Mixing methods in assessing coaches' decision making

Mixing methods has recently achieved respectability as an appropriate approach to research design, offering a variety of advantages (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2003). The purpose of this paper is to outline and evaluate a mixed methods approach within the domain of coaches' decision making. Illustrated with data from a policy-capturing study on coaches' decisions about an injured gymnast's participation in competition, the approach involves the concurrent collection of quantitative and qualitative data and a three-phase process of data analysis. It is argued that (a) the method described can provide additional insights into the factors involved in coaches' decision making, beyond those provided via quantitative or qualitative methods alone, and (b) mixing methods holds promise for coaching research more generally.     

Repeated retention testing effects do not generalize to a contextual interference protocol

Three experiments examined repeated retention testing effects in a contextual interference (CI) protocol. Retention was assessed at 10 min and 24 hr following acquisition or at just 24-hr for the one-test conditions. Experiments 1 and 2 used speeded-response key-pressing tasks. Dependent measures were total time and errors. Experiment 3 used sequential-timing tasks. Dependent measures were absolute error and absolute constant error Results revealed CI effects in each experiment. Repeated retention testing effects were not found in Experiments 1 and 3. Experiment 2 revealed superior performance by the two-test condition compared to the one-test condition. This result was qualified by possible practice effects during the 10-min test. It was concluded that repeated retention testing does not present problems for most studies of CI.     

Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxic exposure at rest on haematological, physiological, and performance parameters in multi-sport athletes

The aim of this study was to determine whether 3 weeks of intermittent normobaric hypoxic exposure at rest was able to elicit changes that would benefit multi-sport athletes. Twenty-two multi-sport athletes of mixed ability were exposed to either a normobaric hypoxic gas (intermittent hypoxic training group) or a placebo gas containing normal room air (placebo group). The participants breathed the gas mixtures in 5-min intervals interspersed with 5-min recovery periods of normal room air for a total of 90 min per day, 5 days per week, over a 3-week period. The oxygen in the hypoxic gas decreased from 13% in week 1 to 10% by week 3. The training and placebo groups underwent a total of four performance tests, including a familiarization and baseline trial before the intervention, followed by trials at 2 and 17 days after the intervention. Time to complete the 3-km run decreased by 1.7%[95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.6 - 3.9%] 2 days after, and by 2.3% (CI = 0.25 - 4.4%) 17 days after, the last hypoxic episode in the training relative to the placebo group. Substantial changes in the training relative to the placebo group also included increased reticulocyte count 2 days (23.5%; CI =-1.9 to 44.9%) and 12 days (14.6%; CI = -7.1 to 36.4%) post-exposure. The effect of intermittent hypoxic training on 3-km performance found in this study is likely to be beneficial, which suggests non-elite multi-sport athletes should expect such training to enhance performance.     

Geographic clustering of economic activity: The case of prominent western visual artists

This article compiles original data relating to artists’ place of birth and work migration patterns using various art history dictionaries. The broad historic pattern, from the 13th to the 20th century, of the birth locations of prominent artists is examined, followed by a detailed study of the work migration patterns of prominent artists in two important situations, namely Renaissance Italy and France in part of the 19th century. The evidence indicates a marked clustering of activity of prominent artists, both arising from birth location and migration patterns. Some possible explanations for the observed patterns are briefly outlined.

The role of upper torso and pelvis rotation in driving performance during the golf swing

While the role of the upper torso and pelvis in driving performance is anecdotally appreciated by golf instructors, their actual biomechanical role is unclear. The aims of this study were to describe upper torso and pelvis rotation and velocity during the golf swing and determine their role in ball velocity. One hundred recreational golfers underwent a biomechanical golf swing analysis using their own driver. Upper torso and pelvic rotation and velocity, and torso-pelvic separation and velocity, were measured for each swing. Ball velocity was assessed with a golf launch monitor. Group differences (groups based on ball velocity) and moderate relationships (r > or = 0.50; P < 0.001) were observed between an increase in ball velocity and the following variables: increased torso-pelvic separation at the top of the swing, maximum torso-pelvic separation, maximum upper torso rotation velocity, upper torso rotational velocity at lead arm parallel and last 40 ms before impact, maximum torso-pelvic separation velocity and torso-pelvic separation velocity at both lead arm parallel and at the last 40 ms before impact. Torso-pelvic separation contributes to greater upper torso rotation velocity and torso-pelvic separation velocity during the downswing, ultimately contributing to greater ball velocity. Golf instructors can consider increasing ball velocity by maximizing separation between the upper torso and pelvis at the top of and initiation of the downswing.     

