school technological practices. A focus of this work is on the notion of a ‘digital-disconnect’ between home and school. This argument suggests that children are such native users of technologies they struggle to connect with commonly used technologies in school. This paper examines how the ‘digital-disconnect’ is experienced in children’s lives. Drawing on a data set investigating the digital experiences of 12 children aged 2–12 years, we consider the experiences of one family attending the same school. Three siblings aged 5–12 years recorded their home and school technology use for one week. The findings suggested some difference in use across both settings, but also similarities associated with information retrieval, rote learning and entertainment. We use Bulfin and North’s and Dyson’s ideas about the permeability of social boundaries to explain why technology use might be more similar than disconnected in each context. We consider the extent to which each setting influences the other as the basis for moving away from binary conceptualisations of the digital-disconnect informed by generational assumptions about children and technologies.     

Effects of correct and extraneous markings under time limits on reading comprehension

262 black undergraduate students randomly assigned to three groups read premarked reading materials having both correct and extraneous markings. Form 1 had 75% correct marking, Form 2, 25%, and Form 3, 50%. Reading was limited to 2 1/2 minutes, but, answering to the 25-item multiple-choice criterion measure had no time limit. Results indicated that markings significantly affected reading comprehenion. Students above and below median course grade comprehended the materials significantly differently under the three different marking conditions. Recommendations for educators concerning correct and extraneous markings were made.