Hispanic college students’ views of effective middle-school teachers: A multi-stage mixed analysis

In this multi-stage mixed-analysis study, the views of 437 Hispanic college students enrolled at two Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the Southwest of the USA were obtained concerning characteristics of effective middle-school teachers. Through the method of constant comparison (qualitative phase), 38 themes were determined to be present in respondents’ characteristics of effective middle-school teachers. Then, these themes (quantitative phase), quantified into an inter-respondent matrix that consisted of a series of 1s and 0s, were analysed to determine whether participants differed in their themes as a function of gender, college status and first-generation/non-first-generation status. Statistically significant differences were present between males and females, between undergraduate and graduate students, and between first-generation and non-first-generation college students in their emphases on effective middle-school teachers. Implications are discussed.     

Willingness to Pay and Preference for Private Institutions

This study focuses on the correlates of student preference for private institutions over public institutions in their senior year in high school, with a particular focus on the effects of students' subjective responses to tuition costs and to financial aid availability. The data for this study were drawn from a longitudinal study of postsecondary educational choice of high school students in the state of Indiana. The results indicate that in addition to student and family background and student academic characteristics, students' subjective responses to tuition costs and to financial aid availability have a substantial linkage with student preference for private or public institutions. This study suggests that family and ascribed characteristics alone do not explain student preference for the type of postsecondary institution. Students' subjective responses to tuition costs and to financial aid availability are also directly related to student preference for a certain type of postsecondary institution, independent of student family background and academic characteristics. This suggests that the willingness to pay, not only the ability to pay, plays a direct role in student college choice decisions. The implications for policy making are discussed.     

Validity in Assessing Self-Regulated Learning: A Comment on Perry & Winne

Perry and Winne (2006) describe their computer program, ‘gStudy’, and argue that it facilitates valid measurement of self-regulated learning (SRL) over time. This commentary addresses the assumptions underlying this argument and raises additional validity questions regarding the use of this tool. These include issues related to the development of SRL in young children, the difficulty in embedding assessments in a learning tool, and the extent to which the log analyzer can separate SRL sequences from other behavior. Finally, the extent to which behavior ‘inside’ gStudy reflects SRL in other contexts is discussed.     

University teacher preparation programmes as a quality enhancement mechanism: evaluating impact beyond individual teachers’ practice

Conceptually, practically and rhetorically teaching is at the core of quality in higher education. University teaching preparation programmes (TPPs) are regularly advocated to foster enhancement of teaching but there remains limited evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness or impact as a quality improvement mechanism. Support for such programmes is largely a matter of faith amongst their advocates. This paper presents an analysis of the impact of one initial TPP to add to the body of evidence on the efficacy of such programmes. The results reinforce other research indicating that such programmes do have beneficial effects on individual academics. The benefits extend to work groups and have value to the institution. However, the transfer of learning by academics to practice takes time and is mediated by many factors. Nevertheless, where institutional and local departmental cultures value teaching, TPPs provide a useful strategy for quality enhancement in higher education.     

Views of effective college faculty: a mixed analysis

A mixed analysis of the perceived characteristics of effective college faculty members was conducted through surveying 615 students, predominantly Hispanic, enrolled in courses at two southwest Hispanic‐serving universities. Beliefs were identified that led to 29 prevailing themes: Knowledgeable; Understanding; Communication; Teaches Well; Caring; Organised; Flexibility; Positive Attitude; Patience; Experience in the Classroom; Fair; Helping; Respectful; Open‐minded; Builds Relationships; Passion for the Job; Service; Makes Learning Interesting; Uses Different Modalities; Fun; Motivating; Intelligent; Involving Students; Being Available; Friendly; Connects with the Real World; Listening; Creativity; and Challenges Student. Of these themes, knowledgeable, Understanding, Communication and Teaches Well received the highest endorsements and are congruent with student evaluations that are components of promotion and tenure decisions.     

Victim, perpetrator, family, and incident characteristics of infant and child homicide in the United States Air Force

OBJECTIVE: The present study describes factors related to fatal abuse in three age groups in the United States Air Force (USAF). METHOD: Records from 32 substantiated cases of fatal child abuse in the USAF were independently reviewed for 60 predefined factors. RESULTS: Males were over-represented in young child victims (between 1 year and 4 years of age) and child victims (between 4 years and 15 years of age) but not in infant victims (between 24 hours and 1 year of age). African-American infant victims and perpetrators were over-represented. Younger victims were more likely to have been previously physically abused by the perpetrator. Perpetrators were predominantly male and the biological fathers of the victims. Infant and young child perpetrators reported childhood abuse histories, while child perpetrators reported the highest frequency of mental health contact. Victims' families reported significant life stressors. Families of young child victims were more likely divorced, separated, or single. Incidents with infants and young children tended to occur without witnesses; incidents with child victims tended to have the victim's sibling(s) and/or mother present. Fatal incidents were more frequent on the weekend, in the home, and initiated by some family disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Differences among groups in factors related to infant and child homicide across age groups may assist in the development of more tailored abuse prevention efforts and may also guide future investigations.