L'information et la documentation dans le counseling

The problem of information and documentation in counseling is treated from two angles: one, as an intrinsic part of the counseling process, second, as a framework for the counseling process.From the first viewpoint, one should watch for the risk that the information and documentation does interfere with the need for self-scrutiny in the interpersonal counseling relationship. On the second standpoint, that is treated extensively, the information and documentation service is the heart of the helping intervention. On the basis of studies by O'Hara (1968), Wexler (1974), Gendlin (1964) and Ausubel (1970) the author develops his view, that the effect of information and documentation will be reinforced by an accompanying interpersonal counseling process. This demands a piecemeal approach, in which the information is presented in a sequence, and allows for a process of differentiation and integration in the client. The empathic support of the counselor will function in this respect as a motivating force.     

Development and calibration of the student opportunities for deeper learning instrument

This article describes the development and calibration of the student opportunities for deeper learning instrument (SODLI). The SODLI is designed to measure the amount of learning opportunities intended to support higher‐order thinking that students are exposed to through student self‐report, and is expected to be widely useful in psychological research in schools. Here, the psychometric functioning of the SODLI is investigated in a relatively large sample of U.S. high‐school students (N = 963). Using multidimensional item‐response theory methods, a nine‐factor correlated model is determined to fit the data best, and to produce reliable estimates of SODLI dimensions. The SODLI is also shown to exhibit scalar‐invariant measurement properties across sex, race/ethnicity, and language‐background groups, although latent mean differences on some of the SODLI dimensions across those groups were identified.     

Cross-modality contrast: Exteroceptive context habituation enhances taste neophobia and conditioned taste aversions

The relationship between absolute and relative stimulus novelty was examined within the context of the conditioned taste aversion paradigm in which the relative novelty of the conditioned interoceptive stimulus was manipulated by differential exteroceptive context habituation. Rats received similar isolation histories but either 5 or 30 days of habituation to the test environment prior to treatment. One group was administered lithium chloride following saccharin consumption, a second group was administered isotonic saline following saccharin consumption, and a third group was administered saline after water consumption. The animals habituated for 30 days exhibited greater conditioned avoidance and greater neophobic avoidance of saccharin than did animals habituated for only 5 days. The results are interpreted in terms of a cross-modality stimulus contrast effect which implicates context habituation as an important parameter of both taste neophobia and taste aversion learning.     

The politics of language loss: a Francophone case from Western Canada

Language loss among minorities is often seen as identity change in the process of assimilation, or minority accommodation in the context of majority settings. This paper examines the political aspect of language loss among Francophones in Saskatchewan between 1875 and 1983. The historical evidence indicates that the Francophones were unable to maintain their language largely as a result of Anglophones successfully passing laws restricting French in schools since 1892. Only in the 1960s did the Francophones begin to regain some language rights. The inability of Francophones to lobby against the English legislators is attributed largely to the absence of Francophone constituencies, which deprived them of a political base to launch effective protests. The changes since the '60s are influenced in part by greater acceptance of the French language, and in part by increased militancy of Francophones as they resort to more radical means to pressure their demands.     

Reading Ages and NFER Reading Tests

The article outlines some practical and theoretical weaknesses of the concept of ‘reading age’. It considers ambiguity in the computational methods for determining the ‘average’ reading age and the tendency for a reading age to become a fixed property of a pupil rather than an estimate of his standing, relative to time of testing and choice of test. A theoretical standpoint is taken that insufficient is known about the way a reader develops for his attainment to be given a developmental or age‐based score. It is further suggested that in any case the relationship between age and reading development is imperfect. This point is developed further when the assumption of a linear pattern in reading development is criticized. It is further suggested that insofar as reading does follow chronological age an age‐adjustment in the scale used to express attainment is highly desirable. Practical considerations such as selection of reading material, comparison with other educational tests and the assessment of reading progress, are mentioned. The article concludes with a brief resume of the problems associated with reading ‘quotients’ and designating children as ‘under‐achievers’.     

The regulation of release parameters in underarm precision throwing

The aim of this study was to determine if adults spontaneously exploit the laws of physics to achieve better accuracy when throwing at various distances. Eight adults performed 25 underarm throws at five horizontal circular targets located 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 m away with a constant 5% relative accuracy requirement. Angle and speed of the ball at release were found to increase with throwing distance, while the coordinates of the release point did not change significantly. These results support the idea that people minimize the variability in impact distance by adapting both the angle and the speed at ball release following a mechanical optimum predicted by the laws of physics. Moreover, variability in distance was found to be less than expected because of independent variations in the angle and speed at ball release. Hence, the control of precision throwing seems to imply compensatory variability, as frequently reported in the control of skilled actions.     

A sit-ski design aimed at controlling centre of mass and inertia

Abstract

This article introduces a sit-ski developed for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in view of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic games. The design is predominantly based on controlling the mass distribution of the sit-ski, a critical factor in skiing performance and control. Both the antero-posterior location of the centre of mass and the sit-ski moment of inertia were addressed in our design.

Our design provides means to adjust the antero-posterior centre of mass location of a sit-ski to compensate for masses that would tend to move the antero-posterior centre of mass location away from the midline of the binding area along the ski axis. The adjustment range provided is as large as 140 mm, thereby providing sufficient adaptability for most situations. The suspension mechanism selected is a four-bar linkage optimised to limit antero-posterior seat movement, due to suspension compression, to 7 mm maximum. This is about 5% of the maximum antero-posterior centre of mass control capacity (151 mm) of a human participant. Foot rest inclination was included in the design to modify the sit-ski inertia by as much as 11%. Together, these mass adjustment features were shown to drastically help athletes’ skiing performance.     

Aerobic plus resistance training was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity,metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than aerobic training in obese adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aerobic plus resistance training (AT + RT) is more effective than aerobic training (AT) at reducing inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents. A total of 139 obese adolescents were enrolled, aged 15–19 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile and participated in 1 year of interdisciplinary intervention. They were randomised into two groups: AT (n = 55), AT + RT (n = 61). Blood samples were collected to analyse glycaemia, insulin, the lipid profile, leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The AT + RT group showed better results with regard to decreased body fat mass, low-density lipoprotein concentration (LDL-c) levels, subcutaneous and visceral fat and increased body lean mass. Indeed, a reduction of hyperleptinaemia and an increase in adiponectin concentrations, promoting an improvement in the leptin/adiponectin ratio, was observed. Important clinical parameters were improved in both types of exercise; however, AT + RT was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than AT alone, suggesting clinical applications for the control of intra-abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk in the paediatric population.