Self-reported ability assessment in rock climbing

Level of ability within rock climbing is generally expressed in terms of a "best ascent", rated using various grading systems within the sport. The most common method of obtaining this information is via self-report. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of self-reported climbing grades. Twenty-nine competitive rock climbers (17 males, 12 females) were first asked to report their current (defined as within the last 12 months) best on-sight lead ascent grade (Aus/NZ). The participants then climbed a specifically designed indoor route, under on-sight conditions (one attempt, no route practice or preview), to obtain an assessed grade. The route increased in difficulty, and was such that the distance achieved by the climber corresponded to a particular grade. The mean (±standard deviation) self-reported and assessed grade was 22.6?±?3.4 and 22.0?±?3.0 (Aus/NZ) respectively. Despite slight over- and underestimations in males and females respectively, there was no statistically significant difference between self-reported and assessed on-sight climbing grades. The results of this study suggest that self-reported climbing grades provide a valid and accurate reflection of climbing ability.     

Video‐mediated Judgements of Personal Characteristics Based Upon Non‐verbal Cues

The process of forming initial judgements to do with a range of personal attributes such as age, marital status, personality, etc. plays an important part in making contact with other people and forming relationships with them (Kleinke, 1986). It has also been the subject of extensive psychological enquiry of late (Cook, 1984). The twofold objectives of the present investigation were, firstly, to establish the degree of correspondence between observers’ judgements based upon video presentations of subjects, and subjects’ actual age, marital status, religion, socio‐economic status and personality; and, secondly, to determine the types of nonverbal cue upon which such impressions were founded. Results revealed that only in the case of age did the correlation between observered and actual values of the variable reach significance. The nonverbal cues implicated seemed to be mostly to do with subjects’ appearance, hair and face. More broadly, appearance, as a general category of observation, was extensively represented throughout the study, irrespective of the accuracy of the specific judgement arrived at. Results are discussed within the context of existing research findings. Limitations of the study are identified and suggestions made as to ways in which this work may be extended, particularly in respect of the importance of video and television replays as an observational medium.     

A Re-Conceptualization of Rogers' Core Conditions: Implications for Research, Practice and Training

Rogers' core conditions remain influential in international counselling practice despite decades of equivocal research findings regarding their effectiveness. It has been argued that ambiguity and lack of clarity in Rogers' (1957) original definitions is a major factor in the development of misunderstanding and multiple operationalizations of the core conditions for research and training purposes. This paper presents an innovative re-conceptualization of the core conditions based on social psychological models of attitude. It is argued that this model has the potential to integrate existing work from a range of perspectives and provide a framework for future research and development.     

Student Preference Rates for Predominately Online,Compressed, or Traditionally Taught University Courses

Universities and colleges in the United States are actively searching for new ways to increase student enrollment as one means to offset recent government budget cuts in educational funding. One proposal at a particular institution involves transitioning a commuter university from a traditional semester length calendar to one that offers predominately online and compressed courses. University students responded to a survey, based on a number of variables, regarding their impressions of taking considerably more online and compressed courses in lieu of traditionally taught courses. While the students wanted to keep the traditional semester calendar, findings showed that some of the benefits of online and compressed teaching schedules were appealing.     

Perceptions and knowledge of preservice and inservice educators about early reading instruction

A major conclusion from research regarding children with poor reading performance is that early, systematic instruction in phonological awareness and phonics improves early reading and spelling skills and results in a reduction of the number of students who read below grade level. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and knowledge of presevice and inservice educators about early reading instruction. The results indicated that these educators expressed positive attitudes toward explicit and implicit code instruction, with inservice educators more positive about explicit code instruction than preservice educators and preservice educators more positive about implicit code instruction. Preservice and inservice educators demonstrated limited knowledge of phonological awareness or terminology related to language structure and phonics. Additionally, they perceived themselves as only somewhat prepared to teach early reading to struggling readers. These findings indicate a continuing mismatch between what educators believe and know and what convergent research supports as effective early reading instruction for children at risk for reading difficulties. Implications support continuing efforts to inform and reform teacher education. Just prior to publication, the editorial office was informed of the untimely death of the first author, Candace Bos, who died on August 13, 2001.     

Protective role of onion against acute alcoholic fatty liver

Rats were fasted for 8 hours and then fed 3 ml of 25% (v/v) ethanol per 100g body weight and subsequently sacrificed 18 hours later. The levels of triacylglycerols and total cholesterol were significantly raised in serum and liver of alcohol fed rats. However, when rats were fed on aqucous extract of onions (300 mg per 100g body weight) with 25% ethanol, no rise in serum and liver lipids was observed. Alcohol fed to the fats with or without onion extract had no effect on serum, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase levels. The increase in serum urea in ethanol-fed rats was not altered in rats fed a mixture of alcohol and onion extracts. Values of liver MDA was lower in rats fed ethanol with or without onion extract compared to controls. Onion extract seemed to show a hypolipidemic effect in alcohol fed rats.     

Promoting academic writing/referencing skills: Outcome of an undergraduate e-learning pilot project

Future health care professionals will require self‐directed learning skills. e‐Learning is a tool to assist in this process and therefore there is a need to develop the capacity and readiness to utilise e‐learning within educational programmes. The aim of this study was to determine if extra‐curricular online referencing and anti‐plagiarism lectures would be utilised and would ultimately improve 1st‐year undergraduate health sciences students’ performance in written assessments. A series of six online archived multimedia lectures (asynchronous) were offered. Adult learning theory principles guided the resource design. Pre‐ and post‐testing of knowledge, attitudes and computer skills was carried out. In‐person tutorials and online email support were also offered. Less than 36% (self‐report) of students accessed the online resources. The poor uptake revealed in this study is consistent with a number of other studies. These findings indicate the need for more careful scrutiny of the learning theory applied in e‐learning design. Prochaska's transtheoretical model is suggested as a framework with strong potential for e‐learning initiatives.