知识隐喻与教学转型

从知识隐喻的角度考察知识论历史演进的线索,我们可以看到:一切真正的知识都具有活动的、实践的性质,应当原原本本地看待“认知活动”。不过,这些知识的隐喻尽管凸现了“认知活动”的关系性,但依然没有从近代批判哲学所固有的认识论中解放出来。因此,传统的“客观主义”知识论固然是不可取的,现代的“主观主义”知识轮的局限性也不可轻视。立足于种种知识说给出的若干指标,考察我国的教育改革面临的问题,给予我们的启示是,素质教育的课堂教学需要克服两种片面性:既不能无视儿童已有的知识体系,单向地灌输知识;也不能走向轻视概念性知识、无视知识结构化的体验主义教育。     

生命本体观照下的教育

教育与生命共存并互相印证。人的生命特性是教育存在的理由和依据,教育是人生命存在的形式和需要,教育在展示生命存在的同时也完善了生命的发展。生命本体的教育坚持在教育中关注学生的生命,反思“非生命化”教育对人生命的漠视,关注生命整体和人的生命全程是生命本体教育的最终选择。     

教育均衡发展:理论、指标及测算方法

教育均衡实质上是指在教育公平思想和教育平等原则的支配下,教育机构和受教育者在教育活动中有平等待遇的理想和确保其实际操作的教育政策和法律制度。教育均衡发展的本质是追求教育平等,实现教育公平。教育均衡发展从宏观层面分析是教育供给与需求的均衡,从中观层面分析是教育资源配置的均衡,从微观层面分析是学校教育过程包括内部课程教学资源配置的均衡、教育结果的均衡以及教育评价的均衡。教育均衡发展是一个历史范畴,按其实现程度可分为四个阶段。建立适应我国国情的基础教育特别是义务教育均衡发展指数,科学地选择基础教育均衡发展的要素,明确基础教育均衡发展的目标,具有重要的现实意义。数据分析表明,我国基础教育从整体上看正在趋向均衡。     

大学何以要倡导和守护理想主义

大学的理想主义是大学对客观世界、社会生活以及大学自身寄予的美好期望所持有的观念体系,亦是大学对自身使命、责任、目标和操守所持有的一种既符合大学规律又有崇高要求的价值认定和信念追求,更是大学之为大学所必须固守、薪火相传并不受外界干扰的精神向往和文化灵魂。大学本身就是充满理想主义的人才培养和探求学问的场所,理想主义是大学不可或缺的对人具有深刻影响的文化精神,但不少大学已经呈现出与大学崇真、向善、求美之宗旨、之属性相悖的过度功利和势利。倡导和守护理想主义,其意义在于为大学的办学和发展及大学的教育者和被教育者提供一种美好的、纯洁的、积极的、向上的参照和追求。     

专家视野中的区域教育发展战略与西部教育政策 --运用德尔菲咨询法进行的调查分析

以西部大开发五年多来的教育发展为背景,采用德尔菲咨询法,调查了国内30位专家对区域教育发展战略选择和西部教育政策调整方向的意见。多数专家认为,在区域教育发展战略的选择上,应当均衡地普及九年义务教育以及高中阶段教育,非均衡地调整高等教育布局,促使国家扶持、东部地区支持与西部地区自身努力有机结合,坚持走区域特色发展、分类推进的路子。在西部教育政策的调整上,要加强中央政府政策与西部地方政府政策之间的配套;进一步协调部门政策,以切合西部教育发展实际;加强中央政策的法律支撑体系和良性运行机制建设;采取不同方式处理东、中、西部及西部内部地区之间的关系;健全投入体制,深化办学体制改革和制度创新。