Instructional Investment or Administrative Bloat: The Effects of Charter System Conversion on Resource Allocations and Staffing Patterns

Despite the growing call for local autonomy and flexibility, few scholars have examined the role of school district–level flexibility on resource allocation and staffing patterns. Leveraging the charter system law within the State of Georgia, we utilize a generalized difference-in-differences approach to estimate the impact of flexibility of system-level expenditures and staffing changes. We find evidence of increases in central office spending and staffing post-conversion to a charter system. In addition, we find evidence that local support is replaced by the state-funded supplemental funding.     

Exploring sex differences in science enrolment intentions: An application of the General Model of Academic Choice

In many countries there remain substantial sex differences in enrolments in elective science courses, despite concerted efforts in recent years to alleviate them. This paper explores the reasons for these differences by comparing models of male and female enrolment intentions in elective courses in biology, chemistry and physics. The models are based on responses from approximately 450 students from 5 Australian high schools. First, a theoretical model, the Science Enrolment Model, was derived from Eccles and colleagues’ General Model of Academic Choice. Students’ responses were then used to develop empirical models of enrolment intentions in the three elective courses. Analyses for the models were conducted using the LISREL “mean structures” extension. Sex differences in the dependent variables in the models were then attributed to the relevant sets of independent variables. Substantial sex differences were identified in measures of perceived career value, interest and performance expectations in all three models which explained between 70% and 82% of the sex differences in enrolment intentions.     

So far so good? A qualitative case study exploring the implementation of consultation in schools

This paper describes a small‐scale research project carried out one year after the implementation of a consultation model of service delivery within an Educational Psychology Service. Following a series of interviews held with special needs co‐ordinators, a hierarchy of development was identified, and conditions pertaining to this development isolated. Through identifying optimum conditions for the development of consultation, a number of specific recommendations are made, aimed at ensuring that all schools gain maximum benefit from this way of working.     

Phenomenography — a “good‐for‐nothing brother” of phenomenology? Outline of an analysis

This article will argue that five different ways of doing phenomenography can be found amongst the works of Gothenburg phenomenographers: Discursive, Experimental, Naturalistic, Hermeneutic and Phenomenological. Commenting on an earlier version of phenomenography, Jacob Needleman stated that it was “a ‘good‐for‐nothing’ brother of phenomenology”. We will argue that it is not. It is productive research, even if at times the degree of methodological reflection applied by phenomenographers to their work is found wanting. Two of five forms of Gothenburg phenomenography can be developed by recourse to phenomenology.     

Reciprocal Teaching of Comprehension‐fostering and Comprehension‐monitoring Activities with Ten Primary School Girls

Abstract This paper reports an experimental evaluation of a direct instruction procedure in which children are taught and practise activities to both foster and monitor their comprehension while reading. Three different class groups of low comprehenders, Standard 4, Form 1 and Form 2, were serially exposed to 21 days of 20‐25 minutes instruction in four study activities: summarising, questioning, clarifying and predicting. Instruction was by reciprocal teaching whereby the adult tutor and children took turns leading a dialogue centred around the important topics of the instructional text. The design of this study incorporated both with‐subjects multiple baseline and between‐subjects comparisons, the no treatment comparison groups being average and above average comprehending class peers. Daily comprehension assessment on a different text at the same difficulty level as that used for reciprocal teaching and pre and post intervention scores on a reading comprehension test served as the dependent measures for the study. Results show significant increases in accuracy on comprehension tests for all experimental groups upon introduction of the reciprocal teaching procedure. On completion of the intervention two of these groups scores matched those of the above average controls. Follow‐up probes eight weeks later showed that all groups had maintained their comprehension gains.     

PERSONALITY PROFILES AND SELECTION FOR COURSES

16PF Personality profiles for 364 young civil engineers have been compared to the British Norms for the 16PF Questionnaire. Civil Engineers differ from the British Norms on five of the 20 factors derived from the Questionnaire. These factors indicate the questions on which to concentrate when selecting students for civil engineering courses.     

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND EXAMINATION RESULTS

The possibility of using diagnostic tests was explored and several tests were used with civil engineering students to see if they would be useful in selecting students for the civil engineering degree course. The performance of students on the tests used was compared with the examination results and it was found that the tests showed a little promise. It will be necessary to design a test specifically for civil engineering students. On the other hand perhaps our methods of teaching and examining subjects fundamental to civil engineering should be examined in depth. The results from the tests used indicated a culture gap between home and overseas students and the need for a database of student information.     

Psychometric Properties of the Full and Short Versions of the Quality of Life Instrument Package: Results from the Ontario province-wide study

Results that bear upon the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Instrument Package are presented. The reliability and validity of quality of life data from a probability sample of 500 persons with developmental disabilities in Ontario were assessed. The data indicate that most of the instruments found in the package met acceptable psychometric standards. In some cases, specific domain scores need to be interpreted with caution. The Full Version of the instrument seems appropriate for ongoing practical program planning with clients. The Short Version seems especially appropriate for evaluation and monitoring purposes.