Adolescent, parent, and observer perceptions of parenting: genetic and environmental influences on shared and distinct perceptions

Agreement among reporters on features of family life, whether family members or outside observers, is considered to be low. This study, which involved a national sample of 720 families comprised of identical and fraternal twins, full siblings, half siblings, and biologically unrelated stepsiblings, examined the issue of low interrater agreement by decomposing the common and unique variance among parent, child, and observer reports of parenting behaviors (warmth and negativity) into genetic and environmental factors. Quantitative genetic analyses were employed to decompose the "Social" level of perception (common variance among parents, children, observers), the level of "Family" subculture (common variance only among parents and children), and the unique "Individual" level into genetic and environmental components. It was predicted that genetic factors would account for substantial portions of the variance at the Social and Family levels; nonshared environmental factors were expected to influence variance unique to child reports; and shared environmental factors were expected to influence variance unique to parent reports. A second and related aim of the study was to examine the subjective-objective dimension of genetic effects on measures of the environment. Results of model-fitting analyses generally supported the predictions for parental warmth and negativity at the Family and Individual levels. At the Social level, genetic factors were predominant for parental negativity and shared environmental factors for parental warmth. The findings are discussed in terms of genetically influenced child effects on parenting and methodological difficulties in constructing latent variables.     

Transfer of control between causal predictive judgments and instrumental responding

Four experiments were conducted to explore outcome-specific transfer from causal predictive judgments to instrumental responding. A video game was designed in which participants had to defend Andalusia from navy and air force attacks. First, they learned the relationship between two instrumental responses (two keys on a standard keyboard) and two different outcomes (destruction of the ships or destruction of the planes). Then they learned to predict which of two different stimuli predicted which outcome. Finally, they had the opportunity of making either of the two instrumental responses in the presence of either stimulus. Transfer was shown as a preference for the response that shared an outcome with the current stimulus. The presentation of the stimulus during the test produced a decrease in the overall rate of response. Responding to a neutral stimulus in Experiments 2 and 3 suggested that this overall decrease in responding was due to a combination of the time needed to process the meaning of the stimulus and the activation of the representation of the outcome in the presence of the stimulus during the test. Transfer between predictive judgments and instrumental responding mirrors the outcome-specific Pavlovian instrumental transfer observed in conditioning studies with rats.     

Effects of two combined methods on the teaching of basic astronomy concepts

The authors mainly aimed to investigate the following question: Are there any significant effects of the first combined method of a conceptual change approach with refutation text, worksheets, and activities with respect to the second combined method of a conceptual change approach with conceptual texts, presentations, and activities on students' misconceptions and achievement on a 3-tier posttest score measuring Grade 7 basic astronomy concepts when independent variables are controlled? There was a statistically significant effect of the first combined method with respect to the second method at the medium effect size on both misconception scores and achievement scores. This finding clearly demonstrates that use of the first combined method, which included refutation texts with worksheets, eliminated the students' misconceptions and increased their achievement. The second combined method also increased the students' achievement, but almost 40% of their misconceptions remained.     

The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Integrated Career Information and Guidance Systems: A Policy Perspective

The evolution of ICT, and the ways in which it is currently used in the delivery of career information and guidance services, are examined. Such systems have the potential both to expand and to restrict access to career information and guidance. Ways in which ICT can complement and/or be integrated with other ways of providing career services are explored. Finally, a number of key policy issues relating to the role of ICT in national and regional career information and guidance systems are identified, including issues relating to funding and quality assurance. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Predicting individual success in programing self-instructional materials

Conclusions In essence, this study has completed a triad of efforts to identify and weigh factors critical to the proper selection of individuals for training as self-instructional programers. It would now appear that we have reliable measures that can be used as guidelines. The most powerful of these selection criteria is the combined Otis IQ and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking scores. It was found in the 1963 study that these two scores, working in concert, were more powerful and sensitive than either working alone. This result was confirmed in the present study with the finding of significance beyond the 001 level, indicating that the difference could be attributed to chance in only one case out of one thousand. In Figure 1, we find a representation of the utility of this predictor in assessing the success of programers in the upper and lower quartiles. Using figures to be explained below, we sought to determine whether a combined score of 187 or less would indicate failure while a combined score of 207 or more would indicate success. The research reported herein was supported by the Cooperative Research Program of the Office of Education, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Cooperative Research Project No. OEC-1-7-068407-0286.     

Enhancing law enforcement identification and investigation of child maltreatment

OBJECTIVE: Data from two independent studies is presented, representing the investigators' ongoing work with faculty from a state criminal justice academy to analyze existing knowledge and skill levels among veteran law enforcement officers and recruits, as well as to enhance future training. METHOD: Through an anonymous questionnaire, the first of these studies examined officers' perceptions of maltreatment, including those factors that do and do not influence a determination of whether a particular act constitutes child maltreatment and assessments of whether particular acts constitute abuse or neglect. The second study also utilized an anonymous questionnaire to examine officers' knowledge of the developmental strengths and limitations of children relative to their ability to provide accurate information in suspected cases of child maltreatment. RESULTS: As hypothesized, several gaps both in law enforcement officers' knowledge of certain characteristics that can serve to denote a case of maltreatment and their knowledge of fundamental developmental issues and interview techniques that could assist them in the performance of their professional duties are identified. CONCLUSIONS: Suggestions for enhanced law enforcement training programs are presented and discussed.     

Lifelong Learning: An Enduring Mandate for Higher Education

Lifelong learning is not only an established psychological fact, it is a compelling political and educational slogan that appeals equally to those concerned with the fulfilment and realisation of human potential, and those who are interested in the pragmatic need to keep up with rapid social and technological change.

A number of recent discussion papers and government reports (see, e.g., Aulich, 1990; Australia Council, 1990; Butler, 1989; Dawkins, 1988; DEET, 1990; Johnson, 1990) have mentioned the concept of lifelong learning as either a cause or an effect of recommended changes in the structure, administration or policy of higher education in Australia.

The purpose of this paper is to examine lifelong learning and to distinguish it from a number of other concepts and practices with which it is frequently associated. The paper then moves on to a consideration of lifelong learning in the Australian context, and in particular in higher education. It is argued that in many instances the rhetoric has outstripped the reality. Yet there are positive signs that notwithstanding the dominant ideology of instrumentalism so prominent at present, there are many initiatives and programs which, taken together, are contributing towards the fulfilment of lifelong learning. It is concluded that Australian higher education institutions are able to realise the ideal of contributing to a learning society, while at the same time being more pragmatic and accountable in aspects of their work.     

Assessing Teacher Appraisals and Stress in the Classroom: Review of the Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands

Stress research increasingly emphasizes the role of appraisal in determining which events are perceived as stressful. The Classroom Appraisal of Resources and Demands (CARD) was developed to measure teachers’ appraisals of their classroom demands and resources in order to assess their risk for experiencing occupational stress. The present purposes are to review the literature identifying appraisals as a key determinant of stress, to describe the development of the CARD, and to provide meta-analytic results from 18 studies comparing CARD scores to the following variables: teacher’s job satisfaction and occupational commitment, burnout symptoms, stress prevention resources, and challenging student demands. Results suggest moderate effects for associations between the CARD and these constructs, and implications for educational policy aimed at reducing turnover and increasing teacher and student welfare are discussed.