Parts of the Whole: Motor and Behavioral Skills in Self-Regulation and Schooling Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Primary education is compulsory around the world. This means that around age 5 or 6, millions of children worldwide transition from home or preschool/kindergarten settings into primary school, with the success of this transition shaping school and life trajectories for years to come. Both developmental and environmental factors during early childhood spur tremendous change in children’s executive function (EF), a multi-component process fundamental to self-regulation and overall achievement. Successful self-regulation means that children can master their attention, emotions, and behaviors as they navigate public social spaces including the classroom and playground. Adaptive development of EF and self-regulation are critical, because primary school comes with heightened expectations for children to manage themselves effectively. In this special section of 4 articles that collectively span preschool through 5th grade, we take an integrative, whole-child approach to studying children’s regulatory processes and schooling outcomes. Special section authors explored conceptual frameworks, measurement approaches, and empirical research on the motor and behavioral aspects of self-regulation and their contributions to educational outcomes. Article themes include the importance of precise and nuanced measurement of regulatory processes in addition to academic skills; in-school and out-of-school time as unique contexts for development; multiple interrelated developmental domains important for EF and self-regulation, including visuo-spatial and visuo-motor skills; and the need to synthesize research on EF and self-regulation across developmental domains for efficacious application and interventions. In taking an integrative, whole-child approach to the study of self-regulation and schooling outcomes, these articles represent research that are important parts of the whole.     

The not-so-free agent: Non-performance factors that contribute to free agent compensation premiums

In this study, the authors examine Major League Baseball free agency to identify whether certain factors beyond a player’s on-field performance contribute to contract premiums. These premiums are considered to be the difference between the compensation a player receives in free agency and the marginal revenue product (MRP_t-1) in their contract year. Using 345 free agent transactions over a four-year period (2012–2015), the authors examine the relationships between potential free agent contract premiums and the attributes of a player’s previous team, as well as how contract premiums may be influenced by the level of interest from other teams and certain facets of the acquiring teams. Results suggest that free agents tend to receive compensation premiums when they played for a successful team during their contract year. Playing for a large-market team during their contract year also influenced contract premiums. In addition, free agents tended to realize compensations premiums when multiple teams were bidding for their services, the acquiring teams were in playoff contention the prior year, and the acquiring teams possessed relatively more financial resources. Findings shed additional light on how factors peripheral to a player’s on-field performance may influence the free agency market. Recommendations include that effective control mechanisms are necessary to ensure free agent compensation is commensurate with the value of the player.     

External load training does not alter balance performance in well-trained women

This study investigated the influence of external load training (ELT) on static and dynamic balance. Nineteen females stratified into two groups (ELT = 9, control = 10) completed three testing sessions over 6 weeks. The ELT group wore weighted vests (WV) of ~8% body mass for 32 h/week during daily living and three training sessions/week for 3 weeks. Following completion of ELT, a 3 week detraining (DET) phase was completed. Bilateral and unilateral static balance were assessed with eyes open and closed. Dynamic balance was assessed using the star excursion balance test (SEBT). Static and dynamic balance variables were analysed using a 2 (group) x 3 (time) between participants repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results revealed significant reductions in average centre of pressure (COP) velocity in the control group on the non-dominant limb with eyes closed, and significantly greater reach distances in the ELT group on the SEBT for the posteromedial and medial directions on the dominant limb (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the ELT group did not significantly improve their balance in comparison to the control group. However, future research should further examine this unique, supplemental training method and the impact on balance performance.     

合并中的俄亥俄医科大学与图兰朵大学

本文作者介绍了美国俄亥俄医科大学与图兰朵大学实现历史性合并的过程,提出了两校作出合并决定的背景。作者也评述了合并过程的管理结构和计划结构,讨论了新图兰朵大学面临的挑战。