Enhancement of pigeons’ conditional discrimination performance by expectancies of reinforcement and nonreinforcement

Prior work has shown that when the separate correct responses of a conditional discrimination are followed by different reinforcing outcomes, performance is enhanced relative to that obtained under the conventional, single-reinforcer procedure. Four experiments with pigeons yielded the analogous finding when the different outcomes were reinforcement and explicit nonreinforcement. Controls indicated that the results could not be attributed to the effects of intermittent reinforcement, to possible differences in cue duration, or to a variety of potential sources of conditioned reinforcement. An interpretation in terms of expectancy learning is proposed.     

Constructivism deconstructed

This paper examines the doctrine of constructivism as presented by Ernst von Glasersfeld (1989). Part I attempts to elicit a clearer statement of the concepts, positions and arguments for the latter than is immediately available in the paper. Part II discusses the problem of intersubjectivity in constructivism. The general conclusions drawn from these sections is that the basic concepts and theses of constructivism are, mostly, at best very obscure, that there is very little argument involved, and that where there is it is quite unsatisfactory. Part III ventures an explanation of at least some of the weaknesses in the doctrine, this involving a brief independent treatment of some relevant epistemological questions.     

Epistemology,practical work and Academic skills in science education

This article discusses the inherent flaws in considering and using the epistemology of the natural sciences as equivalent to a pedagogic basis for teaching and learning in the natural sciences. It begins with a discussion of the difference between practising science and learning to practice science. It follows with a discussion and refutation of three commonly held motives for using practicals in science education. It concludes with the presentation of three new, better motives for their use.     

Relating early childhood teachers’ working conditions and well-being to their turnover intentions

High turnover rates of early care and education teachers reduce the quality of education; unsatisfied teachers, suffering from stress or emotional exhaustion, are less equipped to promote children’s development and more likely to leave the classroom. We used data from a national survey of US early childhood educators (n?=?1129) to examine associations between teachers’ working conditions, well-being, and motivation with professional commitment and turnover intentions to move, leave, or remain. Multiple regression analyses revealed that more intrinsically motivated teachers were more likely to report intentions to move over leave, emotionally exhausted teachers were more likely to report intentions to leave, and lower teacher-reported working conditions predicted intentions to move or leave the field over staying. The results suggest that teachers’ well-being and perceived working conditions relate with their intentions to remain at their job or within the field and to their commitment to the profession.     

The Adolescent in the Online Game

This article addresses the need for changes in current views on adolescent development. It presents observations of adolescent behavior in the online game Dragon Nest that were conducted by specialists from the Crossroads Center for Social and Psychological Adaptation and Adolescent Development, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, in 2013. These observations helped form theories about age-specific tasks arising in adolescence. The restorative approach was selected as the theoretical basis for this work. This approach represents the practical application of the cultural-historical theory and the activity theory to the provision of social and psychological assistance to adolescents. An analysis of adolescent activity in a game, the structure of communication, and observations of adolescent relationships in online gaming space make it possible to form theories on the role of communication among peers in today’s society in terms of adolescent individuation and development.     

Examining the Etiology of Reading Disability as Conceptualized by the Hybrid Model

A fairly recent definition of reading disability (RD) is that in the form of a hybrid model. The model views RD as a latent construct that is manifested through various observable unexpected impairments in reading-related skills and through inadequate response to intervention. The current report evaluated this new conceptualization of RD from an etiological perspective. The sample consisted of 2,737 twin pairs in 1st through 4th grade (M_age = 8.52) from the Florida Twin Project on Reading. Using twin analyses, results showed that a substantial proportion of genetic variance, a small proportion of shared environmental, and a small proportion of nonshared environmental variance was attributed to the RD factor. Findings suggest that the etiological architecture of RD closely mirrors the structure of the hybrid model of RD.     

Parent and teacher satisfaction with school‐based psychological reports

School psychologists spend a great deal of time translating assessment results into a psychoeducational report. The importance of creating reports that are both useful and understandable to the readers of the report while also being efficient for the school psychologist cannot be overstated. This study examines parent and teacher perceptions regarding the quality, understandability, and usefulness of school‐based psychological reports. Results of the surveys indicate that both parents and teachers perceive psychological reports as focusing more on tests and test scores as opposed to information that helps to understand the child or assists with intervention development. Strategies for upgrading reports to better meet the needs of parent and teacher readers are discussed.     

Learning From Video: A Meta-Analysis of the Video Deficit in Children Ages 0 to 6 Years

Young children often learn less from video than face-to-face presentations. Meta-regression models were used to examine the average size of this difference (video deficit) and investigate moderators. An average deficit of about half of a standard deviation was reported across 122 independent effect sizes from 59 reports, involving children ages 0–6 years. Moderator analyses suggested (a) the deficit decreased with age, (b) object retrieval studies showed larger deficits than other domains, and (c) there was no difference between studies using live versus prerecorded video. Results are consistent with a multiple-mechanism explanation for the deficit. However, the analyses highlighted potential quality and publication bias issues that may have resulted in overestimation of the effect and should be addressed by future researchers.